Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade

   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #1  

In.the.Piñons

Silver Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2024
Messages
162
Tractor
21' Kubota M5-111
Any recommendations for chains and where to buy them? My tractor is 4wd, should I get chains for the rear, or all 4 tires?

I'll be plowing about two miles of single lane gravel road with a 9ft 6-way rear blade. We don't get a ton of snow or ice here (western Colorado @ 6,800ft ASL), but once in a while we do. Usually it's about 5-7" with a 75 yard section that will drift over if there's wind. I have skid shoes on my bucket to take of any deep sections of snow.

I'd like to think I could get by with studs, but I really, really don't want to get stuck. One of the hills we have here is close to a 25 deg slope.

BTW my tractor has ag tires.
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #2  
I got mine from these guys:


I have been very happy with them, ordering was easy, prompt delivery and they chains are super heavy duty.
IMG_5431.JPG

I only run chains on the rear tires, but they make a night/day difference for snow plowing when snow is more than about 4 inches deep.
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #4  
The only style of chain I could ever recommend is the studded Euro type such as the Aquiline Talons, or the OFA's, or the TRYGG SMT's.
Tractor and Snow Chains | Products | OFA

I have used all of these brands and have been pleased with them, my last ones were OFA 9's
One set of the TAPIO's they are quite agressive, last year I got 3 pair of the Eko 9's. Mainly because they cost less.
This picture is the Eko 9's;
this style of chain has the best traction and the best ride characteristics of any tire chain,

1730227874420.png
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #5  
I ran ladder style chains on my Ford 1700 4 WD. They were a REAL PITA to install because they were so BLOODY heavy. But once installed - all four wheels - I could climb right up the side of my tool shed. They made the tractor ride like a cob.

Chains on the rear tires for traction. Chains on the front tires for added traction and steerage.

Their cost is now not material. Bought them thirty years ago. In 2009 I bought the Kubota M6040. All loaded up it weighs a tad over 10,000 pounds. It's heavy enough to plow my mile long gravel driveway w/out chains. I have a Rhino 950 rear blade for plowing snow.

If, for some strange reason, I had to buy chains again - Aquilline Talon tractor chains. More aggressive than ladder chains and not quite as heavy( weight wise ). And the ride is supposedly better.

Man - I mean to tell you that set of chains I had were REALLY heavy - weight wise. Bought them at Les Schwab tire store.
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #6  
My Aquiline Talons in 18.4-30 are about 230 pounds for the pair, My Eko 9's for the same tire are the same weight, for the 18.4-32's the Eko 9's are about 240 pound for the pair.
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade #7  
I would plow our 1/4 mile long dirt road with a rear blade. Never seemed to have any issues with no chains. UNTIL the packed snow turned to ice after a rain, that led to a few pucker factor moments. I got chains for front and rear and never thought about the ice again. That combo got me thru just about everything.
 
   / Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade
  • Thread Starter
#9  
The only style of chain I could ever recommend is the studded Euro type such as the Aquiline Talons, or the OFA's, or the TRYGG SMT's.
Tractor and Snow Chains | Products | OFA

I have used all of these brands and have been pleased with them, my last ones were OFA 9's
One set of the TAPIO's they are quite agressive, last year I got 3 pair of the Eko 9's. Mainly because they cost less.
This picture is the Eko 9's;
this style of chain has the best traction and the best ride characteristics of any tire chain,

View attachment 1702141



Unfortunately those (Aquiline Talons) don't come in my size - 420/85/R35.

These are the closest $1,400


Or these at $2,300


Any reason to spend the extra $1K on the SMT's?
 
 

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