Peerless Tyre Chain Alternative

When tire chains are needed for a vehicle, weather conditions are usually at their worst with extremely cold temperatures, often accompanied by winds, snowing, and icy roads.The normal procedure for installing snow chains requires that the vehicle be rolled onto the chains. That's right, these "traction cables," as they are called, are not made using standard chain. You should only put chains on if there is snow or ice on the road. If travelling out of the snow, remember to remove the chains as soon as it is safe to do so. Other times you will need to make the decision on your own. If a tire chain is not adjusted properly every few miles, it becomes loose and can smack the inside of your wheel well and bounce off of the treads and sidewalls of your tires. Installation of them is much the same as with regular chains and the lever-lock clamping setup on each cable makes installation even easier. Crushed fingers and feet are common accidents while applying snow chains due to cars unexpectedly rolling a few inches at the wrong time. Even here in California, the need for chains often surfaces in the mountain areas of places like the Sierra Nevadas and the Mountain Lake regions of Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead in San Bernardino County.

Automatic Snow Chain

This may require that the person installing the chains lay down on the cold, wet ground, which is covered by snow on the shoulder of a busy roadside. Often if there is only a light dusting of snow they will not be required but you should drive with extreme caution. As tires roll along the surface of the road, the chains make contact and through friction, cause the vehicle to gain a substantial amount of traction. Made by Peerless Chain Company, these SnoTrac traction cables for light-truck applications are ideal for our long-term GMC Sierra.

If you live where the climate calls for snowy winters, then there's a chance you'll eventually need tire chains.peerless tyre chain alternative

December 13 , 2005

Hello - This is to let you know that I purchased a set of the Go Claws from Cabelas online and they worked well.

15 Passenger Van

The week before we had them, I tried to drive my 2004 Chevy Express 15 Passenger Van with rear wheel drive, and big winter studed tires up a mile long snowy mountain to get to Miracle Mountain Ranch.  As we started up the first incline we came to a spinning stop, so I had to back down and park in the winter parking lot.

The hill is curvy and extremely steep in some places.  They have a winter parking lot at the foot of the hill because because only 4WD vehicles can travel it safely during the winter.

The next week came and we were ready to try the hill again, this time we had the GoClaws on the rear tires.  We drove the van right up the mountain with traction to spare.  Now we have been elected to be a shuttle van for others who must park at the bottom.

15 Passenger Van

You should have heard the kids cheering with pride as we made it to the top of the hill, my oldest daughter was scared to death for us to try and drive up this hill, but when she saw we made it with no problems, she was smiling from ear to ear.

We also live on a 2.5 mile long hill and sometimes that road can get extremely dangerous if a nasty snow storm hits during the weekend when they don't plow it.  We thought long and hard about getting a $9,000 +  four Wheel drive unit installed on the van by Quigley Motor Co.

But it appears now that we only had to spend $159 and we now have a RWD 15 Passenger Van that will go anywhere in the winter, thanks to the GoClaws.

Thanks,
Steve Goettler
Norristown, PA


March 8, 2005

I purchased my GoClaws in November, 2003. My intentions were to use two sets (4 GoClaws) on my '87 Jeep Wrangler (photo attached) for snowplowing.

Jeep Snow Chains

I watched the online video that demonstrated the installation, and reviewed the instructions that accompanied the product.

Although the installation wasn't as easy as demonstrated on the video, I had all four of mine on in about 30 minutes.

The GoClaws performed beyond my expectations! I plow two, or three driveways that consist of crushed stone, 200 - 800 feet long, all with steep inclines.

After a few uses, the GoClaws loosened slightly, but were easily tightened up with the tool provided. They haven't slipped or loosened since.

I'm nearing the end of my second snowplowing season using GoClaws and would highly recommend them to anyone considering chains. When the season ends, I hose my off, allow them to air-dry, separate the sections, fold them up, and store them in the bags provided. They are extremely convenient.

Thank you for a great product. I really got my money's worth.

Very Cordially,
Robert Smutek
Downsville, NY

December 13, 2004

Get unstuck from the mud

I am a qualified instructor and specialise in training drivers to drive safely in all off-road conditions.

The following is a report of my findings following a day of trailing the GoClaws. This trailing was carried out with Paul Treverton and Ed Dwyer.

  1. ROCKS ON STEEP HILL CLIMB WITH MUD, CLAY, SHALE AND ROCK LEDGES.
    Racking the steering, the GoClaws climbed over the tyre wall onto the centre of the tread (the grey joining strap). The GoClaws did not self-centre under this application. This is an extreme condition but, if you want the best product, you need to test it under these conditions.
  2. VERY STEEP ASCENTS AND DESCENTS COVERED WITH SLIPPERY CLAY, DEEP RUTS, SHALE AND FIVE FOOT WASH OVERS.
    The GoClaws performed very well in this condition    . The sharp square edges of the GoClaws increased the pound per square inch on the slippery surface giving it very good traction to continue to drive.
  3. DEEP CLAY MUD
    We backed into a mud hole and stopped. We let the vehicle settle into the mud, and then drove out without any wheel spin. The GoClaws performed brilliantly five to six times. By this time the mud was extra loose. If the GoClaws had not been fitted, traction would have been lost after the drive in... let alone on the sixth try. After we drove out, there was some slight slipping on the tyres by the pads of the GoClaws.

Steve McWiggan
Sure-Trac Off-Road Driving Training
Victoria, Australia

May 17, 2005

Get unstuck from the mud

I bought Flex Trax for my LR3 about a month ago, and I had the opportunity to try it last weekend. Do to the difficulty of installation, I didn't try it when we went to the Nicolet National Forest when I went last month. Also, I had some serious concerns about damaging my vehicle (air suspension, etc.) if these things came apart. And, I didn't want to be holding up the group.

I was there about 45 minutes early, and it took me that long to install one on each back tire. I installed them at home once, so I have some experience, but it is still harder than it should be.[editor's note: This refers to the Version 1 links] Also, I clipped off the ends on one of the three connections. Even with that, it was still probably too loose by your standards. I need to try clipping off the other two connections. If that is still not tight enough, then this size is too big for my truck.

I have to say that they performed quite well. Rather excellent actually. I was pretty invincible. I did not, however, do the same area without them, I am only comparing to how I have done in the past in similar looking mud puddles. With the trax on, I just powered right through.

The Land Rover guy that was there was very enthusiastic about them. I was telling him of my concerns, but he told me that he thought they would be ok, and even if they came apart that they wouldn't damage anything on the LR3 (the air suspension is inside a canister). The Land Rover guy was in front of me in a Range Rover, and he described some of the mud as "pretty slimy." With the trax, I didn't even notice that. Everyone was very impressed.

GoClaws in the mud

The tracks that I left behind the vehicle were impressive. It makes it seem as if these things just have to work. I even drove to lunch 2 miles on the pavement. (I couldn't see taking the time to take them off, then put them back on again). At 15 mph, they rode ok, anything more shook the vehicle too much for me to stand. The off road ride was fine, however. Not a deterrent at all. They held up just fine on the highway.

I am trying these things because the LR3 has no off-road tire solution.

I have posted the success of these things on some of the Land Rover forums. I bet many will be interested especially if we can work out some of the bugs. Also, I was thinking that it might be good to have some clips to secure the connections through holes that mated up so that I would feel more "secure" with those things on there.

I look forward to any thoughts you might have on the subject.

Thanks!

John Kosowski Jr.

 

 

 
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