Tire Chains Specifically for Mud

[BCsteve]

If you only have 2 chains, one front and one rear is a good option to keep both ends of the truck on the road. My PW had lockers front and rear so it's a good option for me. However I have done it with open diff and even seen it done on 2wd vehicles with success.

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It might keep the vehicle on the road but you're forcing the differential to send the power to the wheels with no chain. Unless you're running lockers front and rear how don't see how that would work.

 

[Brendan]

It might keep the vehicle on the road but you're forcing the differential to send the power to the wheels with no chain. Unless you're running lockers front and rear how don't see how that would work.

Will help for braking and steering, and most trucks have limited slip or some form of traction control at least in the rear. Not ideal, but I can see how it'd help.

 

[Rich307]

As others have already said, tire chains are for the snow.

 

[Extrapale]

As others have already said, tire chains are for the snow.

They work great in mud as well.

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[Extrapale]

It might keep the vehicle on the road but you're forcing the differential to send the power to the wheels with no chain. Unless you're running lockers front and rear how don't see how that would work.

Your mileage may vary. Just sharing my experiences.

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[Hunt41]

I’ve heard horror stories of the gumbo mud. This year in Eastern Montana, I learned that they are true. I will be experimenting with 4 tire chains on my Tundra this spring. Even though tire chains don’t work in that stuff. I did learn that if you can’t steer, chains only on the back don’t help much

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Since this thread popped back up I'll update it. I ended up getting 2 sets of standard chains (not V Bar) so I can chain up all 4 tires if needed. It's been almost 2 years and I haven't had to use them yet so it's been a peace of mind purchase so far.

 

[mac53]

am going out to Elk Head Mountain to do some elk hunting and have a 2-wheel drive truck (don't really need 4-wheel drive where I live) so have been thinking about chains.
So will chains be a good investment?
Buying a new truck is not feasible at this time.

 

[49ereric]

am going out to Elk Head Mountain to do some elk hunting and have a 2-wheel drive truck (don't really need 4-wheel drive where I live) so have been thinking about chains.
So will chains be a good investment?
Buying a new truck is not feasible at this time.

Chains and good rear positive diff are your only options it seems.
I ran chains decades ago on an old two wheel drive 62 ford pu with a spicer power-lok rear diff and went anywhere until the snow got deep but no mountains here.

 

[Michigander]

am going out to Elk Head Mountain to do some elk hunting and have a 2-wheel drive truck (don't really need 4-wheel drive where I live) so have been thinking about chains.
So will chains be a good investment?
Buying a new truck is not feasible at this time.

Bring 4wd and chains if you are going 2nd rifle or later. Don't plan on making it up there (or out!) if it snows without them.

 

[Phaseolus]

Thanks for that input, definitely not looking to chew up the roads, but more as you described, a backup for extraction when conditions get bad.

Western Colorado shale and bentonite can stick you in a heartbeat. A quarter inch of slime on top of frozen ground. I’ve had to wait until the wee hours for it to freeze so I could get home.

 

[Jh26148]

Bringing up an old thread, just been looking to see what people have been doing. I ran a set of s class z cables from peerless, got stuck out in the gumbo. Put them on the rear, traction boards on the front. Was able to crawl out. Without them I wasn’t going anywhere, just sliding further into the ditch. Only had one set cause per manufacturer I can’t use them on the front (dumb, get your shit together engineers.) I have 4 traction boards now and debating on what to run for the front. Konig k summit is nice since no clearance issues on the inside, but when you’re in the shit it’d suck to put on I think.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I dont understand why anybody would run cables.

I could care less if the manufacture says not to. Toss your chains on the front and see if you have the room. If I'm in enough of a bind, those chains will make room

All tire chains suck to put on when you are already in the middle of it.

 

[Jh26148]

I agree cables aren’t ideal at all. Just stating that it worked out for those who are wanting to run s class.
Where I live I don’t need chains and can get by with 4x4, only when I’m traveling out of state do I really need chains. I have less than an inch of clearance on my front so running chains isn’t ideal. They shouldn’t even design trucks where you can’t run chains, not everyone stays on the pavement and out of the mountains

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Are you guys running spacers on front to make clearance? I've only run them on the rear, which is actually not ideal.

Unfortunately there isn't much info out there on what mods people have done since running chains in the mud is kind of niche and 99% of trucks stay on pavement. And all the modern IFS trucks have limited clearance.

 

[Jh26148]

Im going to look into it after this year but seems like the best bet.

 

[Choupique]

hey shouldn’t even design trucks where you can’t run chains

Look at this dude thinking modern pickup trucks are designed to actually be used. They are luxury items these days.

As someone else said, if you REALLY need them, chains will be self-clearancing. Just hope the brake line isn't what needs to be clearanced.

I have used my chains, v bars in the back and slicks on the front, in the mud and they are a tremendous help on slicked out roads and anything that has a bottom to it. They make a hell of a mess but they don't really spin at all.

With no bottom, I haven't tried them and don't plan to. Horsepower and wheel speed are important for that and gassing on it with chains on makes me nervous. Aired down swampers and a really light truck are all that really works for that.

 

[MallardSX2]

I sure wish I had chains for my new truck in Utah this year. I BARELY made it off that mountain and I mean barely. 5 more minutes of rain and I would have had to re-set camp and wait a couple day for the roads to dry out. I had brand new tires too. It didn't matter. I am very lucky I didn't destroy the truck getting out of there.

Even dumber was I let the mud dry on everything and drove 30 hours home. Only took 5 hours of pressure washing to get things clean........

 

[Steve300xcw]

Are you guys running spacers on front to make clearance? I've only run them on the rear, which is actually not ideal.

Unfortunately there isn't much info out there on what mods people have done since running chains in the mud is kind of niche and 99% of trucks stay on pavement. And all the modern IFS trucks have limited clearance.

Last rig I ran with chains on the front was a ford ranger. Smoked a brake line in the middle of that situation, but that was ok as we were more concerned about goin rather than stopping

Even just having chains on the rear of a rig makes a big difference. Sometimes you do have to steer with the throttle.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Even dumber was I let the mud dry on everything and drove 30 hours home. Only took 5 hours of pressure washing to get things clean........

Did that once. Lawn sprinklers are your friend