Anyone use them, with the cam locks? Are they worth buying?

Cam locks are a great invention. Most truckers use them.

My chains aren't Laclede, but they do have cam locks - yes, they are worth it, but you'll still want spring or rubber tighteners.

Thanks for the info!

I have the Laclede V Bars.

I've had them on the truck 4 times, with doubled up rubbers.

Makes pucker factor mountain roads easy!

No issues so far.

You aren’t putting them on right if you need additional rubber snubbers…

golly, I'll just call you to come over next time I need them

If you put chains on RIGHT, you don’t bungees, spiders, or anything else, with the possible exception of tucking in the overly long end of an I’ll fitting chain to keep it from hitting a fender.

Cams are worth having if you are going to use chains for extended periods, as opposed to just for getting through a drift or mud hole.

If any of my drivers give me the “I need bungees for chaining” line, they have automatically signed themselves up for remedial chain classes.

Laclede v-bar with cams are awesome for a ladder style chain. Maybe overkill for some people though.

Again, thanks to all for the info!

I carry a couple 6" 2x4's along with my chains. If I can move the pickup at all, I lay out the chains and put a 2x4 between 2 of the cross links. Then I drive up on them. That little bit of height gives me a lot of extra room to adjust the chains to get them tighter. If I'm good and stuck, sometimes I can get the chains on any way possible and then drive up on the boards to tighten them properly. Luckily I haven't been that stuck in many years.

You ole trucker, you!

Works well, if you're chaining up before you're stuck!

Shrap is right. Either you are using the wrong size of chains, or you are not installing them correctly. The cams tighten the chains. That’s all I’ll run on a truck. They work great

I use the rubber keepers on my v-bar chains. Dunno what the big deal is?

As the chains loosen, from throttling hard with a load of firewood, they keep the chains from slapping my brake lines. I even bungee my brake lines to flex away from the tires as the suspension articulates.

Anyhow, learned something new about aggressive v-bar chains hooking up under hard throttle/diesel torque and loaded down with 4700lb loads of green birch:
The force finds the weakest link. First, it was an old drivline ujoint. Next, was those btch-asz Warn "premium pot metal hubs". The entire things are made completely of aluminum. The bezels, hub gear and housings. They strip out and strand you. Had to replace them with beefy all-steel mile Marker hubs. Thanks to v-bar chains, for helping me find the weak link.....

I have a set for my rig. Only used them once in the past 3 years, but they saved my ass there and were worth the extra weight. The Cam-Locks are darned nice and they get them pretty darn tight on the tire.

mainer,

I have no problems with the rubber keepers. In fact, I think they do a good job keeping the chains on without being too tight. As long as they are in good shape, but they can obviously get damaged in deep ruts.

I have seen Toyo M55 sidewall rubber split from chains being too tight. That stated, the cams can do just fine as well but I think some people tend to overtighten chains in general.

I also ran into a similar situation with Warn hubs, but that was quite awhile ago. I ended up using Superwinch hubs. The guys at the 4x4 shop laughed when I asked for Warn and showed me the differences.