Truck tire chains

For snow? Mud? Icy mountain passes? Pickup trucks? Big rigs? Log Skidders? Sometimes they’re a necessary evil…. When I worked on the ski area, during fall/winter shoulder season, the sawyer crew rig would have chains on all 4 tires, and we always used the heavy duty truck chains. Make sure they’re properly fitted/installed, and any/all slack is taken up with the binders or bungees…. I think they’re hard on your vehicles, but when you need them, you need them.
 
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In your situation, I’d say yes, chains will definitely be an asset. Your local auto parts shop should be able to source the heavy duty semi truck chains. Putting them on can be a pain until you get good at it. A practice install or two in your shop will save some serious frustration and cold fingers while trying to do it in a frozen/snowy field….. on that note, it’s way easier to put them on before you need them vs. rolling around fucking with it in the snow and mud…. Ask me how I know…
 
I have tire chains for both trucks. I just run chains on the outer dual. It is best to practice putting them on and getting them tight before you “need” to put them on.
We had some freezing rain a few years ago that gave us 1/4”of ice that didn’t go away for two months. The main roads were salted and clear and everyone’s job was iced up but chains to the rescue. I also use screw in tire studs for the tracks on the mini and lift. I just use four studs every fourth bar/chevron/lug or whatever they are called. Works real well on ice and frozen hills.
 
The ones I have are just a hardened machine screw looking stud no carbide insert. Generically called Gold Screws.
As for the chains themselves they are the cheaper model twisted round link chains not the super hard square link chains. I think I ordered them from etrailer.com. I’ll check the brand when I get to the shop tomorrow.
 
I've got a few sets of the v-bar type. Mostly use them for mud or soft ground. Rarely for snow. They'll get you places you normally aren't going in a larger truck, especially dragging a trailer.
 
Bought these vbar style which have cam tensioners and we tried them out yesterday with a stuck chipper. Easy on and tensioning, not too expensive and they shipped an hour after I ordered.
 

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We used to use what were called twist chains - heavy duty chain link tire chains with metal cam tighteners (needed tools to tighten properly) that had hardened metal twists almost like barbed wire, facing outwards. They were amazing for getting thru icy river fords and up the iced up bank but just don't expect to go anywhere fast and if they ever came loose, goodbye fender well . . . . but man did they work on ice or in deep snow. If you have them on the steerable tires they also limited your steering or you might cause damage inside the fender/ frame. Off road places probably have these, or truck suppliers for off road commercial vehicles like oilfield hauling. well servicing and the like. They have to be fit to your tire size and were pretty specific to rim size and tire aspect ratios etc.
 
This thread reminded me of a (rare) snowy day many years ago. Our plant manager shows up at the plant with chains on the rear tires of his front wheel drive car. Yeah, he was pretty much an idiot. No clue how he got put in charge of a billion dollar facility with 400 employees.
 
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