Driving the JK from Houston to Durango Co, next week and I've been told there is a good amount of snow out there...

I'm planning on staying on the main roads with the possibility of light trail or two just to get to the cabin or whatever.

I'm running on 33 Nitto Trail Grapplers that have about 2k miles on them. Should I get snow chains or it won't be necessary? I hear some roads wont allow access without chains? Again not sure about all this because this is the first time I'll be driving out there... Thanks guys

 

I hope you don't have to put chains on. I have seen what they can do to tires. It's not pretty.

 

I personally do not run chains. I use 35x12.5 Dick Cepek Crushers. I think you should do fine. My wife runs a bone stock WJ on stock tires, and when we went camping in the mountains with almost 2 feet of snow she was able to make the trial in my footprints.(I was expecting to pull her all the way out of the trial)

As far as roads requiring chains I believe its if you are over 8,000 or 10,000 LBS GVW

 

I usually keep a pair of pseudo-chains in my Jeep through the winter. They are more cable than traditional chain and have helped me out of a few spots on trails. I've never used them on the highway or interstate and haven't put them on since I got the lift added. I can't think of the company's name off-hand.

 

None of us had chains, You cant see it from the picture but under the snow there are rocks about basketball sized and good sized dips in the trial.

 

If you do hit some deep snow take some air out of those 33s and have a shovel handy just in case.

For the most part, these JKs will power through fluffy snow up to two feet deep. The crustier snow might snag a little here and there

 

There are roads out here that are chains required even for Jeeps, but they are few - all the ones I have been on were private roads closed to through traffic, and those were scary enough WITH chains. I am pretty sure that on the Grand Mesa area and around there that I have heard chains required warnings over the radio - but again, that was when they were getting 10' of snow a night. And when that is happening, best to go around, postpone the trip, etc. People do die out here on the roads, they aren't extremely dangerous in my opinion - but it does happen, and happen quite a bit. Usually out of towners not used to a slick grade that is going to last for miles going too fast. Mainly just too fast.

You will be fine on all of the main roads, and all the roads it sounds like you planned on being on. For the most part, if the roads get beyond the plows out here they just get shut down. That rarely happens for long, long periods of time. Depending on what roads you are travelling be prepared to wait 7-8 hours if things are really bad (think blankets, food, drink and entertainment). Given the fact that snow is a constant over the passes, the plowing and maintenance are very good, but it does happen. When I was making the trip over the passes regularly it was a good bet that every 3rd or 4th time the road would be shut down for a period of time - and that is I-70. That was usually at night, but I felt that was safer to avoid the massive traffic and more dangerous drivers that the ski resorts bring.

Main points, you won't be legally required to have chains as long as you have a snow rated tire unless you are way out there off the beaten path. Slow down, slow down, and be well prepared for the trip that google maps says will take 6 hours to take 12 or even more. Bring blankets, water, flashlight, etc. If you slide off the road and it is -20* out, that isn't the time to need them. Enjoy the trip, hundreds of thousands of people make the trips over these passes in the winter every year - statistically they are very safe, and that is even for the camrys and priuses and rental car cali drivers that drive over.

But I have seen well over 100 separate accidents happen in front of me, or arrive in the immediate aftermath, on these passes in the winter, everything from single car rollovers to 20+ car pileups. That doesn't include the cleaned up or in process accidents that emergency crews have already arrived at. I know that at least 3 of them resulted in fatalities. Some of it is just from driving a lot over these roads, but more of it is that these roads are dangerous enough in the summer. You add the ice and snow, and things happen fast. Respect the grades, the dropoffs and the need to go slow.

I don't mean this to come across as a lecture to a child. It isn't, and isn't meant that way. I have just seen too much carnage, property damage and death on these roads in front of my eyes to not throw out the warning to respect the road, mainly go slow.

ETA - Damn, where did I think I saw that you were coming over from the east coast? From Houston, you are not going to have to worry as much. Sure, the roads can get plenty bad down there (Durango), and the maintnence isn't as good - but without the crush of traffic, at least you are less likely to be hit by some other idiot. And, you won't really be going through any of the big snow areas. Two thumbs up however for wishing to be so prepared when you are only going to be in the state for 20 miles.