2500 v 3500 and Chain Requirements

[mtofell1]

Here's a funny one I found today in my state or Oregon - 10,000# GVWR and under, traction tires can take the place of chains. Over 10,000# you have to chain up like commercial vehicles.

I know from all the debating that some states have registration things that vary between 2500 and 3500 trucks but Oregon doesn't so this was a bit of a surprise. I guess I'm happy I have a 2500 and snow tires.

Here's the link: https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Chain-Law

[blt2ski]

mtofell1 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
My 2005 F250 extend cab short bed with 4wd and diesel weighed 7250 lbs empty. I think the only way you get under 6500 LB on a new truck would be a low trim gasser with 2wd.

I'm @ 6960# with a 2500 Ram 6.4 Hemi 4X4 so I think you're about right. It would take a pretty stripped down 4X2 2500 to come in under 6500#

My 88 4x4 ext cab was 5800. The ref cab I drive is 4800...... My 96 diesel crew 4x was 6600 lbs. Would not be hard to be under 6500! Just can not have a full leather pkg, crew cab, 8' box diesel 4x.

Marty

[mtofell1]

Bedlam wrote:
My 2005 F250 extend cab short bed with 4wd and diesel weighed 7250 lbs empty. I think the only way you get under 6500 LB on a new truck would be a low trim gasser with 2wd.

I'm @ 6960# with a 2500 Ram 6.4 Hemi 4X4 so I think you're about right. It would take a pretty stripped down 4X2 2500 to come in under 6500#

[Bedlam]

My 2005 F250 extend cab short bed with 4wd and diesel weighed 7250 lbs empty. I think the only way you get under 6500 LB on a new truck would be a low trim gasser with 2wd.

[IdaD]

I grew up in Oregon. It’s kind of a nanny state in terms of winter driving requirements. I guess not all that surprising with most of the population residing in the valley where winter weather is kind of rare.

[ktmrfs]

rhagfo wrote:
I see this is posted in the Tow Vehicle heading so if only talking about the TV then most of what is posted is true.
The story is totally different once you have a trailer attached! I my opinion once the “Traction Tires Required” is posted you need to have both chains on the TV and trailer! I carry a set for both all the time, never know when you will get caught by the weather.

I also carry both, and I believe you are correct. Now retired, if chains are required and I'm towing, I just stay parked somewhere. Have towed with chains and it was not fun.

[blt2ski]

I've been up to t-line with chains required towing my old TT. Came down to gvmnt camp with chains on trailer and chain chains on rear, and cables on front axme of truck. 50-60 mph winds. That was a fun trip down on that 10% grade.

As far as how many 25/35 series trucks are under 6500 lbs...most if not ALL rev cabs, be them dw or sw. Some dw with lots of options may be over. My C2500 ref cab weighs 4800 lbs.
Higher over 6500 lbs for ext or crew cabs....But with that said, my 88 K3500 ext cab was 5800 lbs. My 96 K3500 CC diesel at 6600, was just over. A gas would.have been under.
New rigs are all about 1000 lbs higher tare since about 2010 or so. Seen a lot if rev cab GM 2500s with the 6.0 showing a tare of 5600-5800 lbs...
For anyone traveling in western states in mountains, should carry chains, for truck and trailer if you have ANY inkling you might be over an LPO's gut that you are needing chains when appropriate signage is up.
Was St iirc is Nov to end of March, you can be ticketed as I read the law in downtown Seattle if not carrying chains on a sunny clear day, no snow in the ground, above freezing during that time frame.
Look up rules and laws, ask an LPO if you have ANY doubts as to what may or may not be expected of you. I've seen pamphlets in Wa Idaho, Or and Ca with very precise chain up regs.
Marty

[rhagfo]

I see this is posted in the Tow Vehicle heading so if only talking about the TV then most of what is posted is true.
The story is totally different once you have a trailer attached! I my opinion once the “Traction Tires Required” is posted you need to have both chains on the TV and trailer! I carry a set for both all the time, never know when you will get caught by the weather.

[ktmrfs]

mtofell1 wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:

mtofell1 wrote:
10,000# GVWR and under, traction tires can take the place of chains ... I guess I'm happy I have a 2500 and snow tires.

You need to know that there is a difference between "snow tires" and "winter tires". Winter tires use a softer rubber that grips hard packed snow and ice better than any other tire.

Not sure I know the difference. I have a snow flake rating on the side of my tire and that is what is referenced on my state's website.

Edit - https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/snow-tires-vs-winter-tires#

Here's an interesting article that clears it up a bit.

the article is spot on. when the first studless winter tires came out they were the only ones with a snowflake rating. they were and are very good winter tires, but tend to wear quite rapidly and aren't very good summer tires. I've run them and studded tires and my experience is that unless it's just near freezing on ice or hardpacked snow they outperform a studded tire. And even then they are close to a studded tire. And are way better than studded tires on wet or dry pavement or once temps drop below about 20F on ice/snow.

Now it seems like there are a lot of "snowflake" tires that aren't being advertized as a studless winter tire at all and don't have the same cold weather, snow and ice performance. Likely better than M&S or regular tires. Seems to have gone the same route as the M&S which originally had some meaning. Now a lot of basically highway tread tires have a M&S stamp.

[ktmrfs]

blt2ski wrote:
Ktsmrf,
The 6500 lb part is tare or empty weight of truck, no passengers, cargo etc on board.
The 10,000 part, as I've read it and understand it to be registered max GVW you can legally run down the road at.
Example, if you had a reg cab 35 series gas rig with 4wd. It's very possible you empty weight is under 6500 lbs. But you may have a max capacity of 12,000 gross. I can see how in the example you could continue in 4wd with correct tires. BUT my 96 sw CC, at 6600 empty, and 05 dually CC at 7200 empty, both with paid for licenses over 10j give, would have to chain up, even if the at that time loaded, gvw is under 10,000 gvw.

Marty

true, but how many 3/4 ton trucks are under 6500 empty tare weight, some, but likely not very many. However, I doubt that they would ever check anyway.

That said, many a time I've gone to mt hood with the chains/traction tire signs up and they just let me through in my old duramax and my new denali duramax once they saw the snowflake tires and I said I had chains (which I did in the bed) . Never even checked for 4wd, or worry about weight and the truck doesn't have a 4wd sticker, nor did the 04.5.

Now there have been a few times where they have on mt. hood required EVERYONE to chain up. no chains on, no go.

[mtofell1]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

mtofell1 wrote:
10,000# GVWR and under, traction tires can take the place of chains ... I guess I'm happy I have a 2500 and snow tires.

You need to know that there is a difference between "snow tires" and "winter tires". Winter tires use a softer rubber that grips hard packed snow and ice better than any other tire.

Not sure I know the difference. I have a snow flake rating on the side of my tire and that is what is referenced on my state's website.

Edit - https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/snow-tires-vs-winter-tires#

Here's an interesting article that clears it up a bit.

[blt2ski]

Ktsmrf,
The 6500 lb part is tare or empty weight of truck, no passengers, cargo etc on board.
The 10,000 part, as I've read it and understand it to be registered max GVW you can legally run down the road at.
Example, if you had a reg cab 35 series gas rig with 4wd. It's very possible you empty weight is under 6500 lbs. But you may have a max capacity of 12,000 gross. I can see how in the example you could continue in 4wd with correct tires. BUT my 96 sw CC, at 6600 empty, and 05 dually CC at 7200 empty, both with paid for licenses over 10j give, would have to chain up, even if the at that time loaded, gvw is under 10,000 gvw.

Marty

[wnjj]

ktmrfs wrote:
note that the exemption for 4wd ONLY applies to vehicles with GVW under 6500lbs, However this seems to conflict with signage since sinage usually says over 10,000lbs.

The 6500 is unloaded weight and the 10k is GVWR (rating).

[theoldwizard1]

mtofell1 wrote:
10,000# GVWR and under, traction tires can take the place of chains ... I guess I'm happy I have a 2500 and snow tires.

You need to know that there is a difference between "snow tires" and "winter tires". Winter tires use a softer rubber that grips hard packed snow and ice better than any other tire.

[enblethen]

Here is more info on Oregon Chain Laws.

Oregon Minimum Chain Requirements