Chains on the front tires?

[SgtAbn]

Anyone figure out how to put tire chains on the front tires of a 3rd gen without ripping out your front brake lines? The manual says "Don't Do It!"...

I met a guy off-roading who installed tire chains on the front and they ripped out his front brake lines - then his problems got much worse...

I've cracked a front brake line before off-roading and lost my brakes - dangerous! I 4WD a fair amount in the fall when I cant find anyone dumb enough to go with me. I'm frequently in the back 40 up high trying to navigate muddy 2 tracks with little to no steering because of the mud. I've nearly slid off the mountain a few times... I put chains on the rear and I get traction but when the mud is bad enough I need chains in the rear - I have almost no steering..

So I've been thinking of replacing my front brake lines with stainless steel braided brake lines, and making them longer so I can re-route them slightly & secure them better than they come from the factory so I could hopefully put chains on the front. . Then carry a extra set of front brake lines (& fluid) in the event chains rip them out. Anyone done this? Am I crazy for even thinking it?

 

[the great him]

i dont think the issue is with the brake lines, i think the issue is with the UCA, it comes close to the tire under flex/drop, and could pinch the chain or push the chain into the side wall and pop the tire... you could run a set of wheel spacers to put out your wheels/tires and probably be fine. but i dont see how chains would catch a brake line unless they were improperly installed and left too lose

 

[Singtoe]

You need to ditch the all terrains and get some mud terrains.

Some nice skinny ones too.



Chains will annoy on the hard pack and drive you crazy.

 

[Kanger328]

I had a friend mess up his front brake line using chains on the front wheels, but in a different fwd vehicle. Scary, I remember thinking "why isn't he slowing down?". Do you need front chains? I see you're in CO...but how about chains in rear and studs in front?

 

[Doc2012]

Chains on the front isn't a good idea.

Aside from the above mentioned reasons, ie the brake lines, the UCA, ect ect, they won't really do too much for you in MUD.

Spikes might help out, but you also run the risk of them destroying the tire because of the pressure they'll put on it. All you'd need to have happen is to have one of those spikes go through the inside of the tire.

The biggest disadvantage of mud is that it's all slop. The ground under the mud "might" be solid, but how far are you going to go before you get some traction with the chains? Mud is mud is mud is mud. With or without chains, you're going to dig yourself deeper and deeper in the mud.

What you need is something like what [MENTION=59542]Singtoe[/MENTION] mentioned. You need something with deep treads, that will move the mud and help use it to your advantage, almost like a paddle. The Mud Terrains will help with this.

 

[SgtAbn]

Thanks Guys!

I appreciate your feedback, I must admit I did not event think of the UCA issue. I like the idea of dedicated mud tires, but I just spent a small fortune on the BFG All Terrain TA/KO's. . . But your right - they are not ideally suited to mud. I will say I like how quiet they are on the road though. ..

The good news is I don't have a problem that cant be solved by making more money lol!