What should I put down on cement.

[wedge40]

I have a 500'-600' gravel driveway and plan in getting chains for the tractor next year. Id like to keep the tractor inside during the winter, is there something I can put down to protect the cement from the chains? I thought I read somewhere that you can get some sort of horse mats to put down.

Wedge

 

[HarryN]

The horse mats sounds like a good idea. I have them in my barn stalls. Extremely durable. Come in various sizes.

 

[SHORT KID]

It may be cheaper to get a couple of long 2x12 pressure treated boards just to run the tires on. Good luck.

 

[lungdoc]

Aggressive chains would probably tear the horse mats, regular chain likely won't. I use scrap/leftover plywood, doesn't need to be thick. I put down 4 full size sheets to park tractor on and use some approx 2' wide long pieces to lay down to get across the opening, those get picked up and stuck in the bucket when parked.

 

[rekees4300]

Any old carpet remnants or rugs will work. Even cardboard is better than nothing.

 

[wedge40]

These are the chains I'll probably be getting.

duo grip v bar tire chains

Wedge

 

[EddieWalker]

The guys at the dealership use plywood for tracked equipment. Dozers and excavators. It gets tore up, but it's easy and cheap to replace.

Eddie

 

[CNC Dan]

you may have luck getting some strips of stall mats fo free if you check at a boarding stable. They often have to cut the mats to fit the stalls. When i boarded a horse i helped a few people cut their mats, and we just put the leftover strips on the junk pile.

 

[rekees4300]

These are the chains I'll probably be getting.

Those will definitely damage your unprotected concrete.

 

[flyingcow]

On the off chance you know someone on the gravel business, old conveyer belts off stackers work well. If not, plywood. V-chains are nice, but chew the crap pout of concrete.

 

[DT86]

On the off chance you know someone on the gravel business, old conveyer belts off stackers work well.

Or just about any old conveyer belt wide enough for that matter.

 

[flyingcow]

That belting is pretty heavy. Got some ply to it. Last along time.

 

[joeyd]

I ripped some OSB into 2 foot widths and laid them over the concrete, I am on my second season with the same sheets. As you can see I am using 4 link v-bars and the OSB is easy to store during the off season.

 

[wedge40]

Thanks for the photo joeyd. Makes me feel a lot better about using some cheap OSB. I know I might be over board with the aggessive chains but I dont want to buy a set and find out I dont have enough traction to move snow up and down the drive way.

Wedge

 

[flyingcow]

Wedge, IMO you're going in the right direction. V-chains are the only way to go.

Do the same with my big rig. If it's slippery enough for chains, I put my triples on.

 

[busy dad]

I love those V-bars on my highway truck too, they work great on ice and gravel roads , pavement too..