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]

but i won't be buying chains for my Mud Terrain tires

Yeah, that was my initial thought. I had chains on my stock wheels and they definitely helped a lot. But, with a 6 inch lift on 35s aired down and winch in a nice heavy vehicle, I just don't know if chains will get me much. Sure, they'll help in icy spots and a little in the deep snow, but good offroad chains are expensive and time consuming to put on and take off. I spent a good bit of time this weekend shoveling and winching. Maybe I should just save my money to invest in a Snowcat :)

[newracer]

https://mattracks.co/img/tracks/ez-hd-tracks.jpg

[Jim]

Maybe I should just save my money to invest in a Snowcat

You might wish to watch the recent two or three vids from Casey in Oregon and how his jeep worked on tracks. One snow type had him turning back on a long drive because snow was packing on the drive wheel and lifting / pushing the track off of the drive wheel where the lugs would lose contact with the track. Also, he had way low MPG but that's not too unheard of even for a wheeled vehicle in deep snow. He calc'd 2.5 MPH. When I went out to Shane last season I measured approx 1.4 MPG.

#2 if probably the one to watch to see the odd snow packing condition. #1 and #2 are nice for some snow tracks working through deep snow video.

1) They ran out of gas
Search and rescue mission fail. We had to be rescued instead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWM4XVXnJZc

2) They turned back due to snow loading in the tracks
Off road recovery fail. We didn't make it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBNiTvuSsm8

3) Finally, success
We go back for the abandoned Land Cruiser! 3rd times a charm!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r1OvRwUu4U

Tho SnoCat you want - this might work!
And hey, it has Jeep mirrors
https://youtu.be/VZx61zjoVq0?t=716
.

[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]

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

:)

[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]

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.
I feel that way in powdery snow but have found them helpful in deep semi-packed dry snow like you can get on pavement after deep snows, many cars, and no plowing.

[Jake]

but then you risk getting badly stuck instead of a little stuck

Love it... and I appreciate the perspective. Thanks.

[Jim]

Two minutes of SnowCat eye candy

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

[FINOCJ]

How about an old cj on tracks...

https://youtu.be/uS27q4J75lA

[Schmitty]

Fowties


https://youtu.be/g16zzuxFcGo

[speedkills]

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

[Schmitty]

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

I've got big-tire envy and no money. :lmao: