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Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Yahoo Message Number: 64770
I recently bought my first motorhome ever, 2004 intrigue ovation with the 505 c12 cat engine. In my first couple weeks of owning this rig I have driven it 2400 miles and been out for two nights in it.
It was purely and after thought as to if I could take this RV on freeways with snow. I have been doing alot of research on putting chains or cables on the drive wheels but this is not going to work since the fenders are just too close to the outside wheel wells and exterior face. The inside wheels would work but that would be a major PITA to deal with.
So I have researched those automatic chains systems like you see hanging down from school bus and emergency vehicles and decided that this might be a possibility except for the problem that the ridewell RADT-246 tag axel suspension is much bigger than most suspension systems they install these things on. I am taking it to and installer on Wednesday to see if they can install them or at least figure out if they can fabricate something to swing into place and have clearance.

So far I have researched three companies that make these systems:

http://www.onspot.com
http://www.rud.com/en-us/produkte/schneeketten/rotogrip/rotogrip3.html
http://insta-chain.com/
My question to any one out there, have they spoke to anyone or seen any CC with these systems under them? I would like to talk with them about what they did or how they have used them.
Now before you tell me that I am suppose to know that motorhomes are suppose to go south in the winter and north in the summer, I do not resemble that logic although it makes perfectly good sense. I live in the northwest and I would like to use it during the winter to go over the passes and possible park in ski areas. I go skiing alot and would love to stay up a ski area over night occasionally. Most of the time the roads are clear or plowed around here but I am not about to get stuck or be on the nightly news.
I am trying to find all the information I can on how these 42,000 lbs rvs handle on compact snow and ice. I drive in snow all the time in the winter with my 4 wheel drive vehicles going up skiing but this is totally different and I am not comfortable with the down hill part of the equation.
The expense of putting a unit under the bus is not bad $2500, (ok it is 10 times the expense of buying just the chains), but it is really only effective up to a few inches of snow and when going over 5 miles per hour to swing the chains under the tires.
I know it has been done on other large motorhomes but I have no evidence of it being done on one of the dynomax ridewell 246 suspensions unless any of you know of a particular CC that done this.
I would appreciate any feed back or stories on if you have driven in the snow with your coach and how it handled on ice, snow or compact snow. I am not going to drive this motorhome anywhere near the snow until I have some way of chaining it up.
I am a private pilot and very well understand the concept that take offs are optional and landings are required. The logic carries over to going up hills and coming back down with big rigs.

Thank you for your comments.

Dallas

2004 intrigue '42 ovation 11688

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64772
Interesting. I would not do it, as I own the fiberglass and steel on this coach.
When I did drive big rigs (owned by others) on ice and snow, it was in a well balanced 18 wheeler with traction type tires and chains in reserve, though I never used them. If I was going to do so, I would get a four corner weight to see if it was balanced, and consider traction type tires on the drives. You rarely see traction tires on coaches because they do not ride as well.
The weight will allow you to go places in snow you cannot believe, but ice takes no prisoners. I have two ice stories that illustrate that point, but will not bore anyone with them now. I already pushed the limit with that last one. ;*) Good luck with that. Report back.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue, 11527, some ice in Oregon, now in Texas, going further south in December. I will avoid ice like a forth marriage.

Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64776
I too am an experienced snow driver (Chicago) and got caught in the Blue Mountains in August last year. Started snowing on the way up. I was also concerned about the legal requirements to have chains.
I was concerned on the way down in about 3 inches of new snow but the coach handled great. I was cautious of course, (40-45 mph) but I never felt the coach slip even an inch.

John 2007 Inspire

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64777

I have driven RV's in the snow lots since 1985, only had chains on when required by State Patrol. Once in Weed, CA. and once on the Siskyu Pass on I 5 in S. Oregon. Actually same trip. Chains do not fit well I found out, but had to put them on at Medford. $100 dollar fine if not carrying them. I believe now days, maybe those nylon type chains would be ok, but the old style chains, are a real pain, and could not go over about 30 mph without problems. One just has to remember, you can usually go pretty good, especially in a diesel pusher, but you can not stop nearly as well. Going up hill is easy, coming down hill, one must be careful, real careful.
Good luck, drive accordingly, but you must carry devices in some states, or you may be fined. Oregon is one.

Dale Morris, 91 Savanna #4702

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64782
Dallas,

We have a lot in common. I too, have an 04 Intrigue, have been a private pilot for many years, and have been driving in the mountains of Colorado since 1963. I have owned about 10 motorhomes and have driven them 100's of 1000's of miles. With that said, there is no way in h--- I would take my Intrigue to a ski area. By the way, I lived in Aspen for 40 years.

Dick Bradley

04 Intrigue #11830

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64788
Dick,

I was just 2 years old in 1963....reality check, What am I doing with a 42 foot motorhome? I digress...

So does your comment mean?
A) You don't ski?
B) You are concearned about frozen pipes?
C) Aspen and motorhomes do not go together when it shows? or
C) Bobsleding with a 37,000 lbs sled is not your cup of tea?

I had to ask. :)

I am going to see if I can install the automatic chains under the back side of the differential and also buy an extra set of rims and Michelins XDN2 tires for the drive wheels this week just to be on the cautious side IF I do take it up skiing, and that is a big IF. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the comment Dick.

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64789
Jack,

Good idea, I think I am considering 4 more rims and put traction tires on the drive axel. The Tires on the drives are ribbed tires and I cannot see how they would help in the snow. I am not going to challenge mother nature but it is possible since I do not go south in the winter that I will find snow a few miles from my house.
We have something in common, I own the fiberglass and steel on my coach too. :)

Dallas 2004 intrigue ovation 11688

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64790
We are also both private pilots (instrument). ;*)
I will be interested to hear what ice driving technology is available in 22.5 tires. The automobile snow/ice tires are great, with the snowflake logo, and can be used in place of chains in most cases. Report back on that, please. I won't need it in south Texas, but I might want to go back to Oregon some day. Cost and mileage may be factors.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue, 11527

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64819
Update

This morning I drove the motorhome up to the bluebird school bus dealer for Washington State in Everett WA and they showed me how the system works on the school busses they install them on. Very kewl. Sold me! They measured all the critical points of the rear suspension and sent this information along with pictures to OnSpot to figure out how to manufacture and install the same system. Looks plausible that I will know if this will work on the ridewell RADT suspension by next week. A flip of the switch and you have more chain thrown under the tire than a regular chained up tire.
I also picked up some extra never used steel inside rims that fit the motorhome drive axels. They could not use them on their newer busses and had extras on pallets. The numbers matched what is not he existing inside wheels. Made me a good deal on them $90/each. I also located a local supplier of accuride polished aluminum rims $190/each for the outside tires so now I can have my Michelin XDN2 tires for the winter and can leave the existing ribbed tires on drive rims for the summer.

Dallas

2004 intirgue ovation 11688

Quote from: Jack Nichols

Re: Automatic Tire Chains for driving in the snow

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67028
Well I found a set of extreme duty Onspot automatic chains (Model 04601BCAX10) off a freightliner semi truck hay hauler and purchased the entire system for a $400. The new owner of this truck did not need them. I was told by ONSPOT and some local installers that there is no bracket to install these on the ridewell suspensions system under my intrigue. That was all I needed to do it myself. I spent 30 hours downloading and studying the geometry of their system and then designing my own brackets and now have them installed on my intrigue Ovation. I will be installing the air hoses, solenoid and switch in a few days.
Onspot wants $1600 for a complete system so I thought I would buy a used one to test fit them to my 2004 intrigue ovation with tag. The extreme duty has a far better bearing setup and I was fortunate to find it. It comes with thicker steel brackets that mount the pivot arm and canister because I had to cut out a section of the bracket to make room for the leveling plate attached to the back of the drive axel carrier.
It was quite a lot of work to make brackets that would fit on the frame, allow for clearance on the suspension system when lowered and clear the passenger side of the differential. The brackets that attach to the suspension were made out of ΒΌ inch x 4 inch angle iron, drilled and welded with reinforcements on allow the ONSPOT system to bolt on and come off very easily by removing two large bolts. Here is a picture of what the onspot chain system looks like under the coach. I will get more pictures when I have better lighting conditions.
I will post some pictures of the ONSPOT chain system and the brackets on the 2004 intrigue ovation photo album that has some of the improvements I have been making to my coach.
photos/album/370769381/pic/1674649733/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc
Dallas Intrigue Ovation C12 11688