I have considered these:
https://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-bin/chai ... .htm&ver=3#
Roly
Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
Re: Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
1998 Premier
-
spambucket
- Posts: 9
- Joined: February 7th, 2022, 11:37 am
Re: Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
DasKugs wrote: January 21st, 2021, 12:56 pm This is actually the biggest topic I've been pondering with my '97 Premiere here in Hood River, Oregon. Obviously tires are the only thing that touch the ground, so I understand they are of utmost importance. Though the weight over the rear axle will help with traction on the uphill trek to mount hood, it's more of the downhill on the return trip that gives me pause, as there is one particular curvy section in a canyon that I see as the biggest problem. Hoping to hear a few more reports from people with snow, and especially ski-hill/mountain experience in their chinook.
I'm literally viewing this thread after searching for info about driving my 04 up Mt Hood to ski through out the season and/or stay at a cabin. How are you feeling about the Chinook on Mt Hood?
-
ChinnyMike
- Posts: 1
- Joined: January 22nd, 2019, 7:00 pm
Re: Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
I live in Seattle and Snowboard my ass off. I drive the RWD (2WD) Chinook quite a bit in the snow. In fact most of my camping is done in the snow. I have the KO2 Baja Tires from BF Goodrich as do most of the trucks out here in the snow. The Chinook RIPS in the snow. Traction is never a problem with this amount of weight 10k lbs and all terrain tires. The KO2's are so good.
I bury this Rig in the RV lots at Ski Resorts hoping to get snowed in. A little shoveling to get a clear path started and she plows through snow no problem! I have driven it through 8-12" of snow many many times without a problem. Yes the Duelies do "float" a bit more on snow bc of their width (its a wall of tire back there!) and dont "cut" through deep snow as well as single would, but I just giver the gas and it always breaks free if its starting to bog down. That being said I DO carry traction pads but end up loaning them out to bigger rigs that get stuck. Ive never actually used them myself. I do carry a tow strap.
I often contemplate going 4x4 for $25K but I've never had a problem in snow yet. Ive got to numerous deep pow days at Mt Baker, Snoqualmie, and all over Oregon and WA and BC. The Chinook is "GOOD" in the snow. I'm from Northern Michigan originally so I know what "good" in the snow is. "Good" in the snow means you dont get stuck unless you really screw up.
HOWEVER!!! The 10K lb rig does NOT like to STOP WELL in the snow....especially on decending inclines. For this reason I would say it "GOES" really well but it does NOT "Stop" really well so you gotta be very planed and almost creeping on ice. One its starts to break traction it can be hard to regain it so I pump the brakes lightly and just slow roll down every hill or incline.
Sometimes I think about adding Studded Snow Tires to the FRONT Tires to help with stopping traction on but once they start to break free it doesn't matter. The studs would most likely help the stopping distance not so much the stopping on a dime aspect.
It can be scary driving your baby in the snow but I found The Chinook is a great snow toy as long as you dont get too far ahead of yourself.
I invited in a $75 tow strap for the weight of my rig, and 2x traction boards for HD trucks. Eventually I want to put a new bumper on the front with a winch that could pull me out of the ditch if I ever slid off the road.
The biggest problem out West isn't will the Chinook make it....its will I make it past the HWY Patrol with out chains on my rig before they notice I am breaking the chain law. With the KO2's most people assume its 4WD anyway so that helps. I could prob put 4x4 stickers on my rig and never have any problems in the snow. However...be careful not to park on inclines and give yourself ample room to stop.
I have also been on Ski Resort roads were the road is rutted and the duelies DO TEND to bounce around because the tires are wider than the snow ruts. That can cause some unexpected rear end drifting. I just learned to expect it and be ready by driving slower.
I bury this Rig in the RV lots at Ski Resorts hoping to get snowed in. A little shoveling to get a clear path started and she plows through snow no problem! I have driven it through 8-12" of snow many many times without a problem. Yes the Duelies do "float" a bit more on snow bc of their width (its a wall of tire back there!) and dont "cut" through deep snow as well as single would, but I just giver the gas and it always breaks free if its starting to bog down. That being said I DO carry traction pads but end up loaning them out to bigger rigs that get stuck. Ive never actually used them myself. I do carry a tow strap.
I often contemplate going 4x4 for $25K but I've never had a problem in snow yet. Ive got to numerous deep pow days at Mt Baker, Snoqualmie, and all over Oregon and WA and BC. The Chinook is "GOOD" in the snow. I'm from Northern Michigan originally so I know what "good" in the snow is. "Good" in the snow means you dont get stuck unless you really screw up.
HOWEVER!!! The 10K lb rig does NOT like to STOP WELL in the snow....especially on decending inclines. For this reason I would say it "GOES" really well but it does NOT "Stop" really well so you gotta be very planed and almost creeping on ice. One its starts to break traction it can be hard to regain it so I pump the brakes lightly and just slow roll down every hill or incline.
Sometimes I think about adding Studded Snow Tires to the FRONT Tires to help with stopping traction on but once they start to break free it doesn't matter. The studs would most likely help the stopping distance not so much the stopping on a dime aspect.
It can be scary driving your baby in the snow but I found The Chinook is a great snow toy as long as you dont get too far ahead of yourself.
I invited in a $75 tow strap for the weight of my rig, and 2x traction boards for HD trucks. Eventually I want to put a new bumper on the front with a winch that could pull me out of the ditch if I ever slid off the road.
The biggest problem out West isn't will the Chinook make it....its will I make it past the HWY Patrol with out chains on my rig before they notice I am breaking the chain law. With the KO2's most people assume its 4WD anyway so that helps. I could prob put 4x4 stickers on my rig and never have any problems in the snow. However...be careful not to park on inclines and give yourself ample room to stop.
I have also been on Ski Resort roads were the road is rutted and the duelies DO TEND to bounce around because the tires are wider than the snow ruts. That can cause some unexpected rear end drifting. I just learned to expect it and be ready by driving slower.
Re: Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
ChinnyMike-
Thanks for your detailed report on Chinook performance in snow. Based on my more limited experience in only 6-8 inches while traveling in CO and through the upper Midwest, your comments seemed spot on…right down to the comment about the slide/stop due to weight. Gotta watch for that for sure—on gravel as well as snow. 10K generates a lot of momentum!
One thought about dodging patrol on account of no chains—I ride on Michelin Agillis Cross Climates that are Mountain Peak rated, and therefore not required to have chains (at least in Colorado). I suspect they do not perform as well as your tires in REAL snow…but I thought I’d mention them here as an option—especially for those of us who are not as serious about our snow.
David
Thanks for your detailed report on Chinook performance in snow. Based on my more limited experience in only 6-8 inches while traveling in CO and through the upper Midwest, your comments seemed spot on…right down to the comment about the slide/stop due to weight. Gotta watch for that for sure—on gravel as well as snow. 10K generates a lot of momentum!
One thought about dodging patrol on account of no chains—I ride on Michelin Agillis Cross Climates that are Mountain Peak rated, and therefore not required to have chains (at least in Colorado). I suspect they do not perform as well as your tires in REAL snow…but I thought I’d mention them here as an option—especially for those of us who are not as serious about our snow.
David
Re: Chinook Concourse performance in the snow ?
Nice post, relevant to me. I also live in seattle and got the chinook concourse (94, with 7.3 diesel, a beast!) for camping at rv parking lots. I have been stuck at crystal mtn b lot a few times sliding on ice. That’s when I had normal tires. I since put some new Yokohama Geolandar AT tires on the rig (3 peak snow rated), and haven’t been stuck yet. But I haven’t put it to the test with these new tires as much as I would have liked. Tbd! Thanks for your post.
Btw: I do carry a manual come along in place of a winch just In case. I ought to get some traction boards as well.
Btw: I do carry a manual come along in place of a winch just In case. I ought to get some traction boards as well.
ChinnyMike wrote: March 8th, 2023, 11:37 am I live in Seattle and Snowboard my ass off. I drive the RWD (2WD) Chinook quite a bit in the snow. In fact most of my camping is done in the snow. I have the KO2 Baja Tires from BF Goodrich as do most of the trucks out here in the snow. The Chinook RIPS in the snow. Traction is never a problem with this amount of weight 10k lbs and all terrain tires. The KO2's are so good.
I bury this Rig in the RV lots at Ski Resorts hoping to get snowed in. A little shoveling to get a clear path started and she plows through snow no problem! I have driven it through 8-12" of snow many many times without a problem. Yes the Duelies do "float" a bit more on snow bc of their width (its a wall of tire back there!) and dont "cut" through deep snow as well as single would, but I just giver the gas and it always breaks free if its starting to bog down. That being said I DO carry traction pads but end up loaning them out to bigger rigs that get stuck. Ive never actually used them myself. I do carry a tow strap.
I often contemplate going 4x4 for $25K but I've never had a problem in snow yet. Ive got to numerous deep pow days at Mt Baker, Snoqualmie, and all over Oregon and WA and BC. The Chinook is "GOOD" in the snow. I'm from Northern Michigan originally so I know what "good" in the snow is. "Good" in the snow means you dont get stuck unless you really screw up.
HOWEVER!!! The 10K lb rig does NOT like to STOP WELL in the snow....especially on decending inclines. For this reason I would say it "GOES" really well but it does NOT "Stop" really well so you gotta be very planed and almost creeping on ice. One its starts to break traction it can be hard to regain it so I pump the brakes lightly and just slow roll down every hill or incline.
Sometimes I think about adding Studded Snow Tires to the FRONT Tires to help with stopping traction on but once they start to break free it doesn't matter. The studs would most likely help the stopping distance not so much the stopping on a dime aspect.
It can be scary driving your baby in the snow but I found The Chinook is a great snow toy as long as you dont get too far ahead of yourself.
I invited in a $75 tow strap for the weight of my rig, and 2x traction boards for HD trucks. Eventually I want to put a new bumper on the front with a winch that could pull me out of the ditch if I ever slid off the road.
The biggest problem out West isn't will the Chinook make it....its will I make it past the HWY Patrol with out chains on my rig before they notice I am breaking the chain law. With the KO2's most people assume its 4WD anyway so that helps. I could prob put 4x4 stickers on my rig and never have any problems in the snow. However...be careful not to park on inclines and give yourself ample room to stop.
I have also been on Ski Resort roads were the road is rutted and the duelies DO TEND to bounce around because the tires are wider than the snow ruts. That can cause some unexpected rear end drifting. I just learned to expect it and be ready by driving slower.