You don’t need chains. If conditions are so bad that you might, you don’t want to be going over the pass anyway.

Watch the weather forecasts. You may find that with snow/blowing snow on I-80 in Wyoming, that it actually makes more sense to drop down to I-70 across Colorado and go through the Tunnel and Vail Pass in preference to the Laramie Divide, Elk Mountain.

I keep insulated winter boots and zip up snow pants in mine.

One of these...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DE...or-DXAEJ14/300385259

We just made a 5 day trip from NW Montana to Florida. We checked the weather for the next days drive with weatherunderground. We had a couple of 7,000 foot passes and probably 500 miles of snow covered roads. While this slowed us down, we found plenty of snowplows to follow.

We traveled in a FWD Mazda 3 without incident. In fact, the only cars/trucks off the road were near Salt Lake City. We never saw an accident the entire 3,910 miles other than slide-offs.

Most of our trip was on I-40 as the road reports were good.

Mike

A breaker bar with correct socket is behind my seat. I'll check the lugs once in a while. It's worth the time to lower the spare if it is under the chassis. Become familiar with the manufacturer's trick for getting the tire and tools out and in use. Before you need them.

Coming through a rest stop in Tennessee, just before hitting Virginia, a fella in a similar truck was stuck with a flat because he "lent" the tool for lowering his spare. Duh.

Yes, I've lubed the winch cable on my spare. Anal? Not really, after seeing some completely seized up.

My winter kit:

All weather floor mats
Low temp washer fluid
Winter wiper blades (rubber booted arms)
Compact aluminum snow shovel
Tire chains
Ice scraper and brush

Stuff the goes in the car year round:

Tire inflator
Jumper cables (lithium jumper pack for camping)
Flares
Head lamp
Thick nitrile gloves
Extra oil
Spare engine air filter
Spare oil filter
Zip ties, duct tape

Get home kit that gets moved from car to car:

Shelter basics
Fire making and water purifying stuff
Tools for breaching into or out of other vehicles and buildings.
Trauma Kit
Lights, gps, radio, solar charger
Water and food rations

Lot's of excellent advice...my 2 cents.....
Oftentimes , the roads and weather can improve a lot in 12 hours .
When you plan your trips in the winter you need to factor in a lot more flexibility re: starting and arrival times, routes ,etc.
If the weather sucks...stay home for 12 hours....if it still sucks, aren't you glad you didn't leave in the first place.
In reality, there are times in the Winter , when you just can't get there.....if you force the issue, you could end up in the news !! mike

keep the gas tank full.

quote:

Originally posted by Speedbird:
Great comments! Maybe these are implied tasks? But I'd add:
- test your jack and lug wrench, Your lug nuts aren't seized?
- Check spare
- Small piece of wood or whatever to put under your jack so it actually jacks up the truck instead of just pushing itself into the ground (Ask me how I know)
- A few chem-lights. Pro tip: drop a chem light or two into a full water bottle, it makes a cheap/durable 8-12 hr lantern.
- High Vis tabard or reflective belt to keep you from getting hit

I was going to suggest you insure that the jack and lug wrench are in the vehicle. Probably not a problem with yours, but some don't even have them.

flashguy