the theory with the wide vee leading is that they wore less particularly if roading the machine a lot. it was popularised with wheeled tractors doing work such as running field bins to silos or market etc. i think its a old wives tale and really doesnt matter.

Chains --
the cross chain end hooks are upside down - maybe the other side has already been worn, one gets much longer life from cross chains turning them this way,
That is something many overlook, do not turn the chains over before links in the cross chains are worn too far and break.

No chains on front even though they are not drivers -- would certainly slide out on a super elevated turn, especially if one was not carrying the bull plow on the front. It serves as a great help providing weight to front end.

Bungee cords - yikes --- they will not hold those chains to the tire at any speed, nothing like cross chains flying around at speed. They tend to break very easily and then you have a flail, beware of what they might strike. Nothing is immune from the damage they cause.

Years of plowing snow, lots of lessons not forgotten. I spent hundreds of hours in an Austin Western Pacer (AWD - AW Steer - Tiller Bar for front steering, lever for rear) 300 with 4-71 Detroit power. Standard was to run two or three in team (one plowing to left in the lead and two following plowing to the right) , fast as they would run! Going down 6% grade in traffic in 5th or 6th gear was normal operation and that is in traffic --- concrete road surface if it was not buried in "pack". "Pack" is a result of "Sierra Cement" being run over by vehicles. Standard push plows on trucks will not "cut" pack! The closer to square you can keep the moldboard and have the heel dumping the load, the better. Keep the blade as close to vertical as possible, less surface area for the blade to ride up and then loose purchase.

Your pics reminded me of some very good times and some that were very scary indeed. Getting hit by traffic was not an unheard of occurrence. No amount of lighting can prevent the actions of drivers that do not observe and take the necessary precautions of driving a vehicle.

Stay Safe -

Hi, trainzkid88.
The other reason for driving direction being different from rolling direction was that that pattern of tread was supposed to be more self cleaning in most conditions - but NOT in sticky clay or mud.

Just my 0.02.

Thanks for the wisdom, ctsnowfighter. Much appreciated. When I installed the chains, I wondered if there was an upside down and right side up for the cross chain hooks. Stands to reason that I got it backwards. Should have inquired of the forum!

Would be great fun to hear more of your snow clearing stories. I am only a beginner. And my only road to clear is our 2km 'driveway'--the road to home in the bush. Re. the bungee cords, I take your point about chains flailing! But Hanna never gets past 2nd gear and the bungees have so far worked as well or better than the star chain tighteners I used last year. I do pay attention to the brake lines that go along side the drive chain case, ensuring that no part of the tire chains risk hitting the brake line.

When you speak of 'Sierra cement', it makes me wonder if your snow clearing was in the Sierra Nevada mountains? I am well aware of how packed snow can become pure ice on the road. The first winter I had the grader I slid off a steep part of our driveway and needed to get a front end loader to come and lift my tail end back onto the road. He brought a few yards of road sand with him, which allowed me and Hanna to make it home... One of the reasons I have Hanna to prevent precisely that kind of ice build up.

(Photos attached. Note: I only had chains on one set of drivers--corrected before my next outing. The view from the house shows the context. I was grateful for my front end loader rescuer! He had to remove his bucket and lift Hanna's rear end back onto the road. We then only made it up the driveway by shoveling grit under the wheels.  )

nice pic thanks for sharing. sure nice to see a little white stuff.

Hi, mog5858.
You can have my share of the 'white stuff'. I'll HAPPILY settle for the winters we have back home - 42 deg. C. is cold.

Just my 0.02.