Do you drive when it's snowing....

[jcussen]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jcussen View Post
Got caught in 2 or 3 days of heavy snow in West Texas a couple years ago. Most car drivers were in the slow lane doing 30 mph. I got in the fast lane behind a convoy of trucks doing 50 or 60 mph. No problem because their 70000 lb weight and 18 wheels cleared the snow down to the pavement. Do the same in heavy rain, any depth of water is moved off the pavement before I get to it.



- You ever try to stop 44,000 Pounds at 50 Miles Per Hour In even a Trace of Snow -

True, you will not stop as fast, but most modern coaches with ABS will not put you into a skid. I always maintain a distance behind the vehicle in front of me to be able to stop as fast as they do. Don't like driving in snow, but if I have to, will follow the truckers that routinely do drive in the snow. They have a better knowledge of foul weather driving than most RVers do.

[Freeman10]

Regardless of how careful, skilled, or experienced, the issue when driving in snow is the careless, self-absorbed fool that is driving on the same snowy highway.

[biologist]

I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in the snow in everything from small cars to logging trucks with doubles. I would take the advice to check the weather and avoid ice or heavy snow. Slow down. The rig will handle fine but slowing gives you more time to stop and react. I would also go down I65 and stay off I 75 in the mountains where you might get into heavy fog ice or white out conditions. You can go all the way to I 37 or I 10 and avoid the mountains and the Atlanta traffic. Enjoy the trip.

[Nikcoh]

I've experienced driving in snow when we lived in MN. There were times it just couldn't be avoided when returning from southern trips and our kids were school age. Back then it was only ice and heavily compacted snow that turned into ice that stopped us. Our DSDP handled it very well, but I don't trust other drivers.

Now that we're retired and live in NC we just avoid snow. Let the storm pass unless it's minor and the roads don't get salted.

One additional note, one of the worst issues is snow accumulations on our motorhome. The RV had built a large amount of snow on the front end cap where the ICC lights are located. We were on I-25 north of Colorado Springs when it let loose and slid down the windshield and temporarily blinded me for just a few seconds. Fortunately it was a very straight portion of highway and using my rearview mirrors I could maintain lane position. But it was a shocker. Since then, because the defrosters aren't very good on our large windshield, one time I started the generator and my wife used her hair dryer to keep our windshield clear on the driver's side. It wasn't great that she wasn't in her seat wearing her seatbelt, but with only a few miles to go to get home it was the safest option.

[Doc McCoy]

For the past 4 years I have hauled my 34’ trailer out of VT in early January. I’ll wait a week or more if I need to in order to get a clear weather forecast to VA. Even then we may run into some gentle snow or snow in the PA campground the first night. I bring the tire chains just in case. My Ram 2500 4WD diesel is great in the snow but there is no accounting for a big trailer.
Going to miss it this winter.

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by Nikcoh

I've experienced driving in snow when we lived in MN. There were times it just couldn't be avoided when returning from southern trips and our kids were school age. Back then it was only ice and heavily compacted snow that turned into ice that stopped us. Our DSDP handled it very well, but I don't trust other drivers.

Now that we're retired and live in NC we just avoid snow. Let the storm pass unless it's minor and the roads don't get salted.

One additional note, one of the worst issues is snow accumulations on our motorhome. The RV had built a large amount of snow on the front end cap where the ICC lights are located. We were on I-25 north of Colorado Springs when it let loose and slid down the windshield and temporarily blinded me for just a few seconds. Fortunately it was a very straight portion of highway and using my rearview mirrors I could maintain lane position. But it was a shocker. Since then, because the defrosters aren't very good on our large windshield, one time I started the generator and my wife used her hair dryer to keep our windshield clear on the driver's side. It wasn't great that she wasn't in her seat wearing her seatbelt, but with only a few miles to go to get home it was the safest option.

You prompted me to remember a good point. Some states have laws indicating the roof areas must be free of built up snow when driving on public roadways. I'm sure we all have seen big sheets of ice/snow fly off the roof tops of tractor trailers smashing into vehicles behind them or on the roadways.

[F76Marion]

It used to be that the only time we could get to travel any distance was late fall early winter. Yes, I had chains and all sorts of stuff. But, the snow by itself is not the problem. What is the problem is those other people that have to get somewhere. Driving the coach was not the issue at all.

Fortunately, the first time we were sort of ready because we were planing to be self-contained for a week. That was the rule from on. If there is nay chance we may get weathered in, we plan to have three day's provisions aboard. Particularly in the north county it is easy to loose a day to weather. The great thing is when it gets bad in your own coach, you just find a place to holdup until things get better.

If it is only a day, why three day's stock?
Because one day can become two real easily and at the end of two, you are still in good shape. You stay safe and warm and watch the chaos and mayhem.

Frank

[TurtleKent]

Why expose your brand new Phaeton to SALT???

[retired long]

[QUOTE=Alpine36;5538689]Took the words right out of my mouth...
That CalMag crap they put down will really wreak havoc.
Our old 97 MinnieWinnie was mint. Drove it to Seattle one Christmas, snowed all the way there. No issues driving at all. Driveway mooched at sisters house a couple days, drove back home on a slush/ice covered mess. Parked in our driveway and waited for it to finally stop snowing, so about two weeks later I finally got around to clean up. Oh what a mess. The outside compartment locks were completely corroded, handles seized up, hinge pins frozen. Underside of chassis looked like it aged 30 years with rust. I literally sprayed a gallon of LPS everywhere.
It was never the same rig, Not even close.
So no, I won't intentionally drive my Rv in the snow.[er Never e ver!!!!!Get salt or calcium stuff on your gome!!!! Even if undercoated it will find an syay at places you can not clean!!!

[hoppinalong]

We did that same trip last year around the same time. Don't recall if we ran into snow. I did route us through Alabama as I just wasn't comfortable with getting stuck in snow going through Chattanooga.

[2cyber71]

Here is what I do.
I’m heading to Florida too just after Christmas.
I watch the weather, if a storm is on its way, I take off early and head south fast.
A few years ago we we’re going to Florida for 3 weeks, a big storm was on its way, we left a day early and missed it all. Heading back is a bit harder, not much time to play with. I do leave a extra day heading north just in case, otherwise we get home a day early.
I hate driving in snow. Been there done that. I hate it.

[Silverado333]

Bottom line, if I’m not comfortable, I don’t drive. If DW is unhappy, I tell her she can drive, which I know she will not. We had similar issue with wind. Being new to RV’ing I wasn’t comfortable driving in what I felt was high winds, above my comfort level. It cost us a few days, but we made it home safely! That’s all that matters, right?

[ronboatplane]

Originally Posted by EcoRick

We're leaving for Florida from Illinois in mid December. I have absolutely no desire to drive when it's snowing at any time. My wife seems to think we'll never get there and should drive if the snow is not predicted to be heavy. We now have a larger diesel (2021 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH) so at least it's heavier than our previous 34' gasser. I just don't feel comfortable testing this out. My plan is to get as far south as we can in a few days when the weather is predicted to be good. After that, I can deal with rain (no way with ice). Anyone drive in the snow or am I'm just ultra cautious?

Lived in Illinois and don’t recommend for novices. I 57 was closed and was dangerous. Lots of trucks in trouble with jack knives or turned over. I had survival training in Alaska but that was a long time ago.

[Outbound]

Never drive in snow, to easy to lose control of one of these monsters.