I watched this the other day. Think I'll pass on towing in the snow and ice. I've been meaning to get some chains for the truck as an emergency thing to have but don't plan to ever tow the fiver in snow and ice. I think I would just park it somewhere and come back when conditions improve.

I have also read in the past, that some states require chains on at least one axle. The purpose is to prevent sideways slide. We have proper dually chains for our truck, which have never been out of the bag . Our 5th wheel tires are much too close together to get a chain on one. However, I have read that some folks use a snow sock rather than a chain. Although we did once get caught in a snow storm that came several hours early, while coming into Pendleton, OR, we didn’t need to use the chains but we never want to be in that position again. I think we both turned our sphincter muscles inside out coming down Cabbage Hill.

Howdy!
The main reason for at least one tire chain on a trailer is to keep it from drifting/sliding/slipping on snow, ice, mud.
We have had at least two sets of tire chains on our rig since we have been fulltiming now for over 15 years. Back in the past I drove in the Wyoming oilfields hauling oil and produced water from oil wells and oil rigs. It was muddy, and icy, and then there was the Snow....... We had Tire Chains running on our trucks more than thay where off. Tire chains are cheep insurance to help you in bad spots when the weather catches a person off guard. I've actually used Tire Chains more to get our rig out of a slick, muddy spot then in the snow. They work great when stuck off road and you need more traction to get unstuck. It won't save you if you are up to your axles, but on slick surfaces like mud and wet grass it will save the cost of a tow truck $$$$$.
If you do get a set for your rig make sure thay are the correct size and you know how to put them on properly. Also keep in practice and put a chain on once a year so you don't forget and to make sure the chains are in good working order.
Happy Trails!!!

Thanks everyone. I have put on chains more times than I care to remember. I also agree and recommend that folks do "test installs" to make sure everything is in good condition and you remember how to install them. It always amazed me that the same chains that fit so well in my driveway suddenly seemed 2 sizes too small on the side of the road. Having freezing hands will do that. It makes perfect sense to have chains/socks on the trailer tires to prevent sliding but I think I may opt for just staying put someplace comfortable if at all possible.

I asked about this topic on another RV forum and it stirred up a hornets nest. I had made the suggestion that there ought to be chains or something on the camper to keep it from sliding etc. (also stopping). Since I have minimal clearance between the top of my camper tires and the bottom of the RV, I was asking what others did in that case.

Most people thought that it was ridiculous to even think about chains on campers. Nothing that they said convinced me that they were right. Camper tires are hard rubber and made for strength. These attributes make for poor wet traction (let alone snow and ice) and the normal tread pattern and depth also do not give me any confidence on slick spots.

So far I have gone the "When in Doubt, Don't" side of the discussion. I grew up using chains, Once I had a new job in southern VA, An unexpected over night snow of 4 inches had me cursing and digging out my chain for the car. I got them on and got to work just a few minutes late. To my surprise, no one was there! Apparently the locals thought that a blizzard had come through and everything was shut down. To me it was just what you did.

Since I have so little clearance between my tires and the RV body, Standard chains won't work. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also what is a snow sock? I am not familiar with that term.

Thanks

That video is truly scary!

I’m with you Ray. After 9 years I finally bought chains for the truck in case we’re stopped to be legal. As far as the trailer goes I would play dumb and ask for forgiveness. We were stuck in traffic last season for the very first time for a chain check for an hour and by the time we got close to the front the roadblock was gone. I have no intention of ever using them...we’ll just wait out the weather.
Cheers!

Glad we don't have that problem here in Florida. Hard to let these flip flops go.

That video should explain it to all to recreational drivers. It's just not worth it. I bought chains for the truck, but if I think I need a drag chain on the trailer, I'm parking it and plugging in the generator and waiting it out.

Thought this video would be of interest

Not for me...I agree with Ray too. We were staying at Seven Feathers a couple of years ago in Feb. We had just come from the Winnie factory service center in Junction City. The day we were suppose to leave the resort a huge storm was looming and the forecast was ugly for driving on I-5 that day. We chose to spend another night (and had a great time too). Even so, the next day was a drag. By the time we got to Sacramento the rig was embarrassingly filthy! I couldn't see any images at all in the rear cam that was caked with mud and debris. The next time we were out I had a worker at the marina power wash the underside as well. My sympathies for people who are forced to work and drive in terrible conditions...

Currently only Washington, Oregon and California require the use of chains on trailers. I got this information from a trucker on You Tube that hauls thru the United States west of the Mississippi valley to the Pacific Coast and Texas to the canadian border.