Do not pull a camper down a snowy mountain.

[Lt Jim]

Has anyone used the nylon (or similar material) snow chains? I'm curious as to whether they work, and also are they legal in areas that require snow chains.

[raytwntrvlr]

I came down that same grade a few years back with our new TT and TV. Part of our first big trip. Driving a RAM 2500 with Cummins and all its advantages pulling a 30 ft TT and I still remember how dang steep the grades were. Pretty spooky to a flat lander.
I don't know about trying those trailer brakes on snowy roads. They can be pretty unpredictable.
Anyhow... glad you made it. Your story was good reading and a great cautionary to others.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Lt Jim

Has anyone used the nylon (or similar material) snow chains? I'm curious as to whether they work, and also are they legal in areas that require snow chains.

Most nylon type chains are for emergency use only. Don't know about legality. We used to live in CO, in fact, lived on Lookout Mountain above Golden. Drove down down the mountain to 6th, then to I25, then south to Inverness Business Park every day, snowy or not. Have towed all over the northern states and never recall required (or even seeing) chains on trailers. Only drive tires. But, I don't know laws for every state. I always carry two sets of cable chains for our 4WD.
Best rule is when driving in snow and ice when towing an RV, only drive as far as you need to, to be able to pull over and stop. And if you are already stopped, STAY PUT

[babock]

Shifting to a lower gear is not what you want to do. By doing that, you got rid of any help the abs system is going to do for you.

Originally Posted by DavidJ

Yes that is correct. Shifting to a lower gear helped too but constantly pumping my break, I believe is what kept us from losing it! The road was just so damn slick and the grade so steep, I could not slow to a crawl. Like a roller coaster ride!

[babock]

In the mountains where 2 of our houses are, you see them broken on the side of road. These are what many Flatlanders who don't know how to put on chains/cables use.

Originally Posted by Lt Jim

Has anyone used the nylon (or similar material) snow chains? I'm curious as to whether they work, and also are they legal in areas that require snow chains.

[cariboo camper]

Totally unnecessary and perhaps dangerous to “pump the brakes”. Just keep steady pressure and if you feel traction is lost reset brakes to a steady pressure again. Keep an eye on the trailer to make sure it does not lose traction but if your trailer brakes are set up properly you shouldn’t have a problem.

Pumping is what caused you to pick up speed. Any winter driving course discourages the practice of pumping brakes, old school for sure. Most vehicles nowadays have traction control, brakes will not lock up. Try it next time in snow or ice, they work real well. You will hear a ratcheting sound as brake backs off automatically and vehicle will drive straight.

Do not worry about brakes heating up , in cold snowy weather going the speed you were going that’s not going to happen.

[babock]

Originally Posted by cariboo camper

Totally unnecessary and perhaps dangerous to “pump the brakes”. Just keep steady pressure and if you feel traction is lost reset brakes to a steady pressure again. Keep an eye on the trailer to make sure it does not lose traction but if your trailer brakes are set up properly you shouldn’t have a problem.

Pumping is what caused you to pick up speed. Any winter driving course discourages the practice of pumping brakes, old school for sure. Most vehicles nowadays have traction control, brakes will not lock up. Try it next time in snow or ice, they work real well. You will hear a ratcheting sound as brake backs off automatically and vehicle will drive straight.

Do not worry about brakes heating up , in cold snowy weather going the speed you were going that’s not going to happen.

Totally agree. With ABS, you use steady pressure on the brakes. Having the vehicle in low gear negates the effectiveness of ABS.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by jkoenig24

Glad you made it down safely. Nowhere in your post do I read where you MANUALLY applied the trailer brakes (GENTLY) to keep "the tail from wagging the dog". A gentle, manual application of trailer brakes can help to keep the trailer BEHIND the tow vehicle thus negating the trailer's greater weight. You don't "ride" the trailer brakes. Short, quick manual applications should be all that's needed to stay in control.

I agree that some braking might help but careful. Trailer brakes are most always drum brakes and unlike disc brakes are really unpredictable in slick surfaces. The LAST thing you want is to have trailer wheels start to slide. While they're turning they're doing their best to keep the trailer behind.

Not saying don't, just saying CAREFUL. Might even be wise to back off the amount of brake applied on the controller.

[babock]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Might even be wise to back off the amount of brake applied on the controller.

X2

[cariboo camper]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I agree that some braking might help but careful. Trailer brakes are most always drum brakes and unlike disc brakes are really unpredictable in slick surfaces. The LAST thing you want is to have trailer wheels start to slide. While they're turning they're doing their best to keep the trailer behind.

Not saying don't, just saying CAREFUL. Might even be wise to back off the amount of brake applied on the controller.

Agreed, once wheels lock up it takes a lot of momentum to get it spinning up to speed, at that time your trailer is likely trying to pass you or trying hard to suck you into the ditch

[rsdata]

In my past 70 years of existence I have been in a few UNCONTROLLABLE situations such as you describe. I continue to grow more conservative as I age so I can have a few more years without doing a "crash and burn"... hopefully some can learn from your experience.

[babock]

Originally Posted by rsdata

In my past 70 years of existence I have been in a few UNCONTROLLABLE situations such as you describe. I continue to grow more conservative as I age so I can have a few more years without doing a "crash and burn"... hopefully some can learn from your experience.

Agreed. When I was flying still, I used to read the section in my aviation magazine "I learned about flying from this". Were good examples of what you could get into if you weren't careful.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by rsdata

In my past 70 years of existence I have been in a few UNCONTROLLABLE situations such as you describe. I continue to grow more conservative as I age so I can have a few more years without doing a "crash and burn"... hopefully some can learn from your experience.

Me too. The older I get the longer it takes for the bumps and bruises to heal.

[chuckyb9876]

It is the law in CO to carry tow chains or similar items. We carry https://www.amazon.com/soyond-Adjust...%2C210&sr=8-10 and they are great as well as reusable. We also have https://www.amazon.com/KOqwez33-Dura...821444&sr=8-15 for our camper, a Forest River T12DDST. When placed on a diagonal and not straight across but angles they provide great traction control and stability.

[chriscowles]

Living in Florida and having zero experience driving in snow, I hope never to encounter this. But, in case I do, some questions?

Do tires with the three-peak symbol also require chains? If not required, do chains help, anyway?

I've seen snow "cables" advertised, in lieu of chains. Are they equivalent?

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

Living in Florida and having zero experience driving in snow, I hope never to encounter this. But, in case I do, some questions?

Do tires with the three-peak symbol also require chains? If not required, do chains help, anyway?

I've seen snow "cables" advertised, in lieu of chains. Are they equivalent?

The "symbol" merely denotes it's an all season tire which qualifies as an approved device at the lowest level of restriction in snow zones.

"chains" is somewhat synonymous with "traction devices" in most states.

Cable chains are just a variation of the all chain traction devices. Cable chains aren't as robust as the big heavy chains that used to be universal but are now mostly just used on large trucks.

[KEN9XL]

Living in New England and used to the snow. I have not gone full time yet, nor have I travelled with my TT in the winter. After reading your story, my on anxiety built up.
It definetely set me on edge. I Do Not ever want to encounter what you went thru.
Out of curiousity, how was your knuckles & circulation? Glad you made it safely.

[MOODMAN]

Should be titled "Don't let a camper PUSH you down a snowy mountain"

[ppine]

Pulling a trailer in the snow more than a couple of inches is not easy. You need chains on the rear wheels of your TV and one set on our trailer.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by KEN9XL

Living in New England and used to the snow. I have not gone full time yet, nor have I travelled with my TT in the winter. After reading your story, my on anxiety built up.
It definetely set me on edge. I Do Not ever want to encounter what you went thru.
Out of curiousity, how was your knuckles & circulation? Glad you made it safely.

There is something important people need to remember while traveling and encountering snow. The snow one is used to at home may well be totally different than the snow you encounter in other parts of the country.

When temps are cold and snow light and fluffy, often blowing off the traffic lanes as traffic passes is TOTALLY different than the wet, heavy snow that piles up quickly into a slushy mess in no time.

Also important is that snow in the "flat-lands" makes for a totally different driving experience from driving on snow with 6% grades (or more on non some non-interstate highways).

In short, when people are traveling away from "home" and encounter snow it's best to pretend you are a total beginner.