Snow chain recommendations please?

[EuroTrotters]

Hi,

I am looking for a set of chains for a Fiat Ducato 2000 running on Michelin Alpin 205/75/16 Winter tyres.

Our previous motorhomes were RWD Mercedes and despite carrying chains as I always do even in the van or car. I have never needed them.

We are heading to Switzerland in March and think I should take a set as we are now a heavy FWD!?

TM

 

[Snowbird]

Anyone that has ever had to use snow chains in anger will tell you not to buy them, but to park up when conditions are that bad that you need to chain up.

 

[The Wino]

I always buy in France the market is so much bigger prices are lower especially in the supermarkets. As for make not tried enough to give a view I suspect if you are buying in the hope of never needing to use them get the cheapest to show the box to the gendarmes if you seriously expect to use them get a good set.

 

[Kevan]

Don't know what your talking about

 

[WillinFrance]

If you purchase your chains in France, make sure you get them for 4x4 / Camping Car. They are more heavy duty, and of course cost a little more.
Standard cheap ones are not really suitable for a heavy Motorhome.

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[Duck Truck]

Chains
You only need them when you NEED them.
You can often avoid bad weather low down.
However if you are chasing the snow for winter activities
it's not always possible to just pull over and park up if you have a few hundred other vehicles behind you on the way up a narrow mountain road.My best advice comes in 3 parts.
1) buy easy fit chains
2) practise putting them on at home BEFORE you leave.
3) Carry gloves to wear

 

[EuroTrotters]

Don't know what your talking about

who?

 

[gerry mcg]

Hi,

I am looking for a set of chains for a Fiat Ducato 2000 running on Michelin Alpin 205/75/16 Winter tyres.

Our previous motorhomes were RWD Mercedes and despite carrying chains as I always do even in the van or car. I have never needed them.

We are heading to Switzerland in March and think I should take a set as we are now a heavy FWD!?

TM

IIRC the Ducato manual states that if you have 16" wheels, you need to get low profile chains which are <16mm. i don't have access to my manual at the moment so can't confirm or provide a citation but i'm sure i read it. ( our PVC has 16" alloy wheels and i'm likely to get chains) that's why i remember it.

 

[Speve]

www.mytyres.com do a reasonably priced chain

 

[Glandwr]

Got mine here (as I had my tyres for years) comprehensive range and helpful notes and advice.

Broken Link Removed

Dick

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[Minxy]

Look up 'Autosock' as an alternative to chains.

http://www.autosock.co.uk/autosock-for-vans/

For our van with 16" wheels I think we need the 697 ones.

 

[Forestboy]

Chains
You only need them when you NEED them.
You can often avoid bad weather low down.
However if you are chasing the snow for winter activities
it's not always possible to just pull over and park up if you have a few hundred other vehicles behind you on the way up a narrow mountain road.My best advice comes in 3 parts.
1) buy easy fit chains
2) practise putting them on at home BEFORE you leave.
3) Carry gloves to wear

And a mat to kneel / lie on used mine a few times when skiing. Easy enough to fit but always get plastered in dirty slush taking them off. Don't know the make had them a good few years now but bought a good quality heavy duty pair and they've been a God send.
Don't waste money on snowsocks if you're serious, they won't last 10 minutes on a snow covered Alpine pass.

 

[TheBig1]

Anything under 16mm link will just shred to bits on a van or 4x4 with big wheels. Always choose the heavy duty option. My experience with snow socks is they are pretty useless when you really need them

 

[Parapilot]

Any recommendations for snow chains for a twin wheel axle ?

Are they any good for use on mud / sand / wet grass ?

 

[pappajohn]

Look up 'Autosock' as an alternative to chains.

http://www.autosock.co.uk/autosock-for-vans/

For our van with 16" wheels I think we need the 697 ones.

Autosox will get you out of trouble but I doubt they could be left on for 10s of miles which be the case in the alps etc.

My chains have been in the boot since I bought them years ago, one chain was trial fitted when new but that's the only time the box has been opened.
If you have chains you won't need them, but if you don't have them you most probably will.

Called 'sod's law'

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[pappajohn]

Are they any good for use on mud / sand / wet grass ?

In my opinion, no used at all.
Chains need something to 'bite' on......ice or tarmac under snow, roots and rocks under mud and grass.
Chances are you will only dig in deeper in the absence of a hard sub structure.
I used to drive extreme off road for fun and relied on proper off road tyres and a winch when necessary.
The winch was for when the axle was in the mud and tyres still hadn't hit rocks or roots

 

[Red Dragon]

Hi try these good price and a decent chain
www.snowchains.com/Polar/Snow-Chains

 

[Forestboy]

@TeeMyob
Here you go got the van outside just checked mine as described earlier used many times on 5 tonne tag axle fully loaded and always worked.
For some reason picture not uploading anyway they're Thule XG Pro here's a link

https://snowchains.co.uk/snowchains

 

[EuroTrotters]

@TeeMyob
Here you go got the van outside just checked mine as described earlier used many times on 5 tonne tag axle fully loaded and always worked.
For some reason picture not uploading anyway they're Thule XG Pro here's a link

https://snowchains.co.uk/snowchains

Thanks,

Are they easy to fit?

Website linked me to the CU9-235 9mm not the König XG-12 PRO 225 12mm

 

[Forestboy]

Thanks,

Are they easy to fit?

Website linked me to the CU9-235 9mm not the König XG-12 PRO 225 12mm

Yeah simple enough to fit and self adjusting, practice a couple of times at home putting them on and off before you leave as its always more difficult in the snow or dark.
Always wash mine off and give a good spray of silicone when I get home.

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[sdc77]

Another vote for easy fit chains with a mat and keep gloves with them.
We have We have Thule easy fit SUV which either of us can easily fit.

 

[gerry mcg]

Anything under 16mm link will just shred to bits on a van or 4x4 with big wheels. Always choose the heavy duty option. My experience with snow socks is they are pretty useless when you really need them

i was just quoting the Ducato user manual. there must be a reason they have stated <16mm chains only for vans with 16" wheels. i can only suspect due to clearance issues with chassis, suspension or brake lines.
my car chains are for 225/45/18 wheels and are Weissenfels Clack and Go with 9mm chains. looking at chains for the van with 225/75/16 wheels, there are 4 options in total, 2 options of 17mm chains and 2 options with 13mm chains, including a weissenfels set . i"ll be going for those ones as they are within the spec set out in the manual

 

[Minxy]

It doesn't surprise me that there are limitations on the thickness of the chains for the larger wheels, when we had Ford FWD based MHs we were not supposed to use chains on them at all due to lack of clearance according to Ford!