So, the standard for years has been a good set of tire chains for back country over snow travel in your 4x4. But lately there have been new products coming out in regards to traction devices like tire socks and other assorted options. I was wondering if anyone has tried any of these new devices for off road over the snow travel? From personal experience, the good news/bad news aspect of tire chains is that that dig down as the snow gets deeper. I am wondering if the tire sock with it's micro pourous membrane would grip the snow, rather than dig a hole. Does anyone have any experience with differing traction devices off road in deep snow, mud situations? I would think the best thing would to be able to drive ON TOP of the snow, rather than dig in. I am still dreaming about a set of maxxtracks, but I still haven't saved up the $25k to be able to buy them.
Traction device for over snow travel
- Thread starter mtnblue
- Start date
Theoretician
Adventurer
You need floatation in snow or mud that deeper than the frame of the vehicle, hence why those track conversions work so well. Increasing the traction provided by a small contact patch would only serve to dig you deeper given the low or nonexistent shear stress capacity of the snow or mud.
Look at all the Arctic trucks on offer by private companies now or militaries over the past few decades - the design priorities are light weight and tires that are as big as possible, even to the point of caricature about riding on balloons. Tires that are as wide as possible and with as much sidewall as possible, carrying a light enough load to allow for as low a tires pressure as possible, are going to be a lot cheaper than a track conversion. The track conversion may yet be necessary if you want to do cross country travel or driving on top of roads that are closed for winter because nobody wants to clear snow that is deep enough to swallow a truck whole.
Look at all the Arctic trucks on offer by private companies now or militaries over the past few decades - the design priorities are light weight and tires that are as big as possible, even to the point of caricature about riding on balloons. Tires that are as wide as possible and with as much sidewall as possible, carrying a light enough load to allow for as low a tires pressure as possible, are going to be a lot cheaper than a track conversion. The track conversion may yet be necessary if you want to do cross country travel or driving on top of roads that are closed for winter because nobody wants to clear snow that is deep enough to swallow a truck whole.
I snagged a set of the trac grabbers this year. They work decently well but the real design flaw is that it is a pain to get them off once you have sinched them on nice and tight. These work in a pinch but I would not want to drive for any sort of distance with them on. For of a get you out and moving again sort of thing.
In terms of actually driving through deep snow. Well thats why I got a beater 900 dollar Artic Cat.
Of course... I still have dreams of trying to make a set of the much cheaper but still expensive quad/ side by side snow tracks fit on my 82 Subaru 4x4 but like you... its a money thing.
At the end of the day I just keep coming back to my good ole school v bar chains. If the snow is decently fresh, I find that it takes a lot to stop a truck with those on. It it is crusty wet or hardback. Well... See the 900 $ beater artic cat comment.
In terms of actually driving through deep snow. Well thats why I got a beater 900 dollar Artic Cat.
Of course... I still have dreams of trying to make a set of the much cheaper but still expensive quad/ side by side snow tracks fit on my 82 Subaru 4x4 but like you... its a money thing.
At the end of the day I just keep coming back to my good ole school v bar chains. If the snow is decently fresh, I find that it takes a lot to stop a truck with those on. It it is crusty wet or hardback. Well... See the 900 $ beater artic cat comment.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
Agreed, hard to beat a good set of chains.
