Important Torque Bootcamp Preparation
by Jon Frisby · 02/28/2006 (12:15 pm) · 7 comments
Sorry to post another blog so soon, but last night an important variable was brought to my attention that I had completely forgotten: The weather.
This is relevant only if you plan on driving to OR for the Torque Bootcamp. Sorry if this is all "duh" info to most everyone, but I was quite surprised by it and wound up having to do some digging to figure it all out (I've lived in the sunny Bay Area since long before I had a driver's license, so this has never been relevant/useful to me before now): BRING SNOW CHAINS, and BE PREPARED TO USE THEM! I'm told that if the weather gets bad, you can be cited, told to turn back, or be forced to abandon your vehicle if you do not have snow chains with you.
Here are some handy links:
Road cams, so you can see if things are icy or snowy. (beware of black ice!)
Weather outlook
If you DO need to pick up snow chains, be careful about the kind you get. Many cars have very little clearance behind the wheel and need snow chains that are "class-s compliant" to avoid damaging your tire and wheel-well. Some states apparently prohibit chain-link style snow-chains and instead require cable-style snow chains in order to reduce damage to the road. I have no clue if OR or any of the surrounding snow-bound areas fall into this category, but it's probably worth checking into. It would really suck to get turned back because your chains weren't the right kind.
If you visit a site like this one, or visit a store other than your dealership to get tire chains you'll probably need to know what size tire you have. Look on the tire for something of the form "P205/50R-17". The first number is the width of the tread, the second has to do with the percentage of the diameter that consists of sidewall (vs. rim), and the size of the rim. Or rather, that's what it'll look like on a sedan/coupe -- it may be different for trucks and other classes of vehicle.
You may also want to practice putting the snow-chains on if you've never done it before so you don't find yourself having to figure things out while freezing your *ahem* off in the cold, cold wind and snow.
This is relevant only if you plan on driving to OR for the Torque Bootcamp. Sorry if this is all "duh" info to most everyone, but I was quite surprised by it and wound up having to do some digging to figure it all out (I've lived in the sunny Bay Area since long before I had a driver's license, so this has never been relevant/useful to me before now): BRING SNOW CHAINS, and BE PREPARED TO USE THEM! I'm told that if the weather gets bad, you can be cited, told to turn back, or be forced to abandon your vehicle if you do not have snow chains with you.
Here are some handy links:
Road cams, so you can see if things are icy or snowy. (beware of black ice!)
Weather outlook
If you DO need to pick up snow chains, be careful about the kind you get. Many cars have very little clearance behind the wheel and need snow chains that are "class-s compliant" to avoid damaging your tire and wheel-well. Some states apparently prohibit chain-link style snow-chains and instead require cable-style snow chains in order to reduce damage to the road. I have no clue if OR or any of the surrounding snow-bound areas fall into this category, but it's probably worth checking into. It would really suck to get turned back because your chains weren't the right kind.
If you visit a site like this one, or visit a store other than your dealership to get tire chains you'll probably need to know what size tire you have. Look on the tire for something of the form "P205/50R-17". The first number is the width of the tread, the second has to do with the percentage of the diameter that consists of sidewall (vs. rim), and the size of the rim. Or rather, that's what it'll look like on a sedan/coupe -- it may be different for trucks and other classes of vehicle.
You may also want to practice putting the snow-chains on if you've never done it before so you don't find yourself having to figure things out while freezing your *ahem* off in the cold, cold wind and snow.
#3
02/28/2006 (1:22 pm)
I didn't see any signs saying you needed snow chains while in Eugene last week. There certainly weren't any between there and the coast. The rental car didn't have any chains with it, and the tires were just normal tires. You could probably get by without them I would think, but better safe than sorry I guess. It would suck to get pulled over and be checked, or a freak snowstorm blow in and you actually need them. We did drive on a bunch of winding mountain roads to get to the coast.
#4
I'm not a weather man, but if you coming from California the two main routes are hwy 97 North thru from Weed (not a good choice if you are coming to Eugene, but if you like the scenic route). Taking this route you are likely to see snow both north of Redding as you come over mount shasta, and then again pretty anywhere north of Klamath Falls.
If you shoot straight north up I-5 to Eugene, it's very common to have either a carry chains or chains required condition when you are coming over Mount Ashland, crossing the border between states, as you come down the back side into Medford/Ashland area the snow will likely dry out and you will just have a cold rainy drive from there to Eugene.
If you are coming from the East I'm not too familiar with the far eastern reaches of the state so getting there is up to you, but at some point to get to Eugene from eastern Oregon you will find yourself on either Hwy 58 or Hwy 26 (? not sure on this one, its Santiam Pass). 58 will bring you directly into the Springfield/Eugene metro area, Santiam dumps you out on I-5 approx an hour north of Eugene. Both of these highways are usually carry chains in the winter with weather dictating chains required conditions.
For those coming via I-5 north from cali, also be aware of rain conditions, the northern cali sections of I-5 have pretty bad problems with washing out and being closed in really bad rainy seasons. An average winter you usually dont see it, but in 1996 there were so many roads/highways flooded between Eugene and SoCal we ended up being detoured clear to Reno, NV; via backwater 2 lane highways. Not fun.
Hope this is helpful to some of you travellers.
02/28/2006 (1:45 pm)
Snow chains are illegal where? Not in oregon.I'm not a weather man, but if you coming from California the two main routes are hwy 97 North thru from Weed (not a good choice if you are coming to Eugene, but if you like the scenic route). Taking this route you are likely to see snow both north of Redding as you come over mount shasta, and then again pretty anywhere north of Klamath Falls.
If you shoot straight north up I-5 to Eugene, it's very common to have either a carry chains or chains required condition when you are coming over Mount Ashland, crossing the border between states, as you come down the back side into Medford/Ashland area the snow will likely dry out and you will just have a cold rainy drive from there to Eugene.
If you are coming from the East I'm not too familiar with the far eastern reaches of the state so getting there is up to you, but at some point to get to Eugene from eastern Oregon you will find yourself on either Hwy 58 or Hwy 26 (? not sure on this one, its Santiam Pass). 58 will bring you directly into the Springfield/Eugene metro area, Santiam dumps you out on I-5 approx an hour north of Eugene. Both of these highways are usually carry chains in the winter with weather dictating chains required conditions.
For those coming via I-5 north from cali, also be aware of rain conditions, the northern cali sections of I-5 have pretty bad problems with washing out and being closed in really bad rainy seasons. An average winter you usually dont see it, but in 1996 there were so many roads/highways flooded between Eugene and SoCal we ended up being detoured clear to Reno, NV; via backwater 2 lane highways. Not fun.
Hope this is helpful to some of you travellers.
#6
I should clarify, there is actually 2 states they can dictate, chains or traction devices required, in this state you can have chains, snowtires or 4wd (i think, def on the snow tires), and then there is chains required, which means chains only no substitutions, not even snow tires.
I was a little surprised when my dad told me that. I have a new jeep myself, and I assumed the 4wd would be legal, but apparently it's not.
02/28/2006 (4:53 pm)
yes, that's correct, if the road conditions dictate 'chains required' then you must have chains regardless of whether you have 4WD or AWD.I should clarify, there is actually 2 states they can dictate, chains or traction devices required, in this state you can have chains, snowtires or 4wd (i think, def on the snow tires), and then there is chains required, which means chains only no substitutions, not even snow tires.
I was a little surprised when my dad told me that. I have a new jeep myself, and I assumed the 4wd would be legal, but apparently it's not.
#7
01/15/2010 (10:18 am)
Just a quick note. You should NEVER install tire chains on your car without talking to a professional or at least somebody who has done it before. The chance for damage to your car and the road is extremely high if guesswork is involved. If you ever need any help, click that link and ask the boys at Ken Jones. They will talk you through it even if you don't do business with them.
Torque Owner Chris Labombard
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