Spark Arrester required?

Omega blood · July 30, 2007, 10:21 AM

I was looking for places to hunt and while looking the the San Bernardino National Forest site it says spark arresters are required for off road vehicles.
From what I gather they are required on all national forests.
The only off road vehicles I was going to use was my suburban.
The site gives some legal speak at the bottom and I also looked at the vehicle code website but still know as to whether or not I need one on my truck.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardin...arrester.shtml
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c5a2.htm

Can someone help me out, I don't speak legalese.

Scorch · July 30, 2007, 12:54 PM

Your Suburban is not an off-road vehicle (OHV or Off-Highway Vehicle). OHVs are vehicles specifically designed for off-highway use, and are not licensed for highway use. I am assuming this Suburban is licensed for highway use, like most Suburbans. If you read the info in your link

Quote:

"CVC 38366. (a) Notwithstanding Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code, and except for vehicles with mufflers as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 27150) of Chapter 5 of Division 12, no . . .

you will see that your street-legal Suburban is not affected by this rule. However, some National Forests do require heat shields under the catalytic converters of 4WD vehicles.

Omega blood · July 30, 2007, 01:04 PM

Thanks Scorch, I had read that part and proceeded to try and read the vehicle codes it refers to and got more confused.

armedandsafe · July 30, 2007, 06:14 PM

Even if the NF you are visiting dows not require a heat shield under the cat, it is a good idea to have one. Cats get hot enough to start instant fires in dry grass or low brush. I have fought enough stubble field fires to know whereof I speak. It is only slightly embarrassing to be fighting a fire and starting another one at the same time, as we found out when we took delivery of our first pickups with cats.

Pops

July 30, 2007, 10:21 AM	#1
Omega blood Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2005 Posts: 161	Spark Arrester required? I was looking for places to hunt and while looking the the San Bernardino National Forest site it says spark arresters are required for off road vehicles. From what I gather they are required on all national forests. The only off road vehicles I was going to use was my suburban. The site gives some legal speak at the bottom and I also looked at the vehicle code website but still know as to whether or not I need one on my truck. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardin...arrester.shtml http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c5a2.htm Can someone help me out, I don't speak legalese.

July 30, 2007, 06:14 PM	#4
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	Even if the NF you are visiting dows not require a heat shield under the cat, it is a good idea to have one. Cats get hot enough to start instant fires in dry grass or low brush. I have fought enough stubble field fires to know whereof I speak. It is only slightly embarrassing to be fighting a fire and starting another one at the same time, as we found out when we took delivery of our first pickups with cats. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."

July 30, 2007, 01:04 PM	#3
Omega blood Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2005 Posts: 161	Thanks Scorch, I had read that part and proceeded to try and read the vehicle codes it refers to and got more confused.