Question:
Winter is coming, do you know how to use chains and what to carry????
1. Carry chains and know when and how to use them
A. when snow or ice make it to slippery to travel use chains to get to a safe haven and park (if they would have been happy to get it on Wednesday they'll be even happier to get it on Friday.)
B. Get a booklet on how to apply chains from your carrier and do it on dry ground in the warm weather so you :
1. Know how to put them on
2. Know how to settle them on the tires
a. Have rubber bungees to tighten them
b. Have "cam-lock" tool
3. Know which tires they go on
4. Know that they are in good shape
a. no breaks
b. no wear (less than 1/2 way through or link or or crossover)
c. Fasteners work
C. Make sure that your tires have a minimum of half the tread left on them .
1. Deep lug tires with open tread on the edge work the best in snow and ice (the open lug allows the tire to shed the snow packed into the tread and gives the chains something to grab onto so the chains don't slip around on the tire)
D. make sure you have the following items:
1. old mud flap or similar waterproof item to lay on under truck if needed
2. Waterproof warm gloves
3. Hat with brim to keep slush from going down your neck when under truck
4. goggles to keep slush and road salt from going into your eyes
5. heavy insulated coveralls
6. waterproof boots
7. self igniting propane torch to melt things and extra tank
8. FOOD
9. water or pan to melt water
10. can of ether
11. warm coat
12. road flares
13. toilet paper
14. FLASHLIGHT and Extra Batteries
15. cell phone and extra batteries
16. entertainment
a. books
b. magazines
17. warm items
a. sleeping bag
b. extra blankets
18. dry clothes
19. chemical pocket hand warmers
20. baby wipes
E. ANYTHING that you think might be helpful
I'm sure I might have missed something but I hope this helps to give you a starting point

Answer:
Frankly, I find chains to be mostly a waste of time. Out in the west, chains were used before there were decent snow tires, and even today, many people who live along the coast drive around all year with summer tires, then carry a set of chains for winter driving in the mountains. Laws requiring chains were written back in the old days, and made a lot more sense back then.
Last time I went trucking in the northwest in winter, WA required me to chain up to climb Snoqualmie (in the rain, no less!!), and although the conditions were bad, I could've easily gone up that hill with my 15,000 lb load without chains. 8" of fresh snow isn't that big a deal where I live...
Later on that same trip, I went up Cabbage, and there were no chain restrictions in force there. Everybody else was chaining up, but I just went on my way and never had a problem.
If you can get away with cable chains, use them. They weigh a lot less than chain, and take up less space, too. A set of single-rails will also be preferred, since they weigh a lot less. Double-rail chains are good for getting you out of a mudhole, but are overkill for highway driving.
Answer:
I'm sorry that you feel that way , unfortunately for all of us the state governments that require the chains have no interest in what is, or, what may be.
The fact of life is that they REQUIRE chains.
So you might as well learn how to put them on, and making sure you know how to do that correctly and safely is a easy thing to do on a warm sunny day.
The HP doesn't care if you use them but you BETTER have them.
and
When the HP says "Driver put your chains on and move that rig outa here, now" you better be able to do it.


Answer:
my iron stays in the side box while i sit in a truckstop waiting for the roads to clear

Answer:
I dont have any chains yet. My company did say they will purchase them when needed. States like Oregon require you have them on board.
I agree on one thing for sure. If you need chains it's time to park the truck for a while. But, you do need to know how to use them. Several states have their own requirements. These states have it outlined as to where the chains need to be installed, on what tires and on the trailer etc. You can and will be fined heavily if you dont use them in some states and have an accident. Even if it is only your truck involved such as sliding off the road or being unable to make it up a hill. Another good reason to know how to use them is the many places they are required. There are chain up areas and signs stating chains required in very remote locations. If you cant put them on you may not be able to make it to a truck stop to park it. You may be able to avoid those places by getting information before you get there. Often though the signs will be changed to chains required with no notice. It doesn't take long for ice and snow to build up making a passible road impossoble to travel without them.
My advice is to know how to use them but avoid it whenever possible.
Whoever up there that said the chain laws were writen long ago is wrong. Chain laws change in some way yearly in many areas. They are written and rewritten all the time. Most truck stops in the states that require chains will have the current requirements available to read. It is advisable to read them and know what you need and know how to do it just in case.