Happens all the time in the mountain passes here in Washington.  Overconfidence and speed.  People zoom up from the rain at sea level to 3 or 4 thousand feet without slowing down in the snow and spin out into the ditch.  Chains slow you down as well as provide traction!

I had studs on all four wheels on the '84 and they worked great, but modern snow tires with their special rubber compounds are nearly as good.  I never needed chains, but once in a while I had to use the parking brake trick to stop wheel spin getting out of parking spots on hills.  I didn't go into the mountains without chains though.  Modern chains are pretty easy to install, but you do have to get down on the ground, so carry a sheet of plastic.

Stuart
'84 Westy, rests in the winter

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 9:40 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Autosock

Whenever I've had to be out and about during or soon after big storms, a majority of the vehicles I've seen stuck were 4WD or at least SUV type vehicles.  Of course, that observation does not mean those get stuck more readily than others, but it might mean that their drivers are more likely to be on the road under such conditions.  mcneely

---- Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Well put Don.  If you don't feel some kind of underlying fear while 
> driving in the snow then
> you should not be driving in it at all.   I've seen too many 4WD SUVs stuck
> in snow drifts
> to be anywhere near smug about driving in the snow.   And I agree with the
> posters about
> getting very comfortable using snow chains.   They are not rocket science.
> Just learn
> how to put them on before you need to.
>
> Steven
> 91 Westy
>
> On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 11:42 PM, Don Hundt <donhundt@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >  4 Wheel drive truck with great tires and chains and it still scared 
> > the you-know-what out of me. Definitely glad I had the chains.
> > Don
> >
> >

--
David McNeely