Date:         Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:17:50 -0500
Reply-To:     Karin Baker & Raymond Paquette <raymondpaquette@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karin Baker & Raymond Paquette <raymondpaquette@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Snow chains
Comments: To: Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <02C8DEC2-8C16-4340-9505-C8A7D9D71650@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'm a big fan of chains.  Rarely have to use them, but they WORK when you do
use them.

And they cost a fraction of what tires cost.

Most of my (and I suspect many of us) snow driving involves driving short
distances in bad conditions, like getting out of the driveway or up a really
bad hill.  But much of the time I'm on cleared pavement on larger roads.
It's hard to justify hundreds of dollars for snow tires.

Also, I like having something to add when I need it-if I almost get stuck,
see something bad I need to get through,etc..  Then I can put the chains
on.  If I had snow tires I'd have nothing to back me up when I did get
stuck.  I use my 4wd the same way--leave it in 2wd most of the time, so I
can put it in 4wd to get out, or when the conditions get really nasty.

Now if I lived somewhere (like David) that I was often in snow for long
periods of time that would be different.  'd have snow tires, AND carry
chains.

But here in Western MA, we just got buried by two consecutive storms for a
total of about 2' of snow with an ice glaze.  It's hell getting out of my
driveway and neighborhood, but the town has the main roads down to pavement
already.

My thoughts
Raymond


On 12/16/07, Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> On Dec 16, 2007, at 1:27 PM, David Marshall wrote:
>
> > I have never used chains on the road - I live in snow country
> > (currently
> > 60cm in my yard) and no one except the big logging trucks that go
> > into the
> > bush use chains.
>
> & the folks in California who are required by the CHP to put them on
> going over Donner Pass?
>
> I have a set of chains for my westy that I carry when ever I go over
> that Pass in Winter, but have yet to ever put a set on my tires in
> any Volkswagen over the last  40+ years including 4 years living on a
> dirt road in Steamboat Springs, CO.
>
> YMMV,
>
> Tom B.-chains are for Californians only-grin
>
> >
> > If you want better traction, upgrade your
> > tires to some good winter tires.
>
> Amen.
>
>
> >
> > David Marshall
> >
> > http://www.hasenwerk.ca
> > http://www.fastforward.ca
> >
> > Box
> > 4153, Quesnel BC, Canada V2J 3J2
> >
> > On Sun, December 16, 2007
> > 12:10, Larry Himli wrote:
> >> Past experience with the 87 Westy in
> > snow or sand hasn't been too good.
> >> Heading to Telluride over the
> > holidays but don't want to chance hitting
> >> snow
> >> without
> > better traction.  Any suggestions for chains, etc.  I've got
> >>
> > standard 14" tires.  Thanks
> >>
> >> Larry
> >>
>