What drivetrain mode for chains on all 4 wheels?

[LV1976]

I tried a search but didn't find an answer, what mode would you use if you are driving in snow/ice with chains on all 4 wheels? 4HI or Auto?

 

[GaryH2]

I think if I were in the situation where I needed chains on all 4 wheels, I would use 4x4 to get maximum traction. 4Auto needs a smidgen of slip to engage the clutches so I wouldn't think you would benefit as much from the front chains.

Better yet, if I had to have chains on all 4 wheels I would stay off of the roads and keep warm!

 

[Yudaman]

My first question "Why the hell would you want to go ANYWHERE that required you to chain up all 4 tires on an Expy"???
My opinion regarding chains on an Expy in the snow: When you have to put them on, it is time to turn around and go back. You are not getting any higher in the hills.
If you are talking about chaining up your Expy for driving on snow covered roads, that's a whole different discussion of fail.

But to answer your question, 4h would be your best option for driving on ice with chains.

 

[FordandPolaris]

Agreed 4hi, but I have never had a problem getting through MN snow and ice on just a good set of tires and A4WD, even on steep hills. I have driven through 2 feet of standing snow on my way to the Mall of America and made it without issue.

Where are you planning on going with the chains?

 

[Static54]

Depending on where you go chains are required by law to go past certain points, some you don't need chains if you have a 4wd vehicle with snow tires. So it's not that uncommon.

 

[LV1976]

Depending on where you go chains are required by law to go past certain points, some you don't need chains if you have a 4wd vehicle with snow tires. So it's not that uncommon.

Thanks to everybody for your answers, I was asking mainly for icy roads heading up to the mountains, no offroad type stuff. I don't have snow tires on the vehicle, just Falken Wild Peak A/T. When I lived up in Oregon and I was headed up to Mt. Hood for some snowboarding, the roads would get slushy during the day and then refreeze back into ice in the evening when the temps dropped again, and chains were required not just for getting going, but stopping was important too. Assuming the same scenario, wouldn't it be better to have all 4 tires chained up? If you only had 2 chained and in 4HI, wouldn't that change the turning ratio of the front and rear wheels, causing the diff to try to catch up?

 

[tonydiv]

Definitely 4 hi, unless you are really slogging through some nasty stuff at less than 20mph, then you could go 4 low.

 

[Mediamonkey11]

Thanks to everybody for your answers, I was asking mainly for icy roads heading up to the mountains, no offroad type stuff. I don't have snow tires on the vehicle, just Falken Wild Peak A/T. When I lived up in Oregon and I was headed up to Mt. Hood for some snowboarding, the roads would get slushy during the day and then refreeze back into ice in the evening when the temps dropped again, and chains were required not just for getting going, but stopping was important too. Assuming the same scenario, wouldn't it be better to have all 4 tires chained up? If you only had 2 chained and in 4HI, wouldn't that change the turning ratio of the front and rear wheels, causing the diff to try to catch up?

4Hi locks the center diff so if you only had to have chains on 2 wheels it wouldn't affect anything. If you were in A4wd then the diff would have to engage whenever slip was detected between the front and rear tires. If you're chaining up, regardless of number of tires, 4Hi is what you should use.

 

[FordandPolaris]

Thanks to everybody for your answers, I was asking mainly for icy roads heading up to the mountains, no offroad type stuff. I don't have snow tires on the vehicle, just Falken Wild Peak A/T. When I lived up in Oregon and I was headed up to Mt. Hood for some snowboarding, the roads would get slushy during the day and then refreeze back into ice in the evening when the temps dropped again, and chains were required not just for getting going, but stopping was important too. Assuming the same scenario, wouldn't it be better to have all 4 tires chained up? If you only had 2 chained and in 4HI, wouldn't that change the turning ratio of the front and rear wheels, causing the diff to try to catch up?

I don't think the chains would add enough to be noticeable in the drivetrain if you only had them on two tires. However, chaining up all 4 means better traction, and so if you are trying to slide 2.5 tons of metal down sheer ice it would not be a bad idea to have all 4 chained.

By the same theory, 4L is kind of the Expedition's crawler gear, so I might use that on the hills going up and down just to try and keep everything spinning at low speed. That's just me though. Others may feel differently.

 

[LV1976]

I don't think the chains would add enough to be noticeable in the drivetrain if you only had them on two tires. However, chaining up all 4 means better traction, and so if you are trying to slide 2.5 tons of metal down sheer ice it would not be a bad idea to have all 4 chained.

By the same theory, 4L is kind of the Expedition's crawler gear, so I might use that on the hills going up and down just to try and keep everything spinning at low speed. That's just me though. Others may feel differently.

Thank you all again for your helpful recommendations.

 

[VTfireftr]

Chains are NOT for ice. They will act as ice skates! Chains are for snow.

Save your money and get a good set of winter tires!

 

[toms89]

I don't think the chains would add enough to be noticeable in the drivetrain if you only had them on two tires. However, chaining up all 4 means better traction, and so if you are trying to slide 2.5 tons of metal down sheer ice it would not be a bad idea to have all 4 chained.

By the same theory, 4L is kind of the Expedition's crawler gear, so I might use that on the hills going up and down just to try and keep everything spinning at low speed. That's just me though. Others may feel differently.

I personally would only use 4 low as a crawler gear or in conditions where the extra torque multiplication would be beneficial. I have used it in deep sand as it puts serious drag on the motor constantly "climbing" out of it and it helps limits wheel spin.

I think 4 low on ice or snow would limit feel and spin too easily. I understand the logic about limiting wheel speed but it can shift to the higher gears rather quickly. Going down hill I might just lock it in lower gear if necessary using 4hi.

Chains are NOT for ice. They will act as ice skates! Chains are for snow.

Not commenting on design or intent but I personally found chains worked very well with ice. My theory is the relative weight per square inch on the chains is much higher vs any tire alone allowing it to dig in or break through ice. I only had limited experience with chains on my mustang on ice but it definitely helped. You could see where it dug in and actually left marks in the pavement.

That said... chains on ice covered road vs deep snow would be very uncomfortable ride and limits speed.

I would guess that studded snow tires would be best for ice but no experience with them.

 

[FordandPolaris]

I personally would only use 4 low as a crawler gear or in conditions where the extra torque multiplication would be beneficial. I have used it in deep sand as it puts serious drag on the motor constantly "climbing" out of it and it helps limits wheel spin.

I think 4 low on ice or snow would limit feel and spin too easily. I understand the logic about limiting wheel speed but it can shift to the higher gears rather quickly. Going down hill I might just lock it in lower gear if necessary using 4hi.



Not commenting on design or intent but I personally found chains worked very well with ice. My theory is the relative weight per square inch on the chains is much higher vs any tire alone allowing it to dig in or break through ice. I only had limited experience with chains on my mustang on ice but it definitely helped. You could see where it dug in and actually left marks in the pavement.

That said... chains on ice covered road vs deep snow would be very uncomfortable ride and limits speed.

I would guess that studded snow tires would be best for ice but no experience with them.

That's a good point about 4L. I didn't think about the torque multiplication on slippery surfaces. I have never used 4L in the winter but we also don't have much elevation change in unless you go to the SE area of the state. Bad info on my part haha.

I agree also that the chains would not serve as ice skates simply due to the design of chains themselves. The chains lay perpendicular to the direction of travel and therefore should be very good for ice. Afterall, that is the way you come to a stop (and start going again) on a pair of ice skates is by turning the blades perpendicular to the direction of travel, giving you traction and applicable force.

 

[Lightnig]

IMHO, for conditions where chains are appropriate 4Hi and chain all four wheels.

Also, shift manually to control speed and tire spin. After all, last thing you want to do is over speed your tires and throw a chain - makes a BIG mess of the body work...