Chain control weight limits?

[craig333]

Today I got turned around at a chain control checkpoint because my truck was too heavy. Guy said there was a 6500 weight limit. I've never heard of nor experienced this before. I've always been waved on through when the signs say "chains or 4x4 with snow tires" are up.

A lengthy detour and and again at another checkpoint they were questioning my weight. A couple bald faced lies got me through that one.


I tried to get a pic of Mono Lake showing the whitecaps and unusually green color (to me at least) and the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't open the door!

 

[ski3pin]

Craig, as long as I've been running around on snowy mountain roads in California, these have been the designations/requirements -



What are the R-1, R-2 conditions that I hear about?
Although Caltrans does not post signs with these designations nor use them to announce chain controls to the public, they are used internally within Caltrans and the CHP as a kind of shorthand to describe chain restrictions and may be included in traffic reports disseminated by various news outlets.
There are three primary categories of chain restrictions, as shown below:
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 tires 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 (R-2): Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles under 6,500 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on all four wheels. Chains for one set of drive wheels must be carried by four wheel-drive vehicles using snow tires.
Requirement 3 (R-3): Chains are required on all vehicles without exception.
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.

Under truck requirements I found this -

There is no exemption for heavy-duty commercial vehicles (over 6,500 pounds gross weight) equipped with snow tires. Chains must be installed on heavy-duty commercial vehicles whenever chain controls are posted.

Source -

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


We needed to know and follow the requirements when we responded to SAR incidents - always in storms. It was another thing for us to be religious about. Our people had all sizes of trucks and equipment and we all had to legally get through together so we could get to work. Agencies that we represented appreciated us not becoming an issue while in route.


We are occasionally asked our weight when traveling. I know a lot of people - especially as they buy bigger and bigger trucks - are unaware of the weight requirements.

The wind can sure blow in the Mono Basin, can't it?

 

[craig333]

It can. Seems for some reason they've decided to enforce the rules even though, at least in my experience, they haven't until now. I'm curious about the reasoning behind those rules. Looks like I better get used to chaining up my truck.

I told myself, grab the chains, before I left. They're still in my spare bedroom.

I was trying to beat the weather. If I hadn't stopped at Schat's and Mahogany meats I might have made it

 

[ski3pin]

<snip>

I was trying to beat the weather. If I hadn't stopped at Schat's and Mahogany meats I might have made it

A man's got to do what a man's got to do

 

[ski3pin]

Seems for some reason they've decided to enforce the rules even though, at least in my experience, they haven't until now.

For me it looks obvious, puts all the tools to work to get drivers to slow down. Winter here is filled with story after story about traffic backed up due to spin outs. People drive too fast and most have little experience or clue on how to drive in winter conditions in the mountains.

Yeah, I'm a broken record.................losing a bit of tolerance maybe.

No matter what incident was that we were called to, we always said the time spent driving to the command post was the dangerous part of the mission.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Whoa, I was unaware of the weight limit...good to know now. The Dodge (1/2-ton) had a GVWR of 6400# and I was never stopped, but always carried chains. The Chevy has a GVWR of 9200#, 4WD, AT m+s tires, etc...haven’t had it in the snow yet but our cabin gets snow. I’d hate to have to chain up just to get up there. Typically, it’s less than 10 miles from the usual control points to the front door. Hmmm...

 

[Adventurer]

10k here I believe.

 

[craig333]

The coopers performed well in the slushy snow. I didn't slide a bit.

I know what Ski is talking about though. I was following a CHP going downhill. Idiots passed other vehicles going uphill right in front of him. No way for him to turn around and nab them. Perhaps he had a buddy waiting for them later

I better go toss a set of chains in the Jeep just in case I wind up towing it during chain controls.

 

[Mthomas]

I am thinking there is a miss interpretation of the law going on. Ski's post references " heavy duty Commercial vehicle" this is defined as over 14,000 GVWR.
https://www.transportpolicy.net/standard/california-vehicle-definitions/
There is a link through to a ca gov site.
Ski's link is to a CA "Truck" site and seems to reference larger commercial vehicles.
Up here in Tahoe, they just keep waving me through, and I cannot imagine them stopping every 3/4 ton for chain issues.
I think someone at caltrans is getting over zealous at certain control points.

 

[PJorgen]

Agreed, very confusing. Even half ton trucks these days have GVWR over 6000 pounds. And what about trucks between 6000 and 6500 pounds?

What makes a truck commercial? When I lived in California my GMC 2500HD had a commercial registration because of its GVWR, but it wasn’t truly a commercial vehicle.

We need someone from CHP to jump in and clarify this for us.

 

[Mthomas]

Seems to me the original intent was commercial gets chains, non-commercial did not. As these trucks have gotten bigger and bigger suddenly you are in a middle ground of essentially a light duty, non commercial truck that weighs in excess of 8000 lbs. I think I will probably go the route of asking forgiveness rather than permission and see if cal-trans actually makes me chain up.

 

[Mthomas]

Maybe the rules changed, this is currently posted by cal trans

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.

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

 

[ntsqd]

More info: https://dot.ca.gov/travel/winter-driving-tips/chain-requirements

I note in the first section this sentence:
"When the road is posted with a sign requiring chains, all heavy-duty vehicles (over 6,500 pounds gross weight) must be equipped with chains mounted on the tires in order to proceed."
What caught my eye is no distinction made between private pick-ups and commercial pick-ups. Only weight matters, not what class the vehicle is categorized as. A 10 wheeled dump truck is treated the same as my registered as a motorhome pick-up with a permanently installed camper in the bed.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

This can be confusing ,so the best thing is to buy a set of "chains/cables"
stick them somewhere in your rig.
Like the credit card commercial says "don't leave home without it".
It's cheap insurance.
Frank

 

[craig333]

Most of us just see the road signs that say 4wd with snow tires okay. One of good things of sites like this, now we know the rest of the story

 

[Vic]

This is an interesting and timely thread. And I'm thoroughly confused now. Caltrans doesn't make it easier...no mention of the weight threshold on their information brochure:

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/maintenance/documents/winter-driving-working-2019-a11y.pdf

This would imply that my wife's AWD sedan should have a set of chains (4?) in the truck in case of R-2 conditions? That said I've never heard of a AWD car being challenged for carrying chains.

For Craig in the original post - did they expect you to put chains on, or simply have them?

Supposed to be some more new snow this weekend - time to get the snowshoes out again and maybe head up to Donner area. I'll just take the Wrangler

 

[Adventurer]

It works similarly here in Oregon. In a "Snow Zone" you are required to carry (chains) traction control device (certain tires meet the definition of traction control device); all vehicles are required to carry them. Many people buy chains at the beginning of the seaon and then return them at the end of the season. Front wheel, all-wheel, 4-wheel drive vehicles are all required to "carry" chains or have snow tires (snowflake/mountain).

In California, if there is a restriction (an "R-#), you are required to at least carry them or have snow tires. Regardless of the "truck", if you don't have chains or snow tires you can be turned back.

From Caltrans:

If I have 4-wheel-drive, do I need to carry chains?
Yes. Even though weather conditions may not warrant the use of chains on 4-wheel-drive vehicles at a particular time, to enter a chain control area, you must have a set of chains (for one drive axle) for your vehicle in your possession. If conditions worsen or you have trouble controlling your vehicle, you must stop and install the chains.

If I have snow tires, do I need to carry chains?
Yes. Even though weather conditions may not warrant the use of chains on passenger vehicles equipped with snow tires at a particular time, to enter a chain control area, you must have a set of chains (one pair) for your vehicle in your possession. If conditions worsen or you have trouble controlling your vehicle, you must stop and install the chains.

If I have snow tires on a heavy-duty commercial vehicle, do I need to carry chains?
Yes. There is no exemption for heavy-duty commercial vehicles (over 6,500 pounds gross weight) equipped with snow tires. Chains must be installed on heavy-duty commercial vehicles whenever chain controls are posted.

If I have studded snow tires, do I need to carry chains?
Yes. Studded snow tires are not considered tire traction devices and may not be used in lieu of chains.

Is “all-wheel drive” the same as 4-wheel drive?
Yes. Even though all-wheel drive systems may differ mechanically from conventional 4- wheel drive systems, for the purposes of chain control, all-wheel drive is considered the same as 4-wheel drive.

 

[craig333]

Yes, he did expect me to install them. Chains are in the backseat now. New tensioners too.

I'm confused too. If I chain up can I leave it in 2wd? Not that I would

 

[Mthomas]

confusing how some of the Caltrans info mentions commercial and some only references weight.