Having never had to do it, thought i’d have a sticky beak around the net to see how its done incase the need arises. It seems chains & the manor of fitting vary slightly, but the principle is pretty much the same. Here’s a quite clearly explained video clip, with links to others.
Ofcourse it looks so easy on a warm, bright, dry day. Different in the dark at -10 & snowing hard,
I think i prefer these 
Do I dare say anything■■?
OK, so here’s the thing… When you lay the chains out beside the wheel, make sure the studded part is facing downwards and the outer hooks inwards, then pick up the outside (in relation to the vehicle) edge in the middle and drape it over the tyre. If it is a double (called triple) chain the fold it over on itself so you are grabbing a double thickness, then drape it over the outer tyre and then fold the inner chain over the inner tyre. Often you can’t move at all. The thing about pulling forwards or backwards is not always practical. So you have to get the chain as centred as possible so you can lie down and pull the chain ends between the wheel. That way, you can get them fitted without moving the vehicle at all. Put the inner hook on reasonably tightly the pull the chain as far over the wheel as you can and do the outer chain as tightly as you can. Most chains have a square drive tensioner. A ratchett or t bar is best. If it is denting the tyre then it is tight enough. This will get you out of mischief and you can then tighten the chains and tidy it up a bit once you are safe. Putting bungees across the chain on the outer edge will stop them rattling quite as badly and you will see the bungees flapping when the chains have run slack.
Having the chains rattling loosely like in the clip is a recipe for disaster. They will catch anything in reach, and they are more fragile than you think so you need them tight. The cross chains will snap if they hit a rock or kerb and will rip the hell out of things.
Most important… Use them to get off the road and safe then take them off. They are generally only rated to 40 or so kph and are bloody dangerous when they let go. If they do snap then you can be sure there will be damage. But if you have them and need them then use them.
Best thing to do is to have a gang of drivers together on a good, dry day and take turns learning their use.
Those automatic ones look bloody scary!!!
Ray from ice road truckers could do with some of the automatic ones, he does seem to spin out a lot.
changed my mind ill leave it to bob lol…
Practice what you preach,I’ve always said when it’s time to chain up then it’s time to pull the curtains.
BTD,just watching the local news,drivers were chaining up between Moose Jaw and Swift Current today,how bad must the highway have been for that?
flat to the mat:
Practice what you preach,I’ve always said when it’s time to chain up then it’s time to pull the curtains.
BTD,just watching the local news,drivers were chaining up between Moose Jaw and Swift Current today,how bad must the highway have been for that?
Just had nianiamh on the blower (not the windscreen one 
) HWY1 is closed in Brandon, operation abandon it on the shoulder is in effect 
I’m with you FTTM, if chains are required, it’s park it up time, if I’m stuck in a parking lot I’ll use chains, big long ones attached to a loading shovel
Mind you it’s nice and warm here in LA though 
lways
flat to the mat:
Practice what you preach,I’ve always said when it’s time to chain up then it’s time to pull the curtains.
BTD,just watching the local news,drivers were chaining up between Moose Jaw and Swift Current today,how bad must the highway have been for that?
My boss always used to say that,but the laws in some countries has changed and you are req to carry them by law i believe.
regards dave.
We are required to carry them in some provinces,doesn’t mean we have to use them.Only time mine ever came off the racks was to help me get out from under a trailer,driving an auto which wasn’t very good on ice.Hasten to add that I just laid the chains on the ground.
You fellas in the states and Canada have double drive though, our trucks loose traction at the first sniff of snow. With diff lok and a steady right foot you can go keep moving until it really starts coming down.
Those rotagrip chains look ■■■■, i’d have a pair if we got more snow, I carry a normal set of chains in the truck in case I get stuck. The one thing over here is there’s so much traffic everywhere that even if you have chains on and can get traction, doesn’t matter if theres a massive Q in front of you that can’t.
Worth having to get you out of a pinch though.
Auto chains is what is needed. Flick a switch and the motor spins and flicks the chains underneath the tyres.
bubsy06:
Auto chains is what is needed. Flick a switch and the motor spins and flicks the chains underneath the tyres.
errr… did you see the 2nd video I posted at the start of this thread Busby? Or have you just woke up?
Driveroneuk:
bubsy06:
Auto chains is what is needed. Flick a switch and the motor spins and flicks the chains underneath the tyres.errr… did you see the 2nd video I posted at the start of this thread Busby? Or have you just woke up?
Not showing a link on my phone
bobthedog:
Those automatic ones look bloody scary!!!
But they are pretty handy. Well, that of course if they happen to work after being stationary whole summer. You know, bearings and such things might not work that well… Rotagrip is new name to me, but it seems just like the similar Onspot-branded automatic chains do (and available also in US 
).
There also has been (maybe still is?) some problems when fitting these on low-ride vehicles as there aren’t much of a free space near drive axle.
BritPete gave the first heads up:
Fair play to driverone for the video as I was scratching my head looking at the website and couldn’t for the life of me work out how they worked.
dafdave:
lwaysflat to the mat:
Practice what you preach,I’ve always said when it’s time to chain up then it’s time to pull the curtains.
BTD,just watching the local news,drivers were chaining up between Moose Jaw and Swift Current today,how bad must the highway have been for that?My boss always used to say that,but the laws in some countries has changed and you are req to carry them by law i believe.
regards dave.
You are required to carry them, no law saying you have to fit them though. They are like jump leads, carry them and hope you never need them!
I had it down to a fine art and was usually all set up within 20 minutes, unless I had to spend half an hour digging the snow out first. I only used the triples if I was really in the cack though, otherwise it was a set of singles on the rear drive and onwards. Without having any intention of getting on to the 6x4, 4x2 or any other by any other argument again (don’t go there, curry…) the extra drive is not as much of a boon as you might think. Just gives you more wheels to spin. Most of the reason trucks in the UK don’t handle the snow is down to the tyres.
The auto ones look like they really could be dangerous as they age. I wouldn’t want to be close to them when they start throwing links around.
bobthedog:
I had it down to a fine art and was usually all set up within 20 minutes, unless I had to spend half an hour digging the snow out first. I only used the triples if I was really in the cack though, otherwise it was a set of singles on the rear drive and onwards. Without having any intention of getting on to the 6x4, 4x2 or any other by any other argument again (don’t go there, curry…)
If you say so but the Brits are learning.I’m just surprised that the tipper operators here are’nt out making some extra money by using their tippers to pull all the 4x2 and 6x2 artics out of the zb and doing some sub contract ploughing for the council.
Carryfast:
bobthedog:
I had it down to a fine art and was usually all set up within 20 minutes, unless I had to spend half an hour digging the snow out first. I only used the triples if I was really in the cack though, otherwise it was a set of singles on the rear drive and onwards. Without having any intention of getting on to the 6x4, 4x2 or any other by any other argument again (don’t go there, curry…)If you say so but the Brits are learning.I’m just surprised that the tipper operators here are’nt out making some extra money by using their tippers to pull all the 4x2 and 6x2 artics out of the zb and doing some sub contract ploughing for the council.
I’ve also wondered why your powers-that-be haven’t realized this option. Here in Finland it’s very common sight to see tipper with snow plough couplings at front, little less common with scrapers underneath their belly and some even with side-mounted snow plough couplings. I’d think this kind of solution would help much over there in coping with your more or less rare snow storm occurrences.