And, I have recently learned, if you go to Les Schwab Tires (if you are in the right part of the country), you can buy a set of chains, then return them unused for a full refund. So even if your trip to snow country is a one time deal, and you don't want to buy a set of chains, you can get some, then get your bucks back later. And if you had to use them, at least you got unstuck...

I used to have chains for my 2wd truck until one winter I had to use them. My father was scheduled to have prostate cancer surgery Monday morning and its an hour drive to the hospital on normal days. We went down to be there for support and over a foot of snow was dumped on us that weekend. He was supposed to be at the hospital at 6am so we had to leave their house at 4am. One chain completely broke going up the first big hill but luckily I had installed a lock rite which is an auto locking differential so the one chain was enough to make it up the hills although it pulled very hard to one direction a lot. I ended up beating up one fender pretty good when one of the cross chains broke loose on a steep part where I didn't want to stop. I ended up buying a 4x4 truck because even though I got buy with never needing 4x4 for over 10 years there was that one time I was away from my home and we had to go out.
Got in another snowstorm around the MD/PA state line riding with my cousins 4x4 and the state police let us though the roadblock since he had a 4x4 and the volunteer FD sticker but were turning a lot of people around.

You still carry chains with your 4x4, right? And now a few lap links and
some pliers so you can quickly fix your chains.

A pair of large link chains along with a shovel
will get you out of places that 4x4 would be stuck without em.

Cable chains are nice for the highway when it is super icy, even
with 4x4 cause they will stop you quicker, but for deep snow, mud
and sand, link chains will really dig you out.

Has anyone had any experience with some of the "non-chain" traction aids? I have seen something called: Flex-Trax GoClaws in various outfitter catalogs like Cabela's. I see that they have their own website: http://www.flextrax.com/

It looks like an interesting device. I would not expect it to perform as well as chains, but, for ease of use, it seems like it might give you the extra traction, without the hassles of chains. I've thought about getting a new set of chains since I changed vehicles (and tire sizes) recently. When I saw these, I wondered if anyone has used them and might share their observations. Thanks.

I have not yet because the tire size is different now so I will need to buy new ones. I haven't made any winter trips since then so help keep the risk low. Plus my new truck has a locking rear (though its a delayed lock) and real 4x4 (not some slippy AWD) so it has three wheel drive where my 2wd truck with the locker was two wheel drive. So its a little more capable before adding chains.

I am locking this thread. I read the Iliad in greek faster than this thread <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.This is just to make more current treads more readilly accessable.