Relic Snow Wheeling // Chained CJ2a & FJ40 GOAT

Join us as we explore the local back woods in search of a snow to test out some brand new 75 year old chains. This video takes us on a fun journey blending exploration, adventure, off-roading, trials and errors.

[@davidforsythe3037]

Many years ago, a coworker told me that his sons 2wd with chains would go through more snow or mud than my 4x4. I politely accepted the challenge. Almost forty years later, and I’m still waiting. Great video. Awesome vehicles. Thank you for sharing

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yeah - It’s weird logic. I mean, if it were true, you could always put a 4x4 in 2WD with chains. But you can’t put a 2WD in 4WD, right? I’m from the school of thought, “it’s better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it” 😇

[@davidforsythe3037]

@ absolutely my friend. Chains on front would have more effect than on rear. Adding power to front axle adds significantly more capability. I think that other than having the weight of most of the engine, trans, t-case biased forward, the fact that the front wheels are pulling and climbing, rather than being forced through makes a huge difference. My best to you and yours from Canada

[@applesbighatranch6906]

@@FnCJAdventurer And don't forget! A 2WD w/ chains will get a lot farther in than a 2WD and no chains! lmao. And 4WD will just get you stuck $400 farther in than that! Heehaw. I jest w/ ye.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - the Hehaw had some serious “it’s a wonderful life” vibes! Thanks for keeping the comments season specific 🎅

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@davidforsythe3037 - makes sense! I’m going to have to do some experimenting 😉

[@mediocreman2]

Narrow tires are better when you're in snow on concrete/asphalt since they can cut through and get down to the road surface, but if the snow is deeper and you're trying to be on top of the snow, then wider tires can help float. Cute Jeeps!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Makes sense.

[@lyleswavel320]

As long as snows not 3 or 4 foot deep, and high center

[@enginerd0]

The difference here wasn't wide > narrow tires, but radials > bias ply tires.

[@timmcooper294]

Ahh the memories !! When I lived in Alaska over 30 years ago I always carried chains in my rig. You just never knew when you might need them. I was out one time in the winter up near the Knik glacier when the weather changed suddenly, chinook wind and rain, turning everything into wet ice. My friend and I each had one axle set of chains, and there was one hill climb that was a notch cut in a hillside and had a serious drop-off to the drivers side down into the trees......all wet ice... We put my chains on my friends front tires and he drove up, took them off, then hiked back down an put them on mine and I drove up. Thank goodness we both ran the same tire size !! The chains we ran were the "V bar" style, very effective on ice. I bought another axle set of chains right after that!! I have been is several situations that I was very thankful to have had chains stowed in my rig.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Tim - you have lived an eventful life of off-roading! What’s your favorite territory and terrain? We really enjoy the lesser explored backwoods (rarer and rarer these days).

[@timmcooper294]

@@FnCJAdventurer Funny you ask that question, as I ponder that sometimes, but keep coming back to the really technical stuff as being my favorite. I love "working it" and having to strategize , picking my way thru terrain. A great youtube video that shows some of my favorite wheeling is "vintage 4 wheel drive rigs from the 40's and 50's take on Moab's Coyote Canyon" "Old Willys Vs Built Rubicons: Hump and Bump trail ride adventure" is another recent one, with the best part right near the end of the video where I drive up the "buggy line" of Bronco falls obstacle. It's crazy steep, and I have to really "work it" at the top, but I make it and the full buggy on 43" Mickey Thompson ProX stickeys following me can't climb it !! Only the trail leader in a linked buggy style Jeep on 42's makes it besides me..... None of the built Rubicons wanted any part of it !! To me, pushing the limits of my abilities is nirvana, and the various rocky trails all around the western states are full of great challenges for an old school rig on small tires. really tough to pick favorites, but red rock country is soooo awesome !!! I gotta get back to Tillamook / Browns Camp, because I wheeled hard there all the time back in the 90's, though I would only try it during a weekday, as I don't like traffic. I love the lesser run trails, and don't always HAVE to run the hardest trails.... It's just so much fun to get out with friends in these old machines and play, and there are always new places to explore, though like you said, harder to find these days. I do feel privileged to have the off road experiences that I have had, and always looking forward to the next one. I'm actually looking forward to more wheeling up in your neck of the woods, as I'm getting a place in Longview, Wa. and have some old friends with old time rigs in both Portland and Seattle.

[@Davewilliamson5w]

My 47 CJ2A with the 7.50 16 tractor tires never had any problems! Had the original 4 cyl flathead too!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Radial or bias plies? Jamie’s rig only has 6.5 16’s, so they are a bit narrower.

[@Davewilliamson5w]

@FnCJAdventurer they were bias ply recaps! I was around 18 years old back then. Nobody had radial tires. I'm 61 now. Biggest problem I had was keeping axle shafts from breaking on the front end. They had a cup and ball with a center pin. Damned things would crack.

[@ericbarrall5619]

As I wait for the family to get up, I get to watch this great vid! Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks for the kind words! Merry Christmas right back at ya!

[@j-port8818]

This would so be me and my old co-worker. He's a Toyota guy and I'm a Jeep guy. Although I have a 65 CJ5 and he doesn't have a FJ. Looks like so much fun! Love the old rigs!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

To be fair, I’m a Toyota/Jeep guy. I have an old Willys I’m restoring right now as well 😅. I also had a CJ5 before my Land Cruiser. I still miss that rig sometimes. You need to get your buddy to find an old Toyota wheeler and get out in the woods asap!

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Great machines great friends and day in the woods!👍🏽😊❤️🇺🇸

[@robertfleagle4250]

Lol. Ok now I'm gonna get some chains for my Willys. I love when u guys were singing the songs lol. Awesome Awesome video gents. Stay safe and God bless

[@UpperLeftRC]

Dang watching that poor old jeep skipping through deep snow was really fun to watch, I can’t believe it made it through that! 😂 Merry Christmas

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Merry Christmas!

[@congerthomas1812]

Can put chains on in 5 minutes,in a blizzard,in the road. Carried chains in my cars since 84. I have went many places others couldn't.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

This exposure to chains has changed our understanding fundamentally!

[@amandahuginkiss4098]

Nice story- despite your terrible grammar.

[@Bloodbain88]

I'm a fan of taller skinny tires, and carry an air compressor and air down to 10psi. Then air back up when about to get back on the road. But when it comes to deep snow usually the wider the tire the better. The extreme snow wheeling guys have insanely wide tires and they just crawl as slow as possible so as not to dig down and sink. That FJ is a dream truck man I wish they still made them.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yep - them Artic boys have balloon tires that keep them from sinking in. But, can’t keep a rig original with tires like that 😂 Plus, the Willys jeeps don’t really have enough power to turn much more than a light weight stock skinny. 😅

[@trekinseattle]

This "snow" is typical pnw half melted 32 degree shaved ice type stuff. Horrible to drive in. 4" of this stuff is miserable and hardly passable. Though I've had great traction while driving through 2.5 feet of fresh snow when it's 10 degrees out. Pushing a wall of snow and it coming up over the hood. Only issue there is the belts and fan which get packed with snow.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@trekinseattle - You nailed it.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Looks like you guys have a lot of fun up there. I’ve used chains in deep snow and ice, in the woods and in town. They always worked great for me.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

They seem pretty affective. On Jamie’s rig they pretty much just dig because of his narrow tires. This can be an issue in deep snow due to clearance.

[@MoaByte-v2z]

That was fun. I love both riggs but love the FJ40 the most.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

You sound like a guy with great taste 😉

[@RF6Gun851]

When I hunted with my Dad he had a 62 Econoline van, camp was miles up a dirt road. Got stuck one time so he put his chains on, front bumper was pushing snow. Made it in and out fine. A few years later my first car was a 62 Rambler Classic, 6 cyl, 3 on the tree. I kept chains in that, amazed some of the crap I put that poor car through and it just kept chuggin. I know the newer cars will outperform all the old stuff on the street, but as teens we didn't stay on pavement all the time.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yep - chains compensate well for lack of capability. We enjoy our old rigs for what they are, and enjoy the challenges that come with them. That said, chains are definitely going to be a staple in our gear going forward.

[@Pnwvintagejeeps]

Man…..Now I’m going to have to get some chains for my flatties. Thanks Jamie 😂

[@FnCJAdventurer]

If you are running 6.5” tires, chains are a must (we discovered on this day)!

[@rustyintheoutdoors]

Looks like good fun! Nice to see my fyp showing local WA content. Sharp rigs.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We are having a blast, and it’s great to hear from a locals!

[@julieanddavidmyers6641]

I once saw a greenhorn driving a front wheel drive car on ice with chains fitted on the rear tires. Great slippery video@

[@FnCJAdventurer]

That's comedic gold, right there! That said, I was once a young and ignorant kid, and I did comedic things of my own throughout the years.

[@prostreetgsxr]

Man that looks like fun!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It was! We keep it simple, and enjoy the struggle.

[@ianoliver1601]

Great video! keep up the great work!!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks! Will do!

[@brianjones1151]

During WWII they used chains for mud as much as they did snow. 👍 i managed to get some 'NOS' chains for my Willys, but i haven't got around to using them yet.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I think our next adventure will be testing chains in the mud. I actually just picked up a set for my FJ yesterday as well.

[@Benny1581]

Chains are king on snow and ice.... Right next to 4 wheel drive lol I have big v-bar chains on my plow truck, most plowing can be done in 2wd if i choose to. They really do work well. Great option for an offroad vehicle with marginal tires.

[@jhsumatt]

Couple years ago we lived near Portland, OR during snowmageddon. I worked late at an urgent care and was the only person that brought chains for my FWD Toyota Matrix. I was also the only one that drove home that night. Drove past a countless number of lifted 4x4 trucks and Wranglers in ditches, on curbs, and stuck sideways on hills along the way. Try and guess if those guys had chains or not. Took 2 hrs extra to get home to my wife and baby boy, but I made it. We live near Mt. Rainier and have a Ford Ranger now. With chains just in case.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Caution often trumps 4x4 and/or chains.

[@lukesmith32]

Great vibes!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks!

[@dannydowell9979]

Great ride!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It was a fun day!

[@Bubba_MB]

That looks so fun Wet snow. But still fun

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It was, and yes, the snow was wet. Our rigs could push powder around all day, but that wet snow was making fools out of us 😅

[@Bubba_MB]

@FnCJAdventurer i live up in Lynnwood area. Just north from you and wet snow is about all we get. Lol. Great video

[@joewoodchuck3824]

My dad would always chain up his car before storms hit. He always got to work on time while others didn't.

[@GarageWorx]

Sweet rigs. Looks like fun.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks! We are good at one thing and one thing only, and that's having fun.

[@tieoneon1614]

This is fricken great, nobody ever records themselves after saying it LOL. Im one of those 2WD Chain guys. But I never claimed it for pure offroading, I meant daily driving in snow country. I buy and sell a ton of vehicles, nobody buys a 2wd truck in snow country so Im in 4wd's now for resale but I always liked 2wd better for their simplicity. Bored winter weekend's i still put my chains on and go thru the woods just for fun.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

In my opinion, there are too many factors to pick the perfect option - type of road, travel speed, type of snow, air pressure, clearance, chain types, etc. I prefer 4x4 over chains simply because I don't want to get out in the cold and put them on, haha....

[@jasonseidler2142]

Good thing a Tacoma wasn't there to show both you up. Awesome fun video. You guys got cool rigs.

[@JamesMcNamara-j1g]

Didn’t make Tacomas when these were on the market.

[@jasonseidler2142]

@JamesMcNamara-j1g hilux. Same thing

[@JamesMcNamara-j1g]

@ ok, not sold here…not same.

[@JamesMcNamara-j1g]

@@jasonseidler2142 my unicorn would beat your attainable every day.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@jasonseidler2142 - Haha… probably true. And if there was a Subaru around, it probably would have put us all to shame 😆

[@elektro3000]

Now that looks like fun! I've always heard K02s grip snow better than any other all-terrains, but I'd love to see those chains compared to the Hakkapeliittas I run on my UZJ100.

[@markcollins5026]

Man, the KO2s stink on ice !

[@NorthernFlyer-jxc]

They are crap on ice there are a lot of better all terrain out there duratrac and the Firestone XT being two of them

[@rustypaul38]

Radial tires are far superior to old hard bias ply tires in the snow. Lowering the tire pressure helps make a longer footprint as well. Both of these are great rigs.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We went back to the snow yesterday, and I drop my pressure down to 10 psi (lowest ever) and it was essentially unstoppable. Jamie stuck to chains on his CJ. We kicked the idea of dropping his pressure as well, but being bias ply, we weren’t convinced he’d achieve the same benefit.

[@tuckersimpson4442]

I know exactly where you guys were. cool to see you in my neck of the woods

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Nice! It’s an awesome area. The few times we’ve been out there, the snow was so deep we never got too far. Today we got the opportunity to do some real exploring.

[@TheRambler-pz1gx]

There was a debate about chains in the local snow wheeling group on FB. So many people are ignorant and try their hardest to tell others not to buy chains. I carry chains for my 40s.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

For us, the debate wasn’t wether they work or not, but how well, and were the worth the effort. The reality it, we don’t get much snow here 😂

[@Walt-do8pj]

Nice love the pnw

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It’s purdy country.

[@lessainsbury8508]

I had a couple of FJ 40's over the years but my favorite was my FJ 45 pickup. It had a big rack on it for carrying hang gliders . It was rusty , noisey ,crappy gas mileage, horrible to take on long trips, but it was tough as hell and I wish I still had it.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I’d love to have one myself. There are not enough FJ45’s here in the states. I’m 50 years old, and I’ve only seen 1.

[@lessainsbury8508]

@@FnCJAdventurer I live just to the north of you in Victoria B.C. At one time ( not to many years ago ) there were at least 8 of them on Saltspring Island. They might all still be there !

[@43dukedog]

@@FnCJAdventurerMy grandfather had one in the 70s he used to plow with let me ride with him. Miss those days!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@lessainsbury8508 there’s no need to brag 😉

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@43dukedog I believe it. I’ve watched enough KZbin videos about 45’s that I believe they can literally handle anything. 😂

[@rodneycaupp5962]

My rear wheel drive sport explorer with full frame has very good traction without chains, on snow. 141 inches of snow and never stuck is a good winter. We had many great years practicing drifting in empty parking lots when we were young wild and free. Take your young kids out and show them when they are young. Take them to a dirt sprint car race, Traction control is turning the wheel just so so, and easy on gas and brakes. We need more snow God. That little, lite in the rear mustang I have to stick my foot out and push the car at a traffic light on level ground on 1 inch of snow to get moving at all..

[@sinkinpat]

I have been snow wheeling in my stock restored wwii Jeep. Chains on all 4. No lockers and we could pretty much go anywhere we wanted. Everyone else was stuck.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

In the snow, I think Jamie’s lockers may be hurting a little more than helping. But with the chains on, it’s a different story.

[@dr.dreamscape9057]

You should try low tire pressure some day, the extra traction you get is game changing

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I was running 20 psi in the FJ, and have gone as low as 15. I’m always fearful of losing beads tho 😅

[@TheJoshSay]

​@FJAdventurer if you have a 15x8 rim, you can easily run 5psi in snow on the forest roads. You can get to 3psi but that gets sketchy. On my Scout ii I was running 32x11.50s at 5psi all the time.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - wow! 5psi 32” tires seems like it would hurt your clearance enough that you’d have diminishing returns.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We went back out on Friday, and I dropped pressure down to 10 psi. You were right about “game changing”.

[@mmafreaks4871]

lockers is what that jeep needs... Lockers in the snow do pretty well.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It actually has front and rear lockers. The two big factors are traction and traction 😂. His 6.5” wide tires, and lack of weight work against him. Also, since his tires are bias plies, they don’t benefit as much from airing down. But, that’s what makes for a good challenge, and challenge is part of the adventure.

[@mmafreaks4871]

@@FnCJAdventurer I thought I saw it spinning one wheel. later I noticed it spinning both wheels. maybe he didn't have it locked early on. yeah skinny tires suck in snow, they also look like army type tires, hard stiff rubber. Anyway, looks like fun!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@mmafreaks4871​​⁠- you saw correctly. A lot of the time he leaves one hub unlocked to improve his steering ability. With both hums locked, it’s a workout to turn that little rig at low speeds. 😂

[@mmafreaks4871]

​@@FnCJAdventurer I added power steering to my '69 FJ40 using parts from an old F350. The bigger the tires, the tougher it gets to turn without it. Never thought about unlocking one side. lol

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@mmafreaks4871 - Unlocking one side helps, but its no replacement for power steering! I have a saginaw power steering set up on my 79 FJ as well, but I don't have front lockers. Do you have a stock front end with a locker? If so, I'd be interested in knowing what kind of locker you have, how well it steers, and if you've had any trouble with your birfields.

[@williamweiss6128]

Love an old Jeep.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We’ve grown quite fond as well.

[@UpperLeftRC]

Jamie needs to slap a set of sand rail paddle tires on his jeep and see how it does in the snow! 🤣

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I’d like to try that for sure! Not to see how well they worked, but if his tiny little 80 year old engine has enough power left over to just turn them 😅

[@waynehughes8616]

In the video, it is mentioned that you two like to find hard to find lakes. At any point, do you guy's fish these lakes? You two have a good time out exploring. Keep on keeping on!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Not as of yet, but it’s on the to-do-list.

[@lbhunter6341]

Slow go is way better than no go!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

True story!

[@julieanddavidmyers6641]

I put some chains on a vw bug for some deep snow...that worked great. Wish I was with you digg'n@

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I would have loved to have a bug out with us showin' us the business. That's one rig I've never owned, but hope to some day.

[@brianfackrell4139]

I have full confidence in my 2006 dodge caravan with studded tires.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I bet, especially since it's front wheel drive. I but you don't have a lot of ground clearance tho, so your bumper probably turns into a plow once the snow gets deep ;)

[@brianfackrell4139]

@FJAdventurer I definitely stay on pavement.

[@Fourwheeljive]

It was a great day snow wheelin!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Amen, brother!

[@jimb96828]

I found my jeep 43 military forget what No went better when I only had one set of chains if they were on the front. More weight better grip. Of course military had floating axles if you broke an axle it wouldn;t run out from under the vehicle. Broke a rear axle one time just took rear drive shaft out and came home on front differential only. Loved that thing like to have another.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I’m heading to the snow tomorrow and only have one set of chains. I guess if I need them, I’ll throw them on the front. 😉

[@brentazevedo3845]

2a cuttin a trail for an fj40, beautiful!!!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Doesn’t happen often in the snow, but it did for awhile on this day.

[@jan-willemdewit2409]

two iconic 4x4's Darn, I miss my Toyota 😢

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We are living the dream,my friend. Go get yourself another yota asap!

[@williammarkhart7047]

In 1990 I was going up back side of Mt Lemon )Tucson, Az)in about 10 inches of snow in my 3/4 ton 69 Chevy. I was having no problems until I caught up to others. Front 70's dodge truck 4X4 with chains. This guy didn't know how to drive. 2Nd guy ford van 2 wheel drive no chains had no problems. then there was me My truck has Detroit locker in rear, Power lock pozi in front . I got tried of waiting for them & found a turn off & went long way around them & got in front of them & didn't see them again. I grew up in Missouri in the snow . We learned to try not to spend the tires.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

But spinning the tires is half the fun 😉

[@CaliRob281]

backway up lemmon no joke even without snow

[@FixtIt]

I live in a place that snows like once every 2 years. Two wheel drives with chains is just fine. Believe me everything's closed anyway.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I imagine. We don’t exactly see much either in my neck of the woods, but if you live in western Washington, the mountains and ocean are never more than an hour away. So, it doesn’t take much time to hunt some down to play in.

[@shanemedlin9400]

I carry chains at all times, no matter what.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Smart. I just added a couple to the FJ. Jamie has a full set in his CJ now. We were out in the snow again today, and his chains were priceless. I'm still getting around pretty good with low tire pressure.

[@clyderiley163]

I had a 48 cj2a for several years and had it in 4 foot plus snow with out getting stuck. I say just looking at the way your diving tells me you need different tires and much lower gears. One I had with 538 gear, desert dog tires, 2nd transfer case for 12 forwards gears, had a hp 289. Probably didn’t need that much power as I never went much more than 10mph.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Different tires would definitely help in the capability department, but it would defeat the over arching goal of keeping the rigs as close to original as possible. Lower gears help some, but the overdrive he put in usually gets him to the right gear eventually.

[@ronunderwood5771]

Bridgestone Blizzaks and Firestone Winterforces would like a word !!!

[@greybone777]

I've got cooper snow Claws on my 13 gmc sierra and it's doing better than botof those rigs . Upper Methow valley.

[@juslitor]

I had blizzaks back in 98, real squirrely to drive but decent grip on ice for friction tires. Sadly the tires pretty much melted away when I drove them 200 miles in 86f.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Where’s the fun in that? Haha… honestly, the less capable our rigs are, the more fun we seem to have 😅

[@geoffreybudge3027]

I owned a 1969 early model Landcrusher .10 miles to the gallon but would take you anywhere . Heavy like a tank .

[@FnCJAdventurer]

My next video that drops on New Year’s Day will reinforce your statement 😂. They are heavy as heck, and great at pushing obstacles out of the way.

[@beestoe993]

Fun stuff. Been restoring a 73 CJ5 for a few years now. Looks like your pals cj is so light, does it have a 4 banger?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yep - original flat head L134!

[@beestoe993]

@@FnCJAdventurer My Dad had one of those in his old jeep. Pretty neat rigs

[@salrivera7578]

I drive a lots of jeeps in my life on snow mud etc but one little jeep that really really blows my mind was a 16 valves Geo tracker we the right tires I can say is the best for what it is go through 2 feet of snow like nothing strong gd on gas and when the lockers are locked up in low 4x4 the little Geo tracker transform to something else a little beast I my self when out my way and get me one I still have the little rascal and believe me I live in upstate NY by buffalo a lots of snow out here plus another thing I found out can be 30 below 0 and I can put the key and start right alway like summer no problem at all no matter what I start right alway

[@FnCJAdventurer]

My wife had a 2000-ish Honda CRV awhile back, and it too was an absolute goat in the snow. I couldn’t make sense out of it. 😆

[@salrivera7578]

@@FnCJAdventurer yeap they are but the Geo tracker is something else for what it is believe me in snow trail mud rain the best cheap to maintenance and gd on gas and better than the rest can go where the big boy can't go nice and easy

[@robertalvis-xi6np]

I've driven freight trucks for 39 years over donner pass and mt Ashland and I've never seen Caltrans have the front axle chained on a pickup not one time . I've driven single screw trucks only .The reason for this is if your chains break or at least a crosslink it could grab something on your steering linkage and pull you off the road.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yes - throwing a chain up front was concerning. Thankfully, the old CJ can’t turn its wheels fast enough to make it happen. 😂

[@Clawson_customs]

I only chain up the front wheels on my trucks I have never had one throw a chain and grab steering stuff. The front wheels are so much better chained up than rear wheels.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - I’m guessing the risk increases with speed. Chains at highway speed over the passed are probably more sketchy than on back country forest roads.

[@Clawson_customs]

@FJAdventurer ya I have never ran chains on the hyw just mountain roads and always under 25 miles per hour

[@bobrees4363]

When putting chains on hook them one link shorter on the inside, then you only have to tighten the outer ring after they loosen up. The worst thing about chains is you can only go about 25 mph on the road with them, but if you need chains the conditions are bad enough that is fast enough anyway.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

You may have just provided the best advice on KZbin for the day. Thanks!

[@bobrees4363]

@@FnCJAdventurer Thanks. Also don't forget thee tension strap, what I have found to work the best and cheapest is to use a heavy duty bungee cord and rig it in a figure four.

[@jamiekaiser6539]

@@bobrees4363i appreciate your advice. To be honest, as a first time chain user, I had bungees and regular rubber chain tensioners with me but I wanted to use those clunky spring style chain tensioners because you know…. 1948.

[@saltymofo5870]

I have ran chains on all four tires, on 6 different trucks, for a couple months a year, for 20 years straight. My work requires it. I can tell you absolutely there is no comparison to a plain rubber tire. I always run low range and try not to spin. These are 1 ton heavy trucks. Lighter vehicles must spin some to get traction. Atvs don’t benefit much at all unless you can spin all the way down to earth without high centering. Also always get ice chains, they make a world of difference over plain chains. Get some pewag glacier chains and strike out, they have the best tighteners on the market.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks for the info and advice. It’s always great to get a pros input.

[@RickyO-e5g]

V -Bar for sure. Chains will save the day. At deer camp in N.central PA. this year we had melting snow and rain with temp.dropping into teens. Getting out of camp to hard road 4 miles away the chains had to come out.

[@mediocreman2]

Oh, forgot to say that weight is part of the issue too and is a tricky balance to get. You don't want to be so light that you can't get any traction and you don't want to be too heavy that you push down through the snow. Add some weight to that Jeep and it will scoot right on through.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Good tip. Weight usually creates problems from the very underpowered little goat, but I think you are probably right in this case.

[@JustinFullmer-p6k]

This location is right by my house. Been there , all over many times. 👍🏼

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Where’s all the snow?

[@stephendockery8417]

Ok- my question is, how well do chains work on rear tires only with four wheel drive?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Only one way to find out, my friend. I'm on the hunt for chains right now to answer that (and a few other) question.

[@clangerbasher]

Did the CJ ever use the front locking diff in low box?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Oh yeah. He spends most of his time in low range when in the backwoods now that he put an overdrive in. He played in the snow with one and/or both the hubs locked all day.

[@clangerbasher]

@@FnCJAdventurer So you were talking about locking freewheeling hubs on the front and NOT locking differentials? I see now. Thanks.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - yeah. The only lockers that will fit in a Dana 25 are lunchbox lockers. So they auto-lock up as soon as a tire slips. Because it makes the old Willy’s so hard to steer when they lock up, he leaves one hub unlocked until he needs true 4wd. This makes steering somewhat easier.

[@clangerbasher]

@@FnCJAdventurer Thank you!

[@Nellie-H]

As growing up in Italy, you better know how to drive in snow up the mountains. It is amazing how little Fiat Pandas can go up almost any road when big and heavy all wheel drive Audi's failed. Yes, there's a limit and that is when you put up chains. I still believe that lighter and smaller with winter tires and good skills beats any electronically controlled, overweight all wheel drive bling bling expensive new car at any time! BTW, I also have had Jeeps and Toyota's BJ's. Love'em!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I’m starting to realize that at the ripe young age of 50, the older rig you can find, the better. 😂

[@Nellie-H]

@@FnCJAdventurer I'll second that! I have had a good share of Oldtimer's, Classics and odd balls. My last new car I bought was 2018 and that was a truck. No more new for me.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@Nellie-H - my daily is a 2015 F150, and I had to send it in to have some electrical gremlins diagnosed recently. It affected my trailer brakes, volume controls and cruise. How can those things be connected? 😂 anyways, it was a $1700 bill. That was the straw that broke the camels back.

[@thewiredfox2691]

What air pressure is the Willys running during this whole thing?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

+30 psi. Those 80 year old rims have a hard time holding a bead, so he doesn’t like to air down much.

[@AStanton1966]

Hard to believe that we won WWII with those things!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

To be fare, the MB's and M38's were a little more beefy than the CJ2a's, but yeah. How did something so simple/basic achieve such greatness?

[@darryladams519]

​@@FnCJAdventurerBecause it worked.

[@ivanivonovich9863]

It's not what you got, it's how you use them! I have gone up roads where a jeep was turning around because of the snow, And that was in a 1973 Pinto! Mind you granny was in the back seat.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

You've got to admire the spirit of the Pinto drivers. They are truly the scrappers!

[@nealesmith1873]

Very interesting!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks!

[@sindeecharlton8857]

are you guys aired down? I ran LTBs 34X10.5 aired down to 10 PSI on a YJ. Ho how that Jeep would run through the Snow. I have always liked the FJ40 ever since it came to the US. Never had one, My loss. Got my hands on a CJ-3A when I was 22. Blew the engine and my stupid 22 year old self soled it.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It's hard to get Jamie to air down because those 80 year old wheels of his don't hold a bead very well - several trail repairs in the past. I was down around 25 psi. I would have gone lower but I didn't bring my compressor, and I had to drive my rig an hour home - part of which is on I5 at 65 mph, haha....

[@markwalker4485]

I don’t know enough to comment. Even my bad Ford Raptor could go through that And yes I live in Northern Alberta so we get all the snow and mud But my swear will always be on the FJ…if your windows don’t freeze

[@FnCJAdventurer]

There have been a lot of advancements in tech and engineering over the last 80 years, and your Raptor is a great example of that. Jamie's rig has 4 wires. My FJ has about 10, lol... They are truly ancient mechanical beasts.

[@markwalker4485]

@@FnCJAdventurer your old FJ can do 100 times better than a Raptor in almost all off highway situations. The only modern vehicle that can keep up with your FJ is the new bronco and I would not trust the broncos reliability as much as a Crusher. I have only one complaint about Crushers. How far the front bumper extends…that’s the reasion my old FJ no longer has the original hard top😇

[@alexmur5751]

aweosome

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Thanks!

[@SpamAccount-q9i]

This is a very interesting video! Granted I’m young, but growing up in Alaska offloading in my fair share of snow, I’m baffled by how poorly that jeep performed. I’ve never seen a vehicle bounce around so much with so little control! Do you mind sharing what tire pressure he was running? Perhaps those are period correct bias-ply tires? I’m curious what physics are at play to make the jeep handle the way it did. Me experience tells me it was neither the tread pattern nor the width of the tire. I’m guessing the FJ40 was on 31 or 33 10.5s, which in my experience have performed worse in most snow conditions than a 9” wide tire, not wide enough to properly float like an ATV, and but hamper forward movement compared to a skinny tire. I’m not trying to dog on the Jeep, it looks like an absolute blast to drive! I just don’t understand why it was borderline uncontrollable in a what appears to be slippery dense snow!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

The Jeep is running period correct tires. He’s had problems in the past with lowered pressure. Those 80 year old rims don’t hold a bead well. On this day he probably had 30+ psi in them. His biggest goal was to get to a point he couldn’t go any further, then switch to chains. Unfortunately, there was less than normal amounts of snow in the area. But, we had a ton of fun despite!

[@user-xn7dw7zg5u]

Front / rear lockers and chains on all four ...still struggling in snow thats not even up to the hubs?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Light weight and 6.5” tires are likely the real problems with its snow capabilities. But, being challenged by minor obstacles means you don’t have to go far to enjoy off roading 😅

[@GregariousAntithesis]

Stuck my dodge ram 2500 cummins up to the axles deer hunting in deep snow. One set of chains on front axle and i got out.

[@Clawson_customs]

I only ever chain up my front wheels they get better traction

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Serious up front, and party in the rear!

[@TheChris1299100]

Where did you guys go wheeling in this video?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It’s an area known as “Scale Shack” near Cinebar, WA. It’s a big area to explore. Usually this time of year there’s a lot more snow.

[@roadmasterz]

And with a winch the FJ can go where the CJ can go in mud!😊

[@FnCJAdventurer]

You speak truth! In fact, with the FJ’s winch, it can likely make it everywhere (with some effort 😅)

[@throttleblipsntwistedgrips1992]

As a former, 27 year long PNW resident, I can tell you firsthand 2wd with chains is better than 4wd without. Yes, with 2WD you will still find a spot where you get stuck. All you have to do is back out and hit it again. And again. And again and again and again. 4wd without chains get stuck less often, but will often times require chains or a shovel to get unstuck Ask me how I know😂

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Haha... We all have a story to tell. In my opinion, there are too many factors to pick the perfect option - type of road, travel speed, type of snow, air pressure, clearance, chain types, etc. I prefer 4x4 over chains simply because I don't want to get out in the cold and put them on, haha....

[@timryan8174]

What air pressure were you running in the FJ? I have a Jeepster Commando with KO2's and run them at 15psi in the snow. They do quite well for me. Axle ground clearance is an issue now. Need taller tires!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

20 psi on this day, but I’ve gone as low as 15 without an issue. I’m too chicken to go lower 😅

[@BenWLC80]

You could way lower than that on that light little rig. I’d go down to 8-10psi before I got worried. I run 15psi in my fj80 that probably weighs close to double its factory weight on 35’s and I have another one that is striped down cut roof ect and I run 12psi on 37’s. Most of the guys doing legit snow wheeling on bead locks will go 0-2 psi for good snow traction/flotation. Cool video though! Miss my 40 series and I do love them old flatties.

[@timryan8174]

@ Unless of course you slide into a rut and pop the bead. Happened to two of our guys on our last snow wheeling trip.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@BenWLC80 I’ll keep creeping down on my 40. I haven’t really struggled much yet in the snow we’ve seen because the CJ usually runs out of steam first 😅

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@timryan8174 true, and at 50 years, I’m not interested in swapping blown tires in mud and/or snow ruts anymore. 😂

[@buzzblitzer750]

Try mountain four wheeling with an electric vehicle! Best bring a big generator lol.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I don’t think that sort of adventure is for me. I like rigs under $5k 😅

[@Wastelander13]

I would have loved to see the Toyota with chains. Must be unstoppable.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Stay tuned - I’m going to get some chains for the 40 and test them out in the mud 😅

[@DrJohn493]

I'll stick with my '77 FJ40 any time! In any conditions.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Ain’t nothing better than an FJ40. I’m kicking around the idea of putting a front locker in mine. Does yours have one?

[@DrJohn493]

@@FnCJAdventurer It's obvious you've kept yours in really good condition and pamper it like I do mine. The only mods I've made to my LC since I bought it in '83 is a header type exhaust system to get the pipe above the frame rail and the muffler tucked up a bit higher underneath. Also I put all new Old Man Emu springs, shackles and shocks on it about five years ago that gave it a two-inch lift. The OEM radiator finally quit on me about 3 years ago and I put a larger four core radiator in I bought from SOR. Here's a short video from several years ago... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYnNmIWlfNWhp7csi=EtLGLLSElTPmxTQU. I just use it around the place, mostly for fixing fences and cutting up a bit of firewood... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYnclWuiipmXbdUsi=h9vd1kpnscwOnFrR. And for what it's worth, I also have a 2008 FJC I take on my western road trips. They make a nice pair sitting side by side in the barn or carport.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - I take care of her, but she’s no gem. Lots of hidden rust on this old girl, but it just adds to her character.

[@lorenray9479]

The tread is not for snow? Looks like ww2 tread to me!

[@bje11675]

Yeah pretty sure their old military style wheels

[@FnCJAdventurer]

True. We are trying to keep rigs as original as possible, and enjoy them for what they are. The struggle is part of the adventure.

[@ronaldclark1178]

Put lockers in the FJ and it will almost climb a tree!! lol

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It’s on the to-do-list! Just have to narrow my list of projects down some, so I can find time and funds to make it happen 😅

[@karlorth4156]

If you could disengage the rear axle and run the front with chains you could probably go farther

[@FnCJAdventurer]

It would be harder to do cookies that way ;)

[@johntrott1872]

Green water?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Are you asking where we are? If so, no. We are near Cinebar, WA.

[@georgecampbell2279]

Do you guys air down? Merry Christmas!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

We do. Today the FJ ran at about 20 psi. The CJ wasn’t aired down because of the chains.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

…and Merry Christmas!

[@1wheeldrive751]

Maybe try some adequate winter tires on the 4WD? Then you don’t have to mess around with putting chains on and off.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

The goal is to keep the CJ as close to original spec as possible. So, he runs 6.5” wide Super Traxion tires. They are based on 80 year old tech 😅 The challenge is most of the fun for us. We want to enjoy the experience and our rigs for what they are. 👍

[@1wheeldrive751]

@ - ok, gotcha. I used to run around in bias ply tires back in the day, and then strap chains on in the snow. Some of the most fun I’ve ever had was in an old 67 MGB with chains on in a blizzard. Power-sliding all around.

[@anoxzia1]

losing some air pressure would be benificial , snow wheeling i run no more than 5 psi , you would be surprised the difference it makes

[@FnCJAdventurer]

5 psi? Wow! Do you have headlocks? I’ve lowered mine down to 15 in the past, but I’ve never gone lower for fear of losing a bead.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

That said, I would have gone lower than the 20 psi I was at in the FJ if I had struggled much. We didn’t think lowering pressure on the CJ was a good idea with chains.

[@applesbighatranch6906]

@@FnCJAdventurer Forgive the tangent, here, but Method now makes a "Bead Grip" wheel - not a beadlock, but a wheel with an outer bead flange with circumferential ridges that bite the i.d. of the tire's outer bead. Makes 'em go onto the wheel with more effort, yes, but one can air those down to 5 psi - and - ! steer tight turns! Imagine that. Cheers!

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@ - awesome! I’ll have to check those out, but I’m guessing I’ll find out they don’t have period specific wheel options.

[@ChuckHolt]

5 psi is about as low as I would go with no beadlocks, beadlocks or method beadgrips get that shit down to 1.5 no issues

[@Weatherby406]

I have been in places a 2wd with chains will go that a 4wd won’t and it’s freezing rain with a steep hill.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

But will a 4wd with chains go where a 2WD with chains can’t? Seems like we need to get back out there and do some more testing. 😉

[@Timbercruiser1]

Thank you for not chopping up that 2a

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Keeping them mostly original is priority one! Thanks for appreciating it.

[@Timbercruiser1]

@FJAdventurer love the fj 40. I miss mine

[@garyorth4419]

Ok he in4 wheel drive. That's what I noticed .why put them on front if in 2 wheel drive only the rear would spin

[@FnCJAdventurer]

He ran it in 2wd with chains to see if it performed better than it did in 4wd w/o chains earlier in the day. But, our real interest was how well it would do chained and in 4wd.

[@derekjones2204]

FJ sounds like its got a v8 in it. ?

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Yep - sbc 350 adapted to the Toyota 4-speed.

[@Sjackson2369]

Just had this conversation with a guy today lol

[@FnCJAdventurer]

There are a lot of variables involved, and just as many opinions. The topic makes for a good conversation 😂

[@Sjackson2369]

@ it’s a fun one to discuss. 2WD with chains, 4WD without, 4WD with chains on the front, or 4WD with chains on all four. Good questions!

[@BLEnterpriseLincoln]

Ok most of the problem with the Jeep is the type of tires not that they are skinny. Also the biggest problem with the Jeep is that is a jeep, they suck...... And I mean suck in the snow lol😂

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Tall, skinny, and "bias ply". The sidewalls are so stiff on these, that airing down does basically nothing.

[@Kickinpony66]

Now you need to chain up the FJ in the mud.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

I’ve been thinking the same thing. Definitely cheeper than 5 new tires.

[@Kickinpony66]

@@FnCJAdventurer Way cheaper!

[@grottu]

ill take 4x4 before chains on 2wd....but 4x4 with chains and you can climb trees :D

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Absolutely. Better to have 4WD and not need it, than to not have it and need it 😉

[@karlbishop7481]

I once had an '84 Dodge county truck with Slant 6, 2wd, 4 speed trans OD 4th with a limited slip rear. Chained up that thing could pretty much anywhere a 4wd could go. The main hang up, pun intended, was ground clearance.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Chains are a game changer! But there is a limit to how much snow anything will “push”.

[@karlbishop7481]

@@FnCJAdventurer So true, fits right in with my ground clearance comment.

[@greybone777]

I drove a 74 dodge crew cab with a top loader and posi rear end with the old skinny cleaty snow tires in the forest service at Lake Wenatchee in 79. Slant 6. It was invincible.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@greybone777 - Just another reason the east side is greater than the west side - you guys have the good dry powder snow over there. Our westside snow has the consistency of peanutbutter 😅

[@2nd2sign]

Couple of singing lunatics

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Accurate. 😆

[@jamiekaiser6539]

I wonder how well chains work in mud……

[@FnCJAdventurer]

Worth a try. Things couldn't get any worse for the FJ and its KO2's. If you have a chain stretcher, I have an idea for a video.

[@nealesmith1873]

Very well. I once used them to get a 2nd pickup out of mud…but there has to be a bottom that is not too deep.

[@FnCJAdventurer]

@@nealesmith1873 - digging to find a bottom can’t be much worse than spinning on the surface, right? I better buy a set of chains and make a video about it!

[@nealesmith1873]

@@FnCJAdventurer Looking forward to it!

[@Clawson_customs]

Chains kick ass in mud also probably better than in snow