MULE 2510. What can make a vehicle so USELESS in the Snow?

[Industrial Toys]

Digging around this storage shed for some signs that had fallen behind a steel shelf unit, when I came across a milk crate. A voice from yesterday boomed out "Surprise, surprise, surprise"

Seems I had some TIRE CHAINS. Probably got them when I asked a friend if he had any chain I could cut up for mower guards and these were given to me, but too light.



They are Rusty, but like new. Bad news is that they are too short, Good news is that they basically fit the tire and I have FOUR of them.

Can I butcher one, to make the others longer? Will the welded link hold? Should I shorten the other two or make one much shorter?

I am dying to try it. I have NEVER used chains in my life except for on my two wheel Gravely PRO 12. Should they be tight or loose?

$80.00 CDN 2000# (Yeah Right) portable winch on board.

 

[LouNY]

All of my modified chains have had many welded links and my old wore out chains had the repair links welded.
That style of chain needs to be keep tight.
I was upstairs in my shop yesterday and stepped across a box with a brand new set of two link spaced V bar reinforced truck chains
for 245/70-17's brand new still in the bag I've put them in the pickup a few times when I was out and about with a severe storm forecast.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks for that. Tight they will be. Any issue with the chains not being totally even? The last piece I put in may not match the spacing of the original. I mean, how do the manufacturers even ensure that for a given size tire, and often for a variation of size..

Does it matter which way around the chains go as far as the link connections between tread sections and sidewall sections?

I will remove the tires, deflate and do this on a table.

 

[LouNY]

A small deviation will not hurt, I'm assuming that you are referring to the spacing of the cross chains.
Standard chains are set with 4 side link spacing higher end chains will go to two link spacing,
one or 3 link spacing would be twisting on the side links.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You seem to know your chains. Do these even look right for these tires? Because, I don't have a clue.

While I'm at it, I might just ask. Do you think it's even worth trying? To possibly push the envelope in snow ability if only a bit?

 

[LouNY]

They are what we used to call a street chain, with the twist link cross chain without the V bars for increased traction.
They will increase your traction some, how much is hard to say, that style maybe 20%.

When I install my chains I prefer to have my hooks pass thru the connecting link and fold back to the rear.
Looking at the tire with the hook at 12:00 pass the hook thru the connecting link and bring the lever end back towards the right or what would be the rear of the tire.
When connecting your chains be sure to keep your side chains the same length, if not they will try to walk off to the short side.

 

[groundcover]

Only time my RTV got stuck in the snow with chains on the rear was high centered on a snow bank.

 

[Rustyiron]

You seem to know your chains. Do these even look right for these tires? Because, I don't have a clue.

While I'm at it, I might just ask. Do you think it's even worth trying? To possibly push the envelope in snow ability if only a bit?

Sure is worth it.
Caution, they'll also get you worse stuck just like 4wd will.:laughing: don't think you're superman right out of the gate and learn the limitations in/of the different snow types. :thumbsup:

 

[Zebrafive]

I was reading that it's the snow trapped between the lugs of some snow tires that is intended to provide the adhesion to the snow on the ground.

I have heard that theory too. The snow on the tire "sticks" to the snow on the ground, providing traction.

 

[yanmars]

I hope the chains help, I am not so sure. I also have a 2510. It and my Honda Rubicon are both terrible in deep snow. I think they get high centered. I do not even take them out in that anymore and they are 4 wheel drive and the Mule also has a locking differential. In light snow they are a blast but we have over a foot on the ground now and I would not even think about using them. I would have to get my farm tractor to pull them out.
I hope the chains just do not get you stuck further in.