westsacxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- west sacramento
Me, my girlfriend and daughter are headin to north tahoe for the weekend. My question is this. If the roads are bad enough will they require us to put chains on or just have them? TIA
chains?
- Thread starter westsacxj
- Start date
westsacxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- west sacramento
its supposed to snow heavy tomorrow. so IF the roads get that bad would they make you put chains on or just have them?
5-90
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Hammerspace
Depends.
R1 - All vehicles must CARRY tyre chains to proceed past the checkpoint.
R2 - All two-wheel drive vehicle must be WEARING tyre chains to proceed, four-wheel-drive vehicles with all-terrain or mud & snow tyres must CARRY chains.
R3 - All vehicles must be WEARING chains.
Granted, the one and only time I ran across a checkpoint (it was R2 at the time,) I got to pass on bald BFG's, and I held up my tow chains when the guy asked me - I'd not bothered with tyre chains anywhere, and I saw no reason to start then. I was also making the best time up I-80 that day - without chains (and I saw too many people wearing them on the wrong tyres - which makes me wonder... Rear tyres on FWD vehicles, for instance.)
It's really going to depend upon the weather, and how bad the snow is.
5-90
R1 - All vehicles must CARRY tyre chains to proceed past the checkpoint.
R2 - All two-wheel drive vehicle must be WEARING tyre chains to proceed, four-wheel-drive vehicles with all-terrain or mud & snow tyres must CARRY chains.
R3 - All vehicles must be WEARING chains.
Granted, the one and only time I ran across a checkpoint (it was R2 at the time,) I got to pass on bald BFG's, and I held up my tow chains when the guy asked me - I'd not bothered with tyre chains anywhere, and I saw no reason to start then. I was also making the best time up I-80 that day - without chains (and I saw too many people wearing them on the wrong tyres - which makes me wonder... Rear tyres on FWD vehicles, for instance.)
It's really going to depend upon the weather, and how bad the snow is.
5-90
HTeK
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Grass Valley, CA
As 5-90 said, you should carry chains all the time...
With that said, I have been travelling Hwy 20 and I-80 pretty often for the last 10 years. I have never once had to show chains, they just wave me by after checking out the tires... I have NEVER seen it go to R3, it has been my experience that they shut down the road at that point. Thats just my experience...
All highway's are different, and you should prolly just take 5-90's advice and be safe...
With that said, I have been travelling Hwy 20 and I-80 pretty often for the last 10 years. I have never once had to show chains, they just wave me by after checking out the tires... I have NEVER seen it go to R3, it has been my experience that they shut down the road at that point. Thats just my experience...
All highway's are different, and you should prolly just take 5-90's advice and be safe...
5-90
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Hammerspace
I didn't say that - I've never carried tyre chains (I just learned to drive in the snow - northern Indiana in the wintertime.)
I do always carry tow chains - and I've used them more than I'd probably have ever used tyre chains. Pulling other people out of ditches. After the screwed up in the snow...
5-90
I do always carry tow chains - and I've used them more than I'd probably have ever used tyre chains. Pulling other people out of ditches. After the screwed up in the snow...
5-90
westsacxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- west sacramento
ok thanx guys.
HTeK said:
I have never been asked for chains with a 4WD and ok or good off road tires on I-80, I have seen the signs going to bald Mt. and heard storys form Scrapy that they will stop you from going up even if it is not covered in snow, but that hill climb would be really NASTY with out chains or good tires. On I-80 there is some bad spots, but like HTeK said they shut down the road if it gets that bad. Also they have LOTS of show removal rigs on that rought, as it is a main road in to CA for trucks, unlike the less traveled roads.
MyJeepXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- SW Virginia
OMG NO! Now THAT, I would like to have a video of! Maybe a nice Honda Civic with snow chains on the rear tires. HAHAHAHAH!5-90 said:
5-90
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Hammerspace
Could be a FWD anything - people just don't know their cars.
Chains should always go on the drive wheels, except when you plan on being in 4WD - then put them on the front tyres (so you can maintain steering - the front wheels, of course, drive in 4WD.)
If you have a pickup truck, and it's 2WD, some ballast is also a good idea - about 200# of bricks, sandbags, or rock salt isn't a bad idea. I've been known to use sand - it will also make for a little traction assistance in snow and sand when getting moving...
5-90
Chains should always go on the drive wheels, except when you plan on being in 4WD - then put them on the front tyres (so you can maintain steering - the front wheels, of course, drive in 4WD.)
If you have a pickup truck, and it's 2WD, some ballast is also a good idea - about 200# of bricks, sandbags, or rock salt isn't a bad idea. I've been known to use sand - it will also make for a little traction assistance in snow and sand when getting moving...
5-90
- Location
- Antioch, CA
I saw a CHP chain checkpoint at the top of the 4 lane section of 168 this morning. Lots of snow this weekend up there.
westsacxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- west sacramento
i just got back. it snowed pretty good. took us 6 hrs to get there. 267 was pretty bad. At the checkpoint they never asked to see chains just waved me on by.
JoesXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- California
holy crap there was a lot of snow in Tahoe yesterday, we got back about 2 hours ago....we have good all terian tires and carried chains (law), didnt need em though.
hillbilly_jeeper
NAXJA Member #1081
- Location
- Alta, CA
1-800-427-7623.
Caltrans road info. Updated pretty much to the minute as condidions change. I know one day, i heard it updated 3 times in a 30 minute period. Tell you the road conditions of any highway in CA, such as chain reqiurements, high wind, and constrution.
Caltrans road info. Updated pretty much to the minute as condidions change. I know one day, i heard it updated 3 times in a 30 minute period. Tell you the road conditions of any highway in CA, such as chain reqiurements, high wind, and constrution.
XJedi23
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Westminster, Co.
NO chains for me near Bear Valley today. beautiful day.
Bronco
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Swansboro, CA
Two years ago I pulled into a check station on 80 in Tahoe and they told me they had just closed the road for the night. I told them I had 4WD and chains for both axles and that I was on my way home from Idaho where I had been driving on snowmobile trails. They let me go. I did use one set of chains to get over safe.
SharkXJ
NAXJA Member #1177
- Location
- San Jose, CA
This is sort of off Topic but may help. I found a web site that will sell chains for ANY size tire and for a REALLY good price.
Here ya go -
http://www.tractiontirechains.com/
I too saw the checkpoint BC is referring to on 168. It appeared they waved on the 4wd's and checked everyone else. I'll tell you this, Chains would have been nice to have on Bald Mt. this weekend.
Here ya go -
http://www.tractiontirechains.com/
I too saw the checkpoint BC is referring to on 168. It appeared they waved on the 4wd's and checked everyone else. I'll tell you this, Chains would have been nice to have on Bald Mt. this weekend.
XJedi23
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Westminster, Co.
You know what I really want?...tires that when you push a button SPIKES pop out. Now that would be bad ass. :laugh3:
