chains for snow/tire ballast

[LBrown59]

All depends on your tires.
I had a MF with ag tires and a set of nice H-bar chains worked real goodChanged to Forestry tires (basicly smaller and closer spaced bars on the tire) and never needed chains much.Now have a JD with Industrial Tires and with H-bar chains it rides worse than terrible.
I hate the industrials, worse of both worlds, flat with no traction like turfs but still cuts up lawn like ags.With Turf tires you can get away with regular cross bar chains.I never used front chains, really never needed them I guess.Weight will help anyway you can get it, weather rim guard, weight box, or implement. I personally like the backhoe for weight, then the front tires don't matter much.

Sounds like me.

Loader, front plow, front or rear blower, rear blade???????????
I would go chains all the way around.Fluid will help, the heavier the better.

Not me.

just my 2 cents, love to know if I am wrong. My dealer told me not to put chains on the front. They said it causes to much wear to the front end.

Smart Dealer.

I never ran chains on the front because I never thought I needed them, I am used to larger ag tractors where the rears do the work and the fronts just assist, I am also used to independent braking and don't get over dependent on the front wheels steering, again from my farm days.

 

[The Haymaker]

Dunno where you are in the NE, but these guys make a serious product.

If the professionals are using them, they gotta be good!

 

[AndyMA]

DO NOT PUT CHAINS ON FRONT TIRES... Just ask dealers and guys who repair all the damage caused by them like RickB on this site.

On a TN75 depending on tire size you may have trouble with room for chains. I have 16.9x30 R1's and the fender clearance won't allow chains. Have never needed them any way.

Andy

 

[mykleh]

I'll chime in with most of the same comments.. I have a NH1620 with rear turf filled tires and rear ladder chains. most of the time in the early season or cold weather I don't need the chains for blowing but I have needed them after a "warm up" because of "glazing over" as I have a gravel driveway and don't scrape/blow it down to the gravel just close to it and it is for a cabin in Northern Wisconsin and if I don't get up there for 2 weeks I can use them when I have 18" or more to move. also if you are bucketing piles or using a blade you'll need them more than me. I would start with rear filled then rear chains.. there are plenty of horror stories of guys on here that have to redo the front end after using chains all the way around. I did have to flip my tires around to get the clearance to run the chains. they also are great for working in the woods, pulling stuff out/up etc...

 

[lungdoc]

I do use chains on the front of our Deere 4320 but don't abuse it and haven't had any problems. Will stay in 2WD when possible but the chains really help for steering and braking. Totally depends on the hills involved - my father in law never needed chains for his flat lot but I sure do for our hilly drive/road. I don't think the grip I am getting with chains on hardpack snow is any higher than I get on gravel with bare tires, so not really clear to me that that would abuse the front end more than running in 4wd on gravel in the summer (which guys do with FEL all day long).

 

[HeavyHitch]

Here's a place that makes a weight rack and it shows picture using a spreader too! Tractor Quick Hitch | Hitch for 3 Point Hitch Tractor Attachments, 3 Point Tractor Hitches for John Deere Tractor Accessories | Heavy Hitch