Diamond or 2 link ladder chains?

[Blue2Orange]

Time to decide on studs v. chains. Chains on rear only. BX2380 with 2" spacers and R4 26-12-12 tires. Checked out tirechain.com. Price was good relative to e what I recall for much larger and heavier chains need on the NH. So cost v. better quality studs is not a factor. Might still stud the front tires. People here noted not a good idea to chain the fronts.

The bottle jacks turned out to be both too tall. Had to add a scissor jack to the collection. At least it was quick and easy to jack up the BX using the scissor jack. Lighter weight of the BX chains makes the effort to mount and remove a non issue. Only concern even with the spacers is the minimal space on the driver's right side wheel well. Just need to remember to routinely check the tension. And will add chain tensioner to the order if going with chains.

Diamond not studded chains are a bit more than 2 link ladder. But description claims 80% more durable than Rockwell 56 steel. Assuming other chains must be R56? Best on keeping the chains on top of the lugs.

2 link square alloy chains are a bit less. Description notes 5x longer life span and 32% more traction than trad 2 link ladder chains. The 32% more traction is significant.

Least expensive are the 2 Link ladder.

Due to the minimal clearance on the right side. Not going to try the studded chains.

Opinions? Leaning towards the 2 Link Square boron alloy chains.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Not familiar with your property I presume you don't have a paved driveway.

I have a gravel driveway and went with ladder chains from tirechain.com front and back on turf tires. Now it's a beast in the snow. Since I use the FEL I needed front chains to steer. On my second set of tensioners, the first set were cheap but lasted about 6 years.

 

[jimh406]

I've been using the basic ladder chains for a few years on my L. I use diamonds on my Polaris Ranger mainly because diamond was barely more than ladder chains since the tires are so small.

Both have worked well.

Fwiw, my chains show almost no wear, but I'm plowing on gravel.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Gravel driveway.

Thanks jimh406. Will pass on the diamond chains.

As noted here and other threads a bit concerned with the minimal clearance for the right side tire. There is about 1" between a bar that protects the control system for the FEL and other functions. Left side has a minimum of 2" between tire and fender. Image attached. Enough room for square link ladder chains?

 

[mikester]

Ladder chains are cheaper but walk more and are a rougher ride.

 

[skeets]

The problem I found with the R4 tires is the tendency for the links to slip between the lugs. On my BX I made a set of ladder chains out of old car chains, not pretty but functional for the little guy, and did a modified H pattern, meaning I used what I had laying around, in an attempt to keep the links on top of the lugs. And yes Sir on the BX you really have to watch the one side so you dont rip things out,, bad juju

 

[Blue2Orange]

Ladder chains are cheaper but walk more and are a rougher ride.

Winter use only. Past few winters we have not had the massive (+24") early Lake Effect dumps over bare ground. With the 1-5" early snowfalls I just end up packing down the snow until a solid 2-4" hard pack base is formed. Usually the driveway surface is not frozen. Can become a bit slippery surface due to ground thaw and freeze cycle or it rains, sleets. Ice and snow winter tires on a full sized 4x4 truck usually doesn't require 4WD except some days on the steeper sections. Hopefully the trend continues. Hopefully not to rough a ride.

Looked more into the square link design. Some note significantly better traction on hard pack and ice relative to standard twist link design. But like the studded chains a bit concerned with clearance. Might end up either the twist link or diamond.

Any BX2380 with R4s owners using the square link chains? Paralysis by analysis has set in.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Not a BX, but a SCUT, I too made mine own out of what I had, started with busted semi-truck chains ... With my "snoopervisor"!

I'm running 3" spacers on the back, 1.3" spacers on the front ...

Works good!

The regular ladder chains do tend to fall down between the lugs though ...