Snow chains

[The Car Stereo Company]

As has been stated numerous times, 4x4 are required to have chains WITH them not installed. Anecdotal evidence of not having been inspected for chains is great, but it's just that. Anecdotal evidence. I've got my own. 3 out of the last 4 trips I've made out to Mt Laguna during a storm, I was inspected, and turned around the very first time because I didn't have chains or cables with me. This was in my 4x4 Raptor with factory KO2's on it. The next two times I was inspected showed them the chains on the floor in the back seat and allowed to pass. The last time there was no check point when I entered the mountain, but one was setup by the time I was coming back down.

The Cal Trans guidelines have been posted and quoted for clarity. This isn't rocket science. There's no guess work involved. It comes down to, do you want to take the chance or would you rather be safe than sorry.

i wasnt arguing with any statement posted here. forgot to post this. this is what i have encountered everytime i drove up 80 in a snowstorm. since we are under the gross vehicle weight, was never required to put chains on, and if it was bad enough for 4x4s to need chains, 80 was closed for everyone. but i also read, that its specific to a region and the dot can and may require vehicle checks on all vehicles. 80 being such a major highway, im guessing they close the road sooner compared to the socal mountains where people are heading up for leisure. i have never been in the socal mountains in winter so i couldnt say

 

[Donmatteo]

the 18 and 330 up to Arrowhead/running springs/Big Bear are twisty and have drop off's of several hundred feet. Its usually peopled with morons in commuter cars or people with monster bro-dozers yolo'ing. If you follow the rules, and you are prepared, you are allowed to pass. If you are an idiot with a Honda Accord and your family piled in back and just going up for the day, you most likely will be turned around.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

the 18 and 330 up to Arrowhead/running springs/Big Bear are twisty and have drop off's of several hundred feet. Its usually peopled with morons in commuter cars or people with monster bro-dozers yolo'ing. If you follow the rules, and you are prepared, you are allowed to pass. If you are an idiot with a Honda Accord and your family piled in back and just going up for the day, you most likely will be turned around.

i think i would take my chances in the honda accord.... the all season tires would probably do better then the bro dozer on pizza dishes and rubberband m/t tires...... either way, i wouldnt want to find out

 

[dreys]

Just got back from Big Bear

330 on the way up was closed, and Highway 18 was open with R3 restrictions in place.

Caltrans was checking all cars at the bottom, and as another person pointed out in this thread , they didn't care about "snowflake" tires, you had to have chains or be turned out. I had a spare set of chains to put on, and they easily let to drive through.

Definitely agree about bunch of people who have no idea what they're doing. Lots and lots of cars stuck, or spun around in the ditch. Accords, Camrys, Subarus, a few F150 stuck here and there.

No matter what kind of car or tires you have, experience and common sense counts more than anything. Unfortunately there are folks who drive out there and lack both.

 

[Donmatteo]

Just got back from Big Bear

330 on the way up was closed, and Highway 18 was open with R3 restrictions in place.

Caltrans was checking all cars at the bottom, and as another person pointed out in this thread , they didn't care about "snowflake" tires, you had to have chains or be turned out. I had a spare set of chains to put on, and they easily let to drive through.

Definitely agree about bunch of people who have no idea what they're doing. Lots and lots of cars stuck, or spun around in the ditch. Accords, Camrys, Subarus, a few F150 stuck here and there.

No matter what kind of car or tires you have, experience and common sense counts more than anything. Unfortunately there are folks who drive out there and lack both.

WoW! R3?

It was R2 Fri, Sat and Sun. Must have been a lot of ice for R3.

 

[1BAD454SSv2]

That road going to big bear 330 and 18 is scary when its dry , don't think i ever driven a road with so many turns. My uncle has a cabin there . Very scenic

 

[Badgertits]

Just got back from Big Bear

330 on the way up was closed, and Highway 18 was open with R3 restrictions in place.

Caltrans was checking all cars at the bottom, and as another person pointed out in this thread , they didn't care about "snowflake" tires, you had to have chains or be turned out. I had a spare set of chains to put on, and they easily let to drive through.

Definitely agree about bunch of people who have no idea what they're doing. Lots and lots of cars stuck, or spun around in the ditch. Accords, Camrys, Subarus, a few F150 stuck here and there.

No matter what kind of car or tires you have, experience and common sense counts more than anything. Unfortunately there are folks who drive out there and lack both.

lol I went out Lake Tahoe w/ wife & another couple from NY- we had all been west multiple times to ski before, but they hadn’t seen what happens to the roads during an actual storm on a long weekend!!! From the Reno airport to squaw then from there to Tahoe/Heavenly saw at least 3 jack knifes, a dozen vehicles went off the road in front of us while driving at least, people stuck everywhere & clamoring to get chains etc

we rented a Nissan Armada & even though it wasn’t required initially since we had 4x4 I told em- we are getting a set of chains just in case. We didn’t end up needing em - BUT they made me drive the whole time it just comes down so heavy so fast there it’s hard to convey to people who haven’t seen it before - got so much snow they had to shut the lifts down they were getting backed up from snow piling

I run studded nokian snows on the Raptor....it would have to be some ridiculous snow event to need chains on top of those tires....not really sure it’d even be a benefit, feel like studded snow tires > ATs & chains....

 

[Donmatteo]

lol I went out Lake Tahoe w/ wife & another couple from NY- we had all been west multiple times to ski before, but they hadn’t seen what happens to the roads during an actual storm on a long weekend!!! From the Reno airport to squaw then from there to Tahoe/Heavenly saw at least 3 jack knifes, a dozen vehicles went off the road in front of us while driving at least, people stuck everywhere & clamoring to get chains etc

we rented a Nissan Armada & even though it wasn’t required initially since we had 4x4 I told em- we are getting a set of chains just in case. We didn’t end up needing em - BUT they made me drive the whole time it just comes down so heavy so fast there it’s hard to convey to people who haven’t seen it before - got so much snow they had to shut the lifts down they were getting backed up from snow piling

I run studded nokian snows on the Raptor....it would have to be some ridiculous snow event to need chains on top of those tires....not really sure it’d even be a benefit, feel like studded snow tires > ATs & chains....

and that a relatively flatish road. In So Cal. The grade up to Arrowhead and Big Bear is usually 3% or greater and in snow and weather, it ices over.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

yeah, 80 would have been closed. its never been open if its r3 that i have seen. i have been stuck on 80 waiting for it to re open several times over the years.

so r3 conditions is usually because of ice it appears. i think thats where the difference is. 80 gets plowed before the snow gets packed to ice. being its a major roadway compared to the roads down there we are talking about. i have never been in r3 conditions as the roads have always been closed before that.

 

[CoreyMac]

Bring the chains/cables fellas! This was Saturday in Idyllwild @ 5k ft!