driving on snow

We drove our new to us at the time 2001 Tradewinds 37' DP from Maine to Albany, NY in a snowstorm.....she handled great!! slow driving, no abrupt changes of speed or direction, plenty of following distance... maintain momentum up hills....
I assume you are coming up 81 then west on 17/86....IF it is snowing, the "hills" on 81 thru PA might be an issue... 17 should probably be well plowed.....
The big question is: where are you going to stay?? Is your MH 4 season?? How about your plumbing system??

I have Mud & Snow tires on my coach, and if the roads are slick it doesn't move!
Tire chains? Best check to see if you can safely use them. My first coach years ago had the water system low point drain valves in the rear wheel wells. A broken cross chain (not at all uncommon) would have stripped them out very neatly! Also, remember the speed limitation when using tire chains. Many chain manufacturers say 25 or 30 MPH!
When there is snow, I don't go! Not in the motorhome, at least. In the other vehicles, sure!

Any motorhome that I've driven in the snow preformed quite well due to there so heavy! My last experience driving a motorhome in the snow was the Grand Canyon, AZ. (5,000' in elevation) 3/4" of snow when I left there and snowing, I arrived in Flagstaff, AZ. (7,500' in elevation) about 1-1/2 feet of snow there and it was snowing. I fueled up in Flagstaff and continued on to Phoenix arrived at night and there was a trace of snow there. The snow storm came up by surprise and, I wasn't ready for it and my coach was new at that time so I didn't have any snow chains! I just drove slow and easy and didn't lock up my brakes and never spun a wheel!

wny_pat wrote:

06Fargo wrote:

Cottontop wrote:
Do not use any type of Air Brakes

What? :h

:h, and just why not??? Thats all if have on my DP. And thats all I ever had on all the gas transports, reefer trailers and flat beds I pulled around!

Pat you never see any snow in Western NY do you?

06Fargo wrote:

Cottontop wrote:
Do not use any type of Air Brakes

What? :h

:h, and just why not??? Thats all if have on my DP. And thats all I ever had on all the gas transports, reefer trailers and flat beds I pulled around!

Snow falls don't last forever. Pull off the road during snow storms. WAIT until roads are cleared and/or salted and get back on the road.

I'm from Wisconsin and all the hoopla about snow storms and driving is ridiculous. Wait till the plows get out there and clear the road. When the sun comes up the roads are dry as a bone.

There really is NO reason to ever drive during a snow storm with any vehicle and most certainly not with an RV. When all you have to do is wait for the plows to go thru, THEN get back on the road.

Cottontop wrote:
Do not use any type of Air Brakes

What? :h

Will you be towing a car or trailer? If so, unlike when you slide in a car, where you turn the wheel the way the car is sliding. When you are towing you have to turn the wheel in the opposite direction of the skid. If you turn the wheel into the skid you will turn into the car or trailer. You want to turn steer away from it.

I haven't had to drive a MH in snow but I have driven school buses & tour buses in snow. Air brakes just require you to be easy on the brakes the same as in a car. It has been snowing all day here and we were out in it since this morning. When we got on the Interstate we had a few pass us at 70-75. and then they slowed up as they saw 3 in the ditches as we went farther. With good tires, common sense, and going a little slower it is not a problem.

Drove my MH lots of miles on snow and ice when we had it. It actually drove very nice in the snow. Long wheelbase so if it slips, it does it very slowly, and easy to recover. My water tank was in the rear, so I made sure it was full to add lots of weight on the rear duals, giving much more traction. I would do it again no problem.
However,I haven't pulled my fifth-wheel in the ice or snow, and don't plan on it. My truck handles like a pig in the snow unless the 4 wheel drive is engaged, and I don't like to do that for long distances. We are considering changing back to a motor home this year. Love the fifth-wheels huge space, but not conducive to bringing family along as well as the dogs, plus we would like to use it more in the winter.