Winter + Mountains + I-40 = Newbie questions

k6ncx wrote:
I'm much less concerned (perhaps out of ignorance) about the tanks that about driving.

You want to make sure you have plenty of propane for cooking and heat if you have to sit out a storm for a couple of days at a Walmart or truck stop. You'll also want to keep your fuel tank well over 1/4 full because the generator will not run if the tank level drops below that. And, you'll want water on-board.

That last is tricky. If it is snowing, then you're in cold weather. Our RV can stand overnight temps in the upper 20s but a sustained freeze can freeze your water pipes. I carry a small 12-volt compressor so, if I get caught by a hard freeze, I can blow out my water lines. In that event we have potable water in jugs for coffee, cooking and sink basin bathing.

We travel I-40 between NC and TN a lot as we visit our daughter's family in Nashville. We are planning to go there at Christmas. I just watch the weather carefully. If it is forecast to be really cold or sleet/snow, we stay home. But I am prepared to sit it out someplace safe if we get caught unexpectedly. After a storm, I-40 is usually cleared quickly. We rarely get Buffalo-style blizzards this far south.

Good luck.

gbopp wrote:

k6ncx wrote:
I'm much less concerned (perhaps out of ignorance) about the tanks that about driving.

If you get stranded along the road because of snow/ice, you may wish you had been more concerned about the tanks.
At least, watch your fuel tank level. :)

This is exactly why I plan for winterizing and de-winterizing on the road. Things can turn bad quickly even with the best of planning.

First week of December 1971 Wife and I left upstate NY for Point Mugu Ca. I had to report in on the 20th for duty. Weather was horrible in up state NY and was forecasted to get worse, we took US I-81 south, Freezing rain mixed with snow at higher altitudes. turning to rain in Pa. By the time we arrived eastern Tenn. it had quit and was good driving until Fort Smith on I-40 when we hit the cold front. 5 days top speed of 40 MPH ,on ice and snow, we made Needles Ca. No motels open, no trucks moving, The most horrible trip we have ever made.
Some times the trip can't be made when we want to.

Good luck to you, hope the weather is great for ya. but if it isn't, winterize the trailer, use the truck stops or minimarts or gas stations for potty stops and eat in the restaurants, but keep moving if ya can.

But yes I-10 is a good alternative. we've made well over 40 trips form the west coast to back east round trip. We have found the weather is the biggest issue. Both of our trailers had heat tapes installed in both tanks, and we used them. Our truck campers didn't have tanks but this coach has heated tanks and heat in the basement, so we don't worry about freezing that much.
But I still avoid slippery roads like the plague.

k6ncx wrote:
I'm much less concerned (perhaps out of ignorance) about the tanks that about driving.

If that worries you have heat tapes installed in both tanks, run them off the trailer battery connected to the inverter (120VAC) switchable to turn on/off as needed. You trailer battery will charge off the tow vehicle alternator while you drive or the camp ground post. But remember when you turn them on be certain there is fluid in both tanks or the heat tapes will over heat and short out.

WyoTraveler wrote:
This is exactly why I plan for winterizing and de-winterizing on the road. Things can turn bad quickly even with the best of planning.

Why not have your coach equipped with tank and plumbing heaters? Our biggest problem with winter traveling is finding a place to dump. the dump stations are all froze up. Found that out the hard way. YUCK.

The trip needs to be in that time frame, and it needs to be coast to coast. The two stretches of I-40 are optional. We might stick to I-10. Watching forecasts is something we would do anyway, even if flying

Generally speaking, winter weather in the southwest is not that bad and storms tend to "move on" rather quickly.

Albuquerque has 280 days of sunshine each year, Gallup 279, and Flagstaff 266.

Daytime temps at all three are normally above freezing.

Just keep an eye on the weather and adjust your route accordingly.

What kind of RV do you have?

I'd advise heading south to I-10 and taking it across. I-40 is not for Jan/Feb. We were stranded the end of April one year on I-40 just west of Albuquerque. The highway shut down completely and we sat there with the truckers overnight.