Making my own tire chains

[David Devuono]

I too have made chains for my garden tractor and front and rear on the kubota. This photo shows the rear chains on the Kubota made with no special links (#30 chain). No paved roads in my area and not much wear in past 5 years of use. Paid under $1 a foot, though only needed 1/4 chain on the subcompact.

 

[CrazyQ]

Made these for my Wheel Horse. Cost about $30.

I have been looking everywhere for rings to add to my ladder chains. Where did you find/how did you make yours?

 

[bobodu]

I made them.Just drilled a hole in a piece of flat stock and clamped that in the vise. Stuck the rod through and I kind of developed a rhythm so they came out pretty uniform. You can also just clamp two bolts upright and not have to fish the loop out of the hole. Even better would be to weld a 3/4" nut to the side of a 5" pipe. Slide a 1/2 X 24" "cheater pipe" over your round rod and stick the rod through the nut. Of course,this would only be practical if you can walk around the big pipe!!

 

[CrazyQ]

I made them.Just drilled a hole in a piece of flat stock and clamped that in the vise. Stuck the rod through and I kind of developed a rhythm so they came out pretty uniform. You can also just clamp two bolts upright and not have to fish the loop out of the hole. Even better would be to weld a 3/4" nut to the side of a 5" pipe. Slide a 1/2 X 24" "cheater pipe" over your round rod and stick the rod through the nut. Of course,this would only be practical if you can walk around the big pipe!!

What diameter is the rod...I was think about #6 or #7 rebar but I don't think I could muster up the testicular force required to bend 3/4 or 7/8" dia. around an 8 inch pipe without heating them cherry-red.

 

[bobodu]

I used 3/8 inch rod I got free from work. Almost everything in a dry cleaning plant hangs from the ceiling and when things get changed, it's often easiest to start with fresh rod.

 

[alltoys]

Made these for my Wheel Horse. Cost about $30.

Those are an excellent set of chains. In the trucking industry when I drove we called them Super Chains. Running through the mountains with a set of B-Trains they were a necessity. Much better than the cross over link type chains.

 

[bobodu]

I'm halfheartedly thinking about welding in some eyes and mouths so the rings make smiley faces wherever I go!!

 

[Eagleview]

Huge Mountain Lion paw prints would be better . That would keep the weekend warriors off your land .

They are the best set of chains i have seen , well done .

 

[bobodu]

Bigfoot prints!!
With the tracks from the front wheels...it'd look like Bigfoot was here....pushing a wheelbarrow.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I like the smiley face idea! Or, put letters in each ring such that they spell a word as you drive. How many rings are on each tire?