DIY Tire Snow Chains! Make your own Snow chains on the cheap!

[@streetred1338]

Good video.I looked at prices for my tractor at $350 for chains. So instead of buying that I got a no gas welder, extra weld wire, self darkening helmet, bolt cutter, cutting wheels, and chains for $345 ...your vid helped with what math and techniques that was needed and I was able to make my own and learned how to weld.

[@howardgrant4254]

If you're looking to learn, the welder you're talking about is called fluxcore. Similar to SMAW (shielded metal arc welding) or stick, the wire is hollow and contains the flux inside. Like stick, you must clean away the flux when you're done. This is NOT mig. Mig requires the use of a shielding gas, usually C-25.

[@patrickpuma]

You are doing it right @street red

[@gibblespascack1418]

I was thinking of just buying the chain connectors and locking mechanism, then buying the chain from a big box store. I don't have a welder and the connectors relatively cheap.

[@gibblespascack1418]

I use to put chains on by driving over them. It was always difficult to get straight. Then I saw that you could use the shop floor jack, raise a tire off the round, put the tractor in neutral, and just rotate the tire to get the chain on there. this was so much faster and easier than driving over them on my Ford 8N. It is a great tip to just raise the tractor while on the concrete floor. (And the best part is that I gave dad a concrete floor for his barn a few years ago which is so much better than a dirt/gravel floor.)

[@pantherplatform]

I love small tractors like your "Cub Lo Boy." Reminds me of my Allis Chalmers and Simplicity tractors from the 70's. I grew up riding those everywhere.

[@jimmyallen8210]

I’m building chains for my kid’s powerwheels Jeep with this method. Genius. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[@robertbodell7221]

I made some for my ATV out of 5/16 stainless steel chain. I can climb anything in the snow I can climb in the summer. The engine stalls before the wheels slip. I also put mine together with shackles and then wire the shackle. i don't need tensioners.

[@wyattloar51]

Found this VERY helpful, I have a lo-boy as well, and have recently been looking for chains because I am getting a snow plow for it tomorrow, thanks for doing the math for me!😂

[@thesetruths1404]

Good way to do it if need be. $100 to $150 of chain cost and fasteners and time make it worth to buy 11.2 - 24 chains for $300 delivered for a set of rears with warranty.

[@1D10CRACY]

Absolutely! But I'm cheap! I had less than 80 bucks in the set, a few hours of time and I also provide my own life time warranty. ;)

[@ronyerke9250]

Good video. 👍 Another way to install the chains without jacking is to just lay them out in front or behind the tires and drive onto them. Throw the long end over and pull the short end up to meet it. Connect as usual.

[@gibblespascack1418]

With my first attempt at picking up the tractor, my chains went on so much easier than driving over the chains. It was also faster for me to pick up the tractor and put them on. If you have a 3 ton floor jack, its the easiest way to go. Best $120 that i have ever spent in the garage.

[@thornyturtleranch4u]

The law of nature states " if you put Chains on your truck, you cannot get stuck." I've spent thousands on chains. Now I'm building my own and will likely have some to sell, very aggressive. I use on my tractor and my pickups in louisiana gumbo mud.

[@PrimetimeNut]

Way to do it yourself!

[@johnhasse3995]

consider the hardness of the chain. The usual chain is rather soft. I would have used nuts and bolts to close the loop.

[@1D10CRACY]

Yes, it is something to consider! For me, the usual soft chain has been fine.

[@johnhasse3995]

@@1D10CRACY Absolutely,.,, it is a great idea. (I just wanted to warn people that this would not last so long as the professional stuff, but for occasional use, it would be great.)

[@billsmith7673]

Thanks. Have looked at several videos about homemade tire chains. Like yours best.

[@David-fv7zg]

Hey this would have been a perfect job for the HF car lift table mod!!

[@tommyfeaster39]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[@imwatchingu81]

Great vid no sense in spending a lot Thankyou!

[@familyrst_adventure5787]

How the welding process was on the zinc chain? Just curious cause I'm doing my chain right now... and seems to be not as good as I would love to be... thanks in advance mate! and really good job by the way!!!

[@1D10CRACY]

I didn't have any issues, but I did stick weld them and did not use a mig. Also keep in mind you need to be extra carful when welding zinc not to breath the fumes, so a ventilated area is suggested.

[@familyrst_adventure5787]

@1D10CRACY thanks for the heads-up!!!

[@imerbeser]

Lamborghini!

[@PopPunkPoser]

What size tires are you running? 16.9.30? If so what size bungees did you purchase to tension the chain?

[@kasparovhr1212]

Mixing stainless and zinc coated is only fine if you like for your zinc coated part to rust to dust.

[@1D10CRACY]

They are snow chains, they will be fine. LOL

[@WaywardWaggs]

Our goal is to never be anywhere we need snow chains! lol.

[@timlynch6154]

Do you also have bungees on the other side of the wheel? Does the axle get in the way?

[@1D10CRACY]

I only have bungees on the outside of the wheels, that is really all you need to take up the slack.

[@buzzsah]

nice job

[@theThinkerator]

Don't use those style couplers/connnectors. They WILL pull apart. if you do, get the heaviest that'll go through your links Better to get the screw-clevis style. MUCH stronger ask me how I know...

[@1D10CRACY]

If I have any issues with them, I'll remember this. So far they have been working out ok. Not sure I'd change anything to be honest.

[@theThinkerator]

@@1D10CRACY Your tractor is pretty light... but for those of us using heavier (10k or more.... the 3/16 links pull apart easily I use much heavier ones now, and use harrow chain for the side chains. I think I went to 1/2" or 5/8" size. if I need to change, I'll get the clevis style. Your video does a good job is explaining the process, thanks for that. I guess only the sizes are really different between sets. Heavier tractors need heavier chain/links/etc Lighter units can get buy with the lighter stuff

[@davidloy8376]

What did your chains cost?

[@1D10CRACY]

Can't say I remember. I bought them from Menards during a 15% off sale.

[@Hooverdarnit]

You didn't tell us how much the store bought tires chains would cost for your tractor. Then you neglected to tell us the cost of the chain. How much would store bought tires cost for your tractor and how much did those two bags of chain cost? How many hours did you spent in making those chains? How much money did you save? Your Title say: "on the cheap." Tell us. How cheap? I'm giving you a thumbs down until you answer my questions.

[@1D10CRACY]

Thiis was a very specific build for a specific tractor and tire size. Everybody is going to spend different amounts of money on different size chains and different amounts of chains. Simply said, everybody's cost is going to be different. I also never include prices in my videos, as prices change over time and I personally feel that it isn't that big of a deal for the viewer to be able to do a little bit of research on his or her own. Also as far as time, everybody else's skills are a little bit different and it's not important how long it took for me to weld the chain up. I would also like to think if you are a DIYer, you would be able to estimate how long it would take for you to weld up your specific amount of chain. That being said I do appreciate the feedback! I also appreciate the use of the thumbs, albeit a thumbs down, it is still showing KZbin engagement.

[@Hooverdarnit]

@@1D10CRACY Apparently you don't want to back up your claims with any real figures. You used the word cheap - prove it.

[@1D10CRACY]

You are absolutely correct! And I'm not going to prove it, you need to do that for yourself.

[@Hooverdarnit]

@@1D10CRACY I could spend a week making some chains or I could buy a pair of $240 tire chains from a on line auction for $6. Which I did today.

[@1D10CRACY]

Good for you!!! You got a great deal! I spent 60 bucks on chain and had about 2 hours of work. For my larger tractor tires the cheapest place I could find new was $320 bucks.