Community Forums

lrwinddancer · 12-03-2022, 02:29 AM

Howdy, I may need to travel from Phoenix AZ up to Remond OR. I plan to go 99 to I5 to Weed then 97 over to Redmond. The trip would be early Jan 2023. I am concerned about weather and possible snow. So looking for input on snow chains. I have never used them on any vehicle let alone on a 40,000 pound coach. Would be on a 2020 DS 4081. Thanks in advance.

flyboy013 · 12-03-2022, 05:32 AM

I came across the below iRV2 thread on snow chains. There are others.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/sno...ns-512156.html

10 fan · 12-03-2022, 10:09 AM

I bought a set of snow socks. I used them once in OR and they worked great. Light weight, easy to store, easy to use and the bag they come in opens to double the size so your knee's don't get wet. I had the road and my RV spot plowed, what was left was hard packed ice. I drove uphill about 400' and into my spot and took them off (tires did not spin at all). Tried to go another foot and the tires spun. Only went a short distance at low speed but think they would work under all conditions.

SJ-Chris · 12-03-2022, 10:24 AM

In an RV, I would do everything I could to avoid driving in the snow. That is difficult of course because weather is unpredictable sometimes. Forecasting is much better these days, so that should help.

If I was driving where snow was possible, I would make sure I have snow chains/cables of proper tire size, or snow socks (haven't used them before, but they seem to be a possible improvement(?) for chains).

It is important that you TRY THEM OUT before you need them! In the comfort of your own home, while not on a trip, while it is not snowing on you...try putting them on your vehicle. This will help you make sure they are the right size (before it is too late), teach you how to put them on, etc.

I've driven I5 from California to Canada many times.

Good luck!
Chris

tomato · 12-03-2022, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrwinddancer

Howdy, I may need to travel from Phoenix AZ up to Remond OR. I plan to go 99 to I5 to Weed then 97 over to Redmond. The trip would be early Jan 2023. I am concerned about weather and possible snow. So looking for input on snow chains. I have never used them on any vehicle let alone on a 40,000 pound coach. Would be on a 2020 DS 4081. Thanks in advance.

I carry a set of "Cable" Chains, as they are much lighter and easier to manage than full size chains. I don't ever want to use them, but there are lots of areas where you a required to carry chains when the weather is threatening.

Camp CA · 12-03-2022, 10:33 AM

Pick your weather window to avoid chains. That is what I do when traveling over mountain passes in the winter down to Palm Desert. For example, a coiple of years ago in late December camped in Bakersfield for a couple of nights until the snow stopped and Tehachapi Pass was safe to travel over.

dons2346 · 12-03-2022, 10:35 AM

I bought a set of chains from Les Schwab probably 15 years ago just so I can say I have them. They have never been out of the box and never will.
The route you have picked is a major route so it is kept clean of snow and if you do happen to get caught, wait it out a day and you will be fine. Just watch the weather and the highway cameras. I wouldn't buy chains other that it is a requirement in Oregon to carry

xc-mark · 12-03-2022, 10:46 AM

this company has chains for about every type of tire !

https://www.tirechainsrequired.com/

rondi · 12-03-2022, 12:27 PM

Check with Les Schwab about their return policy. We have numerous times in the winter bought chains for cars/pickups and never used them. The following spring we returned them for full credit. There are numerous Les Schwab tire centers in NorCal and of course OR--home to LS

The disadvantage with this is you can't try them on first--once you open them--they are yours.
hth

Gordon Dewald · 12-03-2022, 12:48 PM

I would crawl over broken rocks and glass in order to stay away from ice and snow, especially with chains.

**TonyDi** · 12-03-2022, 12:59 PM

If it requires chains for me to travel. I’ll just wait it out or go around snow covered roads. If time is of the essence plan a different route to start with.

Bigd9 · 12-03-2022, 03:43 PM

Over the past 20+ years driving my past or present Fleetwood Discovery, I found they have handled extremely well in snows. If you have ever experienced driving on US 33 or WV 32 with grades up to 8% you will see why having good handling machine is important. Most of the time the roads are plowed and in passable shape.

Let It Snow!

10 fan · 12-03-2022, 04:31 PM

I left home (central CA) the end of April heading to Alaska and hit a lot of snow in Canada. I spent the night on the top of two different passes and woke up to 6"-8" of snow with the pass being closed sometime during the night both directions. With no one else on the road I tested braking and steering maneuvers and it did great. I wouldn't go off road but hwy's and streets were no problem at all. IMO it's more important to make sure to drive in day light hours, not at night when it freezes.