Chains in BC

Oteven. Thanks for the offer. I really dont like my rig to be in snow.

I cannot see myself buying grips for the drives. They are expensive Nd then you have to change them when you get to the coast. Nuts.

It snowed last nights in parts of BC. I know above Merritt on the Hwy got some, and cooler wet weather is coming over the next couple of days.
There is a reason that BC’s winter tire / chain requirements kick in October 1st and run until April 30th.
Winter chains don’t cover you for meeting the requirements. You must have the correct winter tires on first, then you can carry chains if you like.
Motor homes fall under the camper symbol on the sign.

charlestonsouthern wrote:
Moisheh -- Granted, I don't personally know the terrain you will have to cross to get to the other side of those mountains. But it sounds like at present that you don't have any "Mother Nature" problems. Can't you drive that territory now (immediately if not sooner -- ha!) with your rig before the weather closes in and store the rig (or leave it with someone you know) on the other side of the mountains until if perchance the border opens up. Of course, that still doesn't handle the problem of your traversing the mountains again from home in snow in a standard vehicle with chains to meet up with your rig if the border surprisingly opens up.

We were on the east coast for a couple of months (July/August), and drove thru BC on the way home on Sept 13. Sept 15, the Coquihala Highway had a snow storm....... Not much, but enough to remind you that winter is coming to the high country.

Like I said--any time. :)

Moisheh -- Granted, I don't personally know the terrain you will have to cross to get to the other side of those mountains. But it sounds like at present that you don't have any "Mother Nature" problems. Can't you drive that territory now (immediately if not sooner -- ha!) with your rig before the weather closes in and store the rig (or leave it with someone you know) on the other side of the mountains until if perchance the border opens up. Of course, that still doesn't handle the problem of your traversing the mountains again from home in snow in a standard vehicle with chains to meet up with your rig if the border surprisingly opens up.

moisheh wrote:
Thanks for the replies. We will not be going through the mountains this fall/winter!!!!!

Never fear moiseh!

Climate change will make summer tire transits of the western mountains in January a normal thing.

Meanwhile- if you need to get to the lower Fraser valley I’ll meet you in Calgary, you fly I’ll drive your rig. I’ll fly back to Calgary.

Thanks for the replies. We will not be going through the mountains this fall/winter!!!!!

Little bit of info for people who don’t follow the British Columbia winter tire requirements:

BC winter tire requirements

I live in the valley below two mountain passes, you can’t go east or west from here with out going over one of them.
I have witnessed firsthand once, and read in the local news paper a few other times over the last number of years the RCMP and or the CVSE ( DOT) set up road blocks checking tires / chain requirements. The time I was stopped ( 2 winters ago) it was the morning before a winter storm was set to roll in across southern BC. They were turning some people around at the road block that didn’t have the correct tires, they were giving out tickets to some, and all the semi’s where getting ticketed and turned around who didn’t meet the standards. There were also a number of vehicles that got towed from the road blocks as well, for what I don’t know.
For the Correct answer to your question call CVSE.
Info to Call CVSE here.

So yes, they do check from time to time.
Soup.

Check here here for answers.
There is contact info at the bottom of the page if you want to call/email to get more info from the horses mouth.

I would think that winter tires on your toad will be a minimum.

If you have driven the BC mountain passes at this time of year, you may know that it can snow any time. I definitely wouldn't want to be driving your combo in a snow storm in the mountains running summer tires.

Check here for road conditions in BC.

You only have to have chains available to you, not use them. Buy the cheapest, lightest set you can find, then pay attention to the forecast. AutoSocks are also acceptable, if you want to push your luck a bit.