What chain or "traction device" would you use on the front axle?

I've used chains a couple times up front but wasn't happy about it. One of the few times I'd like to try cables and see if they are worth anything. If it's that bad, I'm probably parking. Never carried cables though. I hate autosox. They come off easy and get shredded in no time. Foreigners and the lazy try them and spin out on the passes and block the highway for hours. Should be illegal.

 

One of our mining roads is 100km (60miles) from the nearest town. Steep, mountains, multiple switchbacks, huge drop-offs. No room for error....This road can be solid ice in March/early April.
Triple 8mm stud Tryggs on drives & a set of light (BUT..) high quality steel square links for front axle. Light and really easy to put on fronts. Then can idle along in 5th (13 speed) and enjoy the beautiful scenery! Cable chains would last me a few kms....junk (in my opinion) or perhaps for an emergency. I like to get them on really tight, keep windows cracked and can usually hear if something has gone wrong (like a broken cross chain)

 

Cables dont work well in offroad conditions and if you spin to much with cables they will break. They should be used on interstate only. I have tested all chain types in off road conditions. As you said autosox are useless, cables are fine on the interstate with no ice, the only way to go when its real bad is studded triples and if its bad enough to be putting one on steer axle then throw a good set up there. nothing else is going to work.

 

Nordic 7mm Studded Alloy Single 275/80R22.5 Truck Tire Chains Nordic 7mm Studded Alloy Single 275/80R22.5 Truck Tire Chains

I have a set of these i keep in my rig just for if i ever need to throw a steer chain..very rare i do and usually if i got a steer chain on its a "to get someplace safe" situation. They do have more agressive ones but these work good. And its not that hard to throw one if you pop the hood first. Still a pain but not as much as youed expect.

 

I think the square links could work just fine in most applications. The key is: needs to be of the highest quality steel, these can be hard to find (but look around, they are out there). I use square link chains on our skid-steer (81hp 270 Deere) and they show little wear after 10 seasons on our acreage/claims. They were expensive & worth every penny! Plenty of times I just throw a set of lighter square link (singles) chains on the outer drives. Good enough most of the time. The studded Tryggs are only for more extreme situations. A few years ago I got a whole pallet of nice lightweight square link singles at the auction. Also on the pallet were a couple of cheaper twisted link sets....easy breakage with any amount of wheel slip (garbage). I have those nice square link sets in all our trucks, even cut some down for the pickup...

 

Never used anything on the steer axle and they frequently watered road to build ice,, got some slick if the sun was out. I recall tapping Jake to regain traction on steer but in that instance I’m about crawling slooow

 

Yep, we would only chain a front for the worst cases, like on the switchbacks with off camber slopes. In that case chains necessary to prevent pushing over towards drop off...