Hi,
I am planning on taking my 07 4Runner 4WD to Tahoe for the first time this weekend and the weather says there is a chance of snow so i want to be prepared. I remember when i bought my 4Runner that the dealer had me sign some waiver about not using chains on my tires. And that i should use SNOW ROPES instead? Can someone shed some light on what he meant and where I can get these snow ropes. Thanks!

I was thoroughly unaware of such a waiver, I'm pretty sure I didn't have to sign one. Don't think I've ever heard of snow ropes either. For what its worth, we have 8 inches here, and I have no need for chains.

I've gone up twice this season already once when it was snowing and chain controls were in effect. I'll probably be going again this weekend.

I don't have chains and everyone I've spoken to says most highways leading to Tahoe in NorCal shut down before 4WD vehicles are required install chains.

But keep in mind, the law states you must carry chains with you at all times, 4WD or not.

There are chains and cables. Cables are usually lighter and make less noise than chains. Also cables could come in S form or type for clearance issues when used on cars.

Hi Guys

i have owned multiple kinds of tire cables and chains over the years. My recomendation is the US Made Super Z LT cables, to be the most rugged and user freindly. On my T4R with stock 18'' rims and tires I use the Super Z LT 747 cables. They work well.

and its snowing right now from my place to Tahoe up Hwy 50.

The Super Z's should cost about $80

I used to work in Tahoe and commute back and forth a lot sometimes each week, sometimes each day, so I have a lot of experience in snow, and Ive driven from Canada to Northern CA in snow on Cables one year. They are very worth it

but dont go over the recomended speed, if you hear a banging sound, its the cables (or chains) banging on the inside of the wheel well and its doing damage to your car.

good luck

Joe

They go on pretty easily and that's big to me. Chains were harder to put on and I didn't like having to deal with making sure all the links were untwisted or letting them stay that way and increase the risk of breakage. This was all determined just by fitting in the garage, btw. I haven't used the cables in snow yet, but my reading around the net has convinced me they work well.

is everyone going to tahoe this weekend? We should have a T4R meet there. I am going tommorow.

I don't have 4WD, but when I went up I bought some used chains and didn't have to put them on. There were some times when I was fish tailing and couldn't go up a hill though.

Some of the folks on this site who off road a lot will probably know this trick. It a temporary fix to increase traction.

A snow rope, can be made by taking a length of rope and tie'ing one end of it to the spoke of a tire rim, and then looping the rope thru the rim and around the tire, multiple times around the circumference of the tire, it has to be pulled very tight and tied off securely. The rope provides an uneven surface between the surface of the tire and the road surface (or snow/ice), and therefore increases traction.

But this will not last long, if you spin your tires or break hard and skid, the rope will break and the additional traction will be lost.

and I doubt a traction device like this would be DOT approved, so it would work in an emergency situation, but if you tried to use it say on Hwy50 towards Tahoe and the CALTRANS guys saw it, they would probably pull you over

joe

but did anyone have to sign a waiver?...

No waiver signed. Everything signed was legal paperwork for the DMV.

I'll be at Tahoe this weekend. I'm going to Sierra, since Northstar is blacked out for me.