Chains for Mud?? Explain w/ Pics?

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toylndcrusr

toylndcrusr

Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Threads
38
Messages
289
Location
Florida
I have been reading on here about people recommending chains for added traction in mud. This is totally new to me, never heard of before. Are you talking about snow chains? I don't see how that would help in mud. Any explanation will be appreciated. Especially if it has pics.
 
Mud Tires "dig" to find traction. Chains "plow" to find traction, you will be hard pressed to find a set up that will dig better then a tire in chains. The guys in south america use snow chains in the jungle mud.

-Ammo
 
Works, just be sure you've got a quality chain and very professionally installed. It's like a paddle tire and reduces somewhat the need to spin to get out of mud. Normally, spinning in mud is needed to clear the tread as it clogs/clears on each revolution. The chains don't "clog" so they don't need to be spun so hard to gain traction.

I was just getting an ugly visual of what it would be like to have a chain come off while you're in mud. Man, oh man would that make you swear off mud - having to muck around and remount that while up to your crotch in a bog....

DougM
 
I have used double-cleated chains in muck a lot. Granted, it was on a one-wheel drive desert buggy, but they helped a lot. In the desert the mud is the same stuff that the Anasazi's used to make clay pots. It is slicker than fat on a griddle! I used the same chains that I ran in the snow. The problem is that in muck, the tire rotation speed is a lot more than in ice. Like three times as fast. The chains have to fit tight and not shift at all. If they do, you will throw a chain and rip out a fenderwell in a heartbeat!
I used short lengths of 3/4" bungee cord with several hooks to hold the chains tight. I put them around the outside of the wheel with the inside at a rigid size. That kept the chain tight, yet flexible. Still at 40-50 MPH in a buggy, it was not that certain. I lost a chain and tore off a fender more than once. Buggy fenders are cheap. 80 fenders are not cheap!
I have seen what a loose chain can do to a flexible fiberglass fender. It shreds it like paper! What it could do to my truck makes my wallet run and hide.
In addition, a loose chunk of chain can and will tear out a brake line, damage tie rods, and other parts under the fenderwell. We need to realize that chains are just what the sat they are, pieces of heavy chain, driven by one of the most unstoppable drivetrains in history, thrashing on your suspension parts. Use them with respect!
 
I have used chains in mud on several occasions. Not the deep mud, but the clayish type that packs your tires and makes all progress impossible. They work great for that and you can just drive around at slow speeds. At slow speeds the fit doesn't have to be so tight, but you still can't have a bunch of extra chain flying around the wheelwell.
 
you better have 4 for open diffs

locking axles you can get away with less.

If you just put two, 1 front 1 back w/ opens, it'll just transfer the power over to the weaker less tractable tire.

I say that because chains are expensive, and people using less than 4 is very common


YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


"Toyotas hi lux 33" boogers Land cruisers 36" TSL & IROK LSD & LOCKERS Snow chains 1V8 350Chevy; 1-1HZ; 1-3L"

YouTube - Panama Republic mud weeling
 
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After reading this, it brings up another question, in my mind anyway. If you are off road, more than likely you would have aired down. Does the tire need to be a street pressure or trail pressure for the chain to work properly?

Buck
 
mud is tricky: you can go from very low traction to fairly high traction in the space of a few feet.

If you're front end is locked and you have chains on it, and those wheels are spinning and you are turning.... you are putting a lot of strain on the front end

but chains are still darn nice in situations where you just can't get traction otherwise
 
you might search around re: front chains only
if you drive downhill in 4wd, chains in front can be dangerous

two scenarios:

1) downhill w/ chains on front & you loose traction in the rear. The rear end can swing around and you could lose control or even roll.

2) downhill w/ chains in rear only & you loose traction on the front. The rear keeps going straight (and can help slow you). You may lose the ability to steer.

This has been rehashed on Mud lots of times and the general consensus was that if you only have 1 set of chains on a 4wd vehicle, it is better to put them on the rear.
 
All true statements. But the guy asking the question is from Florida. They have mud or sand since the state is formed from sediment. The only real hills they have are on post cards. They do not have things like Cadillac hill that are covered in mud, etc.

If I ived there I would chain up. If you get really stuck a crocodile may eat you.



sandcruiser said:
you might search around re: front chains only
if you drive downhill in 4wd, chains in front can be dangerous

two scenarios:

1) downhill w/ chains on front & you loose traction in the rear. The rear end can swing around and you could lose control or even roll.

2) downhill w/ chains in rear only & you loose traction on the front. The rear keeps going straight (and can help slow you). You may lose the ability to steer.

This has been rehashed on Mud lots of times and the general consensus was that if you only have 1 set of chains on a 4wd vehicle, it is better to put them on the rear.
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Buckru said:
After reading this, it brings up another question, in my mind anyway. If you are off road, more than likely you would have aired down. Does the tire need to be a street pressure or trail pressure for the chain to work properly?

Buck
Click to expand...

Airing down with chains is very important IMHO. Otherwise, it's a ridiculously rough ride, but if you air down and are driving on powder, it can be smooth as a baby's bottom.:)

sandcruiser said:
you might search around re: front chains only
if you drive downhill in 4wd, chains in front can be dangerous

two scenarios:

1) downhill w/ chains on front & you loose traction in the rear. The rear end can swing around and you could lose control or even roll.

2) downhill w/ chains in rear only & you loose traction on the front. The rear keeps going straight (and can help slow you). You may lose the ability to steer.

This has been rehashed on Mud lots of times and the general consensus was that if you only have 1 set of chains on a 4wd vehicle, it is better to put them on the rear.
Click to expand...

No offense intended, but it's kinda funny when someone from the Banana belt offers advice on chains (I do know you all use them in mud)!:lol: That'd be like me offering surfing advice!:D

D'Animal said:
All true statements. But the guy asking the question is from Florida. They have mud or sand since the state is formed from sediment. The only real hills they have are on post cards. They do not have things like Cadillac hill that are covered in mud, etc.

If I ived there I would chain up. If you get really stuck a crocodile may eat you.
Click to expand...

Have you ever seen Trash Mountain? I think it's near West Palm...:p
 
uh, you really cant air down and just have slack in the chains.

If you don't tighten the chains 2MK they will come off the tire.

So really when you think about an aired up tire with taught chains the chain tension should be the same on an aired down. I think the reason you dont see it in the video's is that you buy chains based on O.D of the tire. **EDIT** and they are running in upwards of 36's

I dont think you can take enough slack up in the chain to accommodate the tires new O.D


SOMEBODY GET TAPAGE!!!! :mad:




:D


I think this is Tapage, I could be wrong though...

Tapage said:
scary .. !
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tntoyota said:
;)

Do you know any of these clowns? :flipoff2:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
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tntoyota said:
uh, you really cant air down and just have slack in the chains.

If you don't tighten the chains 2MK they will come off the tire.

So really when you think about an aired up tire with taught chains the chain tension should be the same on an aired down. I think the reason you dont see it in the video's is that you buy chains based on O.D of the tire.

I dont think you can take enough slack up in the chain to accommodate the tires new O.D
Click to expand...

Uh, aired down with chains is the only way to go (offroad). Your chain size will work fine on the corresponding OD tire size aired up or down. As always, chain tensioners are a must. The more the merrier!

Are you getting a chance to use chains with your recent big snowfall (I think it hit Tenn)? This winter here has been the anti-gobal warming winter, cold as all get out and more snow than the North Pole! Having studded MTs has been nice...:cool:
 
I'm all for using chains where necessary, they can prevent a lot of trail damage due to spinning tires.

Just wanted to throw out a reminder that it is safer to run 2 chains on the rear tires vs. two chains on the front tires. The cost of 2 sets of chains vs. 1 set isn't that high... (compared to lockers, new tires, suspension, winch, etc) so it is probably a good recommendation to run all 4 tires w/ chains.

But if you only have one set, put 'em on back.

D'Animal said:
All true statements. But the guy asking the question is from Florida. They have mud or sand since the state is formed from sediment. The only real hills they have are on post cards. They do not have things like Cadillac hill that are covered in mud, etc.

If I ived there I would chain up. If you get really stuck a crocodile may eat you.
Click to expand...
 
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