ex3200 chains

[onelostdogg]

Anyone have any info on snow chains for an Ex 3200? The manual doesn't say either yes or no. I asked the dealer and he swears I won't need them. He may be right but I don't want to find out in the middle of our driveway, which has about 300' of 10 degree downhill slope. It faces North so not much direct sun in the winter. It gets icy every winter without fail. For last 10 years I plowed with a Polaris 700 with 2-link ladder v-bars on all four tires. Driveway is gravel and tires are R4's loaded rears.

 

[dslanec]

Anyone have any info on snow chains for an Ex 3200? The manual doesn't say either yes or no. I asked the dealer and he swears I won't need them. He may be right but I don't want to find out in the middle of our driveway, which has about 300' of 10 degree downhill slope. It faces North so not much direct sun in the winter. It gets icy every winter without fail. For last 10 years I plowed with a Polaris 700 with 2-link ladder v-bars on all four tires. Driveway is gravel and tires are R4's loaded rears.

I'm not sure about the ex 3200 but on my sx 3100 if I didn't have chains it wouldn't leave the barn. I was told I wouldn't need chains and the first snow I couldn't even plow 3 inches of snow. Ordered chains that day and it is a beast now. And my tires are loaded to by the way.

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[Katahdin]

Sounds to me like you are a good candidate for tire chains, I'm not aware of any reasons why you shouldn't use them.

 

[onelostdogg]

Thanks guys. I think so too. Just picked up a bush hog back blade today and asked dealer again. He said he doesn't know anyone who has chains on one. But I would be amazed to get through the winter without them. Was a little concerned about clearance issues.

 

[Garycw]

You could always try it without them, but I'd have a set there ready to put on. Especially with a layer of ice. I have a little more incline and have enough trouble with chains. Tire chains.com is a good resource

 

[Katahdin]

The ex3200 looks like it has plenty of clearance for chains. For a good laugh check out these Kubotas plowing snow with bare R4s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwo2c6V3qFY

Another option to consider is salting the drive to melt and rough up the problem spots some. I don't have chains on my R1s, but I do have a spot on slight incline and curve that gives me trouble now and then going uphill. Maybe one of these years I'll get chains but I seem to keep blowing all my play money on implements during the less frigid months.

 

[onelostdogg]

Thanks for the video. That's what I want to avoid...especially down by the road. Home is all uphill from there. I know chains were like night and day when I put them on my ATV the second winter. And yes salt helps a LOT especially after roughing it up with chained tires. My neighbor has a longer steeper drive than I do with about 4 or 5 switchbacks and it is all blacktopped. One time I went up into the woods on our property and looked over into his open garage. In the one bay was a pallet of bags of salt! Guess someone always has it worse...

 

[dslanec]

Thanks guys. I think so too. Just picked up a bush hog back blade today and asked dealer again. He said he doesn't know anyone who has chains on one. But I would be amazed to get through the winter without them. Was a little concerned about clearance issues.

My clearance was tight on mine and last year I got a rear blower and my chains were hitting the turnbuckles with it on my 3 point. So I just swapped my rear tires and widened the rear about 3 inches total and fixed my problem. Now it is more stable and plenty of clearance for chains.

NSBundle </System/Library/Extensions/AGXMetalG4P.bundle> (loaded)

 

[onelostdogg]

Dslanec do you have R4's? I don't think I can swap my rears...are there spacers like on ATV's I can use on the front? Or are chains on the rear only sufficient ?

 

[dslanec]

Dslanec do you have R4's? I don't think I can swap my rears...are there spacers like on ATV's I can use on the front? Or are chains on the rear only sufficient ?

Yes I have R4's. I never even thought about switching the rear tires untill I read on here someone doing it on a different tractor. Most ppl only put chains on the rear and that is what I have too. I don't know if all tractors are designed to swap rear tires or not? You swap 1 side for the other so that way the tread stays in the correct direction.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

My clearance was tight on mine and last year I got a rear blower and my chains were hitting the turnbuckles with it on my 3 point. So I just swapped my rear tires and widened the rear about 3 inches total and fixed my problem. Now it is more stable and plenty of clearance for chains. NSBundle </System/Library/Extensions/AGXMetalG4P.bundle> (loaded)

it amazes me that you can sent people to school for years to be an engineer and some of them still don't have a lick of common sense. Making a tractor without room for chains and I know on my kubota the wiring is not in the inside of the frame but on the outside so the chain with snow and ice build up is going to rip of the wire. Smart...real smart. Kubota is one of the better brands but man they do some dumb things. Grab a mitt and join the ball game boys.

 

[Gods Country]

You will need chains. A little ice makes it difficult to push or pull snow.
I get mine from tirechains.com

They come out of Johnstown. You will have them via UPS in 24 hours within PA.

Just bought a set for the new to me 2120

 

[onelostdogg]

Thanks for all the advice. Great info on these forums. Since money is a bit tight, I have an idea...please tell me ggod or bad and why? The rear chains for my 4 Wheeler will fit almost perfectly on the front tractor tires. I tried them...plenty of clearance and good fit. Thought I might try them first if I think I will need them and at least they might get me through the few days it would take for rear chains to arrive. Anything wrong with my thinking?

 

[PAKraig]

How'd you make out with this?? I'm not stalking you, I swear! LOL

I was thinking about just the fronts too. Any luck? They'd certainly be a LOT easier to put on. Just lift the tractor with the FEL :thumbsup:

 

[onelostdogg]

How'd you make out with this?? I'm not stalking you, I swear! LOL

I was thinking about just the fronts too. Any luck? They'd certainly be a LOT easier to put on. Just lift the tractor with the FEL :thumbsup:

Worked well. We have ice now and NO WAY could I get by without them. Bad news is that the Polaris doesn't do nearly as well with only front chains as all fours. This is only a short-term solution though. This summer I will keep eyes open for chains for all 4 tires at the auctions. If I can't find any decent used ones by fall, I'll be buying real tractor V-bars from tirechain.com for next year. I know there are several schools of thought regarding which tires to chain up and my gut feeling is I would rather have the rear end doing all that ripping and tearing than the front. So it will be ATV chains back on the four wheeler where they belong, v-bars on the rear of tractor and probably non-v on the front.
I'm not a tractor expert by a long shot but feel free to stalk me any time. We have been down almost the exact same road and I'll be glad to help if I can. And most importantly, if I don't know something, I won't BS you.

 

[INABT]

I have a set of rear v-bars that fit my industrial tires. They worked great for traction when we lived in Maine but not having a split brake on our tractors is a detriment in deep snow. Having chains on the front would have been helpful for turning on slippery stuff. We owned a 60" Puma snow blower which our tractor pushed without any problems. When we moved south of the snow belt we sold the blower but kept the chains. I don't think I need them anymore. Eight inches of snow on Friday in Nashville melts away by Monday. If either of you are interested, send me a PM.

 

[awb8671]

interested in your chains. what size? mine are 15x19.5. If same size how much? Thanks

 

[PAKraig]

Worked well. We have ice now and NO WAY could I get by without them. Bad news is that the Polaris doesn't do nearly as well with only front chains as all fours. This is only a short-term solution though. This summer I will keep eyes open for chains for all 4 tires at the auctions. If I can't find any decent used ones by fall, I'll be buying real tractor V-bars from tirechain.com for next year. I know there are several schools of thought regarding which tires to chain up and my gut feeling is I would rather have the rear end doing all that ripping and tearing than the front. So it will be ATV chains back on the four wheeler where they belong, v-bars on the rear of tractor and probably non-v on the front.
I'm not a tractor expert by a long shot but feel free to stalk me any time. We have been down almost the exact same road and I'll be glad to help if I can. And most importantly, if I don't know something, I won't BS you.

Well, how'd you make out?? LOL!! I worked my *** off yesterday on my steep .25 mile dirt driveway WITHOUT CHAINS. Calling Smith's to see if they have any in stock. I guess I better get a decent jack then too, huh???

 

[onelostdogg]

Well, how'd you make out?? LOL!! I worked my *** off yesterday on my steep .25 mile dirt driveway WITHOUT CHAINS. Calling Smith's to see if they have any in stock. I guess I better get a decent jack then too, huh???

Sorry all for the long absence. Last Oct or Nov I bought 2 sets of the Euro chains from tirechain.com. No looking back. Everyone who said I would need chains was right. Difference is night/day as I learned with the Polaris. With the bucket up about a foot and the rear blade down, it will go through pretty much any snow we're likely to ever get around here. If another huge storm ever comes, going out when there is a foot or two down will make it much quicker than waiting til the bitter end and trying to do it all at once.
Kraig, I would definitely recommend tirechain.com. They are located in PA and offer great products at an excellent price. Just don't wait til January to order.

 

[PAKraig]

Sorry all for the long absence. Last Oct or Nov I bought 2 sets of the Euro chains from tirechain.com. No looking back. Everyone who said I would need chains was right. Difference is night/day as I learned with the Polaris. With the bucket up about a foot and the rear blade down, it will go through pretty much any snow we're likely to ever get around here. If another huge storm ever comes, going out when there is a foot or two down will make it much quicker than waiting til the bitter end and trying to do it all at once.
Kraig, I would definitely recommend tirechain.com. They are located in PA and offer great products at an excellent price. Just don't wait til January to order.

I ended up stopping at Messick's in Halifax since they had them in stock the same day I wanted to buy them. Decent price and went on very easy in maybe half an hour. Honestly, once I got them untangled and laid down, maybe 10 minutes per rear tire. What a difference a chain makes!