Advice on snow chains?

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I'd appreciate some opinions on whether or not to put on some snow chains. I use the MJ for snow plowing all winter, and it's all on a gravel driveway but I never need to go on pavement. Overall things work well, and I can push a ton of snow..... except when there is ice underneath.

Recently, we had a huge snowfall (24" plus) and if I went too far off the driveway where there was a slight incline, I got stuck. I have good snow tires on, and the box is half filled with firewood for ballast but it's soooo frustrating to dig out in freezing and snowy conditions.  Right now, I have 235/75/15 tires all around but there is slight rubbing at full steering lock. I don't mind it normally, but I'm concerned that with chains on the front it will do damage.

 Does anybody use chains in winter and can give me feedback on whether it's worth it?  Maybe just put them on the rears? 

 

 

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snow

[rokinn]

I would err on the side of caution and just put them on the back.  You might get away with it if you never go to full lock but that's a mighty big if.  Stock LCA's aren't all that strong to begin with and I certainly wouldn't want to start tearing things up on the front end.  I suppose you could get smaller tires but that's a bit of an investment. 

[rokinn]

Looks like the snow we got here last spring.

 

 

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I actually have some smaller ones (225 75 15 I think). Would it be a problem to have different sized on front and back?

[mjeff87]

I ran chains on the back of my MJ when it was 2WD (stock 235/75).  They worked great.  I think I still have them hanging somewhere down in the shed, in fact......lol.

 

I've never run them on the front (I was 2WD, so no real benefit), so I can't comment on that other than to think you'd have to be in some pretty deep stuff on a permanent basis to consider them.  I know some areas of the country are.  I'd be more inclined to use a cable-style versus chain if I did.

 

 

[gogmorgo]

I’d start with chaining up just the rear and see if that makes the difference. Toss some weight back there too if you haven’t already.
There is some advantage to chains on the front axle with a 4x4, in terms of traction. You can also get specifically designed steer chains which will help out even on a 2wd with steering and braking traction. The difference is a drive chain is more of a ladder pattern across the tire for pushing you along, while the steer chain is going to have a diamond pattern or otherwise to get more side to side traction. No reason you can’t run that style chain on a drive axle either, but more chain necessary for the patterns makes them more expensive and they don’t last any longer than the drive style.

But the flip side is it seems like chains on a steer axle are more likely to damage the vehicle. It might just be there’s more things that are less protected to damage up there, but it’s also very true that having an angled plow blade means you’re constantly steering against it, and that will stress chains more and lead to earlier failure. And loose or broken chains is what does the most damage, even if you didn’t already have tire rub. 
 

If you really want to chain up the front axle, I’d say go skinny tires for freeing up clearance. WJ control arms will help some as well. But try just the rear first. Full chain and V-bars for maximum traction on ice and compact snow. They’re more spendy than the cable or strap style, but they’re also intended to work all winter, not to sit in your trunk for years and get maybe one or two uses out of them.

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Thanks for the feedback folks :)

It's all pretty much along the lines that I was thinking.

I'll probably get a good set of V-Bar chains just for the rear right now and see how it goes. Then, as soon as I get them,  we probably won't get another big snowfall for the rest of the winter!!