CHP does not trust the California driver to have any sense or winter
driving skills whatsoever?
We have gone thru Tahoe & I-80 in split window buses in blizzards w/ all
season tires,no chains, & Utah license plates, & they have let us thru w/o
chains, because we know how to drive in the snow?
Or they want to kill us foreigners off?

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-CA flame wars anticipated

On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 6:15 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> No no no.
> You're supposed to head up into the Sierras in the dead of winter
> wearingnothing but blue jeans, sneakers,
> and a light jacket, ( because you never go outdoors anyway )
> - on your summer tires ..
> with chains buried in the trunk somewhere that you have never tried out,
> or even looked at, or even know if they fit your tires , and with no
> idea if your car is AWD, FWD, or RWDor has ABS or what.
>  Transmission mode select button ? ...what's that ?
> No wonder Caltrans just tries to keep people from even getting into the
> Sierras sometimes.
>
>
> On 1/10/2013 2:45 PM, Al Knoll wrote:
>
>> Chaains required, whips optional it says on the shirt from Mammoth
>> Mountain
>> Ski Area.   Best way to learn about your capabilities with chains is to
>> put
>> em on in your driveway on a sunny day and no snow.  Same with changing a
>> tire or a fan belt.  Gitchaself some and put em on.  Then the vagaries of
>> what hooks to where and how to put the tensioners on (you do have chain
>> tensioners, right) will no longer be shrouded in mystery.  Take pix if
>> necessary and have your alternate driver watch.  There are some handy
>> boxes
>> with drive-over ramps that make the job a bit easier, at your local
>> vanagon
>> supply store,  Keep the chains in em along with the insulated waterproof
>> gloves (you DO have gloves, right?)   You'll need an old bathtowel with
>> which to clean up all the detritus you will accumulate putting the chains
>> on in reality rather than the pleasant confines of your driveway.
>>
>> After puttin on the chains in your driveway and attaching the tensioners,
>> put the two spare tensioners (you DO...)back in the box and drive a short
>> distance no faster than 20MPH and re-tension the chains.   Make sure that
>> chain tool/pliers (you DO have...)and the spare crosslinks are also in the
>> box best in a zipLok on the bottom of the box.  When you need em the
>> chains
>> will already be on the van.
>>
>> Now take em off in the driveway (the chains of course).  Put em nicely
>> folde back in the box with the chain pliers and links.   and that roll of
>> stainless safety wire...(you DO have...)
>>
>> In olden days Weed V-Bar chains were a nice touch, better than ordinary
>> crosslink chains.  Lots of choices today.  If you have larger tires with
>> limited clearance get two sets of cable chains.  You'll need em.  And of
>> course a set of coveralls and something to lie in the mud on (YOU DO ...)
>> you will need em.  Plain old cardboard that you can fold up under the rear
>> cushion works pretty well.  Half a bicycle box is just right.   And don't
>> forget a that wheel chock (you DO have a...)
>>
>> Fortune favors the well prepared and practiced.   Prepare the hot
>> coffee/tea before you venture out.  In addition to the Tow Strap and the
>> snow shovel you'll need a flashlight and a red reflector, heck one of them
>> there bug-ugly green reflective safety vests wouldn't be a bad idea.  A
>> "watch cap" or such will hell keep your noggin in good shape and a pair of
>> safety glasses (wrap around) or ski goggles is often handy.  After all it
>> will be nasty out so don't leave it out.
>>
>> Pensionerd
>>
>> Qualified Winter Driver ... 1/4T, 3/4T, 2-1/2T ,5 T, M113, M88, M98, M116,
>> Thiokol Sprite, 155mm SP, 175mm SP, M60-A1.  Courtesy of your tax money
>> and
>> the Arctic Test Center, Ft. Greely AK.
>>
>> PS: The reason you see so many 4x4 or AWDs in the snowbank or ditch is
>> because the vehicles owners forget that when it comes to stopping, AWD and
>> 4WD aren't nearly the advantage they are when "going".   Chains work in
>> both traction Avant and traction Retard AWD and 4WD simply don't
>> Computer
>> moderated braking helps a lot but has it's own drawbacks on ice.
>>
>> Roll Tide eh Unca Joel?
>>
>>

--
Tom Buese