Traction in snow?

RedMF40 · Nov 15, 2016

Wondering about this winter...will my MF40 get any traction in snow? Good ag tires front and rear with loader up front. Long gravel driveway slight incline. My idea: put carryall on rear with load of concrete blocks, maybe chains, too. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance, G

tomturkey · Nov 15, 2016

When snow gets glazed over, packed hard or ice chains sure do the trick. The neighbors big Green loader tractor seems to do well without chains, but I'm sure that tractor probably weighs 15k. My DC Case with loader would be useless without chains. gobble

Janicholson · Nov 15, 2016

Chains are SOP weight will be helpful as well. Jim

Bob · Nov 15, 2016

"put carryall on rear with load of concrete blocks, maybe chains, too"

Yep, and I hope you have some solid concrete blocks vs. hollow/cinfder.building blocks for weight.

RedMF40 · Nov 15, 2016

Thanks, Tom! Should have added I want to clear driveway or at least move enough snow get my car out which is AWD. Thinking at this point my car might do better than my 2WD tractor!

RESLLS · Nov 15, 2016

Chains and weight. Without either, good luck. Gravel, might be ok till it gets packed or icy. About the same weight as my 3600 Ford. Loader and good tread industrial tires loaded, wouldn't move. Ag tires may be a little different. I now have 1000 lbs on the 3pth. Will see in Dec how it works. Still looking for some cheap chains. Last winter without weight I had to lace a log chain through the wheel. Couldn't even back it out of the garage. Oh yeah, tires are studded too, even the fronts.

RedMF40 · Nov 15, 2016

Well previous owner my place left big pile of the hollow concrete blocks but they're big so I'll start with those ;-)
Wanted to put carryall anyway to haul stuff around snd TSC has one good price. Thanks for the reply!

RedMF40 · Nov 15, 2016

Thanks, yes I expected trouble moving the tractor in even a few inches of snow so wanted to do something before we get hit. Worst case scenario neighbor has 4WD kubota, would rather use my machine tho.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 16, 2016

My jubilee had no ballast. I must chain up or I'll get stuck on level ground with little snow. I use rear blade, no loader.

I don't like using a loader to remove snow, because I would remove too mulch gravel. Come spring, piles of gravel would be in the grass.

D beatty · Nov 16, 2016

I have a Farmall B with loader and have one set of rear wheel weights and no fluid in tires and a buzz saw for ballast. I have never used chains or ever needed them for snow.

M Nut · Nov 16, 2016

You might get by without chains, but all it takes is one time of slipping over a slight ridge, packed snow or ice under the tires, and there you sit. I'd just put chains on from the start and save the aggravation. Matter of fact, I'd be doing it now before the first snow and ice even come. I prefer to do the winterizing when it is warm and dry rather than cold and snowy. With chains on, you should have no trouble at all moving snow with that tractor.

Bruce from Can. · Nov 16, 2016

A 2wd tractor with a loader will be as helpless as a pig on ice . Yes put chains on the rear , and if you have a even a field plough to hang on the back for weight to counter the weight of the loader on the front will help.

Rex Simpkins · Nov 16, 2016

Right. put something out back and throw weight on it. On my IH 240 utility i put blade on and hang about 750# on you get that much weight that far back-- don't know the formula for compounding weight but it equals and lot more than 750#

495man · Nov 16, 2016

Chains and weight or forget it.

You might get away without either if light snow fall and you don't get a frozen icy base, but "here" that is only the first couple snows, after that it's a slick base under each new snow fall.

dzc3 · Nov 16, 2016

My CK930 with loader, I have a snow blade on front, 3pt blade in back no chains gets around pretty good. Blade in front keeps at least one of rear wheels in plowed strip. Still have to be careful, but gets the job done.

RedMF40 · Nov 16, 2016

Thanks for all the great suggestions and comments! I'll be getting the tractor ready now that we have a few warm days. Wanted to avoid frozen fingers in a driving snow with snow piling up and tractor stuck in place. Happy winter!

Bret4207 · Nov 16, 2016

Double ring chains and hang a back blade or bush hog or something off the back.

David G · Nov 16, 2016

Chains and a LOT of weight on rear, I like the tires loaded with cast iron weights.

I probably have 1000 pounds on each axle of my Ford 6610.

Rick Kr · Nov 16, 2016

All the weight you can safely add helps. I don't use chains because driveway is asphalt, plus 600 ft of gravel
I have 1000 lbs of CaCl in the rear tires and 800 lb blade on back.
I'm close to 9000 lbs with four wheel drive and at times the snow is pushing me around. Especially if the base gets icy.
I'm the guy that loves to spend 2-3 hours messing around plowing snow. By March I've had enough, but right now I'm itching for big snow fall

Rick

paul · Nov 16, 2016

Weight is king. Load it up.

Chains add traction, esp in more Ivey conditions, but they really chew up the lawn and gravel and tar if you cross any of those, I wouldn't get too carried away with chains until you really need them......

Paul

paul · Nov 16, 2016

Weight is king. Load it up.

Chains add traction, esp in more icey conditions, but they really chew up the lawn and gravel and tar if you cross any of those, I wouldn't get too carried away with chains until you really need them...... Good 3pt weight should do it.....

Paul

Zachary Hoyt · Nov 16, 2016

I have a mf 35 with a loader and loaded rear tires and it is completely helpless in snow without chains. With chains it does pretty well. I bought a 3 point snowblower for it a couple of years ago and it is great, it puts more weight on the rear wheels and I can open up the sawmill where the snow slides off the roof. The down side to the blower is when it is windy it gets the snow all over you unless the wind is from the right direction. I like Duo-Grip style chains best.
Zach

oneshot · Nov 16, 2016

With my JD 2440 I have loaded tires and a box scraper on the back. Along with the loader on the front, it works very well on my asphalt driveway, very little spin if any of the tires.

fusion · Nov 16, 2016

I drop my air pres. down on the rear, that helps

Ken Macfarlane · Nov 16, 2016

If it's cold where you live such that the snow is dry, chains aren't nearly so important. With only near freezing temps and a hill they become very important. On ice they help but the studded Norse type chains are best on that.

tractorguy2 · Nov 16, 2016

I have a Ford 4000 I use to move snow. I don't have any chains,weights, or fluid in the tires. It does real good in snow up to 12 inches.

MSS3020 · Nov 16, 2016

I run chains on my 3020.. the big 3" link suckers.. Cant stop it.. BUT on grass it will tear things up..

I also run chains on my skidsteer.. Again cant beat it esp when you get snow and then it melts alittle and creates ice, thats where they really shine..

Married2Allis · Nov 16, 2016

I run a snowblower on the back with fluid, wheel weights, and no chains on a long asphalt driveway. On the slick spots I throw down crushed gravel and I'm good. I keep a cubic yard or so handy through the winter.

RedMF40 · Nov 16, 2016

Here on east coast it's anyone's guess what winter will bring. One inch or five feet for whole season. Constant melting and re-freezing make it very slippery. I realized might have a problem when moving load of firewood with front bucket a month ago. Tire started slipping going up small hill. Thought, uh-oh this is going to be useless in any snow. I'll try weight on rear first, would like to avoid chains if possible but looks like I'll have to find some for my 28" rear tires. I am pretty handy and know mechanical stuff, but new to tractor driving in winter. I appreciate all the input, lots of good advice. Be safe!

504 · Nov 16, 2016

Snow is no problem but a 1/8 inch of ice and you wont go anywhere. Chains.

MKinON · Nov 16, 2016

Never had much trouble with ours, no chains, no loaded rears, but have a 2000# conc weight on the rear. She spins a bit sometimes. With the bucket you can always work yourself out of a sticky situation, but rear weight is a must. MK

HossinMe · Nov 17, 2016

Nowadays we park everything and go to FLA.! Hoss

RedMF40 · Nov 17, 2016

I'm someone goes to Iceland in winter for vacation! Out of the frying pan into the fire!

rusty6 · Nov 17, 2016

(quoted from post at 07:47:44 11/16/16) If it's cold where you live such that the snow is dry, chains aren't nearly so important. With only near freezing temps and a hill they become very important. On ice they help but the studded Norse type chains are best on that.

Exactly true and that is probably why I have done fine carrying bales on the front end loader feeding cattle with the Super 90 Massey for years. I don't recall ever having to get pulled out of a snowbank. Chloride in rear tires but no chains or other additional weight.

RedMF40 · Nov 17, 2016

Thanks, the woman at the tire chain place recommended "V-Bar" option for tire chains along with the duo-grip. They're esp good for icy conditions. A lot of additional cost, however, and the photo online didn't look much different between the two designs--V-Bar and Duo-Grip.

Texasmark1 · Nov 17, 2016

Little to no snow down here. Problem is black ice. 1/16" of ice will shut this place down and then when it starts thawing, it thaws where the sun shines but not where the trees shade the road. Loonies go blasting along like it's summer, hit the ice and create "mayhem" for themselves and innocent bystanders. On ice gotta have something to bite; chains or studs and both are pretty much out of the question on the highway.

Traction in snow?

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