Off-Road Chains?

[Sugarphreak]

Wow, it has been a long while since I posted here

Just wondering if anybody has ever tried out a set of mud chains; if you have what kind of impressions did you get of how it handeled in the mud and also on other surfaces.

I can't recall anybody I know ever using them, but I have seen them used on a lot of off-highway equipment such as skidders (seen in this picture)


As an example, this company sells them;
http://tirechaindealer.com/mudchains.php

[Sugarphreak]

I would say that 95% of the trails I don't need anything more than the beefy all-seasons I have now to enjoy them (Bridgestone Duelers), but as soon as I start getting into some of the soggy areas and the tires sinks in a bit I just get hopelessly stuck and have to tow or winch out.

I am not sure how effective chains would be in that kind of a situation, or if mudders (taking into account how much more expensive they are) would be the way to go.

[w squared]

You don't want to start using chains for off-roading in the mud.

#1. Chains can do some SERIOUS damage when a link break loose at speed. Brake lines, electrical connections, fenders, body panels...they all get shredded.

#2. You don't really want to lie down in the mud to put chains on, do you?

#3. I've never seen that type of chain made for small tires.

[morerpmfred]

Tire chains do work in the mud   Butt.   They act like paddle tires so you go down in a huge hurry . So you need them to stay on top of the mud For them to work you need like some serous horsepower to turn them like a screamer big block and maximum tires hmmm 33,s.  I do not know of any trails around here where there is not a bypass around a muskeg bog so they are really redundant. Do you really want to go in sensitive riparian vegetation?

[Spinalguy]

chains=winter wheelin

chains summer= destruction of trails.

[WhiteOut]

Im with Todd and spinal guy on this one.  If you plan to do a lot of mud you should get gear to suit those needs.  Chains=

[frenchy]

If that is your red Jeep in the profile picture, I think your axle will go BOOM before too much trail damage is caused...

Along with everything mentioned aboved, just say no!. XJ is not a skidder.

[LilRed36]

I would listen to these guys.  I live up here in Grande Prairie and work in the patch and I have run the "jewlery" as we call out in the field.  1) It is used in the winter.  2) only on snow covered roads when permitted, not on ice roads that's a no no.  3) chains in mud  that's why god invented mud tires and big tow cats.

Marc.

[Sugarphreak]

^^^
I sold that XJ in the profile pic actually

Also, I pretty much acknowledge that the Jeep is not a skidder...  lol I actually grew up doing a lot of logging in the summer, most of the skidders running I saw used chains for boggy areas. It wasn't limited to just snow & ice conditi0ns.

You don't want to start using chains for off-roading in the mud.

#1. Chains can do some SERIOUS damage when a link break loose at speed. Brake lines, electrical connections, fenders, body panels...they all get shredded.

#2. You don't really want to lie down in the mud to put chains on, do you?

#3. I've never seen that type of chain made for small tires.

I would agree with all of these points; although I wasn't thinking about using them for high speeds, more putting them before trying to traverse stretches of areas that I know I will have a tough time with rather than to lie down in the mud after I have gotten stuck (I would rather winch or tow out once that line has been crossed)

For the 3rd one there are a number of companies doing purpose built chains specifically for off-road, not snow. That is sort of what has sparked my interest, I just haven't seen or heard of anybody using them.

One thing I do agree with 100% is that the chains will probably destroy trails in a hurry, I hadn't considered that aspect of it before.

Anyway, thanks for the comments guys!