Tire Chains for Ice Fishing???

[beretta]

Anyone use them? I was thinking about getting some for my pickup. I fish LOTW a lot and the past few years they might have saved me a little shoveling.

Is there a brand or style that is better than another? Any suggestions on which ones to get? I have a 2010 Chev extended cab 1/2 ton with 265/70/18 tires if it makes a difference.

Thanks for the help!

[dairyman]

there's a fellow down in the pelican rapids area that did some major plowing on the local lakes helping guys get their fish houses off and on the lake last winter and he used chains I know. I think he made it though places with chains that would make you just shake your head. Maybe he'll see this and chime in and give a few tips

[muskE]

Back in the day I had an S10 4x2that I put chains on religiously if I even had an itch to go off a road or the "previously driven-on" paths and never had to dig. What also works in a pinch are the over-sized ScothBrite pads you get when you rent a floor buffer. I had a few of those in my truck and was lazy once and got stuck. I put one of those scrubby pads under each tire and had traction like you would't believe. I now carry one that I cut into strips under the floor of my SUV (and a setin my wife's car) just in case.

[crappiekid]

i puchased a set of CABLES that wrap around tires. SHUR GRIP Z is a common

search and u will find them. They are awesome but dont get too brave with them

[herefish101]

I'v never used chains, I just buy really good A/T tires when ever it is time to do so. I currently have a set of Bridgstone Dueler A/T Revos on my truck, these tires are none short of the best all around off/on road tire i'v ever had on my truck, and my revos are the fourth set of tires on my F-150. Man have I went through the sh@*, if the snow on the ice is around 18" deep I can usually get through it but you have to take into concideration the kind of snow it is, is it wet slushy snow, is it ultra dry corn snow, is there a packed layer that could hold you up but if you punch through you'll be shoveling. I guess my point is unless your going off road pulling a wheel house, or your going to drive into the great unknown, I think chains are a waste of time. One thing I know is a good 4X4 with good tires will do everything most people need on minnesota lakes. A good set of chains will turn it into an absolute animal.

[bradyd]

We never leave home without our set of chains. For us they can make the difference between catching fish and not catching fish. When we get out on the ice and there is no road to "our spot" that we would like to try and fish we throw the chains on and get there. It beats having to find a plow truck to make a path for you, and then ending up having "our spot" become many others hot spot.

[minndonn]

I have tire chains for my f150 PU for both front and back. Had to use them a couple times and they were a lifesaver.

[Lve2fsh]

Out here the state parks won't let you drive a vehicle on the ice, we do have a few places with enough ice and every other toy you can imagine will be out there but no trucks. I have 2 sets for my 3/4 ton dodge diesel 4x4 that get used on the dirt roads which get muddy sometimes. I have been to lazy a few times to put them on and managed to get thru but better to be safe than sorry.

[beretta]

I'v never used chains, I just buy really good A/T tires when ever it is time to do so. I currently have a set of Bridgstone Dueler A/T Revos on my truck, these tires are none short of the best all around off/on road tire i'v ever had on my truck, and my revos are the fourth set of tires on my F-150. Man have I went through the sh@*, if the snow on the ice is around 18" deep I can usually get through it but you have to take into concideration the kind of snow it is, is it wet slushy snow, is it ultra dry corn snow, is there a packed layer that could hold you up but if you punch through you'll be shoveling. I guess my point is unless your going off road pulling a wheel house, or your going to drive into the great unknown, I think chains are a waste of time. One thing I know is a good 4X4 with good tires will do everything most people need on minnesota lakes. A good set of chains will turn it into an absolute animal.

I dont know if you have ever fished LOTW before but if you want to get away from the crowds (which you do), you need go out to no mans land. At least thats what I like to do.

Does anyone have a particular brand or style that they could reccomend?

[herefish101]

I dont know if you have ever fished LOTW before but if you want to get away from the crowds (which you do), you need go out to no mans land. At least thats what I like to do.

Does anyone have a particular brand or style that they could reccomend?

[herefish101]

They are called v-bar tire chains, just do a search for them a few sites pop right up. good luck.

[beretta]

I do a lot of off road driving on the lake, but you definately have to pick your places and pay attention when there is lots of snow. Sometimes you just plain cant get off the roads. I think chains would be better than any tire on the market, for the simple fact that when you break through the crust and hit the sugar snow under it, you will get traction on the ice. Normally when I get stuck, its because I break through a crusty drift and spin down to the ice.

Of course I realize there isnt a cure all to getting stuck. I know that putting chains on my tires wont keep me high and dry every day. I am looking for insight from people who have used them as I do not have any experience using them.

Thanks everyone for your replies

[GoneFish'n71]

Get some v bar chains. Put them on while you are still on the landing. If you don't try to ram into the drifts you can ALWAYS back out. Only way you will get stuck is if you get hung up on a drift. A 2wd with chains will far outdo any 4x4 without chains (on ice).

[CrappieNight]

I agree. I spent 2 years without a truck and never had a problem once I chained my crown vic. Had to get a little crazy sometimes but never got stuck. We pull the perm out to the honey hole at the cabin with the truck and chains, a few miles of backwoods trails and a lake that never sees an angler other than us. We wouldn't even THINK about going it without chains. My brother even has chains for his 250 wheeler and can pull his 12' Castle out without spilling his beer.

[olbaidhh]

I second the Z chains... maybe 3rd... either way they work WAY better then the conventional cross chains. Not too many places I cant get to even pulling the wheelhouse if I can clear the drifts.

[Shadow]

Just wondering how hard these chains are on the tires. Do they eat up the rubber pretty bad?

[olbaidhh]

Just wondering how hard these chains are on the tires. Do they eat up the rubber pretty bad?

Not if you put them on right... and use them wisely i.e. no burn outs, skid stops etc.

[chris63]

Yea but can he chew gum pat his head rub his belly and roll a cigarette all at the same time C63

[Bob/Mn]

I have tire chains for my f150 PU for both front and back. Had to use them a couple times and they were a lifesaver.

Do you have to chain up both front and rear on a 4 x 4 or can you just chain up the rear tires??

[CrappieNight]

Nope, wheeler and beer are about all he's good for.

[Coon]

Bob, Chain the fronts if your just using one set.

[Random guy]

I run V-bar chains on one of our straight blade tender trucks on the lake. It is unbelievable what I can push/pull or places I can go with that truck running the V-bar chains but...and I say this as the guy often has to go gather the lost souls. Who is going to come pull you out when you chewed your way across the lake and spun your chains down into a hole(it can happen quick) or high center on a hidden heave (chains need to touch the ground to work). I see a lot of guys that go running across the lake smirking while they go chewing by with their chains but the smirks tend to fade when they or their shacks have to be rescued two miles off the beaten path. Right BradyD?

I say the chains are a great back up to get a guy out of trouble and not into it.

As for the chains the tighter they are the better for wear and tear on your truck. Make sure they are the right size for your tires and get the bungee cord ring that keeps em snug. Also make sure to not leave any loose chain flapping freely as it will just build with snow/slush and become a wrecking ball taking out fenders, brake lines and even shocks if ya go fast enough.

[bradyd]

I run V-bar chains on one of our straight blade tender trucks on the lake. It is unbelievable what I can push/pull or places I can go with that truck running the V-bar chains but...and I say this as the guy often has to go gather the lost souls. Who is going to come pull you out when you chewed your way across the lake and spun your chains down into a hole(it can happen quick) or high center on a hidden heave (chains need to touch the ground to work). I see a lot of guys that go running across the lake smirking while they go chewing by with their chains but the smirks tend to fade when they or their shacks have to be rescued two miles off the beaten path. Right BradyD?

Yea that wasn't a fun end of the year. We had to use the chains just to get to the house but there was no way we were going to get the house pulled off without the help of your dad. There was a road when we put it out (Hudecs I think but I can't remember for sure), and when it's a 5 hour drive to get up there you take a risk leaving the house out there on a hot spot.

I remember a few years ago we had a small blue house on a Crappie honey hole where they just were stacked up and waiting for us every time we went up there so we kept that house there all year. Well when we finally took our houses off the lake for the year, and my brother stops to fish on his way back to college one weekend he takes the gps and goes right to that spot. Well funny thing was he goes there and there sits a rental house. Now that was some nice binocular scouting! That's why we take that risk up there.

Don't worry though, you shouldn't have to rescue us any more now that there is a road up there again. We're thinking about moving our house down to Winnie actually. Cuts an hour off our drive time, More lake stucture to try, Catch more fish, The people are friendly. What's not to like?