BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: RonKStevens on March 30, 2024, 03:17:14 PM
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I am debating a trip west through the Rocky Mountains to California in August, but I am unsure of the chain laws. I have driven plenty of mountain passes on the east coast, but I know there is a difference between 3500ft and 7500ft. I am also concerned since I changed the final gear, my bus does not like going uphill at all. It handles 3-4% okay, but above that it really slows down.
I want to visit the San Francisco area, so coming and going using the southern route is not possible since that would put me over my 1000 miles that I am permitted to drive in California.
I just looking for what the I-80 will look like in August. I might also drop down into Denver and take I-70 east.
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I drove my bus from Denver to Sacramento. I was advised to head north then. take the 80 all the way rather than 70. It was an easy drive, no need for chains and the elevation was not any concern during the summer.
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August is typically our hottest month. The pull up to the tunnel can be taxing in hot weather but doable. Then comes vail pass that is another good pull but doable. The last thing you will need is chains that time of year..
Taking I80 is a good way to go but why drive all that way to see a lot of nothing in Wyoming. You will enjoy the colorado mountains.
Wayne
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Rusty coming from the big city wyoming is always nice to see the wide open space maybe do 70 on the retur trip ;)
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Yes but the hardest pull is east bound from Silverthorne up to the tunnel. I would go west bound I70 and east bound I80.
Ps how you doing Van
Wayne
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Yep you're right about that east bound pull, agreed! :) getting better little each day. Still on the O2 though, hopefull not needef in the future. ;)
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What about 70 West of Denver?
I am planning a northern/Southern route. Either I will be entering from the south, then head north to San Francisco, and back east on a northern route (70 or 80) or the same thing in the opposite direction.
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the southern route is not possible since that would put me over my 1000 miles that I am permitted to drive in California.
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What does that mean????
David
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You don't want to be south in August stay north where it is a little cooler
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I tend to travel when and where chains are unnecessary.
How ever I am considering buying socks instead...
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What does that mean????
David
As a 2002 model my bus is not compliant with CARB laws and prohibited in California. However, I am able to use a "low mileage exemption" as long as I drive under 1000 miles per year in the state of California. I submit mileage records every year to show that I qualify for the exemption, just in case I make the trip that I am now planning. Needles CA to the Cajon Pass is about 950 miles routing to the different places that I want to stop on my trip.
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I did not think that CARB applies to private vehicles.
Who says 1000 miles?
I have not heard of private motorhome registered vehicles being restricted to travel in California.
Commercial, maybe so.
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Stevens... the trip that I am now planning. Needles CA to the Cajon Pass is about 950 miles routing to the different places that I want to stop on my trip. ?...
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I did not think that CARB applies to private vehicles.
Who says 1000 miles?
I have not heard of private motorhome registered vehicles being restricted to travel in California.
Commercial, maybe so.
CARB applies to all vehicles, commercial or private. When I bought my bus I wasn't sure and the information online I found a bit ambiguous so I called CARB directly. I explained that it was a private vehicle not being used for commercial purposes. They requested the VIN and since the age was older than a 2010 engine I was prohibited from entering California, but I could qualify for the low mileage exemption if I drove under 1000 miles per year in California. So since then each year I report my mileage and show that I have traveled 0 miles in California to keep my status current and I receive a document showing that I am compliant. I did not want to risk receiving any fines, or be prohibited from entering the state. CARB is a pain but I wanted to make sure that I was legal.
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See https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/LowUseFAQADA.pdf for a fact sheet from CARB regarding the low use exemption.
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Where does it state this is for private vehicles?
Are you registered as a motorhome in your home state?
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Screw CARB. I live in Kommifornia and hear about this crap all the time. They change the rules and promulgations constantly so that there isn't any way at all to know what the current thinking is. It's best to ignore the whole noisy mess. As a private non-commercial, not-for-hire, recreational vehicle they don't have any real authority over me or anyone else with a private Motor Home. They just think they do and try to scare us into complying with their Diktats. They have to locate and catch us first, and they admit they have bigger fish to fry anyway so they leave us alone.
Why would you ever choose to willingly place yourself under their authority just to "Be Legal". They are the Usurpers and "We The People" should not comply with unconstitutional "Laws". Just because they say some Regulatory issuance is the Law doesn't make it so, unless and until the Legislature takes it up, and even then there are many grounds for disallowing such Executive/Legislative Branch overreach. Oh, and first they have to catch you, and who's to say how many miles you have been in Kommifornia anyway. "I have no idea, why do you need to know anyway?" works if actually stopped. Being from out of State means you don't have any obligation to inform them of your unknown future travel plans. Do you do this with all the other 49 States you may decide to traverse someday??? You also don't need to go through Scales or POE's either, you're a private vehicle.
You are an American Citizen with a God given right to free and unfettered travel anywhere in these United States with no interference from any over-reaching out of control Government entities. Remember this, and choose to be ungovernable, and don't give them any more power over you in this regard. Your State of Residence has your legal qualifications already met and any other State is obligated under the Constitution to honor whatever your State requires, DLicense, insurance, registration, etc.. Kommifornia can go suck eggs trying to extort from itinerant travelers passing through the State. You owe them exactly NOTHING. Don't give'm anything, it only encourages them to do more horrible things. Rant Off.
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The current Clean Truck Check Program supersedes and merges HD/IM. It CLEARLY states the regulations on private bus are those registered in
California and those plated out of state are exempt from the regulations.
The 1000 exemption is very interesting. How long have you used this path? Do you still have to pay annual DMV fees? One other option is to plate it out of state like Montana.
I am considering doing so if it saves money overall and worth the extra hassles. I've convinced myself that my bus is on the road in state for so few hours a year, that problems associated with LEO is not worth the worry.
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you guys worry to much.They don't have the time to mess with old buses or care. Sure if you are dumb enough to go to them they will tell you , you owe them money and you are stirring the bees when you do. Someone went to them a few years ago ( I won't say who on this board) but they knew little of our buses until he keep emailing them and they went whatttttt. We could scare them and make money for the state confers. I left the state years ago and would not go back.
22 states just told the Feds they will not put up smog readers on hyways across the country in these states that they want them to do. They tabled the law and killed it today. :^
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Dave - poking the hive with stick might apply here, don't know. I am certain most pre 90 bus conversions in the state have no clue about CTC and haven't registered with CARB.
I speculate that CARB would need to request the DMV for a list of pre 90 bus conversions (i.e. motorhomes) and compare that with those registered in their system. They would need to send a letter to the registered owner and tell them they need to register. The list of those not registered would go back to DMV with instructions to flag them to suspend registration.