Snow chains or socks

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've driven extensively in snow and by the time the conditions require winter tyres or chains I wouldn't want to be towing anything. Getting going would be compromised and slowing and turning also. Without the same level of grip on the towed vehicle, I can't imagine slowing and turning to be anything other than hazardous.

In truth - you wouldn't be driving because those tyres wouldn't let you! Again, even heading to where there will be snow is a tricky proposition. Fitting chains when the tarmac is bare is too early, waiting until the road is covered in snow is very possibly too late on summer tyres.

I see the logic in that.
A caravan on snow on summer tyres - the thought scares the shit out of me.

When it comes to driving in snow and icy conditions too many people think it’s all about getting going. That’s the easy bit, as you say slowing and turning is the challenge - unless the snow is sufficiently deep I wouldn’t want to be slowing or turning on chains either, that would be similarly scary!

 

[Bellow]

Chains are most useful for hard packed especially ice. On soft snow they are OK but if you 'belly' in deep snow they can (and do) fly off.
They are very difficult though. The heat of the car will melt the snow around the wheels and the chains get wet. If they freeze then it can be difficult to mount them and even if that is possible it will be necessary to drive briefly and stop again to re-tension them.
They also require sufficient space between the tyre and wheel arch for forearms to reach the back of the wheel. Even with the relatively easy access from the rear my fortwo permitted, it was still difficult to mount them. A suitable space to stop is also required. Not too difficult with a smart but a car and caravan and unknown terrain elevates this to a different plane. In extreme cold gloves impede fitting them, without gloves fingers cease to function. All this on your knees at the roadside.
And when you are moving, always in the back of the mind is the thought of a chain detaching and the damage it can cause.
Chains are not easy. I'd caution anyone against their first attempt at fitting them to be when they are actually needed and no matter how well that goes, it will be ten times more difficult when they are actually required.

 

[sgregory124]

Plan to tow a caravan from Santander to South Spain. Probable snow conditions north of Madrid. Our E220 estate rear drive has 275/35 R19 with limited space to get your hands through the wheel arch to back of wheel. Anyone used the socks or must it be chains.

Limited space on the arches isn't the problem it used to be. Get yourself a set of König K44 K-Summit chains, forget the socks, no part of the K44's goes behind the wheel, so no fouling of your brake gear etc. That exact model is listed as fitting your 275/35/19's too. Just so happens I have a set for sale - just saying!

 

[MercedesDriver]

On Ice only spiked tyres work but they are illegal in most of Europe except in Nordic countries. Chains on ice make only racket and move you nowhere as they have nothing to dig in.
As Bobby Dazzler have said if the conditions are such that chains are necessary it’s better to park at the carpark, board the trailer and wait for roads to clear or to be rescued by ⛑. Since the OP is going to Spain I don’t think he will need chains ever but only Winter tyres on all car wheels plus trailers too.

 

[Bellow]

. Chains on ice make only racket and move you nowhere as they have nothing to dig in.
.

Oh shit! It's 2010 and I'm stuck on the farm track then.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Oh shit! It's 2010 and I'm stuck on the farm track then.

The clue is in the farm track

 

[Stratman]

On Ice only spiked tyres work but they are illegal in most of Europe except in Nordic countries. Chains on ice make only racket and move you nowhere as they have nothing to dig in.
............

I must have imagined driving to Alpine ski resorts then.

 

[MercedesDriver]

I must have imagined driving to Alpine ski resorts then.

Just because you were driving to ski resort with chains doesn’t make it just.

 

[zipdip]

Well the op is fairly new to our forum,and I was wondering just how long he has been towing a van,as we have very little information,now I am no expert with caravans having only pulled one up to the lake district some years ago,but with the advantage of having a HGV1 allowing me to reverse onto the pitch with no problem and the like.
At the moment he will never get snow chains on the wheels,so he either buys a smaller set and chains,carrying chains in winter in spain is required,as Bellow has said just when you fit them is the game,and his advice I think holds good if the weather go's bad get off the road with a van,for my money that run from Santander to the Costa's is 9/10 hrs mostly motorway and with the knowledge of the weather should be no problem for the op and I suppose his co driver as they are fresh off the ferry.
Would I take a caravan down to Spain in the winter,well no,but you have to give these caravan guys their due,faced with a return ferry fare of around a grand and a mountain of stuff to get to be legal pulling a van over there ,they are not deterred,all I can say is best of luck.

 

[sgregory124]

Just because you were driving to ski resort with chains doesn’t make it just.

You might think chains are 'noisy' with no real use on ice, but I can tell you i've been glad of them on more than one occasion coming down mountain roads - they dig into anything sitting on top of the road surface and they do it very well. I'd rather put up with a bit of noise than end up in the scenery....

 

[tonysmb]

I've towed but not for a while; there's no way that I'd consider towing if the conditions required chains. I've driven on studs, winter tyres and socks but not chains, although I've carried them. Studs are excellent but not practical (and probably not legal) for what's being considered. Winter tyres very good. Socks waste of time.

4 winter tyres (and 2 for the caravan?) are a lot cheaper than trying to sort out the potential risk of the car and trailer coming to grief. I haven't been on the roads from Santander to Madrid but I'd be looking at sticking to the dual carriageways/autoroutes all the way to the coast, even though it would be further but even then there's no guarantee they'd be clear as Spain (and S France) has sometimes had out of the ordinary heavy snow even on the coast (Catalonia).

If I was considering it, it would be winter tyres and autoroutes but being prepared to stop en route if the weather was bad until such time as the roads were cleared. Taking the shortest route over high ground hoping chains would sort it out if needed would be out of the equation.

Just my 2 euro-cents worth

 

[GARYSJ]

Thanks for everyone's input. Many caravans go each year in winter to Spain and checking on caravan forums they are quite relaxed by the snow challange having done the journey many years. Purchased some basics and hope never to use them.

 

[elan362]

On most RWD cars, access under / behind the rear wheel arch for chaining up is tight and can result in bruised and cut knuckles.
Ive got / carry a MB jack to allow me to unweight the rear suspension a bit and give me more clearance around the rear wheel arch when fitting chains…
it makes life a lot easier!!

 

[GARYSJ]

The air suspension helps after engine start.

 

[elan362]

The air suspension helps after engine start.

Toff !

 

[GARYSJ]

The chafuer does it anyway.

 

[sgregory124]

On most RWD cars, access under / behind the rear wheel arch for chaining up is tight and can result in bruised and cut knuckles.
Ive got / carry a MB jack to allow me to unweight the rear suspension a bit and give me more clearance around the rear wheel arch when fitting chains…
it makes life a lot easier!!

Not if you use Konig K-Summit series chains that don't need to go behind the wheel....just saying...