Tire Chains only on the rear?

[MileHighPair]

I just purchased a 2018 Tradesman 2500 6.4L Hemi. The owners manual clearly says that tire chains should only be put on the rear axle. I've seen this mentioned on a couple of other threads, but I could not find a thread dedicated to the topic. Any thoughts?

Chains

• MileHighPair
• Mar 7, 2019

Page from 2018 2500 Tradesman 6.4L Quad Cab Owners Manual

 

[steven_sbs]

Probably has something to do with the wheel clearance and the chains hitting the inner fender liner or steering linkage on full lock turns. But I'm not going to push the issue and test it myself.

 

[MegaRam18]

Why would you doubt the owner's manual.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Dinky]

the clearance between the upper control arm is very close. throw some chains on and it gets worse. ive ran them on the front of my truck no problem just check your clearance. i think it has to do with warranty **** cause you will break **** if they come off.

 

[McBroom]

Only on the rear no matter what the vehicle is. And if it’s a trailer with a brake axle then you’d chain that axle also.
Drive axles and brake axles only get chains.
The reason why you should never chain the steer axle is
1- clearances of brake hoses and steering components.
2- when braking and steering the chain can pack up with ice or snow and cause the steering to lock up and cause a crash.

Not only did I retire from the Marine Corps. I retired from Trucking also.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

 

[Dinky]

Only on the rear no matter what the vehicle is. And if it’s a trailer with a brake axle then you’d chain that axle also.
Drive axles and brake axles only get chains.
The reason why you should never chain the steer axle is
1- clearances of brake hoses and steering components.
2- when braking and steering the chain can pack up with ice or snow and cause the steering to lock up and cause a crash.

Not only did I retire from the Marine Corps. I retired from Trucking also.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

So when on ice how to you steer if you do not put chains on the front? I am not talking about freeway driving but up and how hills?

 

[McBroom]

So when on ice how to you steer if you do not put chains on the front? I am not talking about freeway driving but up and how hills?

Light braking.
Chains are for traction and slippage control.
You still need to brake lightly when stopping.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

 

[BWL]

I've never chained the front. There may be extreme cases at low speed where it could be usefull like a couple feet of snow on an unplowed or driven on road, but 99% of the time rear is all you'd run. I see a lot of rigs, run a single steer chain on the front off road in icy or otherwise slippery conditions, but that's it.

 

[Dinky]

Light braking.
Chains are for traction and slippage control.
You still need to brake lightly when stopping.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

Oregon has some pretty ****** up roads braking lightly doesn't cut it lol. I've stopped on a road cause there are cars crashed in front of me and you just slide right off the road lol. I always carry chains for all 4 just in case

 

[McBroom]

I've never chained the front. There may be extreme cases at low speed where it could be usefull like a couple feet of snow on an unplowed or driven on road, but 99% of the time rear is all you'd run. I see a lot of rigs, run a single steer chain on the front off road in icy or otherwise slippery conditions, but that's it.

When and where have you seen a big rig with snow chains in the steering axle(front)??? I’ve never put chains on the front steering axle.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

 

[Dinky]

When you get snow then you get 2in of freezing rain you just might wanna chain up the front lol.

 

[BWL]

When and where have you seen a big rig with snow chains in the steering axle(front)??? I’ve never put chains on the front steering axle.


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

Resource roads. Actually very common in my parts. Especially the big tri drives. They try to steer, but just go straight without them or when going slow have to keep backing up to get turned.

 

[McBroom]

Resource roads. Actually very common in my parts. Especially the big tri drives. They try to steer, but just go straight without them or when going slow have to keep backing up to get turned.

Are you talking about cranes and oversized vehicles?


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

 

[BWL]

Nope cement pumpers, fluid haulers of various configurations, guys hauling pipe, occasional end dump, vac trucks,water haulers, fuel truck. Really you name it. Some of the bigger contractors out here like halliburton and trican seem to do it more than most as its part of their road safety plans on roads with mandatory chain ups as a lot of the private oil and logging company are certain times of the year.

 

[McBroom]

Ahh north western usa


I love my truck!
Blue Mule 18 Ram 4x4 C/C
Off Road.

 

[BWL]

Keep in mind none of these roads are paved.

 

[MileHighPair]

I appreciate all the responses. I'm sure it is mainly a clearance issue around the tires for these newer rigs.

The main reason I was asking is that last fall, while elk hunting in Colorado in November, there were about 10 4WD pickups of various manufactures in camps near mine. Every one of them had chains on the front and not the rear. This was a very specific situation, with about 1 foot of snow on a very steep road, some distance of which sloped to the downhill side (in this situation, steering is at least as important as drive). The road requires very slow driving due to the boulders, Kelly humps, literally no speeds over 4 mph. It seemed like guys just understood the front of the vehicle was what was going to be the tough part to control.

I'll probably follow the manual if at all possible, but I suspect this recommendation from Ram is mostly to cover their ass. I won't be looking for a way to trash my new truck.

Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[Dinky]

I appreciate all the responses. I'm sure it is mainly a clearance issue around the tires for these newer rigs.

The main reason I was asking is that last fall, while elk hunting in Colorado in November, there were about 10 4WD pickups of various manufactures in camps near mine. Every one of them had chains on the front and not the rear. This was a very specific situation, with about 1 foot of snow on a very steep road, some distance of which sloped to the downhill side (in this situation, steering is at least as important as drive). The road requires very slow driving due to the boulders, Kelly humps, literally no speeds over 4 mph. It seemed like guys just understood the front of the vehicle was what was going to be the tough part to control.

I'll probably follow the manual if at all possible, but I suspect this recommendation from Ram is mostly to cover their ass. I won't be looking for a way to trash my new truck.

Thanks again for all the responses.

Well if you buy quality chains and good tensioners to keep them tight you should be fine. Always test fit before you actually need them to check on clearance. Your not going over 20mph most times with chains. I've always grew up with people saying put them on your front of your truck in 4x4. It's better to pull then push in the snow most of your stopping power Is in the front and you steer with the front. I've also heard of people ******* their brakes up on the front but really goes for the rear also since you do have brake lines back there. Just have to have them fit right and keep them tight. Everyone's thoughts will change due to where they live. I am up here in Oregon will lots of mountain passes and hills every where.

 

[Joes1500]

Plowed snow semi commercially for about 20 years in the snow belt of NW PA. Many times myself and others ran chains to get the job done. Some would run all four, but most of us just ran the fronts. Never had any issues. The front is where your weight is on a truck. Use it to your advantage. Chains on the back dont do you any good if you need to stop . This is for pickup applications not semis or big trucks. They have weight over the rear axles.

Make sure they fit right . We didnt use the cam lock style . We found that if we made them alittle small , aired the tires down for the install, then pumped the tires back up, they would fit nice and tight with no problems . Even at 50-60 mph.

Now keep in mind these were not store bought chains. These are made chains using lifting grade chain and a cross link either every other link or every 3rd link (skipping 2). The closer the cross links , the smoother the ride and the tighter you can keep them.

Rule of thumb with chains. Tight is good. Loose will brake, grab and tear things up.