H2 and snow

[Savethereef]

Well the time has come. My first road trip in my H2. Two years ago I drove to Atlanta. This time I'm headed to Canada and everywhere in between. I've driven to the local mountains with snow. But not snow like Oregon Seattle Or Canada. So do I really need snow chains? If I do need two sets? I have a pair for my 2 x 4 Armada but they won't fit the deuce. I've looked at pep boys but I can't find big enough chains for my truck.

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[RamRod]

Are you off roading or just just driving highways and sticking to common routes?

I live in Canada, and currently its been snowing in my city for the past 44 hours straight and I have never owned a set of chains. Do they work? hell yeah they do! do anyone use them on city roads? nope!

If you are going to be breaking new trail in +3ft of snow they will work wonders, but other then that save your $$

 

[Fish]

The highway patrol may require you to have chains if its snowing bad enough or else they will turn you around. Sometimes they just check if you have chains but wont require you to put them on. So I think its a good idea to have them anyways. I have a set that will fit 35's that I cant use anymore that I'd sell for really cheap, but their heavy so shipping wont be cheap.

 

[RamRod]

The highway patrol may require you to have chains if its snowing bad enough or else they will turn you around. Sometimes they just check if you have chains but wont require you to put them on. So I think its a good idea to have them anyways.

Interesting, that's not a requirement up here. The only people I know who own chains are Semi Truck drivers and farmers!

 

[Savethereef]

Thanks guys. I'll get some just in case then. So for a 4x4 do you need one pair? If only need one do you put out on back or front?

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[06 H3]

Interesting, that's not a requirement up here. The only people I know who own chains are Semi Truck drivers and farmers!

I know...I thought the same thing. In NY we never needed chains but they seem strict over here. My neighbor was moving and gave them to me, they wont even fit my tires but I have them just to use as a safety net if I get stopped.

 

[Zach]

I've been stopped at the check point going up to Big Bear three times. Once I had to physically show them I had them. They wouldn't have fit. They were for 37's and I was still stock. Have never had to chain/cable up. But, I have dropped air pressure once when it was icy. I would carry them just in case you need them. Think I paid close to $200 for my set. Pm and I can can get you a set

 

[Mb30sdl]

I think it depends on tires u running. I had mine for years for 37s, they fit my 38s too but tight. 4 wheel parts sell them I think I paid ~200 for a set.

 

[Hummbo]

Savethereef,
I have had my H2 for about a year now and have been thru 2 winters in Washington. With my H2 and before with my decked out tahoe I never found that I needed chains for road/pass/highway travel. But once I went offroad it was almost a must in washington. I could barrel thru 2-3 feet of now without any adjustments or my buddies in jeeps would just air down but on the other hand ice can get you.

This year up hunting the conditions were lite as you will see in the photos but the ice (on the north exposures) was a b****h.

The real trouble I had this year was determining which chain to get. I bought a SUV chain for the 35s that were almost lost in the mud terrrain (in the photo). I only bought them for the front because of my fear of damaging something in the rear with the minimum clearance it has in the interior wheel well. After this year I will be going to a larger chain in the front and will try out the chains I bought this year on the rear.

Worth noting that my H2 is stock height, with 35" mud terrians. Also, in my opinion if only running a set I would put them on the front if offroad. Only problem is when going down hill your azz tries to pass you sometimes.

 

[Mb30sdl]

I am thinking of going to Seattle in late jan/feb to hit some real snow.

 

[Savethereef]

Thanks guys for the info. I am running 35 s on stock rims size. I think I would rather have some just in case. Last time I had to buy some in mammoth it was required. Only one shop had my size I had to run around to 6 shops before I found my size for Armada.

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[Savethereef]

I've been stopped at the check point going up to Big Bear three times. Once I had to physically show them I had them. They wouldn't have fit. They were for 37's and I was still stock. Have never had to chain/cable up. But, I have dropped air pressure once when it was icy. I would carry them just in case you need them. Think I paid close to $200 for my set. Pm and I can can get you a set

Zach do you still have the used chains for 35 s? I'll be up at AAMCO this wen or thursday to get something done before hitting the road. Let me know how much you want for them. Need to carry just in case. Thanks

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[Zach]

Zach do you still have the used chains for 35 s? I'll be up at AAMCO this wen or thursday to get something done before hitting the road. Let me know how much you want for them. Need to carry just in case. Thanks

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I don't. When I bought my cables I bought them for the 37's even though i was still on the 35's.
Found this though
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/pts/4224445180.html

 

[skeptic]

I'm originally from OR and have family there that I occasionally visit in winter. Because of this, and the fact that I live in UT, I ALWAYS buy tires with the snowflake symbol. This meets Oregon's traction tire requirement, plus they are just better in the winter. If I plan to drive there in the winter I'll also pick up a set of tire chains as they are sometimes required:

http://web.oregon.com/roadcams/chains.cfm

I expect if you are compliant with OR laws you are good anywhere.

 

[Savethereef]

Cool thanks guys. Zach thanks fir the link I emailed him hope I can catch those. Thanks. Can't wait leaving this weekend.

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[SuperBuickGuy]

I am thinking of going to Seattle in late jan/feb to hit some real snow.

You realize that many years, it doesn't actually have any accumulation in Seattle? I've lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life and 4 times has there been so much snow that it was challenging.... really, it takes a not-common weather pattern to get snow in the lowlands most times, in the winter, it just gets cold but when it gets cold it drives the moisture back out to the ocean (which, if you want to see - is supposed to happen for Thursday only - then Friday it'll be 40 degrees and rainy). It's actually kind of funny that people think we get snow - when we get moisture it warms up the air; and any place close to the ocean doesn't get cold enough for long enough to really get a good east coast snow.

OP - consider this. I'm in Search and Rescue and on its 4x4 team. I have chains front and rear.... and have never used them. Ever.

In my life, I've chained up all 4 wheels once - on a 65 Toyota LC - at Truckee California.... never in the nw. With that said, if we get an ice storm like we had just before I learned to drive (30 years ago)... I'd use chains, maybe.

 

[Mb30sdl]

We have no snow at all, except in the mountains with storm. I don't think we have had a snow run for couple of years now.

 

[Zach]

We have no snow at all, except in the mountains with storm. I don't think we have had a snow run for couple of years now.

We did a small snow run in Feb of this year. You just didn't go. :wink: Posted a trip for Sunday, might have snow

 

[Mb30sdl]

If its less that 1foot deep it doesn't count :wink:

 

[Zach]

If its less that 1foot deep it doesn't count :wink:

Extension to JB was deeper than a foot. And first truck running through the snow. It counted. You going Sunday?

 

[KTM640Dakar]

we recently had 18 inches of snow and -20 F and my H2 never missed a beat. i would never worry about chains with it. There are no mountains in Michigan however.

 

[MessiaH2]

I just had my first decent snow with my new 38 Mud Grapplers and they actually were not as bad as i was expecting. I ran MessiaH2 on stock tires in many many snow storms and never had a problem on or OFF road which i did both. The 35 BFG KO's really are an awesome all around tire and i got 70K miles out of 2 sets. I never once even thought of chains.

With that all said i drive like a madman with my foot to the floor so i might not be the best one to follow...LOL :cheers: Now back to my "not as bad" comment. I said that because my tires are 15.5 wide with huge sidewall cleats so was expecting some pull. I was getting that if would hit over 8" of snow with just one side of the truck at a time so i had to watch NOT favoring the shoulder or i could get sucked in.

 

[Caraddict]

We had over 3 feet of snow in a blizzard last year in Ct...I was driving through the snow no problem on mud tires...never knew there was a law about chains...