Has anyone rved in the snow? I live in ILL and think about going to florida around new years. I know there is no snow in florida but there will snow in the rocky mountians and have to go through them to get to florida. I have a 31 foot motorhome. I am not sure if this would be to much of a risk or just wait in till sprink time?
If you are going from Ill to Florida by way of the Rockie Mountains, you are certainly going the long way around. If you mean the Smokey Mountains, you can bypass them easily. You can still get involved in snow, but you can just sit it out. We never drive the RV in snow and ice, but I am sure that others on the board will give you drivng advise. You will have to work out what you are going to do to keep your water lines from freezing.
QUOTE(Lindsay Richards @ Aug 2 2009, 08:01 PM) [snapback]18017[/snapback] If you are going from Ill to Florida by way of the Rockie Mountains, you are certainly going the long way around. If you mean the Smokey Mountains, you can bypass them easily. You can still get involved in snow, but you can just sit it out. We never drive the RV in snow and ice, but I am sure that others on the board will give you drivng advise. You will have to work out what you are going to do to keep your water lines from freezing. Opps I ment the smokey mountains. My water lines are heated by flipping a switch so they say at the dealer I will most like will hold out in till spring just wanted to see what you guys thought. This is our first rv and I guess dont want to summer to end winters in ILL can be bad and never ending cold.
North to south in Winter (i e Canada - Florida), I sympathise and worry with those people being concerned to travel at this time. I am in Ottawa, Canada and I usually spend my December - March time at a campsite closed to Tampa, however, during last two past winters the weather at the end of December was so unpredictable because of black ice, snow storms, rain and…. you mention it and I will agree with you, h34r: that this winter, I shall leave at the end of November and forfeiting the holidays time with the relatives here. It is easy to say,… check the weather report… as a gentleman in this forum was suggesting but when you are travelling 12 or 1,300 miles from Ottawa, you have to consider that the first 6 – 700 miles are the most unpredictable for the weather, yes, you may monitor, let’s say Ottawa – Syracuse portion but it is very difficult for us to monitor a further sector down and this unreachable information forced forced me spend two days at the Mechanic Town’s shopping center few winters ago because of more than 3 feet of snow on the highways. h34r: I am not brushing off your suggestion of looking at the forecast but in several cases that’s not enough and you still hope to be lucky enough to avoid the worst..
I had to return my Hurricane to Earhart last Feb. Ran snow in Indiana and on the ground when i got there. coach stayed warm i had winterized it so there was no water used bottled water in the black tank then when i got south hooked up at a campground. Also went camping in march and got snowed in just put a drop light in the water and utility bays had no problem (actually enjoyed sitting in the coach and watching it snow the snow did knockout the sat dish thou)
RV1: We leave Maine each year for the Southeast or the Southwest about April 1. Two years ago, we had snow across central New York and again in Ohio. This year, we had snow in Mass and Penn during early April....and again on June 5-6th in Yellowstone!! Last year we had 8 inches on Memorial Day in Flagstaff. As long as it's not a major blizzard, you'll be okay. Just turn on your heated tanks and disconnect the water line before you go to bed (storing it in the truck/basement or wherever). Make sure your propane tanks are full, because the furnace will run a lot at night. It usually melts fast in late November and in the spring. I don't find it as scary as I used to. If it is a major blizzard, then just stay put. It will melt eventually.
QUOTE(MaineDon @ Aug 5 2009, 03:55 PM) [snapback]18123[/snapback] RV1: We leave Maine each year for the Southeast or the Southwest about April 1. Two years ago, we had snow across central New York and again in Ohio. This year, we had snow in Mass and Penn during early April....and again on June 5-6th in Yellowstone!! Last year we had 8 inches on Memorial Day in Flagstaff. As long as it's not a major blizzard, you'll be okay. Just turn on your heated tanks and disconnect the water line before you go to bed (storing it in the truck/basement or wherever). Make sure your propane tanks are full, because the furnace will run a lot at night. It usually melts fast in late November and in the spring. I don't find it as scary as I used to. If it is a major blizzard, then just stay put. It will melt eventually. Well, 2 years ago, I was just leaving Ottawa (10 Mile x H) and suddenly the 5th W went sideway and the corner of it smashed into the rear window of the truck and the scary part was that I could not do a thing, the truck and trailer were sliding on black ice. Now consider that happening on a highway at 40 - 50 miles speed ! We are living in a very precarious part of the world and driving in winter is always hazardous
Hi all, Almost 4 years ago I was driving on a secondary Highway in Saskatchewan just after dark. There is hardly any shoulder on that particular road. I had only six miles to go to where I had arranged to plug in for the night. I was tired but alert. Snow was swirling round the RV--but I could see well enough, that is, until huge double trailer gasoline tanker cut right in front of me. Then I could see nothing for what seemed an eternity. I was afraid to brake as I was not sure anyone would be able to see me from behind. I really could see nothing at all. I figure I used up 8 of my 9 lives that night. I tried to hold the steering wheel straight--and I could see on the GSP that the road was straight. I backed off on the throttle. Since that little experience, I no longer drive at night when it is snowing. I'll boondock before I'll risk my life that way. I do RV in extremely cold weather. See the thread on extreme boondocking. (I'm the record holder I think *grin*)
We camp in the snow as fulltimers, but we're usually settled in for the winter with hard piping for plumbing and heated water hose. We don't travel in the snow. If we have to travel in winter like this coming January, we'll try to avoid driving during bad weather or avoid the routes with steep grades even if it means taking a longer route.
QUOTE(Galli @ Aug 5 2009, 04:30 PM) [snapback]18124[/snapback] Well, 2 years ago, I was just leaving Ottawa (10 Mile x H) and suddenly the 5th W went sideway and the corner of it smashed into the rear window of the truck and the scary part was that I could not do a thing, the truck and trailer were sliding on black ice. Now consider that happening on a highway at 40 - 50 miles speed ! We are living in a very precarious part of the world and driving in winter is always hazardous Ha, ha,ha, welcome Canadian friend, you know what I am talking about when snow is drifting and black ice. It is amazing how yo do become sensitive of the road in that condition, I don't know whether it is my perception or a simple feeling but when I am driving during a snow storm I have my awareness so tense that I thing I even feel how the tires are gripping on the road.
In January of this year, we went to the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas, with our coach. From about Flagstaff north, we had snow. We stayed on the main roads and never had any problems. We parked on the snow at the Grand Canyon RV park. I did spin the wheels one time trying to leave the site, but it quickly got a bite and we were on our way. All you have to do is call and ask if the park roads are passable before you enter an RV park. If you are already parked, and snow comes, then you may have to wait an extra day or so for things to be cleared enough to move on. Obviously you drive differently when ice and snow is present, but people have been driving in Winter since vehicles where invented. Just look at the amount of trucks on the road in Winter. We do use our internal fresh water and only connect to the park's water to top off our tanks. I will wash out and pack away the sewer line after draining the tanks. We are also careful not to pack anything that will freeze in the basement compartments. Personally, I prefer to travel to many places during the Winter months. The crowds are sparse and to me it is a lot better than the oppressive desert heat. I know that in all but the worst storms, the interstate highways, and most of the major secondary roads will be passable. If the storm is so bad that traffic comes to a halt, we would just pull into the nearest hotel/motel and sit it out for a day or so. We try to keep an eye on the upcoming weather and have never had to pull off of the highway because of a major storm. All it takes is just a little planning but the pro's outnumber the con's in our case.
I run in the winter. I have driven in the white stuff too. I usually plan in an extra week when I go so I can sit out the storms. I have spent 3 days in a flying J with about 12 other RVs by the time we all got on the road. It was a mini party and we had fuel and propane and food and well it was pretty nice. I have driven in the mountains too. It is not fun but it can be done but if I get the choice I sit still and wait.You can travel pretty well that way.
We run in the winter, if necessary. We have a 45' rig, and it just takes knowing what to do. Namely, taking it slow, and knowing how to use the brakes. Snow packed roads are the hardest, but do able. If possible, distance is the key. However, things still happen. We came upon a accident that happened right in front of us. That was tough to get stopped in time! It is safest to just not drive if it is snowing. Just stop until the storm is done. They usually get the roads cleaned off pretty quickly. God bless, John
QUOTE(John316 @ Sep 13 2009, 08:56 PM) [snapback]18906[/snapback] We run in the winter, if necessary. We have a 45' rig, and it just takes knowing what to do. Namely, taking it slow, and knowing how to use the brakes. Snow packed roads are the hardest, but do able. If possible, distance is the key. However, things still happen. We came upon a accident that happened right in front of us. That was tough to get stopped in time! It is safest to just not drive if it is snowing. Just stop until the storm is done. They usually get the roads cleaned off pretty quickly. God bless, John right, however, to avoid the problems, starting this winter I shall leave for Florida at the end of November and doing so, I increse by one extra month my vacation ha, ha, ha,ah :lol:
QUOTE(Galli @ Sep 14 2009, 10:17 AM) [snapback]18914[/snapback] right, however, to avoid the problems, starting this winter I shall leave for Florida at the end of November and doing so, I increse by one extra month my vacation ha, ha, ha,ah :lol: Galli, You are retired . I am not . So sometimes I don't have a choice, but when I get to be your age, then, I probably won't drive in the snow either . Good choice. The more people that aren't on the road, the better chance that I will get their safely . God bless, John
QUOTE(John316 @ Sep 16 2009, 09:17 PM) [snapback]18976[/snapback] Galli, You are retired . I am not . So sometimes I don't have a choice, but when I get to be your age, then, I probably won't drive in the snow either . Good choice. The more people that aren't on the road, the better chance that I will get their safely . God bless, John Yes, you are right being retired I can enjoy certain facility that you cannot have yet, however, the reverse part of the medal is that I shall kick the buck earlier than you he, he,he. enjoy your working time and think that with your taxes you are supporting the poor retired persons that have to spend the winter south to avoid the cold weather he, he, he, he.
We've been caught a couple of times in snow storms. Mind you, we live in Minnesota and for years computed in terrible conditions. Our rig is on small side and we tow our car, but hitting Kansas City in rush hour during a snow storm was not fun! We always watch the forecast very closely before heading out in late Dec or early Jan. Our problem has been finding a place to stop and stay put for a while. There just aren't many places available that far north. Three yrs ago we were traveling across northern NM in early April and had been assured that Highway 64 (?) was RV friendly & No mention of snow in the forecast. Wrong--it was narrow with lots of sharp curves and 'white out' conditions. We drove in the middle of the road as the shoulder was non existent and it was very slippery and very windy. Hubby drove very, very slow. We could not see even a wide spot to pull over. Fortunately, we met a car, he stopped--informed us to keep going as there no pace to turn around or stop. He said just going and you will drive out of it. That's what we did in about 45 minutes. Don 't want to do that again! Wind is another thing you have to think about when traveling in the RV. Driving in windy conditions can be very tricky, too. By the way, we are leaving several weeks earlier this year!
We will be making our next year trip to go thru IA, MN. ND, SD, and yellowstone. I had been planning on leaving on about April 15 and getting to IA around May 1st. Will this be fairly safe to avoid snow???
QUOTE(John316 @ Sep 16 2009, 09:17 PM) [snapback]18976[/snapback] Galli, You are retired . I am not . So sometimes I don't have a choice, but when I get to be your age, then, I probably won't drive in the snow either . Good choice. The more people that aren't on the road, the better chance that I will get their safely . God bless, John Thanks John316, I really appreciate your understanding and because of that, I PROMISE, this winter during a snow storm, I shall think to people like you that have to drive in slush or blizzard or black ice and I promise, my word of honor, I shall close my eyes for 10 minutes(while I am on the Golf fishing ) and make a small prayer for all of you poor people that must go to work. Galli, the friendly one.
