Hunting season doesn't wait for good roads. Whether you're chasing elk up a forest service two-track or trailering into a drainage before sunrise, the roads that get you to good hunting are usually the same roads nobody plows and nobody patrols. Add snow and ice, and a normal drive turns into a decision about how much risk you're willing to take to get to camp.
Out there, there's no tow truck on speed dial. Just you, your rig, and whatever you strapped to your tires before you left pavement.
Where The Kranken Began
The Kranken exists because of a hunting trip that went sideways. Our founders were deep in the backcountry of Utah and Idaho when their traditional tensioners failed, and they ended up stuck on the side of a mountain, a long way from help.
That trip didn't end with a truck in a ditch and a story to tell at the shop. It ended with a patented product. If a chain tensioner is going to fail you, it's going to fail on a backcountry road, in the dark, when you need it least. We built The Kranken so that doesn't happen to the next guy.
Why Traditional Tensioners Fail Hunters When It Matters Most
Traditional tensioners are set once and left alone, which is fine on a flat, plowed road. It's a different story on a rutted mountain grade with a foot of fresh snow.
- They loosen over rough terrain. That's exactly the terrain that gets you to a good hunting spot.
- They require a stop to fix. That means lost time, lost daylight, and a colder start to your morning.
- They fail without warning. On a remote road, that's the kind of surprise that turns a hunting trip into a rescue story.
A loose chain doesn't just slow you down. It can slap against fenders, lines and wiring, and if it comes off entirely, you're working on it in the snow, often on a narrow road with no room to spare.
Built By Hunters, For the Roads Hunters Actually Drive
The Kranken wasn't designed in a lab for a highway commute. It was built by guys who've been stuck on the side of a mountain because their gear let them down. Every part of it, from the aerospace-grade and marine-grade materials to the automatic tensioning and the one-click removal, comes from knowing exactly what goes wrong out there, because it happened to us first.
The Kranken carries U.S. Patent No. 12,485,712 and comes in two models, The Kranken and The Kranken XL, so you can match it to your chain setup.
More Daylight, Less Fumbling
Every minute spent wrestling a chain in the dark is a minute not spent getting to your spot before shooting light.
- Sub-30-second installation. Chain up in the dark and still be set up before legal shooting light, without missing the best part of the morning.
- Automatic tensioning while driving. The chain stays tight over washboard, ruts and grades, with no pull-overs to retighten.
- One-click removal. Chains come off fast once you're back on cleared road.
- Aerospace-grade and marine-grade materials. Built to hold up to the mud, snow, rock and cold of backcountry roads.
When you trust your chains, you drive differently. You're watching the road, the weather and the tracks in the snow, not listening for a chain slapping your wheel well.
Gear Up for Season
- Inspect your chains now. Don't wait for the morning you're loading the truck for opening day.
- Do a practice install. Chain up once in the driveway in good light so the motions are familiar when it's cold and dark.
- Upgrade your tensioners. Swap traditional tensioners for something that holds tension automatically over rough terrain.
- Keep The Kranken on hand year-round. Mud season and early snow don't check the calendar.
- Know the rules. Some roads have chain requirements. Check the state DOT and the land agency for the areas you hunt.
- Tell someone your route. Let someone know where you're headed before you go deep into the backcountry, chains or no chains.
Ready for Opening Day?
Gear up with The Kranken so a snow chain is the last thing standing between you and your hunt. You can see both models at the Kranken shop, or reach out to our team at support@thekranken.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do snow chains loosen on backcountry roads?
Ruts, washboard and rocks shift the chain on the tire as you drive. A traditional tensioner is set once, so it can't take up that slack. The Kranken tensions automatically while you drive.
How fast can I install The Kranken in the dark?
The Kranken is designed for sub-30-second installation. A practice run at home in good light makes chaining up before sunrise much easier.
Do I need chains on forest service roads?
It depends on the road, the season and the agency that manages it. Check the state DOT and the land agency for the areas you plan to hunt.
Which Kranken model is right for my truck?
The Kranken comes in two models, The Kranken and The Kranken XL. Email support@thekranken.com with your vehicle and chain details and our team will help you choose.