Heading from Ontario to Vancouver Island for the Winter

Without going through the U.S. route choices are pretty limited. When are they planning to leave? Campgrounds start closing down after September 15.
Autumn is a great time to travel especially through Ontario, the colours are spectacular. All weather (snow) tires(NOT all season) or chains are mandatory in the mountains after October 15. The weather in the passes can be very unpredictable that late in the year so govern yourselves accordingly.

Actually there are a number of campgrounds on the Island open year around, mostly on the south and east sides.
Basically they are cheaper the further you get from Victoria.

All weather snow tires on both truck and trailer?

BC requires M&S or chains, depending of vehicle type.
Actually the dates are 1 Oct to 31 March.
Cars, pickups (even with campers) require M&S
Anything with something in tow, or commercial are required to carry chains
BC actually has stopped people for inspections.

Note: this is on passes and such, like TransCanada coming in from Alberta, BC-5 (the 'Coq').

portliz wrote:
All weather snow tires on both truck and trailer?

On the tow vehicle. My mistake, snow tires or chains are mandatory October 1.

The biggest challenge will be when to travel. Like others have said starting in the next 2 months or so the mountains will start to get the winter snows. I drove my 5th wheel from Kelowna into the West Kootenays last November 28th, the next day we had the start of the winter snows which meant that the mountain passes would be covered or could be covered in snow. I watched the weather for 2 weeks waiting for the perfect day that I would travel.
Us RVers that are living in the Mountains on BC can pick and choose the days that we travel as we are only 10hrs from the Coast or 5 hrs from the flat lands in Wash State( if heading south for the winter). You coming from Ont. can’t really judge what the weather will be 6 or 7 days from when you leave and when you get to the Mountain Passes
There is a way to drive from Alberta ( flat lands) to the Coast of BC without going over any mountain passes however that doesn't mean you won’t see snow and or bad road conditions, just no HIGH mountain passes
Myself If I was going to stay on the Island for the winter I would have my rig parked on the Island no later than mid Nov. (at the latest) but I can watch the weather and Pick my day to travel.
For you I would try and be on the lower mainland or the Island by the end of October, to be on the safe side.
Soup

In my hometown there are quite a few year round parks available by the month or by the day. Tell us a little more about what your friend might be driving, and how well insulated the rig might be.

Your biggest enemy on Vancouver Island is not usually cold, but it can sure get wet and stay wet for long periods of time. It can also be windy and wet, both conditions can be difficult in some RV's especially if they cannot be used with slides in.

There can also be cold spells, and having skirting options or insulated tanks and valves can really help too. Only having a 30 amp service is not much electric heat when you really need it.

But, we personally know of several friends that live full time in their rigs and seem to do fine. There are many here that do.

portliz wrote:
Friends are planning to do this. Any personal experiences? When to leave? What campgrounds might be open? Weather? Best route not through USA?

What do they consider winter?How many months and which ones?When we did that we took our rv out in mid October,stayed a couple of weeks went home without the Rv,then returned in late dec. and would not move until mid March.We experienced several bad storms in the mountains,3 memorable heavy tree damaging snow dumps in the winter.Two at Parksville and one near Victoria.After shaking my head I decided to rent condos or cabins and leave the RV at home.Way less stress and money travelling,no huge ferry bills,fuel costs and camping fees.Gladly paid $100.00 or less a night for hotels with breakfast included and cut off a days travel,each way.The cost of renting a condo for the first month was usually pretty close to our extra travelling costs and I just kept on smiling.Stayed nice and warm and dry in something that was a heck of a lot bigger then 272 sq. ft.But tell them to have a good time if they drive with a rv. in the winter.

Our friends are thinking of leaving no later than mid- October.

Soup could you give the details about the flat land route from Alberta. I think they might prefer not having to do the mountain passes.

They have a Mobile Suite 5th wheel so they should be cozy. They are full timers so they are used to the small space.

Any suggestions for campgrounds? On the island and on the way out. Mayo30 where did you stay on the way out?

Thanks everyone. Great info.

We would stay in Kamloops the last night before heading to Vancouver through the mountains going via Merritt BC.We have stayed in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke depending how the roads were and the avalanches coming home to the prairies.The flat way through the mountains is on Highway 16 through Edmonton and Blue River down to Kamloops.Spent 2 days in Revelstoke blocked in by mudslides one spring.Anything can happen,but I would not use highway three in BC you may not have much time to look at the scenery,very slow and winding,some steep passes.We also learned to get ferry reservations after spending a night on the dock.