Snow Chains for 4wd

RobinS · Post by **RobinS** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:35 am

Hi,

We are taking the Bongo to Cervinia when we go skiing just before Christmas and will need snow chains (even with 4wd they are compulsory on many roads). The handbook says that when using chains you should put them on the rear wheels, but everything else I have ever read about chains says that on 4 wheel drive vehicles you must have them on all 4 wheels.

Anyone any experience of using chains on a 4wd Bongo, or any ideas about the different advice?

Robin

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:33 pm

The Bongomeister bought some sample plastic snow chains from USA and was going to report on their efficacy.

I have searched for the original info but cannot find it.

I am interested in this because my daughter now lives in the Highlands (of Scotland) and we will need them for winter visits.

RobinS · Post by **RobinS** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:02 pm

I have made lots of trips to Scottish highlands in winter, well as the alps for both skiing and ice climbing in previous vehicles, and for Scotland wouldn't bother with chains. They are really designed for the higher roads in the alps where because of the low temperature (have driven there at down to minus 20c) salt does not melt the snow. In these conditions you drive for many miles at a time on hard packed snow - often up and down steep hills. In Scotland it just isn't that cold - when it snows it is either so deep you can't get through anyway (and the snow barriers are closed), or ploughed/thawing/salted so your tyres go through to the tarmac anyway, and if you drive with the chains touching tarmac for any distance you will trash both tyres and chains. (4 wheel drive is useful in Scottish in-between conditions though!).

Robin

RobinS · Post by **RobinS** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:19 pm

Pippin,

For Scotland something like the autosock available from these people may be useful

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/snowhome.html

As I mentioned above I would strongly advise against chains.

Robin

Post by **Ian** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:40 pm

pippin wrote:The Bongomeister bought some sample plastic snow chains from USA and was going to report on their efficacy

I tested them out, but found them very fiddly to put on. And I don't know whether they are technically legal for on-road use. They would be great for getting out from a muddy field.

You can buy them from this firm.

http://www.vancomfort.co.uk

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:29 pm

Thanks for the comments guys.

I think it was the sock idea that I thought might be handy.

Still no advice yet on 4WD requiring all wheels to be chained/socked or whatever.

RobinS · Post by **RobinS** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:57 pm

Having now had some confirmation on the what sort of 4 wd thread it is starting to make sense.

As the full time 4wd is not really - it is sort of 2+2, only when the rear wheels lose grip does power transfer to the front. This means that if I put chains on the back they won't lose grip, so it will be just like driving a rear wheel drive vehicle - it will go fine.

However: All propulsion will come come from the back so it will go fine, but 80% of braking comes from the front, which will have no grip, so it will barely stop, and 100% of the steering comes from the front so it won't go round corners at all!

I got lots of info from an american site http://www.4x4abc.com and I think I go along with thier advice to always use chains all round! Looks like I'll be ordering 2 more pairs - the 2 pairs I have are too small, and much too small - looks like my wheels keep on growing!

For anyone interested these people do them for £28.95 per pair:
http://www.cooksmotor.co.uk/page8.html

Robin