I have searched a few times now about chaining up the ol' sidekick, Whats's your opinion on chaining up in the snow? The drive terrain on my sidekick is completely stock. I have heard allot of you guys say how weak the front ends are in these things. is it safe to chain up all four,  or maybe just stick to the rear end.

i carry a set in my stock kick. ive used them once when i was stuck in some good 2 feet of snow on a trail. i acually only chained the front (to give me some steering) i kept the speed low but had some good revs (4 low in first) with nothing bad happen. now with my 235's i wont do the front cause of clearence issues with the chains.

i run big v bar chains. pretty much what most truckers run. (i got them for free from the father in law who had them on his s10 when he would be out hunting in the snow)

Save chaining up for icy conditions, powder snow, unless really deep it's not normally needed.
Yes the fronts are weak, and they seem to roll on their sides just sitting still too 

Wild

Let me start by saying, I no longer own a sidekick but I used to have an 89. I only chained it once. Normal snow it was not needed. Deep snow it didn't matter because you were stuck. Mine was stock with stock tires. When you started pushing snow it would float and become high centered. I actually never owned chains for it and I live in the mountains in a town with two ski areas. The one time I chained up I was stuck off road in about a foot and a half of snow. I dug under it as best I could. Then I remember and abandoned 2 wd truck that I past on the trail on my way in. It had chains on. Soooooo, I hiked back and "borrowed " them. I put them back on my way back out.

OK so i guess what i am looking for .... no my logic is front end, weight , steering and braking. Would you chain up the front  or back? My logic is the front, for all of the above reasons. situation.... deep snow slushy and just overall a b*#tch to navigate? Is there a good chance the front end will fold? so.... stay to the back or chain up the front? i run 235 85 r16"I have seen a few videos on u-tube showing the front ends chained up! to me it makes sense.
Thanks,
shaner

yeah i never needed chains..i was pushin bumper high snow in a stock tracker with street tires..never got stuck..but if i were chaining up i would put them on front

Not sure about the chain part but your main concern seems to be the strength of the front driveline...... under 'normal' driving, including chains, your driveline should be fine.... most damage to front drive lines occur when hammering it in reverse, usually with oversized tires. In a factory set up situation you can really hammer the  out of these little rides with no issues.

HTH,
Zig

Hmm...  I live at 9,000 feet elevation (2,727 M), in the mountains west of Denver.  About once a year, I encounter snow conditions where I think that chains would have been a good idea, but alas, I have no chains.  If I did, I would definitely chain up all 4.  I've snapped front axles before, but only when wheeling on big rocks in nasty situations.  I've never had problems in the low-traction situations you would encounter in snow...   Well...  I have had some carnage snow-wheeling...  and today I don't DO snow wheeling.  I haven't busted an axle snow wheeling, but I HAVE sheared off a front diff mount (this was before I had the Anvil in the Gnewt).

My advice:  When you think you need it, chain up all four, and be GENTLE.  Drive as if you had a raw egg under the gas pedal AND the brake pedal - gently, gently - no sudden changes in acceleration, deceleration, or direction.

Thanks everybody I think I got the answers I was looking for.
Shaner

people put a lot of abuse on there stock drivetrain with bigger tires and lifts,etc. and they seem to fit most peoples needs because they are not all going to sas. most people actually modify there stock setup. my point is they are good enough for most people, so I wouldn't be afraid of putting chains on all four, but I would put them on the front first if I only had two. I don't know what you are planning to do with it, but anything will break under enough stress. hope that helps.

I'd put one in front and one in back      Jk       


I think if you put them on the front and are easy with the right foot you will be fine

I'd put one in front and one in back      Jk       

The real question is do you have both on one side or alternate, front on drivers and rear on passenger?

We do a bit of snow driving and never use chains. Where they do work is for icy trails and roads.

I have an 89 kicker that was all stock untill about a month ago.  I take mine up in the snow often and have never had any problem with chains either on front or rear.  i have ran chains on the front several times with out problems.  i didnt notice any diffrence traction wise  between running them on front or rear.  now im running 31X10.50 tires and havent had any reason to chain up...yet.

Run chains on both tires of the same axle, both axles if you want it's not an issue.
BUT if you chain one front and one rear, you might end up with a spinning front and
spinning rear tire and get stuck (if you don't have a locker or posi-traction in non Zuks)

Chains work like paddle tires in sand, but for ice or hard pack snow, bites in and pushes
against the packed stuff

Wild