Automatic snow chains, and the law on carrying them?

The company I worked for when I had them was in Sacramento, and I went over Donner weekly year round. Caltrans never blinked an eye at them and waved me through.

 

Hmmm, yeah I ran to port of Oakland everyweek for 10 years across Donner 2 times a week. Was turned around at king vale more than once or Donner lake road.
Was told if no auto chains on trailer no go.
But just May have been chain crew in middle of road. Either way experiences may differ

 

Chain controls on Donner require 2 drag chains on trailer. 1 on each side of trailer tandems doesn't matter which wheels It can be auto or throw them on

 

I can confirm Donner Pass Chain Control can make up their own rules.

 

No they don't change the rules. No one hates CalTrans as much as I do but they are constant with the controls. I go over the hill everytime it snows unless it's closed and they either have it at minimum or maximum or closed

 

They're legal in every state. I've never had any trouble with CalTrans changing the rules, although there were some who had to check with a supervisor because they had never heard of them before. That was a few years ago, and they're more common now. When I drove with auto chains, about the only vehicles on the road with them were school buses.

 

Any idea how much they cost? I was thinking about getting some put on my new truck next winter.

 

Probably around $8,000 to $10,000 installed. They aren't cheap.

 

Much cheaper if ordered on a new truck about 4K add on yeah open up and prepare for insertion