Traction Traction tips ?

[Lone Oak Landscaping]

Anyone have any tricks for getting traction for plowing when it gets icy ?

I have chains for the tractor but really hate putting them on and off, I was thinking of taking a cordless drill with me and putting a few ice screws in the tires here and there... but don't know if it will help much and if they come out I don't want my customers to get flats on thier cars.

I was also thinking of rigging somethig to go through the rim and around the tire in like three or four spots, but it looks like it will beat the heck out of the rims.

Sure could use some ideas , thanks .

 

[RichZ]

Chains are the best thing for tractors in ice. They are a PIA to put on. I keep them on my 2 wheel drive tractors all year long. It gives them better traction in mud, as well. On my 4 wheel drive tractor, I find that I don't need them.

 

[PILOON]

There exists larger studs (as used in car tires) that work really well for tractors.
Lots of snow contractors use them around here.

Now since tractor tires have lots of meat in the threads, another idea that some guys do is to use 1/4" metal self tapping screws (hardened steel) and drill about a 1/8" hole about 1" deep in the tire lugs and simply insert using an electric drill. WORKS!

Now studs don't do nearly the damage that chains do.

 

[Lone Oak Landscaping]

I know chains are the best traction set-up pretty much , but I plow about 50 driveways and even though they are all close to each other I do run on the road quite a bit.
So far I have only used my small JD 4110 plus a truck ,and believe it or not it does a really good job without the chains , but after almost killing myself a few times by comming close to sliding of the cliffs where I plow , I always chain up now when it gets icy . ( Talk about a pucker factor factor some driveways have 100ft. + drop offs just a few feet from the driveway edge )

In the 60's one of the town guys was killed plowing when he went off one. Plus at the top it's around 1300ft high it is common to snow at the top and not the bottom, now the town trucks that go up there have a salt box that dumps salt in front of the trucks rear tires so it can get traction.I have to get some pictures up so you can see what I mean.
And the darn thing is so bumpy it feels like the tractor is going to vibrate apart or my filling are gonna shake out which ever comes first

So I am just trying to figure something quick and easy for traction only when I need it , but I think I am asking the impossible this time, but there is always a good long shot for an idea here on tractor by net ,I think it's the greatest and hope I can repay some of the awsome things I have learned here.

 

[ragkar]

A ballast box on the 3ph will add weight to the rear wheels, but it will also lift the front end a bit. So steering may be chancy at times.
Back when I was into sport cars there was a lot of discussion on whether wide or narrow tires are better in snow. The consensus was that narrow tires cut through the snow while wides ride on top.

 

[skidoo]

I keep a pile of chipped pea gravel nearby. Then, get a scoop of the gravel in the bucket and use the rear blade for plowing. Where it is excessively icy, I then sprinkle a bit of gravel. Works great, and not just for the tractor, but helps for all vehicles coming up the drive...

 

[funny farmer]

I keep a round bale on the 3pt. bale spear. You wouldn't believe how much more traction I get even with a smaller bale.

 

[ToadHill]

I run with a 75" blower on the back and a 7' plow on front. With loaded tires the tractor is stable even on icy patches.

 

[Reg]

If the conditions are THAT variable (dangerous at one extreme and needing to protect surface at the other end), maybe some SERIOUS SPENDING is called for, here are a couple of possibilities;

Onspot of North America
Insta-Chain, the Automatic Ice Chain | Instachain Insta Chain

As to whether or not a slow moving tractor would create enough tire speed to fling the chains out ?
They've probably answered that question more than a few times.

Either one would be cheap compared to 1,000 ft drop.

 

[dodge man]

Sand! I'm sure you know it but a little bit of sand will give incredible traction. Can you put a spreader on the back 3 point and go backwards with it in bad spots? If you are having trouble in your tractor, there is a good chance the home owner will also, so the sand would help them also.