Hello, I'm new to this forum and would like some input please. I have a Branson 4220 tractor and am researching tire chains. I've been cutting trails on my 21 acre lot here in Vermont and I have some very wet and muddy slopped areas. My tires a industial loaded. Any help would be great.
Chains for mud
- Thread starter truartcle
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JJT
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I've had great success with double rings, good in the snow/ice and mud. They are rough driving on the road for any distance.
JB4310
Super Member
Welcome to TBN.
As long as it's not a bottomless mud bog then chains will do the trick.
There's a bunch of different types of chains, but even reg old 4 link spaced chain will make a world of difference in the woods, even with just a 2 wheel drive machine.
The other end of the spectrum is logger type chains, which are pretty big bucks.
If your on slopes you probably need something in the middle, there are many that have a cross pattern that don't fall into the lugs.
I have the reg 4 link spaced V-bars, mostly for snow but they work great in the woods as well.
Good luck.
As long as it's not a bottomless mud bog then chains will do the trick.
There's a bunch of different types of chains, but even reg old 4 link spaced chain will make a world of difference in the woods, even with just a 2 wheel drive machine.
The other end of the spectrum is logger type chains, which are pretty big bucks.
If your on slopes you probably need something in the middle, there are many that have a cross pattern that don't fall into the lugs.
I have the reg 4 link spaced V-bars, mostly for snow but they work great in the woods as well.
Good luck.
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Thomas
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Welcome to TBN neighbor..state. 
Chains can give you that little extra bite needed to make it..grip rock,root,solid ground etc. plus keep you from sliding side ways less,hold traction better if mud in tread going down slope,but chains also can get you belly hung quick if they spin.
All in all chain are worth $$'s spent.
Chains can give you that little extra bite needed to make it..grip rock,root,solid ground etc. plus keep you from sliding side ways less,hold traction better if mud in tread going down slope,but chains also can get you belly hung quick if they spin.
All in all chain are worth $$'s spent.
dave1949
Super Star Member
Welcome to TBN neighbor..state.
Chains can give you that little extra bite needed to make it..grip rock,root,solid ground etc. plus keep you from sliding side ways less,hold traction better if mud in tread going down slope,but chains also can get you belly hung quick if they spin.
All in all chain are worth $$'s spent.
Thomas, you are such a spoil sport
.Along with chains, you might need a winch or decent come-along
Never get stuck farther from a good tree than your chains or cables can reach I've been working on trails too, some areas really need to be fixed with some ditching and culverts. Havng a backhoe attachment helps with this. Without really fixing the wet problem, it's always going to be wet and muddy except for maybe one month in late summer.
After you get your trails laid out for sure, you could consider renting or hiring a backhoe or excavator for a couple days. Put them in good shape for a long time. If you have soggy wet areas, a tracked excavator is the tool you want.
Welcome to TBN.
Dave.
whistlepig
Elite Member
Talk to someone in the logging business. I have seen skidders climbing mountains in mud. They all had chains on them. These guys could barely stand up on these hills but the skidders went right up them towing thousands of pounds of logs.
studor
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As Thomas the spoil sport has said -- chains are great but if you spin the tires with chains on you will be down to the belly in no time. Lots of times a skidder relies on good clearance to hit something solid enough to grip. I have buried four wheel drive tractors with ags and chains on skidder trails enough times that my advice would be don't follow them. I have chains for all four tires in the winter for ice. In the summer in the bush I take the chains off and I maintain the roads (I also avoid one or two spots that I know are bottomless once you break the top layer). -- JMHO
. I have chains for all four tires in the winter for ice. In the summer in the bush I take the chains off and I maintain the roads (I also avoid one or two spots that I know are bottomless once you break the top layer). -- JMHO
Thomas
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Dave & Studor.
"Thomas, you are such a spoil sport"
..Being belly hung one thing,but digging out and swating blackflies and there cousins can make one beware of wet spots.
"Thomas, you are such a spoil sport"
..Being belly hung one thing,but digging out and swating blackflies and there cousins can make one beware of wet spots.dave1949
Super Star Member
Dave & Studor.
"Thomas, you are such a spoil sport"
It gets worse and worse with you, now you are bringing up the black flies
You are going to give the OP nightmares and he hasn't been here a week yet! Heck ,you're starting to scare me.Dave.
Thanks to all for the advice. Chains it is. Now about the wet spots. There are a few areas that can't be drained so I'm thinking of putting down 1 1/2 to 2 inch black rock to bring up the trail bed. Any thoughts on that one.