Tire Chains - Snow in the Mountains - Yes You

[sakoshooter]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I just remembered something else, LOL, My dad(and most everyone else)even had chains on his snow blower.

[Russ McDonald]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I just remembered something else, LOL, My dad(and most everyone else)even had chains on his snow blower.

You know I have seen that before.

[Elkrunner]

In additon, know how to put them on ahead of time. Be sure they are on correctly and not upside down. Impropperly mounted chaons can cause you bigger headache then stuck in the snow.


I carry two sets with me in the Barbie Jeep and one set in the tow rig. And I have done my share of winch out 50K trucks that were stuck in the ditch 

I have to know how to put them on?  why would I do that, I'm just going to sit there in the snow in my tennis shoes and sweat pants and wait for the Barbie jeep to come by

[gasman]

In additon, know how to put them on ahead of time. Be sure they are on correctly and not upside down. Impropperly mounted chaons can cause you bigger headache then stuck in the snow.


I carry two sets with me in the Barbie Jeep and one set in the tow rig. And I have done my share of winch out 50K trucks that were stuck in the ditch 

I have to know how to put them on?  why would I do that, I'm just going to sit there in the snow in my tennis shoes and sweat pants and wait for the Barbie jeep to come by

Just be sure you got beer 

[KFhunter]

I could think of a couple instances where I'd stop to help chain up, and I ain't talkin about moobs   

[Woodchuck]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.

Grew up in the northeast corner.  We really did not use chains even when we plowed with our trucks.  We always had weight in the back of the truck.  When we went on the lake no one had chains but we did have snowmobiles alright.  I left MN in 87'.  I remember having some crazy snow storms.

I think those winters of old are on the way back - with a vengeance!
[/quote]Those storms are going south though going through the central part of the state.  My family is still up north they still are dealing with the cold during winter.
[/quote]
When I left MN in 99 they were illegal, as in could not be used on roads, studs to. They tore up the roads when it's that cold for that long. Learn to drive or stay home was the saying.

[sakoshooter]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.

Grew up in the northeast corner.  We really did not use chains even when we plowed with our trucks.  We always had weight in the back of the truck.  When we went on the lake no one had chains but we did have snowmobiles alright.  I left MN in 87'.  I remember having some crazy snow storms.

I think those winters of old are on the way back - with a vengeance!

Those storms are going south though going through the central part of the state.  My family is still up north they still are dealing with the cold during winter.
[/quote]
When I left MN in 99 they were illegal, as in could not be used on roads, studs to. They tore up the roads when it's that cold for that long. Learn to drive or stay home was the saying.
[/quote]

Agreed - learn to drive or stay home.
The point of this thread though is about driving on bad roads w/snow in the mountains, not on pavement in flat country.