What do you do when weather catches you on the road.

[spock123]

I think to much of me and DW to pull the camper in snow and ice.

[BandJCarm]

I just hit CO Springs (No trailer) from the west. Wind was 93,082,080 Knots all across Kansas and E. Colorado. If I had been pulling the trailer, I'd have had to stop for days. That was white knuckling. I DID see a couple of (crazy) 5th wheels.

[A32Deuce]

I have never in my life seen a wind speed like that! WOW[emoji16][emoji16][emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

[Fkrel]

Before I retired we made our usual trip to phoenix, we just drove the pickup and stayed with family, so on the day of leaving we headed north to flagstaff from cordess lakes before 10 miles down the road the snow was 6 inches on the road then got a call from one of the nephew (works for ADOT) he said to turn around snowing very hard and a massive accident ahead it turned out to have the hiway blocked for 6hours we locked in the 4x4 and found a spot to turn around and headed south and headed for safford the mountains are around 4000 ft there still hit some snow but over 5000ft it was snowing very bad we crossed the mountains and dropped down to I think was #25 and took that into albuquerque and got a room for the night the next two days we followed the storm all the way back to minnesota.

[Wicked Ace]

It happened a month ago on my way back home in Virginia. Find a Hyatt Place and hunker down. Hyatt is pet friendly.

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

A lot of people here in WA State think that too. So many in fact that if you now get stuck or are in an accident on our mountain passes, without chains, You get an nice summons from a State Trooper that's going to cost you $500. . . . I used to live in CO and I believe they started this "fine the fools" program long before WA did.

Yep, they did. But the law says "chains or adequate snow tires." Of course, no one in Colorado buys snow tires any more because they all have AWD SUVs. So, they go skiing via I-70 with their all-season tires and still spin out and create miles long traffic jams on Berthoud Pass or the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel.

The only place I see chains is right here in the Denver area when we get a big January snow that stays on the ground for a week. Then the first ones with chains are the USPS' Jeeps and the snow plow pickups clearing city parking lots.

Despite towing our trailer from Denver every year to snowbird south of I-10, the only time we have gotten into a snowstorm was on our way to Zion NP . . . on Memorial Day weekend. When we left Bryce Canyon (not even raining there), we were planning to spend a night at Cedar Breaks NM, but it was closed due to the storm (the NPS workers couldn't get to work?). So, we continued slowly west and broke out of the snowstorm just before getting down to Cedar City. Glad I had all-terrain--not all-season--tires on my 4WD truck, traction control, and a diesel exhaust brake.

It was interesting, to say the least, towing on a snow-packed road in near-whiteout conditions. Almost as interesting as seeing the lone Utah highway patrolman slipping and sliding his way up the hill (no chains) from Cedar City. Guess he was going to "rescue" the motorists stranded at the top, who naturally had only all-season tires). Wondered who was going to rescue him?

[imjustdave]

Originally Posted by FORKLIFMAN

All this information sounds great! We are planning a trip to Yellowstone next year, for the first 2 weeks 0f October.Then heading east to Cleveland, hitting all the hot spots along the way. This will be our first experience in the MH, wintering it. I want to be well prepared! And I am copping all this information for my list.

We live in CA, when snow hits and sticks to the ground the CHP are out, and making everyone chain up, no matter what.( four wheel drive the exception) I plan on having chains for the trip, either way. I am curious , do other states stop traffic and make you chain up? if so which states do so?


Thank you

WA will... ALSO sometimes require chain on all autos regardless of 4x4. Also state law to carry chains you can get a ticket for not carrying them.

I like the current list and would just add. Chains even if you never plan to use them

[Pat wright]

Decided awhile ago no night driving. we have a pretty good guide as to where stops are on routes we travel, rest area, flying j , welcome centers and so on. Just never rush it. had business in NYC and LONG ISLAND for 46 years no more rushing for me and my Brooklyn Wife lol.

[thedirector]

This is our first year as owners of a TT and we are going to be driving from Indiana to Florida at the end of January and back at the end of February. I am following this with great interest. I'm already planning four days for the trip but as you all say, time means nothing when compared to lives. Thanks for all the advice.


Rockwood Mini Lite 2507S
2015 Silverado 2500 6L
Blue Ox WDH

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by thedirector

This is our first year as owners of a TT and we are going to be driving from Indiana to Florida at the end of January and back at the end of February. I am following this with great interest. I'm already planning four days for the trip but as you all say, time means nothing when compared to lives. Thanks for all the advice.


Rockwood Mini Lite 2507S
2015 Silverado 2500 6L
Blue Ox WDH

One of the nastiest snow storms I've encountered over the years was at the end of Feb./early Mar. in Lexington, KY. Was there on company business with my wife for a month. Got cold suddenly, started snowing, and within hours the entire area and all freeways were closed down. Nothing moved. That's when I also decided I would never own a "Heat Pump". Hotel we were staying in used them to heat the suites (Residence Inn) and no heat strips installed. To keep from freezing, literally, we had to burn presto-logs in the tin fireplace.

[JPSJR]

Originally Posted by SecretSquirrel

All the above and a set of insulated coveralls. If you've ever had to put chains on in bad weather you be glad you had them.

I really appreciate all the suggestions here and know about climbing around in the snow. To add to that thread, I always carry an extra 10 gallons of gas when traveling. I have a Honda Ridgeline pulling an R-Pod 179 so even though I use the 1/4 to 1/2 tank rule; emergency situations are good to be prepared for.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by JPSJR

I really appreciate all the suggestions here and know about climbing around in the snow. To add to that thread, I always carry an extra 10 gallons of gas when traveling. I have a Honda Ridgeline pulling an R-Pod 179 so even though I use the 1/4 to 1/2 tank rule; emergency situations are good to be prepared for.

A safety warning. When stuck in a snowstorm it's logical that people run the engine to keep warm. Beware however of a blocked exhaust. Not necessarily a plugged exhaust pipe but snow piling up so the only place the exhaust can go is under the vehicle.

Be sure to go out and clear snow away as it gets deeper. When snow is falling at the rate of 1-2" per hour, as it can in many mountain passes, it piles up quickly and there have been incidents where tragic deaths have occurred because of blocked exhaust.

When winter traveling it's best to go with the attitude "if it can happen, it will happen" and be prepared.

[timfromma]

I live in New England and my trailer is winterized and covered up from October to April.

[IsleDog]

The best advice I ever received was "There is no place you need to be in such a hurry that its worth dying over". we watch the weather and head out and stay ahead of it, or wait for it to blow over. if we dont think its that big of a deal, we head out. always be prepared and know when you are at your limits and STOP! have lunch, let the weather clear a bit, let the plows come out, traffic settle down, etc. have a good rest and start again. above all, be safe and have fun!

[17 Oaks]

Complex question.

Having driven a lot of miles I have been caught in burning temps in Death Valley, blinding snow, frog strangling rain, ice and Black Ice, howling winds you name it.

1) Be prepared, insure your vehicle is travel worthy, this means you or a qualified mechanic should inspect your vehicles not the morning you are leaving but in enough time prior to the trip to make repairs, replacements and updates or upgrades as needed. Inspect your vehicle 2 weeks ahead of leaving and I do walk arounds every time I stop.

I remember well travel in the 50's when cross country as us military families often did meant 5 gal of water and gasoline on board, 2 spare tires and for daddy's truck it also meant a case of oil, spare belt for the water pump and generator and a tool box that fix most anything. Today I don't carry 2 spares, just one and I have a good roadside assistance program to support me.

2) Weather. I live by 2 apps, Dark Sky, which provides weather where you are at and looks ahead that day and works in real time by tracking weather, winds and time to tell you accurately over the next hour. I think it's still free. Weather Underground, found it to be most accurate when looking out 10 days and you can name your city you want to view. I stay on top of weather in order to find another route or lay over till it passes it its that dangerous.

3 Travel. In most cases it best to keep moving and this goes for any weather conditions that hinder vision down to car lengths. Pulling over on most highways increases you chances of being involved in a collision. Most places there is little more than a shoulder, sometimes less. If you can pull off the road into an area that gets you away from the road itself. I don't pull over, I exit or I continue to drive at a much slower pace and keep a eye on the rear view mirror and out the windshield.

I have found the most dangerous times to travel:

Black Ice warnings, good time to exit and I do my best to do so and look for an alternative route.

Extreme winds, like that stretch of I 10 between the Ca border and the outskirts of LA. Been down thru there and it can be scary if you are pulling. Not unusual to see big 18 wheelers laying on their sides. Often the CHP had cars out stopping big rigs and RV's along with signs.

Hard rains and snow. Here the challenge is in a word "slick" and your 5th wheel or TT is nothing but a follower, hit the brakes and Mr Skid shows up with a vengeance as you skid in one direction and it goes in another. The only friend you have is slow-down, embrace it and just arrive a little late.

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

A safety warning. When stuck in a snowstorm it's logical that people run the engine to keep warm. Beware however of a blocked exhaust. Not necessarily a plugged exhaust pipe but snow piling up so the only place the exhaust can go is under the vehicle.

My boss, his boss, and a co-worker from the USGS died from CO poisoning while elk hunting in the Flat Tops above Glenwood Springs in 1969. They were found sitting around the dinette of a pickup camper, with partially empty coffee cups still sitting on the table. The ignition was on, the fuel tank was empty, and snow was piled up around the truck to the level of the bed.

Their wives sued GM for the location of the tailpipe and several years later got a large, but undisclosed, settlement. They "won" the lawsuit, but two of the three had children who grew up without fathers.

[emm-dee]

I won’t drive any southern state highways when there’s snow on them. I’m not concerned about the snow...have done lots of driving in it with no problems.

The problem down south is whenever there is a snow layer on the roads it was preceeded by a rain which then froze. Unseen black ice under even a light amount of snow is a more dangerous driving condition than anything else.

[Jakieboy]

A recent post on this subject described the tragic loss of life when some fellows in a truck camper pulled off the road in a severe snow storm, kept the truck engine running, and died from CO poisoning when snow built up around the exhaust system of the truck.

Does anyone have any data or recommendations about having to do a similar thing when towing a fifth wheel, pulling off the road and keeping the trailer furnace going?? Just asking. We don't travel much in the winter, but there may be times when we'll have to.

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

A recent post on this subject described the tragic loss of life when some fellows in a truck camper pulled off the road in a severe snow storm, kept the truck engine running, and died from CO poisoning when snow built up around the exhaust system of the truck.

Does anyone have any data or recommendations about having to do a similar thing when towing a fifth wheel, pulling off the road and keeping the trailer furnace going?? Just asking. We don't travel much in the winter, but there may be times when we'll have to.

The trailer furnace exhaust and vent system is probably a lot higher than the average snow. If it got high enough to be a problem then I think there are more serious issues.

Now, the generator is another issue. It could do the same as a snow blocked exhaust pipe problem. Fortunately there are kits that a lot of us have that send the generator exhaust overhead.

[aeblank]

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

A recent post on this subject described the tragic loss of life when some fellows in a truck camper pulled off the road in a severe snow storm, kept the truck engine running, and died from CO poisoning when snow built up around the exhaust system of the truck.

Does anyone have any data or recommendations about having to do a similar thing when towing a fifth wheel, pulling off the road and keeping the trailer furnace going?? Just asking. We don't travel much in the winter, but there may be times when we'll have to.

Your trailer likely has a CO detector.

I wonder the condition of the equipment in the story you tell..... All swiss cheesed.