Best traction in snow?

[Jake]

Ran Gordon Gulch this past weekend (1/8/22) and ran into some deep snow drifts (I saw upwards of 3-4 ft).

My question is: what's the best way to get traction in heavy snow higher than your undercarriage? Or, is this generally the limit unless it's fresh powder?

I know all vehicles have their limitations. The snow had been baking in the sun for a few days, so there was a thick crust on the top making it more challenging than powder. But, when you're up to your axles / undercarriage in dense snow, I'm assuming chains won't do that much for you (since the weight isn't transferring to tires). Even tracks wouldn't work at that point. Some sort of plow is the only way to lower the snow depth so you're not up to your undercarriage, but I don't know if anything like that is allowed and, besides, it takes the fun away from others who want to trail blaze.

I just wanted to get the thoughts of those with more experience. Is the idea to just get out there when it's fresh powder for proper snow bashing?

Do most of you have chains for icy, snowy riding?

Thanks in advance for input!

[RockyMtRebel]

Chains will help a LOT, But sinking into deep snow drifts will get you stuck no matter what. Chains are mandatory for snow bashing, they will get you thru snow and ice that no tires will be able to make it thru by themselves

[TDash]

Hey Jake good to hear from you!


I've also found being a heavier vehicle makes deep snow more difficult but I don't have a lot of experience with it. I know when I went with my buddy in his tacoma he had chains he had an easier time because he was lighter. I want to get my rig into deep snow at some point to test it's limits but i won't be buying chains for my Mud Terrain tires

[Jake]

TDash previously posted:

[newracer]

[Jim]

Jake previously posted:

[Jake]

Haha I watched those videos, too, in the process of looking at tracked vehicles. Oh well... a guy can dream. Thanks!

[RockyMtRebel]

For 35’s, you can get chains relatively cheap. I have 35” chains front and rear in my Jeep anytime I travel in winter or if I go snow wheeling. You’d be surprised how much they help with traction. I even have rear chains and front cables for 37’s on my Powerwagon

[Jim]

Agreed - chains do improve snow performance nicely (and on ice the performance difference is vast).

TireChain.com
35" x 12.5 tire
5.5mm square
$180 (02/2020)

[Jake]

I'm sold. See you out there; and thank you, gentlemen!

[Jim]

Well crud - I was hope'n you'd spring for the tracked vehicle route and I could bum a ride. ;-)

[Jake]

Jim previously posted:

[Jake]

Demonstration of tracks vs big tires in deep powder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e2Kz3jXZCw

[speedkills]

I haven't found chains to help much over good snow tires once you are in enough snow it is taking weight off of your tires. Momentum can help a lot, but then you risk getting badly stuck instead of a little stuck. I'm hoping my portals make my G-Wagon into a proper snow beast, but we haven't actually had enough snow to tell. In the end, while chains are awesome on ice, I haven't found them to get me through any more snow than my Nokian tires did once it got deep.

So my incredibly practical and useful advice, as always, is slap some portals on it.

[Tom]

speedkills previously posted:

[Jake]

speedkills previously posted:

[Jim]

Two minutes of SnowCat eye candy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6BNgS5pSE

[FINOCJ]

How about an old cj on tracks...

[Schmitty]

Fowties

[speedkills]

That looks like about the best day of wheeling ever. No chains needed.