getting bombed this year in Wilton CT. Just got 20-22 inches over the night, after an 18 inch dumping (that didn't melt) a few days after x-mas. Of course we were away, and it drifted in, so just breaking thru was an accomplishment, let alone pushing it all back. Now i am stuck with no where to put the snow so am considering chains.
Was curious if anyone has them and your experience with them. Must do, ok, they stink, etc.

thx Gents,
and GL to all in the NorthEast on this last dumping.

~Tim

 

I used to use them all the time when I had holeshots or knobby type atv tires- haven't used the chains in years since I bought mud tires. Chains work well- just a PITA to put on and take off (or maybe I'm just lazy )

 

I used them on the rear of an 86 Quad sport, back in the day, to ride with my cousins with their sleds. It went everywhere they did, and just as fast.

Back then, I had to cut down car chains, there was no such thing as an ATV chain, or a 4x4 ATV for that matter.

A regular, good fitting ATV chain, IMO would work real well. I know I push the heck out of the snow with my garden tractor using them.

 

Chains are a huge help....even with good mud/snow tires. You'll be able to push a lot more snow with out spinning out...and push it further. I wouldn't go chainless now that I've been running them for a few years.

If one does a fair amount of plowing...chains are well worth it.

 

There are 4x4 ATVs and there are AWD ATVs. AWD ATVs have a true 4wd system like Polaris or Can AM others have a front diff locker. For example a Yamaha grizzly has three drive modes ,2wd,4wd and diff lock (True AWD).

Yes chains help,I seen a 2wd ATV with chains plowing snow very well.

 

so i have an AWD 2006 Sportsman 700 EFI. Are chains safe to put on the AWD Atv's?

 

Yes they AWD system on the Polaris kicks in and out of 2wd and AWD on its own when the rear wheels gain or lose traction, thats why you can steer the ATV, with diff lock the ATV is in full time AWD and is unsteerable until you disengage the diff lock and put it back in 2wd or 4wd.

 

If you have the $ a set of tracks are worth their weight in gold. Watch ebay/craigslist for deals. There's a guy selling an almost new set of popo tracks here for $2900/BO on craigslist. I would jump on them if I didn't already have a set. I have yet to see a storm here the tracks couldn't handle.

 

I had a set of heavy duty pickumup chains that I cut down for the back of Mine 400.
I also had a set of heavier car chains Mine son cut down and installed on the rears of his A.C. and they made a huge difference in his snow removal projects.

 

A couple things to consider before you go and buy chains...

First, if you already have your snow piled up and no place to pile the new snow, then chains won't help you a bit. Even with chains, you won't be able to push the big piles back to make more room. If this is the case, you might just need to invest in a snowblower and forget about plowing with your ATV.

Also, chains will scratch the hell out of a paved surface, so if you have a nice asphalt or concrete driveway then you probably don't want to be using chains. You can get some more traction by adding some weight. Sandbags on the racks work great.