Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Sitting around the Campfire
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-05-2016, 05:45 PM   #1
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
Ever had to chain up fiver?

I live in an area that can require chains with very short notice. I keep chains in the truck, yet I am very careful to keep from becoming in a position requiring chains. That said more than once I have miscalculated. I don't have them for the Montana. I have and will just park it, before towing with chains. Ca DMV book states: You must have at least one axle chained if the trailer is equipped with brakes. Curious, how many of you have had to chain the fiver?
 
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 05:55 PM   #2
Irlpguy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
In all my years of traveling the highways and byways and having used chains many times on my trucks I have "never" heard of anyone chaining up a trailer axle. Chain up requirement for truckers is regular on some of the high mountain highways here in BC at this time of year, commercial trucks carry chains for the drive axle only, not the steering axle nor the trailer axles. I have to ask what good would it do to have your trailer wheels chained up other than rip off the wheel covers.

Nope ain't going to happen on any trailer I own.


Irlpguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 06:40 PM   #3
bigskyjimmy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington Coast
Posts: 2,688
M.O.C. #10696
I think Diagonal chains(not cable) would help with braking and side lateral movement going Down the Passes with a 5th wheel trailer with electric brakes and Cali does require them although I would Only do it if I had to and I think it would help But I have seen too many Semi's in my years of a truck driver(not a tractor trailer) in snow and Ice coming down the Passes with tractor trailers going sideways and jack knifing SCARY STUFF!!, If I got stuck in that situation I would put the truck in 4WD LOW and CREEP down
__________________
[
bigskyjimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2016, 11:29 PM   #4
Eagleback
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

In all my years of traveling the highways and byways and having used chains many times on my trucks I have "never" heard of anyone chaining up a trailer axle. Chain up requirement for truckers is regular on some of the high mountain highways here in BC at this time of year, commercial trucks carry chains for the drive axle only, not the steering axle nor the trailer axles. I have to ask what good would it do to have your trailer wheels chained up other than rip off the wheel covers.

Nope ain't going to happen on any trailer I own.

I have to agree, when i used to drive tractor/trailer, i only chained up the drive axle. I see chaining up a trailer axle would hurt more than help, unless you don't care if your trailer gets torn up.


__________________
2017, 3500 Ram Big Horn, 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, Aisin Transmission, 4:10. Curt Q20, 2014 Mountaineer 331 RLT, Sailun's on the rv and truck.
Eagleback is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 12:53 AM   #5
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
Been there and done that with a tractor trailer. I'm retired now and don't need that kind of excitement. Would not tow into that no matter what.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 02:30 AM   #6
JandC
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
I'm with Dick on this one. In my 20's that sort of thing was "exciting" but now I would stay parked for several months if need be to avoid it.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
JandC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 02:40 AM   #7
1retired06
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
Hate to think what a loose chain could do to the trailer undercarriage.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
1retired06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 03:11 AM   #8
grampachet
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,107
M.O.C. #8045
So if you chain up one axle of trailer and then apply brakes wouldn't the axel that is not chained lock up and slide - and the chained axle not stop. Like on your truck, if you apply brakes and only one tire slides (the one on ice) the others that have traction just keep doing what they were doing?
I carry chains only to be 'legal' but won't go there if they are required.
grampachet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 05:02 AM   #9
Capt Kidd
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chico
Posts: 641
M.O.C. #6933
I carry chains for the truck and for the Monty but have no intention of ever using them on the 5er. That said last week I went to Ghost Mt. RV park in Polluck Pines, CA and saw a 5er with chains on. The road into the park was somewhat icy but I didn't think it required chains at least not for my R-Pod. However I did put the truck into 4wd high.
Capt Kidd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 05:21 AM   #10
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
Not going to happen in fact I drove the truck and RV in snow ONCE and it will never happen again.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 08:03 AM   #11
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
I have no intention of ever towing the Monte in the ice or snow. But if I did for some crazy reason, I would want chains on one axle of the trailer if I had chains on the truck. If the truck had chains and the trailer did not, as soon as you hit the brakes the truck would try to stop and the trailer would start to push and try to come around you since it would have no stopping power. Better to have stopping power on the trailer also to keep it back there where it belongs.

Some states require chains on tractor trailer rigs. And as I understand on any trailer that has brakes. Best to check the local laws if any doubt.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 09:31 AM   #12
RichR
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Castle Rock
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #11369
Years past I have chained up my trailer, front axle only. The brake will stop the chained axle, also chains keep it on the road. I would not do this now, ever. I do not recommend traveling in snow or ice conditions way to stressful.
RichR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 02:44 PM   #13
Dam Worker
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: West Richland
Posts: 1,253
M.O.C. #17164
I would prefer to not ever have to drive where chains would be required with my truck and fifth-wheel. With that being said there is no way that I would just chain the truck as you would be just asking your trailer to pass you or slide of the road taking your truck with it. If the road conditions are that bad and your truck needs chains than I would say so does your trailer. Today the roads were quite slick on the way to work. One truck ended up on its side, the driver was ok. No chains on any rigs that I saw. Not snow but ice on the roads. At the hill there were at least ten big rigs trying to figure out how to get down the hill with out sliding of the road do the slow speed required and the steep camber of the road in the corners. Most of the times when the road is blocked it is because of the trailer pulling the trucks of the road while trying to go up the hill on the corners.

Tom Marty
__________________
Dam Worker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2016, 11:53 PM   #14
bethandkevin
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Davison
Posts: 786
M.O.C. #12331
The chains that I have seen, I fail to see how they could possibly help in braking of ANY vehicle. Many label call them "traction chains" which to me indicates they to aid in movement not stopping. That said, I have had two experiences with short distance towing on hilly terrain in heavy unplowed snow (about 1/2 mile). Once with our old lighter 5ver and the 1/2 ton truck, the other with Hannah and Vinnie. Both times I used the same procedure going down hill. Truck in 4LO and use the trailer brakes to stop the whole rig. With the small truck, it was nothing more than a controlled slide. The trailer still pushed me down the hill, but produced enough drag to not pass me. With the larger rig in the same situation in the same place, the wheels bit on the trailer enough for a controlled decent. I can only assume the weight difference of the trailer (double) and the higher tire pressures (more than double) helped the tires bite through the snow better. In neither case did I want to tow, but worse weather was moving in, threatening that I would have to leave the trailers through the winter months.
bethandkevin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2016, 07:57 AM   #15
Recumbent
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 1,074
M.O.C. #10457
Drove once on ice, never in snow. Would not do it by choice. Ice storm caught us in January of 2015 headed west in Odessa, TX, and it was not forecasted and it moved in fast, but we were able to exit off I-20 at east side of Odessa, exit was fortunately 100 yards east of a large pileup of autos blocking roadway. Montana would do a fish tale wiggle with out notice. We crossed town on State Highway (salted) and into Mid-dessa Oil Patch Rv park and stayed parked for 4 days till ice melted.
Recumbent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2016, 12:47 PM   #16
Twopetes
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Beloit
Posts: 283
M.O.C. #17535
Any ideas where to get info on when and where chains are required? I think the best idea it to do everything possible not to be anywhere I would need them

Good discussion though
__________________
Steve & Lisa
2015 Montana High Country 353 RL | Sailuns | Kodiak Disc brakes
2015 F-350 DRW Crew Cab | Reese Goosebox
Retired and Lovin’ it!
Twopetes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2016, 01:20 PM   #17
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
Mostly online. Every state has highway patrol. That would be a good source. In Cal CalTrans has dedicated up to the minute Website! Road conditions alerts have come a long way. The trick is not to be caught in a sudden major weather change like Interstate 80 over Donner Summit. Personally seen that stretch go all to heck in 30 min.
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
First Fiver Goin 4 Broke New Member Introductions 11 01-14-2015 04:52 PM
Ceiling fan switch chain wrap-around Bama Camper Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 6 12-25-2014 04:34 AM
Key chain remote battery werhapy Maintenance 3 04-25-2011 07:06 AM
Chain Link Fence vs. Montana fredb54 Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 8 10-27-2005 05:12 AM
Pluging chain saw into power post at site? Montana_70 General Discussions about our Montanas 3 07-20-2005 12:53 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.