plowing snow with chains

[inairam]

My father had an excavation business. In the winter to keep his employees busy, he would use the rubber tire machines for snow removal at a large shopping center and a mall. When I turned 16 I would drive a jeep as an escort at night and plow the sidewalks and tight areas in the shopping center. That is how I learned to drive in bad weather and how to plow snow. I never used chains on the Jeep

Plowing snow with the cub with chains feels like cheating. The traction with 2 wheel drive and chains is really great far better than the jeep with 4 wheel drive. The Jeep could get stuck in a snow pile if you were not careful.

Today I was pushing snow off the driveway down a hill a bit and was able to back right out, no rear weights and the weight distribution all wrong with the plow being down a hill.

Love my chains on turf tires on my cub!

[Bill Hudson]

... Love my chains on turf tires on my cub!

The only way to go!

Bill

[k hutchins]

I've been plowing snow with my '48 for 50 yrs or so with no chains. Rear weights and loaded rear ag tires. Up and down a long grade hill and a 1/4 mi long driveway. Never had a problem.
It's more about the technique than the equipment. Heavier/deeper snow? Just take smaller bites and make more passes.

[inairam]

It's more about the technique than the equipment. Heavier/deeper snow? Just take smaller bites and make more passes.

'

I agree it is all about technique. How you cut in, where and how you pile so the melt going in drains or away from traffic area, your pile is not in the way for next storm, drains clear.

That is why I called it cheating! You can make more mistakes ( or take more liberties) and get away with it.

We do get a lot more wet snow /sleet/ freezing rain in my area so we have more ice to deal with. The colder the temperature the better the traction

[radioguy41]

Traction and technique go hand in hand. Something novices often (usually, always?) overlook is you always plow the first one to make room for the next one. I've seen people plow a path to get out and think they've done enough. Then another storm comes along and there's no place to go with it and the piles from the previous storm are now frozen and can't be moved. I spent 4 hours plowing out the development yesterday, towing out one stuck plow truck, and opening 4 driveways & 4 mailboxes. We got 21 inches of snow. Fortunately I was warm and toasty in the 4Runner. Unfortunately I backed into a snowpile and dented my tailgate.

[Matt Kirsch]

Unfortunately in commercial plowing you can't use chains because the customers don't want their parking lots and driveways all chewed to shreds by the chains.

If you think a tractor can go through some stuff with chains on you should see what an old pickup truck can do.

[KETCHAM]

I have blacktop.....chains would tear it up....I have chains but have never used them....should sell them...ag tires seem to work OK for me....

[inairam]

I have 600 feet of blacktop. I was concerned about chains.

I have been using Twist Link Ladder Style chains on turf tires for a few years and have not had any issues with the blacktop getting torn up.

[Gary S.]

My drive is so steep that even with chains it can be difficult, the last 10-15 feet when going up has been the demise of many vehicles over the past 75 years our family has lived here. Jeeps from CJ2's to Grands have been consistent in making it to the top. Since I've spent a small fortune on repaving it the cub hasn't been used in years.

[Lt.Mike]

I have blacktop.....chains would tear it up....I have chains but have never used them....should sell them...ag tires seem to work OK for me....

I’m in this boat
This last storm I saw some traction problems I hadn’t seen before. I’ve got chains but will try double stacking weights first.

[nwfan1]

I plow without chains but have double weights on loaded Ag tires, a 100lb old suitcase weight bolted to the drawbar, and a couple hundred pounds in the seat. A layer of ice under the snow can still cause trouble, however the the other thing I find very helpful is good working brakes- drag the wheel that is slipping and I usually walk right out of any trouble. I get to play with about 100" a year so I get some good seat time.

[Bill V in Md]

My drive is so steep that even with chains it can be difficult, the last 10-15 feet when going up has been the demise of many vehicles over the past 75 years our family has lived here. Jeeps from CJ2's to Grands have been consistent in making it to the top. Since I've spent a small fortune on repaving it the cub hasn't been used in years.

Gary, I also have a pretty steep, asphalt drive that made it very difficult getting up with chains only. I added double weights on each rear wheel and it made all the difference in the world. Another 250 lbs of weights on the drawbar and I can plow uphill.

[ajhbike]

This storm I had to use the TO35 that has chains on turf tires...it was 14" with some rain on top. I didn't even crank up the cub because it would have been too much even with chains. For more moderate snow, the cub has chains, rear wheel weights and I bolted another wheel weight onto the drawbar.

[Peter Person]

From the winter of 2006-2007 to 2019-2020 this was my set up; (smoother ride but not great traction as the crosslinks fell between the lugs)


This past fall I picked up a set of used turf tires and rims from "nomad", so this is my current setup; (lousy ride in 1st, better in 2nd, not bad in 3rd. no traction issues!)

[Gary S.]

Gary, I also have a pretty steep, asphalt drive that made it very difficult getting up with chains only. I added double weights on each rear wheel and it made all the difference in the world. Another 250 lbs of weights on the drawbar and I can plow uphill.

So you run with no chains Bill? Ag or turf tires? I've had filled tires all these years-one rim is about rusted out so it's the old might as well syndrome. Was thinking of switching over to turf tires too since I need new ones of those,and now you tell me 2 sets of weights Looks like a future trip to JP Tractor