My dream of full timing in a motorhome generally consists of following the sun and chasing perfect weather. Unfortunately, my wife and kids would like to ski for a couple of weeks this winter.So I need your advice, council and recommendations on what to do. Here's the setup: I'll be traveling in a brand new 45 foot King Aire with Oasis Hydronic heating and a 200 gallon diesel fuel tank and 140 gallons of fresh water. In addition, I'll have the factory installed solar panels (400 watts, I think). The coach is all electric, no propane.I'm traveling with my wife and two girls (9 and 12). I'd like to visit either the Denver surrounding area or Salt Lake City surrounding area. I like Denver because my nephew lives there and I like SLC because it's closer to Arizona and I can get to warm weather easier afterwards.Here are the questions I have, but feel free to comment on any other point you think I should know about:1) Should I even attempt this or try and find a hotel or VRBO instead?2) Can my rig handle the cold weather of winter at elevation for a couple of weeks?3) How am I going to drive around on snow or icy roads?4) Where should I camp? Should I boondock? Are campgrounds even open near ski lifts?5) If I camp, should I keep my hoses inside and only hook them up temporarily as needed?I look forward to your replies.

Do a VRBO. If you ever do start FT'ing you'll find out it's nice to take a vacation from your vacation.

There are campgrounds open in Maine all year on snowmobile trails. You don't hook up water and use the campground facilities. Don't drive during a storm or until the roads are cleared. Check where you want to go and see if a park is open there.

We travel all of the time during the Winter in the Western mountains. We keep our water tank topped off as much as possible and ONLY hook up our hose to fill the water tank. We also never hook up our sewer hose except to empty our black and gray tanks when they get close to full. For the really cold days and nights we keep a 100 watt bulb burning in the wet compartment. We plug in a mechanics trouble light which has a shield around the bulb and just set it in the wet compartment near the water pump. We use electric heaters and a single hose portable AC/heat pump to keep things warm in the coach. We seldom use our LP furnace since the electric heaters work fine. I carry a set of tire chains to use to get in to and out of some RV parks. I have never had to use them on the highways, which are usually cleared right after any storm, but some of the RV parks do not clear their roads very often. Rather than being stuck in one location, I slip on the chains and move on to another RV park. We have never had our water lines freeze up and we love Winter travel because of the lack of crowds. We also have a mountain dog that loves the snow. Enjoy!

Fresh road salt on a new king aire. What are you thinking?:SI think I'd rent a place.

I have a friend who spends the whole winter skiing in Brekenridge CO in his FT. He camps at tiger run. There are things to learn about dumping and hoses but the coach should handle it fine.

Ski trip in a Motorhome. Am I crazy? | Good Sam Community

Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2014
I think you'll do fine with a bit of prior planning. Best to avoid traveling when it is actively snowing and wait for DOT to do their part. Be flexible with arrival and departure times and be ready incase you get stuck somewhere for a couple of extra days (food, water, fuel). The seemingly bottomless tanks on the King Air will keep you comfortable for days but top off and empty every chance you get just to be safe.

If you do get caught driving in less than optimum weather just drive as if your nervous traveler Mother-In-Law is seated behind you with a shape stick pointed at back of your neck. Slow acceleration and long coast down to stops (as little mechanical braking as possible), slow turns easy turns and such.
2bzy2c
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2014
One thing I discovered while ski camping.Don't put your jacks down in the snow. They tend to freeze to the ground. Found that out the hard way.
SeaDog_BRR
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
I have taken my old winnie on many camping trips in the winter and the only problem I ever experienced what when I was plugged into power in Elko NV and was using space heaters instead of letting my furnace come on. My water pump froze so an hour of running the furnace and things were fine my furnace heats the basement. Many newer coaches like yours have built in basement heaters that come on when the temp in the basement drops to around 34*. Have a great trip
John_S_
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2014
I have a friend who spends the whole winter skiing in Brekenridge CO in his FT. He camps at tiger run. There are things to learn about dumping and hoses but the coach should handle it fine.
DanTheRVMan
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
Fresh road salt on a new king aire. What are you thinking?:S

I think I'd rent a place.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Aug 10, 2014
We travel all of the time during the Winter in the Western mountains. We keep our water tank topped off as much as possible and ONLY hook up our hose to fill the water tank. We also never hook up our sewer hose except to empty our black and gray tanks when they get close to full.
For the really cold days and nights we keep a 100 watt bulb burning in the wet compartment. We plug in a mechanics trouble light which has a shield around the bulb and just set it in the wet compartment near the water pump.
We use electric heaters and a single hose portable AC/heat pump to keep things warm in the coach. We seldom use our LP furnace since the electric heaters work fine.
I carry a set of tire chains to use to get in to and out of some RV parks. I have never had to use them on the highways, which are usually cleared right after any storm, but some of the RV parks do not clear their roads very often. Rather than being stuck in one location, I slip on the chains and move on to another RV park.
We have never had our water lines freeze up and we love Winter travel because of the lack of crowds. We also have a mountain dog that loves the snow. Enjoy!
K_Charles
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
There are campgrounds open in Maine all year on snowmobile trails. You don't hook up water and use the campground facilities. Don't drive during a storm or until the roads are cleared. Check where you want to go and see if a park is open there.
John_Joey
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
Do a VRBO. If you ever do start FT'ing you'll find out it's nice to take a vacation from your vacation.

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Ski trip in a Motorhome. Am I crazy?

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