You are absolutely going to love these chains. I've had On-Spot chains on my bus for years and wouldn't be without them. Our district has 80+ buses covering an extremely large area with routine ice- and snow-covered roadways during winter months. These chains not only make it nice for our drivers but enable to deliver students in a timely and safe manner. Our maintenance staff is also happy with the O-Spot chains because they are not impacted by numerous call outs for stuck buses. Great to see you support such a miracle mechanical product. It amazes me that every fire truck, ambulance and or UPS truck are not equipped with these. Thank you for getting the word out, these devices are truly a hidden gem. Enjoy each of your videos looking forward to the next one, keep up the good work, and thank you for what you do.
@@whammond511 Not with duals - the chain runner actually rides on the inside of the tire sidewall (that's what engages them), and with duals you'd have to have chains twice as long as these are, and as such they would hit on the ground. Plus chains that long would be super dangerous because of their length whipping around. Since he's got them on all 4 inside duals, that's a LOT of traction control (and as he said, if he did get into a situation where they require all 8 chained, he still has conventional chains for the outside tires).
Any testing on when the links fail and there is a car next to them? Just see a spinning mass throwing something out. Great concept. Would love to see more testing.
I'm glad you left your comment, it's very nice to hear about a product that's been used year after year. Some things work great for a short time so I like to hear from people who have used them for a long time. I've never heard of these until today and I have to admit that it's a pretty amazing device. Thank You for your input
I have a LOT of experience with On-spot auto chains, let me give you some tips. 1. Inspect them after each use and any time you think you'll need them soon. There's a selection of things to look for: a. The chain fingers will sometimes flip over the top jamming them. If you engage them they won't spin, so they'll rub. This will flat spot the rubber wheel right down to metal and cut right through your tire causing a blowout. b. Spin them by hand, the bearing seal sucks, make sure they spin freely. If they do not, or even as regular maintenance spray some penetrating oil on the bearing. Again if they don't they'll rub the rubber right off the wheel, etc. c. Cycle them, they will freeze, the electric valve for the air to operate them gets sticky when it's very cold. This can cause them to stick in either condition, up or down. d. They'll rip themselves apart, if you run them in conditions where you have a lot of traction they'll pull the chain fingers right off the wheel. 2. You'll need MORE stuff not less. a. Get yourself some spare chain wheels, you'll need them and won't want to have to wait on them. b. Still carry your 3 rail chains, the auto chains DO NOT provide even close to the same level of traction as traditional chains, most of all when stopped, going slow, or with any level of wheel spin. You WILL still need your 3 rail chains in some conditions. c. b is true even with the outside wheel chained separately. As you said in the video it is absolutely a viable option to chain the outside wheel and run the autos on the inside. However this will not provide the same level of traction as 3 rail chains. You'll still find situations where you're stuck with the inside wheel spinning on ice and outside with chains has no traction. The auto chains are near worthless in that situation. 3. If yours have the plastic cover on the top of the chain wheel just rip it off now, all it does is jam things up. 4. Realize that the primary utility of auto chains is NOT traction, while of course they provide some traction it's not even close to what good standard chains provide. The real utility is not having to stop to chain simply because some bureaucrat says so. Or because some little spot you need to get through is is bad. They're great for situations where the main road is clear but the side roads, shoulders, etc. aren't. However if YOU think you'll actually need significant traction you should not rely on them for it. 5. If you get stuck and want to get unstuck using only the auto chains the On-spot advice of spinning up to 5mph and engaging them does not work well. Just leave them engaged and spin the F out of your tires until they bite. 6. It's likely that the switches were wired to only be powered with the truck on. This means that if you turn it off with the chains under the tire they will try and pull them out from under the tire. So if the chains are under the tire do not turn the truck off and if it idle times out don't let it.
" You'll still find situations where you're stuck with the inside wheel spinning on ice and outside with chains has no traction" I thought dually wheels are bolted together and can't rotate independently. hmm confusing to me..
OnSpot is a Swedish invention and started to sell in Sweden 1977. In 1988 US started to import OnSpot, in 1993 a big Swedish insurance company made a study on truck with and without onSpot. OnSpot trucks reduced the accident frekvence with 50%.
I think a big factor that contributes to that is that drivers will actually use these. I myself am very guilty of not using chains when I should, because they are such a pain to stop and install, or when you get into sudden snow and ice with no place to pull over and ins them. We have a highway here (hwy 97) that is very commonly a few miles of ice, the a few miles of dry pavement, then a few miles of ice again, over an over again for a stretch of over 100 miles. If the chain controls aren’t in effect where I HAVE TO stop and out chains on by law, I don’t, even though chains would be far safer to have for those stretches. But with the OnSpot chains I will absolutely hit the switches in and out of those slick stretches and be far safer
Here Finland OnSpots have been used long time, remember when I was really young and hear those OnSpot chain clinking on many trucks, firetrucks, log trucks, tow trucks and many others, so easy to use when you start to have tire slipping you just press button and chains start to go under tire, no need stop and also disengage when you move.
@@mattheweburns They are not suppose to replace regular chaines, it's to give some help during slippery conditions so you don't have to stop and chain up.
That's quite interesting. Both the country of origin and the timeline coincide with a story from my younger years in British Columbia Canada. Our family had two acres in a smaller town about 30 minutes East of Vancouver. In the summer of 1979, a Swedish family came down our long winding driveway and the father struck up a conversation with my father about moving to the area. Their name was Tornebeck (spelling?) and they had 3 or 4 blonde daughters. Within an hour, my father had sold them our riverfont acreage for a price he was extremely happy with. They stayed the rest of that sunny day, exploring the property and having lunch with our family. The man showed my father his business brochure, which was for a similar chain system, which I remember being called Tydraul or Tydrol. He asked my father if he would be interested in becoming a partner, as my father owned a plumbing company and knew many people in town. He declined. I wonder if you recognize the family name as being connected with OnSpot. I believe that family lived there for only a few short years, possibly returning to Sweden.
years ago i worked for the ambulance service in the highlands of Scotland .. we had a set of auto-chains fitted to our incident support vehicle ( 5000kg / 10,000lbs Merc sprinter 4*4 ) as a trial .. first major incident was a multi vehicle pile-up in snow & ice ..road conditions were that bad some of the paramedic units had to get towed to scene ( by the ISV ) .. by next winter all frontline , paramedic & Intensive care units had them fitted
@@george2113 fun fact, in Florida you don’t use chains, simply a clutch of ‘gators all held by the tails and spun under the tires. It works in saltwater mud.
I didn't even know autochains were a thing or how they worked before watching your channel. Absolutely wonderful idea and the concept is brilliantly realised.
@@larrybe2900 no it's not about that but have you ever been stuck at an incline in an bus i have because of missing autocains thats the reason i can recomend them
@@larrybe2900 ??? Doesn't make sense, School Bus's have them because You can't exit the bus and leave a bunch of kids on it unattended for a hour while chaining up.
I know there are people out there who are going to claim they can chain up in under 10 minutes. Well, those people are WRONG, plain and simple. Now yes, the act of physically putting the chains on the tires can be done in 10 minutes, but they are conveniently leaving out how long it takes to get to that point. The true amount of time it takes starts as soon as you slow down to pull into the chain up area. From there you have to get parked, get your jacket and gloves on, get out and get all your chains and bungees pulled out, untangled, and laid out next to all your tires, then you have to place the chains over the tires, four separate times, get back in the truck, pull it forward, get back out of the truck and hook the chains up and tighten all the cams, four separate times again, and then bungee them all tight. After that you can head back out on the road, and once you’re back on the road and up to speed, you can finally stop the timer of how much time it really took you to chain up. Losing a half hour of time to do all of that would be a VERY fast time. So you’re at one hour per chain up event, and you need to ask yourself how much it cost you for that truck to sit for an hour instead of spending that hour moving the load down the road. That $4k to put auto chains on both drive axles starts to make a whole lot of sense
i am glad to hear you say that. i used to drive an 18 wheeler and would chain up several times every season. i counted on taking about 1.5 hours to chain and unchain for 3 axles. heck, sometimes it would take 10 minutes just to open a frozen padlock. i would always hear guys at truck stops claim that it takes 30 minutes. my quoted time is everything from the moment i stop, to the moment i am rolling again after stopping 1/2 mile later to make sure they are all tight. while driving in chains, i would see a dozen chains in the road that had been thrown off or broken. at $190 per set (super singles), i dont want twisted or loose chains.
Also, what people apparently are not considering; a lot of Highways ( like Hwy 20) there are times you are on bare pavement for miles before you get to the pull out areas to remove the chains.
Awesome video of how the auto chains work! It is the best video that I have seen of how they work. There are a lot of auto chains in my area on School Buses and Home heating fuel deliver trucks. Thank you to "On Spot" for helping Casey with the Auto Chains and thank you to Utility Trailer for the excellent install. And of course thank you to Casey for taking us along. I am looking forward to your next video! 👍💯
I remember seeing these hanging from the bottom of school busses in Redmond and Bend when I lived there in the late 80's, but I only knew that they swung under the tries somehow. I always thought they swung under and somehow "attached" to the tires while they "UNattached" from their storage area and it never made since to me how they went back to storage, let alone how they attached to tires. LOL Thanks Casey, for making it perfectly clear to us.
As a subscriber, I’d like to thank On Spot and Utility Trailers for hooking Casey up. This is truly a game changer for his business and he helps a lot of people. And that means more money going into his home to care for his beautiful family, then those businesses deserve my gratitude!
Those whimpy lil chains do NOTHING. i bet they only make you stuck faster as they are lifting the tire up and down up and down while ROLLING under the tire :D so it will just brake traction and you will be spinning wheels while going nowhere.. When stuck on ice. one need to turn the wheels as SLOW as possible to have GRIP.. these "auto chains" FORCE you to spin the wheels FAST to engage the chains and you just digged yourself a hole or polished the ice to be even more slippery..
If these auto chains would save even 1 trucker from being hit while chaining up they are worth it at any price. Trucking companies should take note. Casey you do so much for people with no thought of payment you truly deserve all the help that comes your way to get the job done quickly and safely. Stay safe and GOD bless
Exactly! If I have drivers out on the road who drive in areas that they needed to chain up, these would be a no brainer over having drivers on the side of the road in the snow and ice
I think the fact that OnSpot actually reached out to you after seeing one of your videos speaks wonders about the level that you reach, and by that I mean that you are often brutally honest in your appraisals of equipment, yet at the same you are also open and honest about the good products. I would much rather see you showcasing a product and know that you aren't going to read a script and blow smoke up our tails about it, and I'm glad there are companies that are seeing that fact. I've seen instant chains in use before, but thanks to you I now have a far, far better understanding since we were able to actually see them being engaged and disengaged on your truck.
As I watch your videos and see a new product, I can't believe how many times I've said, "I'd've never thought of doing that, that way!" Auto chains are another one of those! There are some really smart people out there, doing things in REALLY creative ways!
Casey, thank you for solving a mystery for me. I knew of auto chains and seen vehicles with them hanging but never knew how they functioned. Great job!!
Have used them on plow trucks for years, great systems. Only problems we ever had were the actuating solenoids would go bad, not sure if it was the location, salt environment or the nature of the beast, always kept a spare on the shelf an easy fix. IIRC we relocated the solenoid higher and closer to the cab with less problems so it may have to do with where it is located by the installer.
On Spots are great. Been using them on fire trucks for over 20 years. Good only up to about 6 inches of snow. 2 items of caution, do not try to raise them unless you're moving, and make sure you exercise them at least monthly, even in the warmer months. You'll want to chain up the outers for maximum traction when needed.
Thank You On Spot & Utility Trailer for helping Casey!👍😎 Great for his safety and getting home to his family 😊 Keep up the great videos and stay safe out there!❤️🙏
Casey I want to thank you for promoting these auto chains. I was the Parts Manager at Utility Trailer in Tucson, AZ for 42 years and never once had any of our customers even ask about these chains but then we don't see hardly any snow down here but we had customers all over the state of Arizona and many of them ran thru our mountains on a regular basis and most all of the mountains in Arizona see quite a bit of snow in the winter. This video just proves the fact that we can learn something new every day. Thanks for all that you do and I watch all of your videos. You are certainly a fine young man, so thanks again.
My fire department has used auto chains for over 20 years. Both Onspot and Ruud. Work well when needed. First time I saw them in use was on a ford van a salesman drove. Need to remember to activate them on a regular basis to make sure they are always available when needed. Thanks Casey for all you do.
I watch all the videos you put out. But on this title I was like what am I going to learn about auto chains? I know what they do and I know how they work. That was a good video Casey! I'm glad to see a company reaching out to you to make your life easier 👍👍👍
I love those chains - I have them on all 51 of my school buses! Hardest part is to remember to disengage them while moving. Over the past 25 years, I’ve found that they stop being effective at 6-8” of snow. Best wishes Casey!
He didn't mention it, but the factory says don't use them in more than 6 inches of snow. Powdery stuff you might get away with a little more, but the wet stuff, no way.
Well yeah the way they work after about 6 inches of snow it will block the chains from getting under the wheels, but if you are planning on going through that much you'd want to toss some proper chains.
Hey Casey, Great Video ! You never know who is watching ! Great thing to remember. The work you do provides a great proving grounds for so many products. It is no wonder that smart companies are watching you and offering you their products to try. It is real world demonstration to their potential customers as well as to the designers and their R&D people. A Win / Win situation ! Work Safe, Be Well Stay Warm
13:05, when I was truckin logs we were WELL versed in chaining up! Some days we installed & removed them for 4 separate trips. We'd enough practice that within 15 minutes, & ALL drive tires on the truck had bracelets installed. Since I haven't installed tire chains in 10+ years, & have gained winter weight that NEVER seems to melt away, I'm sure I COULDN'T get it done that quick anymore!
I grew up in Vermont snow country. I now live in Phoenix, Arizona and I don't worry about them any more, "Chaining up", was always very dangerous and time consuming. These chains are amazing. Thanks for showing them off!
Hi Casey. I went out to the Onspot site to make a comment about your demo. I didn't register since I don''t live in snow country, but left a comment on their latest video on their channel about your demo. I encourage other subs to do the same on their own choice of media. Thank for rescuing stranded motorists without charge. We can see the relief on their faces when you them know it's complimentary. 😃
Huge Shout out to OnSpot for taking care of you with this. And thank YOU Casey for showing this. I could not wrap my head around how this would work. This is truly a marvel of modern engineering. Amazing.
WEll that blew me away when you were talking auto chains all i could see in my mind was normal chaine that wrap around the tyres and thought how do they do that. Thanks for showing them in action now i totally understand. Maybe i am a bit slow but i bet im not the only one who couldnt work out how they worked. Keep up the good work Casey thanks for the entertainment
Thanks for video. When you mention these awhile back, I tried my best to explain to my wife how they worked. Including "You tube" videos. And showed her the local school buses that had them. This one is the best for explaining them.
You get the coolest toys! So happy for you, I'm grateful that all of these companies watch you and see a thing and think hey we got a fix for that, and send it to you.
I love OnSpots. They have been used in emergency services on fire apparatus and ambulances for decades. When seconds count, you can't afford to stop and chain up. FYI, these chains are really only good for the first 6 inches of snow cover; after that, the chains just kind of flop on the surface and you'll need full wheel chains.
Wow, those auto chains are pretty cool! I have been contemplating getting into #vanlife, and I think that a converted ambulance is one of the possible vehicles, auto chains would be a really good idea. Next month I turn 60, and much as I like snow and such, if I had an ambulance camper, putting chains on one might be a little too risky and taxing physically, so auto chains do look like the way to go! Thanx!
I just randomly came across the concept of automatic tire chains and couldn't really fathom how they would work. Thanks for making it easy to understand.
i worked for a company that used On Spot automatic tire chains for years. They are very nice. These chains work best when you can maintain slow but steady speeds, such as in shallow snow, or on intermittently clear/covered roadways. Automatic chains do not work well in accumulations over six inches of snow or when driving conditions do not permit apparatus speed to exceed approximately 5 mph.
When you first mentioned the auto chains, I was always thinking "How the heckles are you going to put those shackles on the tire while driving?" .. but this system is so much easier than I thought it'd be.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for the auto chain video! I have always wondered how they worked and was surprised that they work in reverse too, which actually makes a lot of sense now that i see how they work.
Well that's a new one on me. Just show's that at 84, you can learn a lot. Wish they had THOSE during the 1960 saved me hours. The od rope and sheet days.
Had seen these years ago, mostly for emergency vehicles, but certainly looked cool. We don't normally see mandated area for chains (Michigan), but plenty of foul weather. & as a kid we were still able to use studded tires (talk about proper traction!!), & chain certainly get you outta tight jams. Glad you've got such responsive partners AND the ability to stay safer out there! Thanx !
I was a school bus driver in western Washington and I LOVE drop chains. 💖❤💓 Retired now, but on the rare snow occasion it was so nice to flip a switch and bingo chains are engaged! What a blessing!!!!
Thanks for yet another entertaining and educational video, Casey!! Having worked with OnSpot back in the late 1980's, and onwards, I am glad OnSpot/D'Orlando reached out to you with a good deal! You can add 1 or 2 links to the chains as the are today, but as you mentioned, always carry an extra set of regular snow chains. In stuck situations OnSpot is not always ideal, so thats where an extra set of snowchains come in handy. It would not surprice me if one, or more, of your subscribers have tipped VBG/OnSpot about you and your channel....... Just saying😁😉😁. THanks for sharing! Best regards from snowy Norway!
5:29 Casey crosses the creek to recover the camera, giant squatch comes out of the woods and grabs him. His squatch buddies drive the truck into the woods never to be seen again... Props to OnSpot for the automatic chain setup. Those things are sweet.
Thank you for the info and demo. I drive a Peterbilt day cab and a Kalmar Ottawa in an unimproved lot here in Mpls and we are ALWAYS getting stuck on flat level ice on the dirt/gravel and then digging potholes. The yard was built on an old marsh, 49 years ago.This would be an absolute lifesaver or better yet immense aggravation saver. Having 25 tons behind the tractor does not always guarantee traction.
very cool auto chains, Casey. When you first showed them, I was wondering about the colours - didn't take long for the colour to disappear...lol. That's seems like it'll be a real safety change for you
I had a similar experience in North Carolina. The GPS indicated a shorter route back to I-40. I took the suggested route. the last stretch of "road" was a 13 mile single lane up a mountain. As we approached the beginning of the road, a single car appeared going in the opposite direction. So I figured the road was navigable. My wife was understandably nervous. I shifted my 2006 Mitsubishi Montero into 4 wheel drive and drove slowly and carefully up the narrow road. We made it all the way to the top and noticed a sign that read "One-Way" pointing in the opposite direction as we exited the road. As a result of this experience, my wife changed her mind about living in North Carolina. All is well that ends well. Thank you for all your videos.
Good Morning, Casey, That is an excellent upgrade to your truck. You deserve the On-Spot gift and their support. The school district here in Beaverton has On-Spot chains mounted on their buses. We have used them since before 2008. I'm no longer driving for the district. I'm Grumpy's age. The automatic chains added a VERY welcomed level of safety when carrying students in the hills over here on the west side of the state. Be safe. Thank you for your videos I look forward to seeing your stories and adventures there on the east side. .
Sometimes my comments indicate an irritation with the excessive safety mindedness. Things that could be done easily, are walked away from. But I get it. What I love is your professionalism and caring attitude and the way you take care of people. Don’t ever be discouraged when I fuss, I love your vids.
The cynical side of me says “Of course Onspot gave him chains, it’s cheap advertising.” But my better side is saying “They recognize the good that Casey does and they want to help him continue by keeping him safe.”
Davis Tires rocks and Art and Kathleen are wonderful people! Thank you so much for their shout out! Great video as always, Casey. I first saw those chains while following a Sisters school bus and my mind was blown! Very cool!
When I was on an all volunteer ambulance service in Eastern Oregon I always wanted a set of these for our ambulances. Had way to many times on freeway where we were almost hit as we put on chains. Good addition to your truck
So cool, asked to see how auto chains worked and you delivered! I thought they would be regular chains with a mechanism to roll em on and off. Total surprise. great invention!
They will work wonders. I can still remember taking the chains off my uncle's truck, when I was little. We left the snow behind I had to help him remove the chains.
Awesomene Casey! I did some work on Davis and drove past Utility Trailers every day for years. Cool to be able to follow someone local. Been going snow wheeling every weekend hopefully I won't have to give you a call!
This is incredible. On Spot picked the perfect business to offer their amazing snow chains. You will seriously promote their chains. Utility Trailers must understand the quality of On Spot and the importance of installation in a timely manner. And I am sure both companies feel that you will represent their service and product in a professional manner. Stay safe and drive carefully.
Wow what a video! I assume the auto chains are specific to a proper length so if chains are installed on back axle they don’t become entangled….? Good stuff. Thanks for your videos and taking us along on your adventures
I've heard of those systems, but my old "prepare for the worst and enjoy it when it's not " side would have to find storage for the full set incase of a breakdown on the system. Other than that I love how you are setting it up. Have a great day.
FYI, make sure to read the instructions on how to operate. My instructions are to not operate above 19 mile per hour. I have had many of these on my semi trucks. I've had to use these in situations where road conditions changed at a moments notice. The chain wheels can create flat spots as well as lose a rope of chains if engaging at a higher speed. The chain rope is held on by a half chain link which is welded onto the wheel plate. Also don't forget to apply grease to the arm joint at the base. It will help with retracting the arm back up when not in use.
Cool, those would be real handy and a huge time saver for all the times I've had to chain up but I have to wonder, are they really worth it compared to a full set of chains? Those chains don't go all the way under the tire. For the real crap weather, will they cut it?
Do you choose how long the chains are? I know you wouldn't want them dragging on the road when not in use, but it looks like the chains only go about half way under each of the inside tires. Will be interesting to see them in use on a real recovery in some deep snow.
I wish the o t r trucking companies would install these on their trucks. Would be much easier and safer for the drivers. Good advertising for On Spot. Great Video Casey. You show compassion and dedication in what you do.
Never seen an autochain system before, pretty cool. Great video presentation. I wonder if there's a difference in grip as compared to a manually rigged system.
Omg. Auto chains. Never knew those where a thing. I love it! I really enjoy seeing the gear and tech. I also appreciate when you show the beautiful snow landscapes. Thanks again. 🎉❤
When you first said "auto chains" I'm your video a while back, I was so interested in how that works (as we are not allowed to have chains in Michigan). Thanks for sharing! That's so rad!
I drove a school bus a short while in Montana. My route was unmaintained (no snow removal). Those automatic snow chains worked like a charm - made me a believer.
I had no idea these existed. Now I know how they work. Thank you Casey. I'd assume they don't work very well in deep snow, mud or sand. They would probably prevent the mechanisms from rotating, but on a regular road all iced over they should work great. It didn't take long for all the bright shiny paint to be worn off. On Spot should work on that. As posted above, these will be a god send for school bus companies.
Pretty much every school bus in the state of Oregon had these in it. And the paint is only so that you can tell the difference between the driver and passenger side when installing them
@@CaseyLaDelle What is the difference between the driver and passenger side mechanisms, they appear to be identical and they both rotate freely in either direction? The only difference I see is in the direction the swingarm moves on the left and right side.
As a non-trucker, I'd never heard of automatic chains before, but I can see how convenient they would be. A very clever invention! Thanks for showing just how they work.
They have been around for over half a century. Started getting them in the 1980's in the USA on our pickup trucks. Very common on ambulances, tow trucks, school buses, and rescue vehicles in both Europe, Australia, and South America. Works great up to about 7-8 inches of snow.
Another informative product review, Casey. Was never quite sure how well the On-Spots worked but know that you will give us an honest no BS review at the end of the season. Your video editing is getting better all the time. Thanks!!!!!
Casey I really enjoyed the under the truck camera showing the new automatic chains I never knew they even had those. I am glad you have companies working with you they see the potential you have and know it will be a good business partnership which you will benefit from. I really like your idea of adding another toolbox that way you will have everything that you need
Definitely a great thing to add to the wrecker and now you're not putting your life in danger to put chains on and the head ache of keeping all that extra stuff on the truck
What a cool addition to your truck. Another benefit to moving your tire chains from the back is that they won't be covered with ice and muck if you ever need to use them.
Thanks for having the camera under the truck to show how they work. I’ve seen them on emergency vehicles only. I remember when we had sanders on trucks. They would work until you ran out of sand. I knew the premise of how they worked, but I never seen a video like yours.
Whoever come up with that idea that is awesome I believe all semi trucks need to have them on there. If I was driving again like I used to many years ago that's what I would have on all my semi trucks. Sometimes it's dangerous trying to chain up your tires alongside the road and it's a big hassle that would really save a lot of time and effort.
You mentioned auto change in a few videos back. I had no clue what you were talking about. Holy crap those are cool!! thanks for making that video!! definitely learn something!!
This is awesome. I’ve seen these things hangin under our fire trucks in North Carolina and I couldn’t figure out what they were. Someone told me they were for traction but nobody could explain how they worked. NOW I GET IT !! Thanks Casey.
You are absolutely going to love these chains. I've had On-Spot chains on my bus for years and wouldn't be without them. Our district has 80+ buses covering an extremely large area with routine ice- and snow-covered roadways during winter months. These chains not only make it nice for our drivers but enable to deliver students in a timely and safe manner. Our maintenance staff is also happy with the O-Spot chains because they are not impacted by numerous call outs for stuck buses. Great to see you support such a miracle mechanical product. It amazes me that every fire truck, ambulance and or UPS truck are not equipped with these. Thank you for getting the word out, these devices are truly a hidden gem. Enjoy each of your videos looking forward to the next one, keep up the good work, and thank you for what you do.
That right there is a far better testimonial than I could ever do, from someone who has far more experience with them!
Is there a way to install them on your outside wheels?
@@whammond511 Not with duals - the chain runner actually rides on the inside of the tire sidewall (that's what engages them), and with duals you'd have to have chains twice as long as these are, and as such they would hit on the ground. Plus chains that long would be super dangerous because of their length whipping around. Since he's got them on all 4 inside duals, that's a LOT of traction control (and as he said, if he did get into a situation where they require all 8 chained, he still has conventional chains for the outside tires).
Any testing on when the links fail and there is a car next to them? Just see a spinning mass throwing something out. Great concept. Would love to see more testing.
I'm glad you left your comment, it's very nice to hear about a product that's been used year after year. Some things work great for a short time so I like to hear from people who have used them for a long time. I've never heard of these until today and I have to admit that it's a pretty amazing device. Thank You for your input
I have a LOT of experience with On-spot auto chains, let me give you some tips.
1. Inspect them after each use and any time you think you'll need them soon. There's a selection of things to look for:
a. The chain fingers will sometimes flip over the top jamming them. If you engage them they won't spin, so they'll rub. This will flat spot the rubber wheel right down to metal and cut right through your tire causing a blowout.
b. Spin them by hand, the bearing seal sucks, make sure they spin freely. If they do not, or even as regular maintenance spray some penetrating oil on the bearing. Again if they don't they'll rub the rubber right off the wheel, etc.
c. Cycle them, they will freeze, the electric valve for the air to operate them gets sticky when it's very cold. This can cause them to stick in either condition, up or down.
d. They'll rip themselves apart, if you run them in conditions where you have a lot of traction they'll pull the chain fingers right off the wheel.
2. You'll need MORE stuff not less.
a. Get yourself some spare chain wheels, you'll need them and won't want to have to wait on them.
b. Still carry your 3 rail chains, the auto chains DO NOT provide even close to the same level of traction as traditional chains, most of all when stopped, going slow, or with any level of wheel spin. You WILL still need your 3 rail chains in some conditions.
c. b is true even with the outside wheel chained separately. As you said in the video it is absolutely a viable option to chain the outside wheel and run the autos on the inside. However this will not provide the same level of traction as 3 rail chains. You'll still find situations where you're stuck with the inside wheel spinning on ice and outside with chains has no traction. The auto chains are near worthless in that situation.
3. If yours have the plastic cover on the top of the chain wheel just rip it off now, all it does is jam things up.
4. Realize that the primary utility of auto chains is NOT traction, while of course they provide some traction it's not even close to what good standard chains provide. The real utility is not having to stop to chain simply because some bureaucrat says so. Or because some little spot you need to get through is is bad. They're great for situations where the main road is clear but the side roads, shoulders, etc. aren't. However if YOU think you'll actually need significant traction you should not rely on them for it.
5. If you get stuck and want to get unstuck using only the auto chains the On-spot advice of spinning up to 5mph and engaging them does not work well. Just leave them engaged and spin the F out of your tires until they bite.
6. It's likely that the switches were wired to only be powered with the truck on. This means that if you turn it off with the chains under the tire they will try and pull them out from under the tire. So if the chains are under the tire do not turn the truck off and if it idle times out don't let it.
Good comment. Thanks
Indeed they look useless. Having TRACTION in ice is done by spinning wheel as SLOW as possible.
Traction and spinning are two different scenarios.
You must be from California. 😂
This is the most I've read about auto chains or chains in general - a Californian who tries hard to not ever go up into snow. Thank you
" You'll still find situations where you're stuck with the inside wheel spinning on ice and outside with chains has no traction"
I thought dually wheels are bolted together and can't rotate independently. hmm confusing to me..
OnSpot is a Swedish invention and started to sell in Sweden 1977. In 1988 US started to import OnSpot, in 1993 a big Swedish insurance company made a study on truck with and without onSpot. OnSpot trucks reduced the accident frekvence with 50%.
I think a big factor that contributes to that is that drivers will actually use these. I myself am very guilty of not using chains when I should, because they are such a pain to stop and install, or when you get into sudden snow and ice with no place to pull over and ins them. We have a highway here (hwy 97) that is very commonly a few miles of ice, the a few miles of dry pavement, then a few miles of ice again, over an over again for a stretch of over 100 miles. If the chain controls aren’t in effect where I HAVE TO stop and out chains on by law, I don’t, even though chains would be far safer to have for those stretches. But with the OnSpot chains I will absolutely hit the switches in and out of those slick stretches and be far safer
Here Finland OnSpots have been used long time, remember when I was really young and hear those OnSpot chain clinking on many trucks, firetrucks, log trucks, tow trucks and many others, so easy to use when you start to have tire slipping you just press button and chains start to go under tire, no need stop and also disengage when you move.
Are they very effective? Doesn’t look like they would provide as much grip as regular tire chains to me…
@@mattheweburns They are not suppose to replace regular chaines, it's to give some help during slippery conditions so you don't have to stop and chain up.
That's quite interesting. Both the country of origin and the timeline coincide with a story from my younger years in British Columbia Canada. Our family had two acres in a smaller town about 30 minutes East of Vancouver. In the summer of 1979, a Swedish family came down our long winding driveway and the father struck up a conversation with my father about moving to the area. Their name was Tornebeck (spelling?) and they had 3 or 4 blonde daughters. Within an hour, my father had sold them our riverfont acreage for a price he was extremely happy with. They stayed the rest of that sunny day, exploring the property and having lunch with our family. The man showed my father his business brochure, which was for a similar chain system, which I remember being called Tydraul or Tydrol. He asked my father if he would be interested in becoming a partner, as my father owned a plumbing company and knew many people in town. He declined. I wonder if you recognize the family name as being connected with OnSpot. I believe that family lived there for only a few short years, possibly returning to Sweden.
years ago i worked for the ambulance service in the highlands of Scotland .. we had a set of auto-chains fitted to our incident support vehicle ( 5000kg / 10,000lbs Merc sprinter 4*4 ) as a trial .. first major incident was a multi vehicle pile-up in snow & ice ..road conditions were that bad some of the paramedic units had to get towed to scene ( by the ISV ) .. by next winter all frontline , paramedic & Intensive care units had them fitted
@@george2113 I'd say the natives Floridians are much more annoying than any alligator...
@@george2113
I submit that's a goddamn lie
@@george2113 whoosh
@@george2113 fun fact, in Florida you don’t use chains, simply a clutch of ‘gators all held by the tails and spun under the tires. It works in saltwater mud.
I didn't even know autochains were a thing or how they worked before watching your channel. Absolutely wonderful idea and the concept is brilliantly realised.
I imagine they are an added incentive to having more women willing to drive school buses in northern climates.
Most school buses have them were they have snow at least here in the state of va.
@@larrybe2900 no it's not about that but have you ever been stuck at an incline in an bus i have because of missing autocains thats the reason i can recomend them
All school buses in Alaska have them. I've actually seen them in action while I was following a school bus.
@@larrybe2900 ??? Doesn't make sense, School Bus's have them because You can't exit the bus and leave a bunch of kids on it unattended for a hour while chaining up.
I know there are people out there who are going to claim they can chain up in under 10 minutes. Well, those people are WRONG, plain and simple.
Now yes, the act of physically putting the chains on the tires can be done in 10 minutes, but they are conveniently leaving out how long it takes to get to that point.
The true amount of time it takes starts as soon as you slow down to pull into the chain up area. From there you have to get parked, get your jacket and gloves on, get out and get all your chains and bungees pulled out, untangled, and laid out next to all your tires, then you have to place the chains over the tires, four separate times, get back in the truck, pull it forward, get back out of the truck and hook the chains up and tighten all the cams, four separate times again, and then bungee them all tight. After that you can head back out on the road, and once you’re back on the road and up to speed, you can finally stop the timer of how much time it really took you to chain up. Losing a half hour of time to do all of that would be a VERY fast time.
So you’re at one hour per chain up event, and you need to ask yourself how much it cost you for that truck to sit for an hour instead of spending that hour moving the load down the road.
That $4k to put auto chains on both drive axles starts to make a whole lot of sense
i am glad to hear you say that. i used to drive an 18 wheeler and would chain up several times every season. i counted on taking about 1.5 hours to chain and unchain for 3 axles. heck, sometimes it would take 10 minutes just to open a frozen padlock. i would always hear guys at truck stops claim that it takes 30 minutes. my quoted time is everything from the moment i stop, to the moment i am rolling again after stopping 1/2 mile later to make sure they are all tight.
while driving in chains, i would see a dozen chains in the road that had been thrown off or broken. at $190 per set (super singles), i dont want twisted or loose chains.
Now you need a Robsondrive at the back 😂 very popular in Sweden .
@@justmewatching you can by and replace the chains individually
Is that what turns dual axles into a set of tracks?
Also, what people apparently are not considering; a lot of Highways ( like Hwy 20) there are times you are on bare pavement for miles before you get to the pull out areas to remove the chains.
Awesome video of how the auto chains work! It is the best video that I have seen of how they work. There are a lot of auto chains in my area on School Buses and Home heating fuel deliver trucks. Thank you to "On Spot" for helping Casey with the Auto Chains and thank you to Utility Trailer for the excellent install. And of course thank you to Casey for taking us along. I am looking forward to your next video! 👍💯
I remember seeing these hanging from the bottom of school busses in Redmond and Bend when I lived there in the late 80's, but I only knew that they swung under the tries somehow. I always thought they swung under and somehow "attached" to the tires while they "UNattached" from their storage area and it never made since to me how they went back to storage, let alone how they attached to tires. LOL Thanks Casey, for making it perfectly clear to us.
The on demand surely beats grinding chains down on bare roadways.
@@bobwellman9717 yeah, I always wondered about them also, so you're not alone in that.
Richard T. 👍
I wanted to know how they worked too.
As a subscriber, I’d like to thank On Spot and Utility Trailers for hooking Casey up. This is truly a game changer for his business and he helps a lot of people. And that means more money going into his home to care for his beautiful family, then those businesses deserve my gratitude!
Very well said!
Is the name “On Spot” or “Spot On”?
@@davidroddini1512 it is On Spot. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I made the correction in my previous comment.
Those whimpy lil chains do NOTHING. i bet they only make you stuck faster as they are lifting the tire up and down up and down while ROLLING under the tire :D so it will just brake traction and you will be spinning wheels while going nowhere..
When stuck on ice. one need to turn the wheels as SLOW as possible to have GRIP.. these "auto chains" FORCE you to spin the wheels FAST to engage the chains and you just digged yourself a hole or polished the ice to be even more slippery..
If these auto chains would save even 1 trucker from being hit while chaining up they are worth it at any price. Trucking companies should take note. Casey you do so much for people with no thought of payment you truly deserve all the help that comes your way to get the job done quickly and safely. Stay safe and GOD bless
Exactly! If I have drivers out on the road who drive in areas that they needed to chain up, these would be a no brainer over having drivers on the side of the road in the snow and ice
I think the fact that OnSpot actually reached out to you after seeing one of your videos speaks wonders about the level that you reach, and by that I mean that you are often brutally honest in your appraisals of equipment, yet at the same you are also open and honest about the good products. I would much rather see you showcasing a product and know that you aren't going to read a script and blow smoke up our tails about it, and I'm glad there are companies that are seeing that fact. I've seen instant chains in use before, but thanks to you I now have a far, far better understanding since we were able to actually see them being engaged and disengaged on your truck.
As I watch your videos and see a new product, I can't believe how many times I've said, "I'd've never thought of doing that, that way!" Auto chains are another one of those! There are some really smart people out there, doing things in REALLY creative ways!
Casey, thank you for solving a mystery for me. I knew of auto chains and seen vehicles with them hanging but never knew how they functioned. Great job!!
Have used them on plow trucks for years, great systems. Only problems we ever had were the actuating solenoids would go bad, not sure if it was the location, salt environment or the nature of the beast, always kept a spare on the shelf an easy fix. IIRC we relocated the solenoid higher and closer to the cab with less problems so it may have to do with where it is located by the installer.
I knew auto chains existed but never understood how they worked. Mostly because I'd never been around them. Great video, very informative. Thank you.
On Spots are great. Been using them on fire trucks for over 20 years. Good only up to about 6 inches of snow. 2 items of caution, do not try to raise them unless you're moving, and make sure you exercise them at least monthly, even in the warmer months. You'll want to chain up the outers for maximum traction when needed.
Thank You On Spot & Utility Trailer for helping Casey!👍😎 Great for his safety and getting home to his family 😊 Keep up the great videos and stay safe out there!❤️🙏
Never heard of such a thing before, and even when you mentioned them I couldn't imagine how they'd work. Nice demo video, thanks.
Same here. On all the things you mentioned.
Casey I want to thank you for promoting these auto chains. I was the Parts Manager at Utility Trailer in Tucson, AZ for 42 years and never once had any of our customers even ask about these chains but then we don't see hardly any snow down here but we had customers all over the state of Arizona and many of them ran thru our mountains on a regular basis and most all of the mountains in Arizona see quite a bit of snow in the winter. This video just proves the fact that we can learn something new every day. Thanks for all that you do and I watch all of your videos. You are certainly a fine young man, so thanks again.
My fire department has used auto chains for over 20 years. Both Onspot and Ruud. Work well when needed. First time I saw them in use was on a ford van a salesman drove. Need to remember to activate them on a regular basis to make sure they are always available when needed. Thanks Casey for all you do.
I watch all the videos you put out. But on this title I was like what am I going to learn about auto chains? I know what they do and I know how they work. That was a good video Casey! I'm glad to see a company reaching out to you to make your life easier 👍👍👍
I love those chains - I have them on all 51 of my school buses! Hardest part is to remember to disengage them while moving. Over the past 25 years, I’ve found that they stop being effective at 6-8” of snow. Best wishes Casey!
He didn't mention it, but the factory says don't use them in more than 6 inches of snow. Powdery stuff you might get away with a little more, but the wet stuff, no way.
Well yeah the way they work after about 6 inches of snow it will block the chains from getting under the wheels, but if you are planning on going through that much you'd want to toss some proper chains.
Hey Casey,
Great Video !
You never know who is watching ! Great thing to remember.
The work you do provides a great proving grounds for so many products.
It is no wonder that smart companies are watching you and offering you their products to try.
It is real world demonstration to their potential customers as well as to the designers and their R&D people.
A Win / Win situation !
Work Safe, Be Well
Stay Warm
13:05, when I was truckin logs we were WELL versed in chaining up! Some days we installed & removed them for 4 separate trips. We'd enough practice that within 15 minutes, & ALL drive tires on the truck had bracelets installed. Since I haven't installed tire chains in 10+ years, & have gained winter weight that NEVER seems to melt away, I'm sure I COULDN'T get it done that quick anymore!
I grew up in Vermont snow country. I now live in Phoenix, Arizona and I don't worry about them any more, "Chaining up", was always very dangerous and time consuming. These chains are amazing. Thanks for showing them off!
Hi Casey. I went out to the Onspot site to make a comment about your demo. I didn't register since I don''t live in snow country, but left a comment on their latest video on their channel about your demo. I encourage other subs to do the same on their own choice of media. Thank for rescuing stranded motorists without charge. We can see the relief on their faces when you them know it's complimentary. 😃
Thank you to OnSpot for helping Casey help people.💪
Huge Shout out to OnSpot for taking care of you with this. And thank YOU Casey for showing this. I could not wrap my head around how this would work. This is truly a marvel of modern engineering. Amazing.
So funny to see a kid play with his new toy Keep on trucking!
WEll that blew me away when you were talking auto chains all i could see in my mind was normal chaine that wrap around the tyres and thought how do they do that. Thanks for showing them in action now i totally understand. Maybe i am a bit slow but i bet im not the only one who couldnt work out how they worked. Keep up the good work Casey thanks for the entertainment
Score! On Spot tire chains for free. You deserve them for all the people you assist with no charge recoveries..
Thanks for video. When you mention these awhile back, I tried my best to explain to my wife how they worked. Including "You tube" videos. And showed her the local school buses that had them. This one is the best for explaining them.
You get the coolest toys! So happy for you, I'm grateful that all of these companies watch you and see a thing and think hey we got a fix for that, and send it to you.
I love OnSpots. They have been used in emergency services on fire apparatus and ambulances for decades. When seconds count, you can't afford to stop and chain up. FYI, these chains are really only good for the first 6 inches of snow cover; after that, the chains just kind of flop on the surface and you'll need full wheel chains.
For your safety, I'm glad you have those on your truck.
Wow, those auto chains are pretty cool! I have been contemplating getting into #vanlife, and I think that a converted ambulance is one of the possible vehicles, auto chains would be a really good idea. Next month I turn 60, and much as I like snow and such, if I had an ambulance camper, putting chains on one might be a little too risky and taxing physically, so auto chains do look like the way to go! Thanx!
I just randomly came across the concept of automatic tire chains and couldn't really fathom how they would work. Thanks for making it easy to understand.
i worked for a company that used On Spot automatic tire chains for years. They are very nice. These chains work best when you can maintain slow but steady speeds, such as in shallow snow, or on intermittently clear/covered roadways. Automatic chains do not work well in accumulations over six inches of snow or when driving conditions do not permit apparatus speed to exceed approximately 5 mph.
whoever created this idea of auto chains is a genius
When you first mentioned the auto chains, I was always thinking "How the heckles are you going to put those shackles on the tire while driving?" .. but this system is so much easier than I thought it'd be.
had the same thought! Simple now we see it.
New toy! It's the little things that brighten a day
THANK YOU SO MUCH for the auto chain video! I have always wondered how they worked and was surprised that they work in reverse too, which actually makes a lot of sense now that i see how they work.
Well that's a new one on me. Just show's that at 84, you can learn a lot. Wish they had THOSE during the 1960 saved me hours. The od rope and sheet days.
Peter T Wales UK.
Had seen these years ago, mostly for emergency vehicles, but certainly looked cool. We don't normally see mandated area for chains (Michigan), but plenty of foul weather. & as a kid we were still able to use studded tires (talk about proper traction!!), & chain certainly get you outta tight jams. Glad you've got such responsive partners AND the ability to stay safer out there! Thanx !
I was a school bus driver in western Washington and I LOVE drop chains. 💖❤💓 Retired now, but on the rare snow occasion it was so nice to flip a switch and bingo chains are engaged! What a blessing!!!!
I’ve seen and heard chains on ambulances for years and guessed they must be a traction aid but had no idea how they worked. Awesome tutorial
Thanks for yet another entertaining and educational video, Casey!! Having worked with OnSpot back in the late 1980's, and onwards, I am glad OnSpot/D'Orlando reached out to you with a good deal! You can add 1 or 2 links to the chains as the are today, but as you mentioned, always carry an extra set of regular snow chains. In stuck situations OnSpot is not always ideal, so thats where an extra set of snowchains come in handy. It would not surprice me if one, or more, of your subscribers have tipped VBG/OnSpot about you and your channel....... Just saying😁😉😁. THanks for sharing! Best regards from snowy Norway!
5:29 Casey crosses the creek to recover the camera, giant squatch comes out of the woods and grabs him. His squatch buddies drive the truck into the woods never to be seen again... Props to OnSpot for the automatic chain setup. Those things are sweet.
Bonus of the chains on the rack, they won’t be all slushy and icy from the tires when you have to put them on
Keep them on there.
They look cool dangling on the rack too.
Thank you for the info and demo. I drive a Peterbilt day cab and a Kalmar Ottawa in an unimproved lot here in Mpls and we are ALWAYS getting stuck on flat level ice on the dirt/gravel and then digging potholes. The yard was built on an old marsh, 49 years ago.This would be an absolute lifesaver or better yet immense aggravation saver. Having 25 tons behind the tractor does not always guarantee traction.
very cool auto chains, Casey. When you first showed them, I was wondering about the colours - didn't take long for the colour to disappear...lol. That's seems like it'll be a real safety change for you
The colors make sure they are installed on the proper side of the truck. Right or Left during assembly.
I had a similar experience in North Carolina. The GPS indicated a shorter route back to I-40. I took the suggested route. the last stretch of "road" was a 13 mile single lane up a mountain. As we approached the beginning of the road, a single car appeared going in the opposite direction. So I figured the road was navigable. My wife was understandably nervous. I shifted my 2006 Mitsubishi Montero into 4 wheel drive and drove slowly and carefully up the narrow road. We made it all the way to the top and noticed a sign that read "One-Way" pointing in the opposite direction as we exited the road. As a result of this experience, my wife changed her mind about living in North Carolina. All is well that ends well. Thank you for all your videos.
Good Morning, Casey, That is an excellent upgrade to your truck. You deserve the On-Spot gift and their support. The school district here in Beaverton has On-Spot chains mounted on their buses. We have used them since before 2008. I'm no longer driving for the district. I'm Grumpy's age. The automatic chains added a VERY welcomed level of safety when carrying students in the hills over here on the west side of the state. Be safe. Thank you for your videos I look forward to seeing your stories and adventures there on the east side. .
while humans drive me nuts at times, human ingenuity is something that I highly admire. Love it.
Hi Casey I have seen them before on other equipment. It was cool to see them in action. 👍👍
Sometimes my comments indicate an irritation with the excessive safety mindedness. Things that could be done easily, are walked away from. But I get it. What I love is your professionalism and caring attitude and the way you take care of people. Don’t ever be discouraged when I fuss, I love your vids.
The cynical side of me says “Of course Onspot gave him chains, it’s cheap advertising.” But my better side is saying “They recognize the good that Casey does and they want to help him continue by keeping him safe.”
Its better than giving the money to an advertising company
I love how simple it is. It actually just throws a chain into the path of the tire, using the tire to do it.
It's brilliant.
Davis Tires rocks and Art and Kathleen are wonderful people! Thank you so much for their shout out! Great video as always, Casey. I first saw those chains while following a Sisters school bus and my mind was blown! Very cool!
Thanks Casey! I now finally understand how auto chains work! Great Video.
I could watch your videos all day long. the 1st thing I do when I buy a hoodie i cut one end and pull the string out. Yipyip..
When I was on an all volunteer ambulance service in Eastern Oregon I always wanted a set of these for our ambulances. Had way to many times on freeway where we were almost hit as we put on chains. Good addition to your truck
I have wondered about automatic chains, and very cool music in that segment too!
So cool, asked to see how auto chains worked and you delivered! I thought they would be regular chains with a mechanism to roll em on and off. Total surprise. great invention!
Automatic chains are fantastic! Never driven a vehicle with them, but every single school bus I rode in my grade school days had them.
Cool stuff. What a gain of safety for a driver! Keep on trucking!
They will work wonders. I can still remember taking the chains off my uncle's truck, when I was little. We left the snow behind I had to help him remove the chains.
Awesomene Casey! I did some work on Davis and drove past Utility Trailers every day for years. Cool to be able to follow someone local. Been going snow wheeling every weekend hopefully I won't have to give you a call!
This is incredible. On Spot picked the perfect business to offer their amazing snow chains. You will seriously promote their chains.
Utility Trailers must understand the quality of On Spot and the importance of installation in a timely manner.
And I am sure both companies feel that you will represent their service and product in a professional manner.
Stay safe and drive carefully.
Wow what a video! I assume the auto chains are specific to a proper length so if chains are installed on back axle they don’t become entangled….? Good stuff. Thanks for your videos and taking us along on your adventures
I've heard of those systems, but my old "prepare for the worst and enjoy it when it's not " side would have to find storage for the full set incase of a breakdown on the system. Other than that I love how you are setting it up. Have a great day.
He covered that in his video. He will be carrying his 'regular' tire chains on the back of his cab.
@@SlickBubbles no, he will be carrying the half set he runs in lesser conditions. I did watch it.
FYI, make sure to read the instructions on how to operate. My instructions are to not operate above 19 mile per hour. I have had many of these on my semi trucks. I've had to use these in situations where road conditions changed at a moments notice. The chain wheels can create flat spots as well as lose a rope of chains if engaging at a higher speed. The chain rope is held on by a half chain link which is welded onto the wheel plate. Also don't forget to apply grease to the arm joint at the base. It will help with retracting the arm back up when not in use.
Seems like an incredibly efficient way of removing paint from chains....... excellent work! 🤣🤣🤣
The colors are for right or Left side during installation.
That's a great ad for those automatic chains. You are blessed. Thanks On Spot.
Cool, those would be real handy and a huge time saver for all the times I've had to chain up but I have to wonder, are they really worth it compared to a full set of chains? Those chains don't go all the way under the tire. For the real crap weather, will they cut it?
They go all the way under the tire
I loved the On Spot chains we had on our F-450 Ambulance back in Northwest Connecticut in 1996 and beyond
Do you choose how long the chains are? I know you wouldn't want them dragging on the road when not in use, but it looks like the chains only go about half way under each of the inside tires. Will be interesting to see them in use on a real recovery in some deep snow.
They go all the way under
I wish the o t r trucking companies would install these on their trucks. Would be much easier and safer for the drivers.
Good advertising for On Spot. Great Video Casey. You show compassion and dedication in what you do.
Never seen an autochain system before, pretty cool. Great video presentation. I wonder if there's a difference in grip as compared to a manually rigged system.
Omg. Auto chains. Never knew those where a thing. I love it! I really enjoy seeing the gear and tech. I also appreciate when you show the beautiful snow landscapes. Thanks again. 🎉❤
Those chains are pretty cool, but I can't imagine they would be as effective as regular tire chains.
When you first said "auto chains" I'm your video a while back, I was so interested in how that works (as we are not allowed to have chains in Michigan). Thanks for sharing! That's so rad!
7 min of wasted time. Skip to 7 min, your done by 7:40.
I drove a school bus a short while in Montana. My route was unmaintained (no snow removal). Those automatic snow chains worked like a charm - made me a believer.
I had no idea these existed. Now I know how they work. Thank you Casey.
I'd assume they don't work very well in deep snow, mud or sand. They would probably prevent the mechanisms from rotating, but on a regular road all iced over they should work great. It didn't take long for all the bright shiny paint to be worn off. On Spot should work on that. As posted above, these will be a god send for school bus companies.
Pretty much every school bus in the state of Oregon had these in it. And the paint is only so that you can tell the difference between the driver and passenger side when installing them
@@CaseyLaDelle What is the difference between the driver and passenger side mechanisms, they appear to be identical and they both rotate freely in either direction? The only difference I see is in the direction the swingarm moves on the left and right side.
@@k1j2f30 Yeah, one goes left, one right, plus the rotation too
As a non-trucker, I'd never heard of automatic chains before, but I can see how convenient they would be. A very clever invention! Thanks for showing just how they work.
They have been around for over half a century. Started getting them in the 1980's in the USA on our pickup trucks. Very common on ambulances, tow trucks, school buses, and rescue vehicles in both Europe, Australia, and South America. Works great up to about 7-8 inches of snow.
Another informative product review, Casey. Was never quite sure how well the On-Spots worked but know that you will give us an honest no BS review at the end of the season. Your video editing is getting better all the time. Thanks!!!!!
Casey I really enjoyed the under the truck camera showing the new automatic chains I never knew they even had those. I am glad you have companies working with you they see the potential you have and know it will be a good business partnership which you will benefit from.
I really like your idea of adding another toolbox that way you will have everything that you need
Great camera view of the auto chains! We’ll done, Casey!!
Yeah they’re convenient but the downsides are they break a lot (notice how quick the paint wore)and don’t give as much traction
Wrong on everything you said after, “they’re convenient”
They're fine till you have to come to a stop and can't move forward to engage them again and mine did break on occasion.
@@JustPassinThru70 they work just fine from a stop
My experience in the Colorado high country say different, but hey you do you. @@CaseyLaDelle
Crazy cool concept. Now to see them actually work in the snow . Never heard of such a chain . Even those tire Soxs shocked me . Hell yah !
Definitely a great thing to add to the wrecker and now you're not putting your life in danger to put chains on and the head ache of keeping all that extra stuff on the truck
Thank you for being so careful in hooking up. A lot of people wouldn’t maintain such a high standard of care
What a cool addition to your truck. Another benefit to moving your tire chains from the back is that they won't be covered with ice and muck if you ever need to use them.
Congrats on On Spot for letting you try out their product at no cost. Looks like they're going to work out great for you. Tremendous time saver.
Thanks for having the camera under the truck to show how they work. I’ve seen them on emergency vehicles only. I remember when we had sanders on trucks. They would work until you ran out of sand. I knew the premise of how they worked, but I never seen a video like yours.
Whoever come up with that idea that is awesome I believe all semi trucks need to have them on there. If I was driving again like I used to many years ago that's what I would have on all my semi trucks. Sometimes it's dangerous trying to chain up your tires alongside the road and it's a big hassle that would really save a lot of time and effort.
You mentioned auto change in a few videos back. I had no clue what you were talking about. Holy crap those are cool!! thanks for making that video!! definitely learn something!!
This is awesome. I’ve seen these things hangin under our fire trucks in North Carolina and I couldn’t figure out what they were. Someone told me they were for traction but nobody could explain how they worked. NOW I GET IT !! Thanks Casey.
Casey is learning all of that Hollywood Magic! Good to see the sneaker truck out earning it's keep!