Trygg Off Road/Snow Chains, Decision?

[Orahov]

Greetings, Im looking to get a couple pairs of tire chains (front and rear) on my Branson 3515H, mainly for forest logging and snow clearing. Traction on ice and hard bedrock is needed, I dont mind heavier chains to add lower centre of gravity.

Anybody can recommend Trygg tire chains? Im trying to decide between Trygg Fast Trac square studs, SMT Flexi, SMT, or SM2D tire chains for terrain ratings.

According to Trygg website, chains mostly used for terrain are listed below in priority:

1) SMT Flexi (5 star terrain)
2) SM2D (4 star terrain, heavier chains than Fast Trac/SMT?)
3) Fast Trac/SMT (4 star terrain, equal ratings for weight/road use)

If someone can please reccomend a set for logging operations/plowing snow, traction uphill on granite bedrock/icy driveways? Im leaning towards SMT Flexi or SM2D, but heard good things about Fast Trac chains too.

 

[LouNY]

The SM2D is a double diamond studded pattern chain it will provide about the best traction imaginable for a compact tractor in the woods.
Do they make them in a size for your tractor?
I have the SMT Flexi for my front chains on my 11.2-24's they are very aggressive also.

 

[BlueKnife]

If someone can please reccomend a set for logging operations/plowing snow, traction uphill on granite bedrock/icy driveways? Im leaning towards SMT Flexi or SM2D, but heard good things about Fast Trac chains too.

Chains aren't going to help on solid rock. In some cases they make things worse, in fact. They can't dig in and just slide around. Ice is a different story. You'll have to decide which one is more of a problem and go with that.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Hard to go wrong with any trygg branded chains, get the most agressive chain with studs from trygg that will fit under your fender.

 

[Orahov]

Chains aren't going to help on solid rock. In some cases they make things worse, in fact. They can't dig in and just slide around. Ice is a different story. You'll have to decide which one is more of a problem and go with that.

Thanks for sharing this, anything you would recommend for solid granite rock, or bare tires is best bet?

 

[BlueKnife]

Thanks for sharing this, anything you would recommend for solid granite rock, or bare tires is best bet?

Bare tires at as low of a PSI as you can get away with while keeping them on the bead. You want as much rubber on that rock as possible and lowering the pressure allows the tire to conform to the rock better.

 

[oosik]

I have basaltic lava bedrock. It can be sharp as a surgeons scalpel. Just have to be very careful to not spin the tires. With 4WD - no need for chains.

Had ladder chains - on all four wheels - on my previous tractor. If I needed added traction on my M6040 - Trygg on all four wheels. Put them on - get them tight - leave them on.

Nowhere on my 80 acres would be damaged by a heavy tractor with aggressive chains.

 

[BlueKnife]

I have basaltic lava bedrock. It can be sharp as a surgeons scalpel. Just have to be very careful to not spin the tires. With 4WD - no need for chains.

Had ladder chains - on all four wheels - on my previous tractor. If I needed added traction on my M6040 - Trygg on all four wheels. Put them on - get them tight - leave them on.

Nowhere on my 80 acres would be damaged by a heavy tractor with aggressive chains.

Are we talking about unbroken, essentially paved, with just solid rock, with no soil or loose rocks on it, or are we talking about very rocky ground, as in covered in various sizes of rocks and soil?

 

[LouNY]

There are several reasons that log skidders and other forestry equipment runs this type of tire chain;

They work in forested terrain including rocks and even so called slick rock. Once that rock gets snow and ice on it rubber doesn't work. These studs will carve grooves in granite. They are also expensive.
The double diamond chains the OP asked about are almost this aggressive.
One problem with using these chains on a compact tractor is that you can actually get more grip then bare tires in the summer and you can break things these are not mini-bull dozers.

 

[BlueKnife]

There are several reasons that log skidders and other forestry equipment runs this type of tire chain;
View attachment 2088416
They work in forested terrain including rocks and even so called slick rock. Once that rock gets snow and ice on it rubber doesn't work. These studs will carve grooves in granite. They are also expensive.
The double diamond chains the OP asked about are almost this aggressive.
One problem with using these chains on a compact tractor is that you can actually get more grip then bare tires in the summer and you can break things these are not mini-bull dozers.

I live in logging country and did residential tree work for most of my life. I've used chains of all kinds, extensively, on a wide variety of different types of machines, including tractors, skidders, heavy trucks, pickup trucks and SUV's. Chains like that work great in the vast majority of terrain types, with one exception. Hard, solid rock, particularly with ice on it. Fortunately, needing to operate a machine on a solid sheet of rock is rather rare. In most cases, when there is rock like that on a job, it's on ground that is too steep for a machine to operate anyway and a way around must be located. Since trees (or at least trees that are worth cutting for timber) generally don't grow on solid sheets of rock, this is usually not a huge issue, although it can certainly change where logs can be skidded.