Cold Weather travel tips

[akcretired]

Looking for some winter weather travel tips. Heading to the NW for a few weeks to spend the Holidays with family. This will be my first time driving and staying in cold weather (below freezing) with my RV.

Tire pressures verified.
Chains bought and stowed
Tank heaters checked and set
Water tank filled
Gray/Black water valves will remain shut until needing dumped.

My plan is to use the fresh water in the tank until it needs filled then refill from city water line as needed.

I have my basement heaters set to 40 to keep everything cozy during my time up north.

Any advise on driving a 42' tag axle over snowy mountain roads?

Any advise will be good advise for this nervous traveler.

Thanks

[Unplanned Tourist]

Best advice I can give is Leave Early! If there are bad roads, you can wait it out and not be forced to drive in the ice and snow. Lived all my life with winter conditions every year. Now I'm retired, I can drive when the roads are good, and park if they are bad. Take it easy, and have a fun trip.

[Brad W]

Where are you coming from and what route are you taking?

Coming north on I5 you have Mt. Shasta and Mt. Ashland. I wouldn't want to go through that on chains. This is a major artery and storms don't hang out long up here. I'm with previous advice, leave a day early and plan to stay in Redding if weather dictates. Chances are within 24 hrs you can pass. When you do, leave late to allow for some thaw time.

Coming from east on 84 I think it is the Blue mountain range that you go through on way towards Pendleton. Then you have the Gorge. I've done both in snow, but not in a RV. Wasn't fun and I'd wait it out if they were getting stormed. Problem is the storms up here run west to east, so you could have inclimate weather the whole stretch - not fun and if it ices in the Gorge, you could have the road closed for a while, then its dicey once it opens... pretty, but treacherous

[jacwjames]

Get a remote temp monitor for basement and wet bay to make sure it is above freezing.

If you hit icing on roads just pull off and wait it out. Travel with full fuel and run your generator as necessary.

Take your time and you will be fine. Road conditions will dictate your driving.

[akcretired]

Thanks for the info. Heading north from Seal Beach, CA up I-5 to Arlington WA. Leaving weds and don't need to be there until Saturday. I have been watching the weather daily. Looks like if I can make it through the mountains on Thursday the temps are mid to upper 40's. Turns nasty on Friday. Never thought about a later start to let the roads thaw from the night freeze. Good advise I will use.

Thanks again. Looking forward to seeing my granddaughter for the first time and spending a few weeks of bonding time.

Will PU a bay temp monitor tomorrow

[Magellan]

Originally Posted by akcretired

Thanks for the info. Heading north from Seal Beach, CA up I-5 to Arlington WA. Leaving weds and don't need to be there until Saturday. I have been watching the weather daily. Looks like if I can make it through the mountains on Thursday the temps are mid to upper 40's. Turns nasty on Friday. Never thought about a later start to let the roads thaw from the night freeze. Good advise I will use.

Thanks again. Looking forward to seeing my granddaughter for the first time and spending a few weeks of bonding time.

Will PU a bay temp monitor tomorrow

Just a couple more thoughts for you. This web site gives weather and road cams of far northern Ca and much of OR. https://www.tripcheck.com/TextPages/...sp?curRegion=7 The info is timely and the road cams tell it like it is. There are six passes to watch: Mt Shasta (not really a pass), Siskiyou, Sexton, Smith, Stage Road, and Canyon Mt. The temp gauges with the road cams on these passes tell you the whole story. At, near or below freezing, beware. Otherwise, enjoy the scenery, watch your speed on the downhill side, and watch out for semi trucks that are barely grinding their way up while zippy little cars try to dance around you in their quest to be first.

[NLOVNIT]

Have at least 1 space heater to help save your propane usage.

Lori-

[akcretired]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

Have at least 1 space heater to help save your propane usage.

Lori-

I'm an all electric coach. My gas furnace runs on my diesel fuel. No propane needed.

[Brad W]

They are calling for snow / ice in the Portland / Vancouver area starting Wednesday afternoon. The seven day forecast has snowflakes in the picture from Wednesday through Sat

The road conditions link previously provided is probably a good source, but here is the local Portland NBC affiliate 7 Day Forecast | KGW.com

The thing about weather in the NW is the forecast will change at least once a day. So, what Saturday looks like right now will change at least five times as we get closer. Then, the warm and cold air layers that mix may not do what the models predicted, and who knows what we will get until it actually hits the ground.

No matter what, do not attempt to drive in ice. Four wheel drive rigs with chains on all four tires still need to go very slow and can get into trouble. Don't do it. You need to pay attention to the temps because if it is below freezing and raining - you are witnessing the creation of an ice rink and it is extremely dangerous to drive in, even in a car - forget about in a RV

[akcretired]

We're off early in the morning. First stop will be Redding and will determine next destination from there as the weather dictates. Slow And easy is our motto.

Thank you for all the good advise.

[Magellan]

Originally Posted by akcretired

We're off early in the morning. First stop will be Redding and will determine next destination from there as the weather dictates. Slow And easy is our motto.

Thank you for all the good advise.

If you stop at Premier RV at exit 199, send me a PM. I would love to meet a fellow IRV2 member.
Michael