Advice needed! Heading up to Tahoe.

Hi all,
Heading up to Tahoe tomorrow for a day trip maybe the weekend. On trips like this is why I ask my self why didn’t you get a 4x4 Tacoma... Need advise on Tire chains, will any brand do? What brand or type to stay away from? Thank you TW family.

 

you may want to reschedule your trip if you can. Looks like its going to be a mess this weekend because of the new snow. 80 is closed right now.

dot.ca.gov

 

to answer your question, I haven't had to use them but I'd imagine any chains that properly fit will be good. I carry snow cables so im compliant but havent been in conditions where I have to put them on. Usually I get waived through at the check points.

 

I've used and still carry Peerless chains because they seem to hold up and have been super easy to put on. I suggest test fitting before you leave though.

I also had Wrangler Duratrac's when I used them so I'm sure what kind of tires you have also matters. Didn't have any issues with a Pre-Runner.

 

Also think about adding #200-300 weight, sandbags or something that's heavy for added traction.

 

There appear to be different chain requirements for CA and NV. I'll let you do the reading ...

http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/trucks/chains.html

https://www.nevadadot.com/safety/safe-winter-driving/traction-and-chain-requirement-descriptions

 

I have many thought about this but I'll go on an angry tirade about how people can't drive in general...So I'll try and summarize.

Personally I do not regret paying way too much at O'Reilly's on the correct size Laclede Alpine Sport chains (https://lacledechain.com/product/alpine-sport-truck-suv-chains/) for my truck. I never had to use them in California on the roads because I have M+S ThreePeakSnowFlake rated tires and 4x4. I have used them out here in Colorado on dirt county roads that have iced over and will throw you off into the gulch or canyon when you hit the ice.

So, if you (like everyone with AWD and summer tires and no common sense) JUST want to get through chain controls, just buy some cables that fit your tire size and practice putting them on at sea level before you are rolling around in the snow with frozen hands and can't figure it out.

It may be helpful, but in reality, when there are chain controls which require actual chains, people are driving like 15 mph and are off the road spun out.

If you haven't driven in winter conditions before:

• Slow down. This isn't your typical rain storm in California where you can get away with still driving 85 with your wipers and headlights off and survive most of the time...
• Take food, blankets, extra clothes 80 turns into a parking lot and if you try and "shoot the gap" where it opens back up but closes down before you get all the way there, you may be stuck on the highway.
• Fill up your gas tank. This isn't the time to play the gas game and run on fumes. I had to teach my ex this (it stuck after her fuel pump died from overheating without having the gas to cool it in the tank)

 

For California
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cttravel/chain-controls.html


Chain Requirement Levels
During the winter months, motorists may encounter traction chain controls in the mountain areas within California. When chain controls are established, signs will be posted along the road indicating the type of requirement. There are Three Levels of Chain Requirements in California:

• Requirement 1 (R-1): Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires1 on at least two drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using snow tires. All vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have chains on at least one axle.
• Requirement 2 (R2): Chains or traction devices2 are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
  NOTE: (Four wheel/all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.)
• Requirement 3 (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

R-1 and R-2 are the most common conditions. A highway will often be closed before an R-3 condition is imposed. Some local areas may use variations of these designations. You must follow the directions on the signs posted for chain controls or any instructions given by Caltrans or CHP personnel at chain control check points, even if these are at variance with broadcast road condition reports or information contained herein.

1 Snow-tread Tires: The California Vehicle Code, Section 558 defines a snow-tread tire as follows, "A 'Snow-tread tire' is a tire which has a relatively deep and aggressive tread pattern compared with conventional passenger tread pattern". Snow-tread tires can be identified by examining the sidewall of the tire where the letters MS, M/S, M+S or the words MUD AND SNOW have been stamped into the sidewall.

2 Tire Traction Devices: The California Vehicle Code, Section 605 defines tire traction devices as follows: "Tire Traction Devices are devices or mechanisms having a composition and design capable of improving vehicle traction, braking and cornering ability upon snow or ice-covered surfaces. Tire traction devices shall be constructed and assembled to provide sufficient structural integrity and to prevent accidental detachment from vehicles. Tire traction devices shall, at the time of manufacture or final assembly, bear a permanent impression indicating the name, initials or trademark of the assembling company or primary manufacturer, and the country in which the devices were manufactured or assembled in final form."

 

For Nevada
https://www.nevadadot.com/home/showdocument?id=96


Nevada Chain Requirements

Revised October 1, 2014

NRS 484.643 requires the use of chains or snow tires on motor vehicles driven on any street or highway under icy or snowy conditions when the highway is marked or posted with signs requiring the use of chains or snow tires.

NRS 484.6432 requires operators of all vehicles of more than 10,000 pounds (GVW) to install chains when chains or snow tire requirements are in effect. Vehicles over 10,000 pounds (GVW) are permitted in chain control areas when equipped with chains or Automatic Traction Devices (MTD) on drive axles. Trailer axles must be chained as indicated.

Studded snow tires are permitted between October 1 and April 30. However, retractable studded snow tires (NRS 484.6425) may be used at any time but only with the studs retracted between May 1 – September 30. Snow tires have special tread to enhance traction and bear a permanent sidewall label consisting of the words “mud and snow” or an abbreviation using a combination of the letters “M” and “S”. Minimum tread depth for mud and snow tires is 3/16”. Trucks with cable-type chains are legal in Nevada. However, these trucks may be restricted at times due to local conditions.

The Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada Highway Patrol reserve the right to prohibit any vehicle from entering a chain control area when it is determined the vehicle will experience difficulty in safely traveling the area.

NOTES

• All vehicles, including four wheel drive vehicles, that are towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle.

• Trailers with brakes must have chains on the braking axle.

• Front wheel drive vehicles must have chains on front (drive) axle.

• On any semi-trailer, only one set of chains is required regardless of number of axles.

• Chains are not required on tag axle.

 

Tahoe from LA for a day trip?! I've been stuck on both sides of Donner summit waiting for CHP to reopen i80 this winter, it sucks.

 

Not LA to Tahoe. Im in Vallejo, CA. So Vallejo to Tahoe. Family is visiting from Central America and want to see snow, before they leave. I’ve called 4wheelparts and it seems that everyone are out of chains. Any recommendations of other areas with snow around NorCal. New to the bayarea.

 

Don’t do it this weekend.
If you have to, go in a 4x4 for sure.

 

yeah, I have to agree with finding a different weekend. I was up there last weekend where we got about 2' of fresh snow in about 48 hours. 80 was closed almost the whole weekend so the only way out was highway 50, and we were in North Lake Tahoe. The day ended up being about an 8 hour day with traffic from it being a parking lot

 

Just tell tell them all the snow roads are closed . You don't want to hurt anyone sight seeing .

 

Probably not a good idea this weekend with the weather the way it is. If you look on Facebook the CHP station out of Truckee has their own page with pictures of the current and past weekend conditions. It's been bad lately and 80 has been closed more than once.

So far I've never had to drive in the snow over I-80. The last trip we took to Reno I just made it through before they started to require chains or 4x4 (R-2 conditions), it was just starting to stick when we hit the top of the pass.

If you go, go prepared as previously posted. I take sleeping bags, blankets, heavy clothes, water, food, chemical hand warmer packs with me when I go to the mountains in the winter, as well as a shovel and tire cables. Never needed any of it, but there's always that one time. Realize that you can do everything right and some other bonehead can run into you anyway.

As far as tire cables, I have a set of the Super Z cables. They are nice in that you don't have to move the truck to get them on. They get good reviews, I used to work at NAPA and sold a lot of them. Not intended for off-roading, but I'm sure they'd be fine for highway use.

The 2nd Gen Tacoma only has clearance on the rear wheels for chains/cables, per the owner's manual. Some say they have managed to get them on the front wheels, but it's risky if you ask me.

 

It snowed at sea level last week in Humboldt. There are peaks in san jose that still have snow. Maybe just drive to Colfax. There was snow there last week as well.

 

Tahoe... day trip? From SoCal?

Not a chance.

 

It's an absolute zoo in town right now, FWIW. If your family really want to see snow I'd just rent an awd or 4wd vehicle. The roads are kind of gnarly right now. It rained for about half a day and then started snowing so there's a nice slick packed layer under the snow. There's an insane amount of snow though so you should definitely bring them up. If 88 is open you could drive that and avoid a good amount of the crowds on 50.

 

I was up in Tahoe last week for 5 days during 2 of the big snow storms. Driving up from LA, I needed to use 4wd on the highway for damn near 200 miles there was so much snow (from Mammoth all the way up to Tahoe basically). The 395 was covered in it for miles and miles.

Tahoe had tons of snow, and they got even more this week. I would be wary of driving around up there without 4wd, definitely use chains. In fact I don't think they'll even let you up the mountain without them. Have good tires too, snow tires if possible or at least some snow rated AT tires.

Edit- I agree with the above, if you can it would be best to just rent an AWD or 4x4 vehicle for the trip. I saw plenty of cars with chains that were struggling up there last week

 

LA to Mammoth is hardly a day trip and that's halfway to Tahoe. It's at least a 400 mile trip.

Took us 8 hours to get to Tahoe from LA last week and that was with the 395 covered in snow and ice for a couple hundred miles, in 4wd for most of that stretch.

If you take the 5 up and cut across it's even longer, plus you have to drive through more of the mountains.

You need to plan on taking a day of driving to get there and a day of driving to get back. And one day to at least try and enjoy the place...it's a 3 day trip from LA minimum.