To chain or not to chain that is the question.

Scaper · Nov 10, 2012

I'm debating about a set of chains for my Boomer 1030. I have some concern about clearance between the body and tires. A fellow plower stated he had a disaster when a chain came apart and tore his sheet metal up. Tension straps broke. We don't get a huge storm regularly and I do have a blower for the rear loader front set up so would chains really be needed? I have turf tires on the tractor and they seem to be better when I do plow snow. I found a set online for $132.00 plus $10.95 for keepers per side. I know alot of folks are in the snow belt so please give me your opinion. Thank's Mark

Pipestone Kid · Nov 10, 2012

You didn't say if you have four wheel drive, so my answer might not be relevant. I have 4x4 and turf tires. I have a pretty steep hill to climb (both in and out) and I don't have chains. Had the tractor for 8 years and never needed them. HTH
Jim

Buckgnarly · Nov 10, 2012

We can get some serious ice here early on in the Winter, the kind you cannot even stand up on. I have chains for all my plow trucks, and have no interest in EVER sliding down a hill while sitting in an open cab tractor. I have a pair of chains on the way for this first Winter with the tractor, I learned my lesson when I did not have any for my first year with the plow truck!

If I did not have hills to deal with, I might not have the chains though.

nybirdman · Nov 10, 2012

For what it's worth;my dealer claims turfs are better than R4 (industrial) in the snow.I have R1(Ag) with no problems.

Wyobuckaroo · Nov 10, 2012

nybirdman said:
For what it's worth;my dealer claims turfs are better than R4 (industrial) in the snow.I have R1(Ag) with no problems.

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I use 2 link ladder chains on 33" turfs.
I have never had any problems with them on frozen gravel, or hard surface road.

The ride isn't rough either. Even in the woods. I know industrial tires with ring chains on the tractor I used, are a rough ride.

Good luck

204saskman · Nov 10, 2012

I got chains on my turfs. I have a loader and blower on the back and had to have them. They would just spin and then i would have no traction at all. Just my opinion but chains are worth every penny. I have mine chained all the way around so i can steer too. i found that fronts helped the most but the rears made it into a whole new tractor.

mjym · Nov 10, 2012

yap i got chain on my tractor last year and they will go back on its not the same tractor with chain but dont make him spin for nothing on pave driveway but you got traction with them on

etcallhome · Nov 10, 2012

nybirdman said:
For what it's worth;my dealer claims turfs are better than R4 (industrial) in the snow.I have R1(Ag) with no problems.

Guessing your snow is different form ours. FIL had turfs on his all kind of weight on the back and could get hung up plowing snow on level driveway. It had chains on it year round couldn't even mow the yard without getting hung up. Present day has reg tractor tires on his no chains to mow but chains to plow snow.
First yr I had my JD2210 with R4 thought OH BOY won't need chains ,till I came home one evening after snow had melted some on our concrete drive. Started to pull down toward our garage doors to back blade,, almost replaced garage door with blade down after it started to slide. Long story short CHAINS on the jd1026r R4 tires .

retiredmgn · Nov 10, 2012

Scaper said:
. A fellow plower stated he had a disaster when a chain came apart and tore his sheet metal up. Tension straps broke. .

He must have been moving right along for chains to start destroying structure. Me, if I'm moving snow it's at a walking pace. If we have an ice storm then all bets are off for which tire tread will do best.
None of them. Chains are required. I'll wait till I have to to put them on because they really change the ride to bumpy.

joeyd · Nov 10, 2012

Once there is snow on the ground I don't notice the bumps from the chains. I would rather get them on early than hope I don't find ice on the hill while I'm throwing snow.

FatTire · Nov 10, 2012

Photo of Joeyd's setup shows one good way to go. V-bar, floor protection, blower. I believe that if you spend enough time out in the winter without tire chains, sooner or later you will end up in a situation where you'd GLADLY hand over a couple hundred bucks to gracefully recover yourself (and your expensive tractor). Better off to spend the money up front, avoid as many problems as possible, and operate more safely. I've used chains on several types of vehicles and have never had one come off, but I could see how it might happen if for example you have to put them on in the dark, laying in the snow somewhere, hands freezing, etc. Just hard to get them tight in situations like that.

whistlepig · Nov 10, 2012

I keep my chains snug with chain tensioners. All the connections on the chains are safety wired. If they come loose they will for sure trash a fender. Chains take a little time to set up right.

Scaper · Nov 11, 2012

My tractor is a hydro with 4wd sensitrack auto engagement when tires spin. I was wondering what the difference is in performance between the two space and four space chain. Does one ride harder then the other or perform better? Mark

silvertramp · Nov 11, 2012

I use bungee cords for tensioners. 2 on the inside, offset around the axle. 3 on the outside. Never a problem. Chains are a must here.

flyingcow · Nov 11, 2012

Buckgnarly said:
We can get some serious ice here early on in the Winter, the kind you cannot even stand up on. I have chains for all my plow trucks, and have no interest in EVER sliding down a hill while sitting in an open cab tractor. I have a pair of chains on the way for this first Winter with the tractor, I learned my lesson when I did not have any for my first year with the plow truck!

If I did not have hills to deal with, I might not have the chains though.

What you call "Hills" I call small mountains.

camshawn · Nov 11, 2012

I put rear chains on my 15hp yanmar 4wd with ag tires to plow snow. I use a front mounted plow on our driveway that has a hill. I have slid backward down the hill with my 4x4 pickup, not fun. The little tractor has pulled the pickup, work van, Toyota Land cruiser and the wife's pickup up the hill and/or out of the ditch in low range with chains on the rear tires. I have used bungee cords or 1/8 nylon pull string going across the tire, what ever is handy when I put the chains on. I have found chains just work for me and I will put them on if I need to plow. The tractor goes strait with chains and slowly turns slowly due to the angle of the blade without them.
Cam. now shopping for chains to fit the new tractor

RoyJackson · Nov 11, 2012

Scaper said:
I'm debating about a set of chains for my Boomer 1030. I have some concern about clearance between the body and tires. Thank's Mark

Looking at a YouTube video of a 1030 with turf tires, it appears you may not have much clearance between the tire and fender, especially at the fender lip.
Some tractor fenders can be mounted differently (they have more then one set of mounting holes).
I'd ask your dealer, if I were you.
That said, I use 4 link ladder type chains from Tire Chains by TireChains.com on my 4400 with turfs. I'm a real believer in chains.

savageactor7 · Nov 12, 2012

I have some concern about clearance between the body and tires.

Yeah Roy is on to something there...you have to determine weather or not you have enough clearance.

About 8 years ago I was looking to upgrade the Kubota and we settled on a model of some kind. So I go out on the lot and to check out the machine and eventually noticed there wasn't enough clearance for chains.

Well chains were so important to me this became a showstopper. At one time there were 3 guys sticking their hands under the fenders staring at each other with puzzled looks.

jgayman · Nov 12, 2012

Heh heh That sounds like me. 90-degree day in June and I'm looking at a 2720 and questioning the dealer on rear tire chain clearances. I would not have bought that one either had the rims not allowed for a wide position.

Scaper · Nov 12, 2012

Roy this was the exact reason I made the post, I am concerned about clearance there's not alot there and the body is around $3.800 to replace, not doing that!!! I may have to for-go the chains. I'll look on you tube when I get home from work. By the way thanks to all the vetrans for their service to our country. Mark