8,000lb 2wd tractor in snow - chains needed?

Hi guys, I just recently bought a White 2-60, 63hp 2wd, and I estimate it to be in the ballpark of 8,000lbs with the calcium ballast in the rear tires and the allied loader. It has a diff lock that works well as well and good traction tires. For those that have run this type of setup in the snow, how do you think it will do? I live in Canada, and am wondering if I will need chains or if I will be ok. The tractor is used to skid logs, carry lumber, plow snow, etc.

Chains...YES!


Glenn F.

Chains and another 500+ lbs of cast ballast per tire to offset the weight the loader is levering off the back.
Drive a loader tractor in the snow with M4WD. You will wonder why anybody tries to fiddle around with a 2WD loader tractor. Any place other than on a concrete feed lot.

Thanks guys for the input, I'll get some chains on order.

My neighbor runs a 1655 Oliver with a very heavy duty loader with loaded rear tires and he pushes and stacks snow like a bulldozer with it. He came over this year after we got pummeled with 3 feet of snow and went through it and pushed it and lifted it into 7 ft tall piles and I never seen him spin a tire once. He could shove a 1 ton 4wd pickup backwards with that thing like a tinker toy. Was pretty amazing. His dad has a 2wd Case 580 backhoe that will probably push twice as much as the Oliver and he doesn't get stuck either. I think you will defenitely benefit from chains but doubt that you need them if you have loaded rear tires.

I plow snow with an Allis 160. It does a good job without chains BUT there are times on ice or compacted snow that it would do better with chains. It snows so infrequently here that I have never bothered to get any. If I had to plow daily or weekly all winter I would have chains. Actually, I would have 4 wheel drive with a cab and heater too!!

So what does your neighbors say. They sure would know more about the tractor in y0ur area than someone who has never even seen your area.

The problem with snow is it turns to ice when you drive over it. No matter how much ballast you have, your tractor will be be helpless on ice, even with a locking diff.

My tractor weighs 8500 pounds. Chains are a must on ice/packed snow.

I wouldn't have a tractor without chains in our area.. under ice and snowpacked conditions, they are a must.. However, the chains don't have to be on the tractor until they actually are needed... Some years; I don't use them at all, but, there are those "other" years, where they are a must... We experienced an example a few years back when there was an extended freezing rain before it turned to snow,,,, It was so slippery that I literally skated down my gravel driveway when I walked out to get the mail..

With the loader on it?
With chains it will do poorly. Without chains it will do nothing.
I'd look to drop the loader as much as possible if you don't need it. Should be a decent tractor in the woods without the loader...

Rod

Might be a little bigger and have it's weight distributed a little different than tractors I'm used to, I assume they all differ a little in that department.

My experience in snow, packed snow and ice, is that you really need chains for the most part.

I've had to use my tractor for snow removal and without substantial weight on the back it is absolutely useless. Ballasted rear tires, + the chunk of cast on the rear for weight, will get me through deep snow, but get on some packed snow, ice or similar, slight hill or slope, I can get away without chains, but would be much better off with them on. Conditions do vary widely when it comes to snow/ice. Thing is, you get one side of the tractor lower than the other, meaning on a slope or side hill or just a subtle change in grade, is sometimes all it takes to get one side spinning and you'll end up sliding to that side, usually making the situation worse.

If off road and you really need a good bite, V-bar type are ideal, but good ole double ring type with enough cross chains, per the tire size, think that can vary a bit, will work fine, in short, if you operate a lot in the snow/ice, more than likely you will need a good set of chains.

Remember too, it's not just drive traction where the chains help. If you operate on any side hills or inclines, the chains help to keep from sliding sideways down the hill.