Heading south the middle of the winter from upstate NY

[Jandsa]

Hi everyone,

As it is getting closer to our trip to Florida after the holidays, I am getting the jitters of "what if?"...thinking about snow storms, icy roads, etc. We towed our 5ver 70 miles from the dealership to our home in Nov. and that seemed worrisome enough with the cold weather and wondering if it would snow.

I am thinking we must be crazy to do this during mid-winter! Any advice from your experiences will be greatly appreciated. We plan on using campgrounds at the base in Jacksonville and then off to Patrick AFB. Thank you!

[DutchmenSport]

Made it to Georgia. No rain. Did finally stop and clean windows. Right now we are in Dothan GA. My son is driving.

[Jandsa]

Thank you all who posted about their experiences and knowledge. It has been helpful.

We allowed about 6 days travel time to Florida to our destination. However, we are not totally "winging it." We have a reservation at a hotel in PA the first night out and then the next day to the Chapel Hill area in N.C. for a couple of days to visit family. What I did do though, was pay the extra few dollars for a refundable hotel reservation just in case the roads were bad in PA. and couldn't make it to that hotel.

If the weather yesterday, in the 50s, is any indication of what the winter weather may be like, I will be one happy camper. Nevertheless, Feb. seems to be the worst month of the winter where I live.

And if the trip goes well, we may have a longer stay in the winter next year somewhere out in the southwest. 😄

[DutchmenSport]

Underside of camper? I am more concerned about all the salt at the campground camping right along the Gulf in Florida. Hoping for some rain on the way home to splash and wash some of this salt off. Truck looks worse right now parked at this beach than driving salt laden roads in Indiana. Rain in Georgia on the return trip home would be very welcome.

[shepstone]

The snowbird forum has a good sticky about weather, its the second one down , some of the links may be out of date though.

[Bigpops]

heavyodie1 wrote:
What do you do about road salt on the underside of your trailer?

I usually find a place to wash it when I get to Florida. Some places will actually wash it on your camp site. Call ahead.

[Pete_k]

Used to make that trip every week for a few years. Now back in the mid 80's, good weather forecast was not going to happen. Now days like was posted, find your window and go forth heading south. If you do find bad weather is catching up with you. Find a save spot to camp or sit for a day or so. Then leave out again when weather permits.
Its nice on the Gulf Coast right now. Widows are open and fantastic fan is on. High may only be 65 but feels great.
Pete

[ronday]

For years we would watch the weather and take off when there was a break. For the last 6 years after the Hershey Car show in October we have stored the 5ver in Emporia, VA and pick it up after Christmas on our way south which is Sat. Dec. 27 this year. That being said we have decided to leave the RV in Florida this year, so no more towing. When we were towing from home we always washed the RV in Rincon, GA. I have to change my signature as we sold the truck camper and replaced it with a 2005 Fleetwood Pegasus 26ft 5ver to use with the grandkids here at home. Ron Day

[Dan50]

heavyodie1 wrote:
What do you do about road salt on the underside of your trailer?

Whenever we go to Florida in the winter we stop at the Blue Beacon truck wash in Brunswick Georgia and get the truck and trailer washed.

[C-Bears]

We leave on a different date every year from central Illinois to SW Florida. Last year we were leaving around the 15th of December and had to get ice off the tops of the slides and thaw out the hitch. Ran the furnace while towing the first day so we didn't have to winterize, but it was a huge problem just getting hooked up.

This year we pulled the fiver down to Tennessee early. Spent some time down there, left the fiver and just drove the TV back to spend some time with family.

Christmas day we will hook up in Tennessee and start heading south.

[Thomas_NH]

We make that trip every year in February. From coast of NH to Jonestown KOA, Jonestown PA in one day 6-7hrs (they're open year round). We use their facilities and eat their featured meals, love their fired chicken... Did I mention they deliver to you rig... They are real easy to get to, less than 1 mile from I81. Next stop Ridgeway, NC, there's a campground behind a convince store just off I77... What a dump, but it's clean, cheap and no one bothers you... ($21.50/night full hook ups, this is not a place I'd camp at, but for one night and the cheapest gas around works for me. The next night I'm in good ole FLA. I've been traveling this route for years, it's by far the best way south.

[heavyodie1]

What do you do about road salt on the underside of your trailer?

[Bigpops]

We head down each year a day of two after New Year's Day, from mid-Michigan. It seems like each year it snows the night before we leave, but since we never plan to go more than 200 miles in the first day we are not in a big rush. Hook up and put 4WD on and go slow and safe. We usually run out of the snow somewhere in Indiana, although one year we did not thaw out until Tennessee. We always plan to stay in hotel at least the first night out, but have a couple 2.5 gallon water bottles with us in the truck. Always worked for us.

[DutchmenSport]

This is our second trip to Florida during the week of Christmas. Last year Falling Waters State Park. This year St. Joeseh State Park. Like you, two years in a row when we made the reservation we had no idea on weather conditions in Indiana for this week. We had a contengency plan in the event so snow at home when planning to leave....trip canceled and just forefoot our reservation. So far Santa has been good with the weather. You just have to plan on a contengency.

[cmarq]

I81 has motels and other services every exit if you hit weather you find a place to park or get a room. As you get further south in VA. the chance of snow or ice decreases, by the time you get to I77 you should have no worry. If you are going I77 into NC be aware just before the NC border you will come down Mt Airy it its very steep and very long they have ramps for runaway trucks go easy and save the brakes. Have a safe trip and enjoy the sunshine.