Howdy folks,

I read my 1997 4runner manual and it states chains shouldn't be put on front tires. I've got 265/75/R16 tires (and Sonoran 1.1 lift) and it appears there is sufficient clearance up front to have chains. Has anyone used chains up front in off-road situations with a 3rd gen 4runner? It seems like I've got a couple finger width distance between the tire and the UCA. Is this a problem or is that enough clearance? They will strictly be used off-road only, specifically to keep me steering straight on icy off-camber trails.

Would like to hear from people who've run chains up front on their 3rd gen runners, not speculators. Thanks in advance.

 

Can't speak about the clearance issue but chains should really not be used on the front of a part time 4wd vehicle while on-road driving. It tends to cause understeer issues when turning similar to a locker in the front just not as bad.
Pretty sure the 97's were still part time 4wd.

 

Yes the 97's are part-time 4wd. How do chains on the front cause understeer issues if there is an open diff? Did you experience this yourself? I completely get the front locker thing in snow as I've experienced that with my old 80Series Land Cruiser, but never thought it would be an issue with chains and an open front diff on my 4runner.

 

I haven't run them but I asked the same thing when I wanted to chain front/rear on both my bronco II and full size bronco. Mainly the full size bronco for snow wheeling. Was not gonna take chances running them on the street.

 

Might want to change your avatar - you are offroading in a non sanctioned area, and have your vehicle in waters which were deemed by DFO to contain sensitive fish habitat such as spawning areas.

RESPECT TREAD LIGHTLY

 

Was crossing a creek on a sanctioned trail, ice on both sides of the creek and slid off to where I sat. Not doing anything illegal whatsoever. Thanks for your concern, but nothing wrong or illegal was being done. I guess we should all have a pic of our trucks sitting on a gravel road for fear of picture misinterpretations? Haven't been on this site for a while, have things changed with regards to pics on avatars?

 

Your avatar is fine. Mods do don't like illegal off-road or drinking while off-roading photos etc etc.

Anyway back to the chains. The chains on the front are gonna act somewhat like a locker. Even with an open diff. Not as good though.

I am gonna edit my first post about the clearance though as it can still be an issue. Especially at full lock.

 

Tire chains and off camber situtations don't mix well. It puts a weird force on the chain where the bottom tends to roll under and the top gets loose. Then if your tensioner fails, that chain has two ways to go...spin off and not damage anything or spin onto the axle and cause havok. Saw it happen on a F-250 with the front chained up and it tore stuff up.

I only have one set of chains and they always go on the back. But I have no idea how a part time 4X4 and chains on the front mix.

What is keeping you from putting them on the back? I've never had a problem with the steering, only with the traction.

 

I use V-bar chains on the back all the time. However, this past weekend I crossed something off-camber with an incline and my front end slid down and off the trail. Fortunately I was able to get out with some mild back and forth motion, then my 4runner was able to motor out (only because I had chains in the back). If I had chains in the front it wouldn't have happened. Very short section of "sanctioned trail" that is near impossible for trucks to traverse without chains when icy and snow covered. Falling off the trail means a 8-10 foot drop into a ice covered river.