what kind of winter chains would you recommend?

[bstarn]

I am looking to buy winter chains for my L3800 with industrial tires. I am slightly overwhelmed with the choices available. What would you recommend?

Bill

 

[85Hokie]

I am looking to buy winter chains for my L3800 with industrial tires. I am slightly overwhelmed with the choices available. What would you recommend?

Bill

Chains are like tires........good chains = $, better chains =$$, and great chains =$$$$$$

the simple lines across are fine, those that have the barbed wire look are better and then you have the ones that have circles in them.....

even the cheapo chains will do better than ANY tire........rather than bungie cords - i use cheap ratchet straps on the outside - cut off all the excess and tighten every now and again

 

[skeets]

This might help you along
http://www.tirechainsrus.com/tractor-tire-chains.html

 

[OldeEnglish]

I'm also in the same boat... When I purchased my little tractor this summer it came with a set of chains for the rear. They are not the barbed type, when I took them out the other day I noticed they were shot to hell, missing a few cross links, and pretty worn. Moral to the story is that I need a new set for the rear.

Do you guys think that the barbed type will tear up my concrete driveway with having an extra 500lbs on the rear tires with the blower on?

I happened to have an old barbed set in my shop that I fit to the front tires. They are in good shape but the sharpness is fairly worn. With the blower on the rear it seems to still take most of the weight off of the front tires even with the blade on so I can't see the fronts doing any damage. The rears will have a lot of weight in them but it would be nice to have some chains that can bite in the ice. The last thing I want is the rear of the tractor to swing out on me on an incline, but I don't want to destroy my driveway.....

My gramps used to use the barbed type on his ATV and it didn't do any damage. I'm worried because this tractor and blower weighs 3 times as much as his ATV.

 

[85Hokie]

I'm also in the same boat... When I purchased my little tractor this summer it came with a set of chains for the rear. They are not the barbed type, when I took them out the other day I noticed they were shot to hell, missing a few cross links, and pretty worn. Moral to the story is that I need a new set for the rear.

Do you guys think that the barbed type will tear up my concrete driveway with having an extra 500lbs on the rear tires with the blower on?

I happened to have an old barbed set in my shop that I fit to the front tires. They are in good shape but the sharpness is fairly worn. With the blower on the rear it seems to still take most of the weight off of the front tires even with the blade on so I can't see the fronts doing any damage. The rears will have a lot of weight in them but it would be nice to have some chains that can bite in the ice. The last thing I want is the rear of the tractor to swing out on me on an incline, but I don't want to destroy my driveway.....

My gramps used to use the barbed type on his ATV and it didn't do any damage. I'm worried because this tractor and blower weighs 3 times as much as his ATV.

Olde,

I had a 53 Ford Jubilee - sum beach would go almost anywhere.....but needed some extra grip in the ice and snow. Looked at chains.....they were $$$$ , so I found a local place and bought some raw chain and a crap load of S hooks and designed the chain via my CAD program......WHAT I didnt think about (until I finished ) was them falling in the ag tire V's. I had the plan ALLLLL laid out too - wife was gone, laid the chains on the kitchen floor and placed 10 crossovers at a specific loop of chain, placed them on the tire, slapped some ratchet straps on them and off I went...........the ten crossovers should have been 14 - anyway took them off and back to my shop class and my kids fixed them all! I need have a nice set of working chains - they did wear when i hit the road, some S hooks needed some TLC.

But the grip was there !! I would ride into a snow bank or ice patch and give it some spin and it would throw the snow out like a rooster tail.

I would NOT get the barbed kind, I would get the "cheaper" set that just places metal on the road, if you end up spinning a lot - the chain will eat and damage the road top, now they make a single crossover and then the double cross over.......either is fine, the latter will have more contact to the surface.
The barbed kind will wear, and tear up something!!! and be $$$

 

[skeets]

OH and afor I fugot ,,,,,When you buy chains, MAKE SURE they clear everything underneath the fender, like brake cables hydraulic lines wiring,, Somebody I know tore a shytload of stuff from under his yellow tractor cause he didn't think about that stuff first

 

[85Hokie]

OH and afor I fugot ,,,,,When you buy chains, MAKE SURE they clear everything underneath the fender, like brake cables hydraulic lines wiring,, Somebody I know tore a shytload of stuff from under his yellow tractor cause he didn't think about that stuff first

at least it was yellOW.......not orange !!!
so what is that loud banging noise I heard all the time???? Chains a bangin' - specially when one cuts loose!!!!

 

[BAP]

I am looking to buy winter chains for my L3800 with industrial tires. I am slightly overwhelmed with the choices available. What would you recommend?

Bill

What are your uses for the tractor in the winter? Are you using it on pavement or gravel. Makes a difference as to how aggressive a tire chain you get. Here are some different choices. The duo-grip is designed to keep the cross links from falling between the treads. The ladder type with the 2 link design also does a good job of not falling in between the treads. The V-Bar is a much more aggressive chain for digging into ice.

http://www.tirechain.com/duo-grip-detail.htm
http://www.tirechain.com/V-BAR.HTM
http://www.tirechain.com/LADDER-detail.htm

 

[ShaunRH]

Haven't really needed chains on AG tire equipped machines, and they are 2WD. Industrial or Turf, certainly used.

My L3200 hasn't seen snow yet and won't this year as she hangs out in her cozy winter shed.

I'm certain my father will have the D-17 or Oliver 1265 fired up for snow removal though.

 

[OldeEnglish]

Thanks for the input, I'm glad I didn't order the barbed type. I'll go with the two link heavy duty style.

 

[meanjean]

A guy can save a few bucks if you buy the tire chains that are built for semi trucks. It will take a little bit of work on your end manhandling the chains open and closed as you add new ladders To get the length you want. You'll sweat like a bulldog having pups but it's nice to save a few bucks doing it.

 

[meanjean]

Found these on Kijiji for $80.
Would need a bit of elbow grease to make them work but you would save big time $$$.

Keeping the chains from riding in the lugs would require some creativity on your part.
-cross the links in an X pattern
-Offset the rungs so they are on an angle

The point is this can be done.
I thought about buying ready made tire chains but bloody hell they are pricey!

 

[IDKUBOTA]

I just bought studded tire chains from tirechains.com that fit the l3800 ag tires. I had duo link v bar but still needed additional traction for some of the locations near our home. I would have bought these new ones first if they offered them 2 years ago. They needed to be fitted to the tires with a 2 small links that have a roll pin locking them. This definitely puts the chain pattern down consistently and should conquer the tough icy slopes around our property. Anyone interested in duo link v bar for 11.2x24? Price is 200 plus shipping. If so PM me.

Here the link of the new chains for those so inclined:
http://www.tirechain.com/StuddedTractor.htm

Here's the link for the ones for sale:
http://www.tirechain.com/DUO-LADDER-COMBINATION-V-Bar.htm

 

[meanjean]

Wow, those are some angry looking tires chains!