Researching chains for my tractor for winter.
I went to tirechains.com and see they have regular, v and bar and so on.

I have a 4300 32hp 4wd hydro compact tractor w/loader with industrial R4 tires (bobcat type). It does ok in snow, just seems to spin the tires to much.

I use the rear 6ft blade to push snow. Usually push backwards (stiff neck..)

The tractor is about 4500 lbs with the loader and blade, I know its not that heavy. But it wants to push the rear sideways away from the snow when plowing.

Will a set of chains on the front or rear or both help me, and if so what kind?
Cable or Chains, if so type v/bar/reg

Please share your experiences. Thanks. I checked tractorybynet already. Got some good info there.

 

I use v-bars on my dually and let me tel you they do some serious digging. They work great in the snow and even hold their own in the mud.

 

jlipskoc,
Chains will help a lot. Are your rear tires loaded? You need some weight on the rear tires-when you drop the rear blade you lose the weight for traction. I too, plow at one property with a 2N with chains and a rear blade and have a crick in my neck after a heavy storm. Working on refitting a front blade to the loader on my 4wd 3130 and rear weight box for better plowing. I have ag tires on both tractors and they do ok in snow and mud. With the R4 tires, the V-bar cross links will work pretty good. Are you plowing on gravel or hard surface? Chains will tear up hard surface (concrete or blacktop), if one spins the chain equipped tires too much trying to push a heavy load. Take smaller chunks of the pile and do some straight pushes to the side to break the row. Best of luck in your choice. BTW-I also frequent tractorybynet for excellent information.
David

 

Is the loader a quick-tatch? Removing it could re-distribute the weight bias toward the rear of the unit. Otherwise, I'd try and retrofit a blade to the loader linkage to save your neck and leave the back blade on for ballast.

 

I like this style which is known as a DUO-GRIP. Keeps the chain on top of the thread instead of the ladder style which will fall between the threads. We have a set of chains like this on our backhoe year round.

 

My tires are not loaded, was thinking about Windshield washer fluid, heard thats a good option. My driveway is concrete, about 2000 sq ft worth, I don't want to use chains on my concrete. I even put a rubber edge (thick horse mat stuff) on the rear blade to avoid scraping/gouging the concrete, 5 years now, works great.

I plow our street cause it takes a good daybefore the city comes by, and the neighbors driveways which some have gravel, some have concrete, some have asphalt which that guy is about 200ft long, small uphill. I problably won't do chains on other people's concrete or asphalt. It'll make marks. I'm not in the business of plowing, its more of a 'nice neighbor' thing, gets me out of the house too. Make some extra $ on the side. I only plow if they ask, keeps people from being mean and picking about that stuff.

I've done without chains now 5 years, our snows isn't to significant, mostly 4-6 inches is the most we get at any one time. Last year we had 16 inches of thunder snow, spent two full days digging the neighborhood out 3 blocks over litterally, put 34 hrs on the tractor, made some good $$. Thats when I wish I had chains. For that snow I took the rubber edge off, went to the metal edge, but had to use the front loader to pile snow, it was just to thick to use the rear blade, no place to push it.

We also had sleet and ice caked on, stayed there under the 16 inches, so you can imagine trying to push 16 inches of snow with 2 inches of sleet and ice underneath it.

Thats mainly why I'd like to get chains, in case theres ice/sleet or snow packed hard, I can get out there and move it quick. Even with 4wd the tractor would sit an spin on that ice, pretty fun at first, but got annoying later when trying to get things done.

It looks like the v-bar is pretty agressive. Now i'm leaning towards the 2 link spaced ones.

What I'll end up doing is just have them 'just in case' thing. I'm pretty conservative when I plow and don't want to end up with a stuck tractor, Missouri is full of hills/grades and ditches around there. I turned down lots of work down last year cause it just didn't look good without chains. I know for sure chains would have got those jobs done.

If it snows, I'll problably have to judge how things are going at first, then apply chains as needed. To many variables I guess.

Its great having a 4wd tractor though when it snows, get lots of tractor time, freeze with no cab, but ohwell, just wish I had a front blower handy also, and a front blade that swivels oh a and backhoe attachment lol.
Hope santa is listening.

Maybe I should move to Minnesota, I hear they get piles of snow jk

 

Yes its a quick detach. Love to have a blade on the front, or find one to retrofit. To bad I didn't have unlimited funds also Hard to justify snow equipment to the sfo in this part of country.

 

I pulled up my tires, looks like the Duo grip are not available in my size,
I saw that also, that was my first pick.

 

Are you sure you JD 4300 weighs 4500. My little JD 790 (30 hp) with loaded tires and loader weighs in just under 2450. I visited Tirechains.com last year on vacation. I was looking for the Duo-Grip chains but they said that with all the sized requested, no particular one stood out as high demand. Their chains are made off-sure so volune is an issue. I ended up getting the heavy cross link set with out crossbars. They work great in the snow and mud. Easy to put on and take off. To load the tires I got some 100% methonal from the local farm supply and cut it to provide the freeze protection I needed. Don't recall the ratio, but your supplier should be able to help you. It was a whole lot cheaper than windshield washer fluid. There is also a beet juice extract that is even better and heavier. Couldn't get it here in Virginia. Was only available at the time in the mid-west.

 

According to the manuals when I bought it,

Tractor by itself: 2900 lbs
430 Loader: 930 lbs
Monroe Tufline 5ft Rear Blade: 478 lbs

=4300 lbs, plus my behind, 4500

Wonder why the 790 is so much lighter.....

Thanks everyone for the info.