Monthly So Cal Off-Road Run

So this may be a stupid question, but here goes...

In R3 Chain Control Areas, are 2wd vehicles with chains allowed?

 

https://dot.ca.gov/travel/winter-driving-tips/chain-controls

Requirement 3 (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
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2wd with chains is allowed.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...et-and-trail-day-sunday-december-29th.640927/

 

That's how I was reading it, but thought that if the conditions are that bad, 2wd cars (or any vehicle without a little more clearance than a passenger car) probably shouldn't be on that road...

 

Weird could’ve sworn R3 was 4x4 with chains, or at least that’s always CHP was letting through last week

 

CHP is concerned with traction, not clearance. Since the roads are traveled & plowed there isn't much risk of hitting a snowbank unless you venture off the shoulder.

Some of the local roads in Tehachapi this weekend were R2. My daily driver road trip diva Chevy Volt was a champ with cables on the front end. The 3" of chin clearance meant I was a snow plow, but it wasn't an issue with fresh powder.

 

Yea they'll let 4x4 through, but you have to have chains on. R2 means 4x4 can go through without chains.

Yea, I would think that they wouldn't let you through if you don't have snow tires on one axle, and chains on the other, at least. Seems taking a 2wd, even with chains on one axle, would still be pretty sketchy in those conditions, unless they at least had winter tires on the other axle. But yea, I guess the clearance isn't much of issue, but I could still see a normal car having problems if it's snowing really hard.

 

My understanding was that R3 is 4x4 with chains only, no 2wd chains but

 

Epic amounts of snow are still blanketing the upper altitudes of the transverse ranges as of yesterday, as seen on approach to LAX.



I regret being out of town for this one... but looking forward to whatever the atmospheric river brings us next, unless it's just being called into work while water pools on my floorboards!

 

Awesome picture, thanks for sharing!

 

That's what I would think (and would make sense to me), but the phrasing does make it sound like 2wd are allowed with chains...

"Requirement 3 (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions."

 

The checkpoint on the 18 going up to Big Bear was allowing any vehicle through that had chains on or 4x4 with snow tires. I passed honda civics, a shit ton of mini vans and a dodge charger on the way up. They were struggling, obviously, but they made it through the checkpoint.

 

this is an R2 condition. 4x4 with snow tires on all 4 wheels are allowed without chains. Yea, when I was up there Sunday, there were a lot of people who were allowed through that were struggling, several flat tires, and a few people with damaged bumpers or fenders from the chains they either put on wrong, or shouldn't have put on in the first place because the wheel wells don't have the clearance for them.

 

That's how I've always seen it going up into Big Bear and I've driven up there during some really, really heavy and bad snow storms. It's always been - get pulled aside by CHP - "Are you 4wd?" - yes - "Have chains with you?" - *shows chains in back seat* - "Ok you can go on through".

They've never asked about my tires, oddly enough considering all the signs up there say "4WD with Snow Tires exempt". I have snow "rated" ATs though so maybe they think that's good enough, always has been anyway for the roads at least.

 

I'm curious to know why the state doesn't restrict certain vehicles. It seems to have an extreme high liability to allow a 2wd vehicle venture into the mountains with only chains. I'm all for people making their own decisions but you cant fix stupid.

 

If the bad conditions I've seen up there have been R2 at worst, then I'm really curious to know what R3 conditions are like lol. Although with the traffic mayhem it probably causes I don't know if I actually want to.

 

We were saying the same thing the whole time driving up. At some point, people needed to be saved from themselves. Passing the same types of vehicles stuck on the side of the road in feet of snow just pisses you off when you know that they're the reason you're sitting for 11 hours.

 

In all honesty, we could've made it up without chains. The snow on the road was basically mush and the biggest problem was other drivers. When you have people in small cars that are having to try to make it up hills multiple times while sliding back each time, they are your issue.

 

I remember one time going up and being stuck in traffic on the steeper section of the highway shortly before you hit the CHP checkpoint. The stop and go on ice would cause the FWD cars especially to spin their tires and I saw more than a few people slide back and hit the front of the vehicle behind them, which of course would cause more traffic stops as they tried to get pulled over to exchange info. It really does turn into mayhem up there

 

Prime example...

This mercedes was abandoned in the middle of the road, in town, with no chains on, windows down and a floor mat (WTF?!) under it like it was going to get them better traction.