Snow chains for plowing with a rear blade

[oosik]

My first snows are usually before the driveway is rock hard. Just like jyoutz - turn the rear blade 180 degrees and let the weight of the blade handle the snow. This way - the gravel on the surface stays put.

It may leave an inch or so of snow. But - I have no problems getting thru that.

 

[jyoutz]

I would like to try this, but my goofy Frontier blade has less adjustment holes on the back side than on the front. So I can't get enough angle to push snow off effectively with it facing backwards.

I could drill a couple more holes, but it's a 1/2" plate and I just don't want it bad enough to go to the trouble. I have no idea why they built it that way. I've never seen a rear blade with less adjusting holes when facing forward than backwards.

Interesting. Usually they have the same adjustment capability however the blade is turned.

 

[LouNY]

pickup tire chains are a lot less that chains for a tractor
so why not get two sets of truck tire chains and put them
to gether on a tractor tire??? Guys would purchase a 3/4
ton pickup and they had a 1/2 ton they traded with 15 inch
tires and the 3/4 had 16 inch they would just add some more
chain to fit. I have a set of chains that fit a 975x16.5 tire haven't tried to see if they will fit out tractor and a set of VW
chains I'll just add more chain to fit. If I remember correctly
the Fleet Farm stores in Fond du Lac WI sold the chain so you
could add chain and they carried the links to hook them to
gether

willy

I would not go back to ladder type tire chains on any vehicle unless I absolutely had too. Rough bouncy ride better traction but a long way from the best and a slip grip continual motion. Many years ago I had 4 link spaced V-bar reinforced chains on my Oliver, they worked but that was all, had to have some tire speed to just make it up my driveway with the blade up. Added a set set to them to make it a set of 2 link spaced ladder chains they worked much better. Then I bought my first set of the studded Aquiline Talons, that was the ticket several multitudes more traction both going and brakeing, the ride improvement was tremendous. You could actually road travel at 15+ mph compared to 10-12. No vibration, no issues.

 

[John_Mc]

I would not go back to ladder type tire chains on any vehicle unless I absolutely had too. Rough bouncy ride better traction but a long way from the best and a slip grip continual motion. Many years ago I had 4 link spaced V-bar reinforced chains on my Oliver, they worked but that was all, had to have some tire speed to just make it up my driveway with the blade up. Added a set set to them to make it a set of 2 link spaced ladder chains they worked much better. Then I bought my first set of the studded Aquiline Talons, that was the ticket several multitudes more traction both going and brakeing, the ride improvement was tremendous. You could actually road travel at 15+ mph compared to 10-12. No vibration, no issues.

AGREE!
I started with 4-link v-bar ladder style chains on the rear R4 tires of my tractor. Most of the time they got me up the icy steep section of my driveway. They did not have very good lateral traction, so I'd often find myself sliding sideways when operating on side hills.

I switched to V-bar Duo-Grip chains. the design helped keep more of the chain from falling in to the treads of the tire. They gave a bit better traction coming up the icy hill, and significantly better lateral traction. I did have a bit of the grab-slip action at times as the tire rolled on and off the chain (there are some good-sized gaps in the duo-grip tread pattern). The biggest issue was the ride was so bad that on hard ground I could not go much above a fast walk without feeling as though I was going to shake the tractor apart and shake the fillings out of my teeth. They were fine when I was working in the woods, which is typically lower speed and softer ground, but they were just not practical for operating this tractor as any decent speed on hard ground.

I switched to the "Euro-style" chains (in my case, OFA EKO chains - very similar to Aqualine Talons Lou mentioned). Great forward traction, great lateral traction, no "grab-slip", and a smooth ride at higher speeds. Since these are aggressive chains, I was a bit concerned about what they would do to the pavement when we had the loop of our driveway up near the house paved. They actually are easier on the driveway than the other two styles I tried - probably because the grip is more continuous, so I'm less likely to spin the tires.

 

[nyone]

Our daytime high temps average above freezing and we also get a lot of sun. So the snow never really gets a chance to form a base over the duration of winter. Instead we get a cold spell where it snows and then it slowly melts over the next 3-4 weeks.

Sounds just like my environment. I dont even use my rear blade for snow. Mostly just use my bucket and keep pushing even if full. Gives me a 6' wide path to widen a bit. In the last 5yrs I prob had one year that the snow actually stuck around. When my base starts to melt I just put the landscape rake on to roughen the base up and a sunny day takes care of the rest.

7Yrs I havent had to move gravel out of my lawn. 700' driveway of item4.

 

[Williy]

I see someone added that the tire chains were $1200 but
this company has chains forr tractors but a lot less that the
$1200 anyone looking for chains should check out this co

Farm Tractor Tire Chains | TireChains.com

Tractor Tire Chains - Don’t let winter weather slow you down. Get the best tire chains for your vehicle at tirechain.com. Shop our wide selection and enjoy fast shipping and competitive prices.

tirechain.com

willy

 

[John_Mc]

I see someone added that the tire chains were $1200 but
this company has chains forr tractors but a lot less that the
$1200 anyone looking for chains should check out this co

Farm Tractor Tire Chains | TireChains.com

Tractor Tire Chains - Don’t let winter weather slow you down. Get the best tire chains for your vehicle at tirechain.com. Shop our wide selection and enjoy fast shipping and competitive prices.

tirechain.com

willy

really depends on the size and the style of chain. The diamond pattern "Euro-style" chains tend to be a lot more expensive than other styles. I bought my Ladder style and my Duo-grip style from Tirechain.com. They seemed like a decent company to deal with, though not always responsive to questions.

The OFA Eko chains I bought from a Vermont-based distributor.

 

[LouNY]

At the present time I have Aquiline Talons (rear for the Branson8050) TRYGG SMT's (front of the Branson) and then three sets of the OFA' Eko's a set of 8mm (rear of the Kioti CK2620) and front and rear Eko 9mm for the NH 8160.
So far the most used ones are the Talons on the Branson, then the TRYGG's then the OFA's. I've gone with the OFA's for the slightly better price and what seems to be equal quality chains and easy availability. A few hour drive to New Hampshire and I have my chains.

 

[BackRoad]

Mr. Lou, think these guys may be close to you, should you have chain related needs, like repair links, etc.

They're an old style supplier with a converted mill filled with logging supplies...including lots of chains, cables and ropes. Interesting place to just walk through.

Austin Farm Enterprises, 161 Jennison Ln, Bainbridge, NY 13733.

I got my OFAs from them and can't drive by without stopping in just to look.

 

[LouNY]

Mr. Lou, think these guys may be close to you, should you have chain related needs, like repair links, etc.

They're an old style supplier with a converted mill filled with logging supplies...including lots of chains, cables and ropes. Interesting place to just walk through.

Austin Farm Enterprises, 161 Jennison Ln, Bainbridge, NY 13733.

I got my OFAs from them and can't drive by without stopping in just to look.

I've talked to them a couple of times, they are about 2 1/2 hours from me.