Home made chains?

[Dirtydog]

Just wondering if anyone has done this before?

Its something im interested in, not because im cheap but for personal experience.

I know they may not be as strong as commercial ones, but it would be cool to make something that works well.

Any ideas? and no, i dont want to hear why it cant be done.

[kaney]

I don't see why you couldn't do it? But dude what's the point? That's like making your garage overalls just to say you can. You can pick up chains direct from importers for bugger all these days. I got some for our 6 wheeler truck the other day for $300.

[Mudde1]

Its not a problem. did it many years ago for my landrover. Hardest part was finding a chain supplier who could supply twisted chain and long link chain. Once you find the correct chain should be no problem.

[aroma]

chainman and a place on annex rd makes chains to suit they may sell you the twisted chain

[Dirtydog]

I dont think it would be any cheaper in the end, and no, its not like making overalls just to say i made them.

Its more like making a trailer rather than buying one, for the exiperiance of making something functional.

Would it depend too much what type of chain is used? it would be mostly for mud, with some snow if i go up the hills etc.

Where abouts did you get those chains from?

Id need 4 for 33 inch tyres.

Theres some on trademe but they are ladder ones, i was thinking more the diamond shaped ones to stop sliding sideways etc.

[rokhound]

Not sure here but knowing what they charge for snig chains etc I reckon it will cost you 2-3 times more to make them than to buy them. Get some pricing together first.
You do realise that the use of chains is seriously frowned upon for mud use by most don't you? If used correctly they can be a great tool for mud, but they rip shit out of the ground even with minimal slippage.
Spend the money on traction aids, winch or better tyres

[damon]

hey mate why not! i got given some chain that needed altering to fit my truck so i went to a spot in chch who make chains. they had all the bits i needed, the guy wanked on how i couldnt do it as good as he could cause he had all the tools etc but i was saving 200 bucks from wat he was selling and my chains were alot gruntier. so he sold me the chain i took it home measured fitted cut n welded it all back together worked out good as. the only advise i got from my boss was when squeezing up the joining links on the side put a punch or sorts in when closing them so the links can still move once finished

[drive it ...]

Like the idea. I've got 2 sets - heavy vee bar ladder type (awesome off road but bump too much on road) and thin chain diamond (road and ski field) Never looked into costs but have often thought a heavy set in diamond pattern are what I really want - I recon it would be a "best of both worlds" option.

A few years back a mate made himself some ladder style from el-cheapo mitre 10 galv chain, worked fine from memory, I do remember some of his welds breaking but his cross links were just fizzed on to the main loops instead of joiner links that would allow movement.

PS -"offroad" I'm talking east coast river trips in winter, not ripping up clay tracks. And chains are pretty damm nice for taking it quietly on a greasy grass switchback too.

[callum007]

I made a set for my sons stroller once... worked awesome.
Just stop faffing about and buy a set. will work far better, and not likely to fly to bits and hurt someone else.
Keep an eye out on tard me. the four sets I have only owe me $300 odd. Got my 35" ones for a box from an old farmer.

[Dirtydog]

Interesting thoughts guys,

Idea is not to rip up ground with them, more for comps where everyone else has allready done that for me (open round of coarse)

Plan on getting a winch aswell, but its kinds hard to use a winch in places trying to get to Q-Town etc.

I would buy better tyres, but that goes from costing maybe 3-400 bucks for chains, to 1-2k for tyres, that if im going on a snowy road i would have to carry chains anyway.

The kind that i want to get are going to cost shitloads,

Thinking something like this:


or like this:


I have only found ones for 33's on trademe, but the ladder style which im trying to avoid.

The whole chain flying to bits etc thing is a true however, that why i will be doing some research before i go ahead and make them.

[NJV6]

Diamond pattern chains like you show there are not very good offroad at all, they are for the road. Much like ladder chains are not good on road unless you have false teeth and can take them out.

[nismo26]

I would buy better tyres, but that goes from costing maybe 3-400 bucks for chains, to 1-2k for tyres, that if im going on a snowy road i would have to carry chains anyway.

Get some good tyres first even if you have to save up, you don't really want to be putting chains on every time you want to go 4wding, how often would you need to use chains on snow vs how many times would you go 4wding in mud a year.

[Big]

Just to add to everyone else's comments.. Chains are high tensile so I would go making any..

[Dirtydog]

Maybe i will just invest in some cheap ladder ones then, although i dont like the idea of sliding sideways with them installed.

Unless i can find some cheap diamond pattern ones.

[NJV6]

Maybe i will just invest in some cheap ladder ones then, although i dont like the idea of sliding sideways with them installed.

Speaking from experience?

[Dirtydog]

admitedly they were A in a awd subaru going into milford, and B in a 300z going into milford.

was a bit scary truth be told, i was in the passenger seat, brother was driving.

[lax2wlg]

Forget about chains, forget about lockers for now, learn proper off road driving techniques with open diffs, no traction aids, shitty tyres. The TD27 will be struggling to turn chains on 33s with 4.1 gears anyway...

Lockers, LSDs, chains all increase the chance of rollover/control loss and dramatically alter the vehicles driving characteristics.

You want to know how it behaves like the back of your hand before you kit it out with all the gear, esp w the solid axle conversion.

2c

[Dirtydog]

can understand where your coming from, but at times like these where theres snow about, and certain roads require chains otherwise your not aloud to travel them theyre worth having.

i.e, getting up to the ski slopes etc.

but, yes i can admit i need more practice as it is, completely understand and want to do that.

but im not going to take my front wheel drive car, with no roof rack to queenstown, when ive got a capable truck with roof racks.

and contrary to the whole 33's at 4.1, it drives quite wheel with heaps of grunt in low box, more than it did before hand anyway.

[callum007]

getting up to the ski slopes etc..

Take the ski bus. or for the number of times it snows, buy the $100 a pair ones from repco, perfectly adequate for ski roads. Or learn to drive the vehicle with neither like all have suggested. the whole of Europe and Canada don't fit chains each time it snows.

[Dirtydog]

The amount of times ive seen people get turned away from places just because they arnt carrying them is where im getting at.

[NJV6]

The amount of times ive seen people get turned away from places just because they arnt carrying them is where im getting at.

That's fair enough so get some cheap ones, you don't want to be using good ones on the road anyway, they wear out oober quick

[Dirtydog]

I might jsut keep an eye out on trade me for some for 33's, saw some go for 50 bucks the other week, shouldve got them.