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PGIRD1991's avatar
PGIRD1991
Explorer
Dec 08, 2017

Colorado Mountain Trip in Winter: Looking for advice

Got a "new to me: class a 35 foot class A gasser. The story of it is I'm in a band and this is our new tour bus. We are going to do some minor modifications and make it our own. I am not new to RVing, I have been involved with RVs since I was 4 and have driven them many times before....but never in the snow and certainly never on the mountains in the snow. We have a winter tour of Winter Park and Breckenridge Colorado coming up and we would be traveling from the Chicago land area. My question is: Is this an endeavor worth trying or is it something I should run far far away from? We are trying to decide whether taking the bus is an option or if taking our cars and hopping hotels would be a better bet. If I chain up the drive tires and take it slow, how would a Class A handle such a challenge? We would have the luxury of time as almost every member of the band works remotely, so we could wait out storms, but if this is going to be a freak show, we want to avoid getting into something that's going to be too much. Any input, opinions or advice is MUCH appreciated!

Thanks,
Class A

10 Replies

  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    PGird1991, you are a brave man! I don't have advice on driving in snow/ice and would avoid at all costs myself. Occasionally, I watch crash video's that include winter driving. Even the 18 wheelers that have tons of experience lose control.

    The point that I wanted to make was living in your coach during severe weather. Hopefully your RV has a fairly large fresh water tank and you should keep it full, especially, during frigid nights. Your bay heater should keep things from freezing but your fresh water tank is an excellent 'heat sink' as it will help regulate the bay temp.

    Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

    MM.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Dec 08, 2017
    If Colorado is like most States, they have places where you can rent tire chains to carry with you.
    As of this morning, there are parts of many Southern states that are having snow and they don't know how to deal with it. :B
  • Mile_High's avatar
    Mile_High
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    Colorado is not like Wisconson necessarily. The majority of the time the roads are dry. If it storms, they typically thaw within a few days of sun after the plows do their thing. You just have to work around the weather.

    As far as size, you are no bigger than all the shuttles and tour buses that travel into the same places continuously over the winter.

    Cold - you bet. Your RV may be 4 season but the Colorado cold will put you to the test. Research how to keep pipes and tubing from freezing - expect to use a lot of propane, which is not always easy to find in resort town.

    Understand the new CO laws on chains. For most of the winter, you will have to always have them available, and when declared active you can be fined heavily if you are the source of a road closure because you didn't chain up. Colorado has been aggressive in installing chain up lanes off the road that give you a wide berth to chain up. They are well lit and safe, but you will have to share with truckers. This may provide some info

    Colorado non-commercial chain laws
  • Two_Jayhawks's avatar
    Two_Jayhawks
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    Hi Pgird1991 and welcome to the forum. I was an avid Colorado skier until about ten years ago. I've never flown in we always came by car, church bus, tour bus, sleeper bus, RV, Honda civic, etc. We have had very few issues we couldn't work around. Maybe every few years we experienced weather events that delayed leaving or coming home. If I was your age I would absolutely do what you are contemplating. This is based on the assumption your RV stays at a RV park and your friends have personal vehicles to do all the running around. If the coach is the only vehicle then Heck no I wouldn't. Have fun!
  • Busskipper's avatar
    Busskipper
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    rgatijnet1 wrote:
    gutfelt wrote:
    you realize how much work it is to install chains on the side of the road with salt and water dripping down your neck all the while your trying to put chains on tires Good luck on that NO don't drive a 35 ft MH in snow filled roads period



    Obviously you don't have much experience installing chains on a MH so your opinion is just a guess on your part. Most people are not dumb enough to install chains on the side of the road. They pull off in to a parking area to do it. They also use their leveling jacks to raise each wheel so that installing the chains is actually a few minute job. All it takes is practice. As I mentioned, in most cases the roads are clear and you may need the chains to get in to an RV parking lot. I don't know where you came up with the 30 miles of driving with tire chains.
    For years we have done most of our RV travel during the Winter months in the Western mountains including the Denver area. We have also hit snow in Texas and Virginia during the Winter months and needed tire chains for the RV parks. We are never the ONLY RV on he highway during the Winter. Many others also enjoy the lack of crowds at the National Parks and find that traveling in the Winter just takes a little caution and common sense.


    Glad to see you guys from Florida get out of the Heat in the Winter :B ;)

    To the OP look over thse to see if you think this is what you might enjoy - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23467039/gotomsg/23467499.cfm#23467499

    I like rgatijnet1, enjoy the Winters, and travel when the crowds are fewer and even in the Winter there are Other RV'ers that have figured it out.

    Most of us will just get off the roads when the snow hits and chains are required. White is a great accent color for the Red Rocks you can find out West.

    The Mountain passes are not to be taken Lightly in Winter and if you just stay smart it can really be fun.

    last if you need to look for conditions look here - http://www.cotrip.org/map.htm#/default?StillCameraId=10829

    Best of Luck
  • PGIRD1991's avatar
    PGIRD1991
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    Ok first off, "Gutfelt". If i knew how hard it was, I wouldn't ask these questions, now would I? lol... If I don't know something, I ask. Thanks for the...advice? Moving on.

    SDcampowneroperator makes sense to me! I figured they keep it pretty clear, but just never really heard of many people RV'ing out there for a ski trip. Then again, I've never really asked.

    Busskipper the RV camp site availability is a non issue. We have spots allotted to us to use (if we so choose) from the various different venues we are booked at. However your route suggestions are of particular help and I appreciate that! We performed at WP last March but stayed in Granby at a smaller ski resort, so we weren't thinking about an RV back then. I believe we took the pass you are speaking of then and it was pretty intimidating.

    Thanks for all the feedback thus far guys keep the thoughts coming!
  • Busskipper's avatar
    Busskipper
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    PGIRD1991 wrote:
    Got a "new to me: class a 35 foot class A gasser.

    The story of it is I'm in a band and this is our new tour bus.

    We are going to do some minor modifications and make it our own.

    I am not new to RVing, I have been involved with RVs since I was 4 and have driven them many times before..

    ..but never in the snow and certainly never on the mountains in the snow.

    We have a winter tour of Winter Park and Breckenridge Colorado coming up and we would be traveling from the Chicago land area.

    My question is:

    Is this an endeavor worth trying or is it something I should run far far away from? We are trying to decide whether taking the bus is an option or if taking our cars and hopping hotels would be a better bet.

    If I chain up the drive tires and take it slow, how would a Class A handle such a challenge? We would have the luxury of time as almost every member of the band works remotely, so we could wait out storms, but if this is going to be a freak show, we want to avoid getting into something that's going to be too much.

    Any input, opinions or advice is MUCH appreciated!

    Thanks,


    First off - IMHO if you are "Asking" then likely the reply should be NO!

    That said, sure it can be done but the real question is "Should YOU be doing it"?

    Bing Map between Breckenridge and Winter Park

    Biggest issue you have is Getting From Winter Park and OVER Berthoud Pass - High - Snow covered - Switchbacks.

    So it is a challenge and I might suggest if really bad look at heading to Kremmling and taking Route 9 to Silverthorne. Lower elevation and gentile roads.

    Couple of notes on Colorado and driving - Every weekend Thousands drive up from the Denver area to Ski - there is an RV resort in Breckenridge - Tiger Run - but pretty sure there is nothing open in Winter Park, so that will be more than a slight challenge.

    Advice, work on getting it ready for future "tours" not in the Winter and when the RV parks/Campgrounds are Open.

    Hope this is of some Help.
  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Dec 08, 2017
    Camps that are open in the snowy areas for skiing or sledding have recommendations for travel ,water, reservations.
    Winter travel is not as perilous as many would make it out to be, timing is. plan to travel as weather and road conditions allow. Roads are very well maintained. All those skiers dont get there by magic. They drove.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Dec 08, 2017
    Without RV snow/freezing temp experience both driving and water systems, which you don’t say you have, skip using the MH this time. You can learn but not by OTJ experience.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Dec 08, 2017
    I've driven my Monaco gas coach in the snow many times. Just put on your tire chains, take it easy, and slow down.
    Most of the times the roads were clear and the only time I really needed the tire chains was to get in to and out of RV parks where they did not clear the snow. As far as driving in the snow, it not much different from driving in the rain, except you go slower. I did have a problem with ice forming on the windshield and then breaking up and sliding down as the defroster melted it.

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