I'm goin skiing for the first time next week to ruidoso new mexico and had some questions on the rpoad conditions. We rented a cabin on the mountain there on their website it says that tire chains a required to make the mountain and was wondering if anyone has been in that area to give me any tips or info

 

I worked the ski industry for ten yyears in both So Cal and the Pacific NW. My advice is always carry chains, snacks/food and a good sleeping bag when heading to the mountains. Fill up at the base and clear your tailpipe if you get stuck in a snowdrift.

I never did have to chain up in all those years, but carried them anyway.

Kurt

 

Same. I used to go to Big Bear pretty much every weekend when I was stationed in 29 Palms. And then we would make a Mammoth Trip every New Years. I only had to use chains maybe 3 times over all those years, but I always carried them. Reguardless if they where required or not. You can get tem at Wal-Mart once you get to an area that snows regularly for 30-80 bucks depending on the size you need most of the time.

 

Since my truck is 4 wheel drive would I need to chain all 4 or just 2 and do places usually carry chains that fit a 35 inch tire

 

If the weather is bad, there is a check point on the road to Ski Apache were they will check for chains. They don't care if you are in a 4X4 or not. If you don't have chains, they will send you back down. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the road coming down. It was so bad one night, one guy brought the truck down while the rest of us skied down the road.

 

I think your only required to have it on one of the drive lines (probably rear for our trucks), but I am not certain on that.

 

Actually, they prefer the chains to be on the front wheels on a 4X4.......more weight.

 

Well thanks for all the info I guess I will just plan for the worst and hope for the best I just hope it doesn't become more of a pain in my neck than a vacation

 

Get yourself a couple of short 2X4 before you leave. If you need to chain up drive the inside tire up on the board, this will raise the outside tire off the ground, it sure makes it a lot easier to chain up.

Edit sorry i see you sold the 02.

 

Whenever I have chained up I always chained the rears.

You can find chains for just about any sized tire for LT applications, some places, like Les Schwab, will let you return them after winter if you didn't use them.

I forgot to mention water on my first list. Don't forget.

Have fun, you will be fine!

Kurt

 

I always chain up the fronts. I like to do the steering.

 

Fronts have the weight of the Cummins over them plus they are the steering tires. I always chain the fronts and have never had a problem, be it tooling around Ruidoso or Hunting up in Chama. If you chain the rears, weight the bed.

 

I wasn't dissing chaining the fronts, its just that the few times I actually chained up I ran the rears and it worked fine.

Kurt

 

No poblems here.