Apr 11
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I’ve never rented a car before or seen snow and I don’t know about snow chains.?

4 Comments

We’re going on our honeymoon and we’re renting a car to go from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe via Yosemite. We were told that to go into Yosemite we have to have snow chains, they don’t have to be on the car we just have to have them. I contacted Alamo and they said they don’t rent them… does anyone know of a rental place that does rent them or how can we get them just to have them n the car?

I honestly don’t know if anywhere rents them, and if they do, it can’t be much cheaper than buying them. If you buy them in San Francisco or somewhere in the Bay area, you can get a set for both front tires for $60-80 or so… maybe even less. They aren’t very difficult to put on once you know what you’re doing (basically connect the ends and put them over your tires like a shawl… then connect the botton to the top… takes about 2 minutes)… but definitely know what you’re doing before you get there, as once you’re on a road that requires them, you’ll likely be far away from anyone at the side of the road to help you. Most any auto-part store you buy them from would be happy to help you, as it’s a 1-2 minute effort for a $60+ sale. So just ask.

However, buy them and learn how to use them before you get to the mountains, as the price instantly doubles.

Also, as to what the person above said about 4-wheel drive… you still need chains. Even if you don’t *need* them, you’re required to have them, and can be cited/fined/not allowed on the road if you don’t. And there’s usually a cop sitting a check-point to enforce that.

That said… driving in a snow is a whole different animal, so just be aware of that and make sure you know how to maneuver if you start sliding

468x60 2 Ive never rented a car before or seen snow and I dont know about snow chains.?

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Posted in Car Chains by admin 4 Comments

4 Responses to "I’ve never rented a car before or seen snow and I don’t know about snow chains.?"

  • chefgrille says:
    April 28, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    You can buy them when going through a pass, but they’ll be expensive. Go to an auto parts place like Kragens and pick up a set. They’re about $25 or so. If you don’t know how to put them on, there are people along the road in the passes who will do it for you right there for another $20+. I don’t know what you’ll do with them after you return. If you can’t sell or give them away to someone, just return them in the car and let the rental place deal with what to do with them.
    References :

  • tonalc1 says:
    April 28, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    In addition to the good advice above (about buying them vs. renting), I would recommend that you take some time to practice putting them on. It’s not that difficult, but it could be if you’re trying to figure it out in the middle of a snowstorm.

    You may not be around a facility that will put the chains on for you in Yosemite.
    References :

  • Time travler says:
    April 28, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    You probably get by fine renting just a four wheel drive vehicle. We did that when going up to Mt Hood in Oregon. As far as Yosemite goes, all the roads that are open at that time of year don’t require chains very often at all, but the others aren’t even open till around May or June. I have been to Yosemite in the winter with 4 wheel drive and never used it. So I’d take a chance of just doing the 4 wheel drive thing. The only time you need more then 4 wheel drive is in a blizzard and you don’t want to be out in that anyway. The signs may say chains required, but usually 4 wheel drive is OK.
    References :

  • On the Radio Uh Oh says:
    April 28, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I honestly don’t know if anywhere rents them, and if they do, it can’t be much cheaper than buying them. If you buy them in San Francisco or somewhere in the Bay area, you can get a set for both front tires for $60-80 or so… maybe even less. They aren’t very difficult to put on once you know what you’re doing (basically connect the ends and put them over your tires like a shawl… then connect the botton to the top… takes about 2 minutes)… but definitely know what you’re doing before you get there, as once you’re on a road that requires them, you’ll likely be far away from anyone at the side of the road to help you. Most any auto-part store you buy them from would be happy to help you, as it’s a 1-2 minute effort for a $60+ sale. So just ask.

    However, buy them and learn how to use them before you get to the mountains, as the price instantly doubles.

    Also, as to what the person above said about 4-wheel drive… you still need chains. Even if you don’t *need* them, you’re required to have them, and can be cited/fined/not allowed on the road if you don’t. And there’s usually a cop sitting a check-point to enforce that.

    That said… driving in a snow is a whole different animal, so just be aware of that and make sure you know how to maneuver if you start sliding
    References :

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