Need fast help pls - Snow Chanis or Cables

[NGOphotographer]

Pbrover:

I figured that you wanted to hear from a LR employee but thought I would put my $0.02 in.

I would very much like to hear what he says. I was at a wheels even in December and forgot to ask the staff. We hadn't had any rain or cold weather 'til just recently.

NGOphotographer

 

[grommet]

Personally, if only had one pair... I'd use the front, just like LR recommends. I've always found it has better control on 4WD/AWD; better steering & braking (75% of brake force is at the front!). Maybe it would be different on ice... but on the rest, that's been my experience.

Personally I don't quite understand why it wouldn't be allowed on all four.

 

[pbrover]

I agree completely grommet about the chains being on the front! But like you I personally don't understand why it wouldn't be allowed on all four. Hopefully, my new Land Rover employee contact will provide the answer we need.

 

[pbrover]

Pbrover:

I figured that you wanted to hear from a LR employee but thought I would put my $0.02 in.

I would very much like to hear what he says. I was at a wheels even in December and forgot to ask the staff. We hadn't had any rain or cold weather 'til just recently.

NGOphotographer

I appreciate your comment sorry if I came off terse. By the way I am in Monterey California area. From your comment, about the weather I want to conclude that your in Northern California also. The main reason I have chains for the LR3 is that when I take my little kids to Badger Pass Ski area after a big snow storm, Yosemite posts R3 road conditions (all vehicles even 4x4 have chains). Is that why you bought chains also?

 

[NGOphotographer]

Pbrover:

Thanks for the note. I also got chains so I could go to Yosemite for those once in a decade shots. I wouldn't want to get up there and have the happy ranger turn me away!


NGOphotographer

 

[pbrover]

I went to Yosemite over the weekend. R2 road conditions only!

 

[NGOphotographer]

That was the same when I went up a couple weekends ago...

One secret is to arrive at Yosemite around 4:30/5am. It was snowing hard when we drove up, pulled up to our spot where we were going to shoot sunrise and waited for it.

The snow plows came about 6:00am. The ranger drove around 6:30/7:00am. Saw we got in, figured we're ok I guess.

 

[ddeeble]

Reason not to use chains on rear...

Some people have already mentioned it, but I think the reason is exactly because of the rear locking differential. The reason you don't want to use a locker on pavement is because when you go around a corner, the rear wheels will actually turn at a slightly different rate. With a locker, the wheels can't do this and thus you will 'drag' one wheel around the corner, stressing the driveline and damaging the tire. With an open or limited slip differential, the driveline will allow the wheels to turn without dragging. In the snow, you can run the lockers because rather than dragging the wheel around a corner, the slick surface allows the wheel to slide without stressing the driveline (same is true with sand). If you put chains on the locked wheels though (the rears on the LR3), you've just eliminated this ablility. You want the chains on the front only because the LR3's front differential is 'open' (ABS system manages torque direction in the front) because even with the chains in place, the differential will allow for the necessary slipage. I hope that all makes sense!

 

[duckdive]

So that means that people without the rear diff lock option can use them on front
or back? Is one diff really more open than the other when locker is not
engaged?

 

[ddeeble]

Yes, without a rear locker you should be able to put the chains on either set of wheels (or both!) - in fact, that would probably be best as the locking center differential would likely be directing power to both the front and rear.

It's not a matter of one differential being 'more' open. With the rear lock disengaged, you could put chains on both sets of wheels and be just fine. However, what would be the point of having the rear locker if you're not going to use it in low-traction environments such as snow? Because you're more likely to want your rear locked in that scenario, Land Rover just makes the blanket statement to not put chains on the rear. Remember, the manual is written to the level of the least-experienced potential owner. It's not a 'best practices' guide to off-roading. It's also a legal document - if they so "no chains on the rear" and you do it anyway (whether you read the manual or not) they avoid responsibility for what could be some very expensive warranty repairs.

Please keep in mind - I don't know for a FACT that this is why LR says not to put chains on the rear. This is why I wouldn't do it and have a technical justification for my position. I am basing my opinion on many years of off-roading as well as a solid understanding of the mechanical componentry involved with the sport. But it is just my opinion - and like the saying goes, "...everyone has one."