Need some serious advice!

Levi777 wrote:
Hi. We are in transition. My wife is severely disabled, and I work M-F on the other side of the state (Washington). The sale of our house closes on Dec. 6, and we have to be out of the house by then, and we are transitioning to a 5th wheel (2009 Montana), in that my wife can no longer take care of a regular home.

What concerns me is that first, I have no experience driving a diesel, using four wheel drive, nor pulling a 5th wheel, and not much experience pulling any kind of trailer. I'm pretty smart, and perhaps that's best shown by my asking for help.

We have a space reserved at an RV park in South Everett, and we have to bring that 5th wheel across Snoqualmie pass the weekend of Dec. 7th/8th. I anticipate blizzard conditions (anything less is a blessing, right?)

I'm thinking of putting Blizzak tires on the four 5wheel tires and four wheel on the truck should suffice. I will have chains just in case. Now, if we will be limited on finances, so I am also imagining that the Blizzak tires can't happen, will all weather radials suffice, with chains if needed? Do I have to chain both axles?

Next Summer we are relocating to Phoenix when our daughter and her family return from a posting in New York, so this will be our only time bringing the 5 wheel across a mountain pass in winter time.

Any advice and information would be greatly appreciated!!!

If you have the truck and trailer already, hook 'em up and drive around town and practice. Find a big parking lot where you can set up some cones and practice backing and turning. Have someone who =does= know what they're doing (got a trucker buddy?) coach you. You're =big=, just remember that. Give yourself room to accelerate, even more room to stop and room to turn corners. Use your mirrors and don't be afraid to take up 2 lanes to make a tight corner if you have to. If you have any qualms about a tight right-hander, drive up and take the next left and go around the block to get a straight-on shot. Be patient and know where you're going. NEVER totally rely on your GPS. Map out where you're going ahead of time and =compare= that to your GPS. I checked out that southern route and that sure looks better than trying to mess with a high pass in winter if you don't have to. Learn proper hitching and unhitching techniques as well as setting up and tearing down when you arrive and leave. Checklists are a great tool, even for the experienced RVer. Above all, if you don't know, or aren't sure, ASK someone. There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers, and those usually from people who asked that same question at some point in time. :-)

Lyle