frankiebIII wrote:
First, thanks for all the great responses. But I just want to clarify a few things.
1. Have logged enough miles to be confidant in my driving of this rig. It is my 3rd RV my first being a 34' travel trailer. From day one veteran RV were impressed with my handling of it (being an ex pro tennis player may help with reflexes and hand eye as I was often dodging 120mph shots to my head at net! LOL!)
2. I was NEVER PLANNING ON DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM! I would of course pull over at the first sign of heavy snow. I'm driving my house! Couldn't be stuck in a better place right?
3. I was just wondering if it had dumped 10" a day before and I wanted to head up the next day to get some fresh snow could it be done. The transportation authority sucks at repairing roads but the mountain divisions are very could at clearing them of snow.
4. A very good point about winterizing the rig. Never thought of that.
5. Just to clarify for those of you in the east or north. In California SF Bay Area we are not driving in snow for hours white knuckled just to get somewhere. When you decide to head to the mountains you may only be in snow for 2 hours at the end of a 5 hour drive and sometimes, depending on which resort you go to, only 45 minutes at the end of a 3.5 hrs drive.
I understand driving from NY to Vermont is probably almost all snow the whole way. Very different from here. Yet, that is also who I wanted to hear from since you all have so much more experience.
I think what I'm hearing is........take your time. Don't try to be a snow plow and take on 4 feet of the stuff. Have chains and practice putting them on. Know the weather both when your going and when your planning to leave. Yes, the weight of the motor home can help keep you on the road, however, it will also increase your braking distance. The fact the front of a motor home is lighter with engine in back steering on icy roads could pose a problem.
YES, would love to make the very simple drive to Bear Valley and park in the lot have my own everything, not have to drive out with the crowds and own the mountain........now I've got to figure out how you winterize and what temperature would you need to start thinking about that. I do have heated tanks. Does that mean anything?
1. Confidence is good, just remember itโs normally the other guy you need to worry about โ and dodging a 100 MPH ball is a lot easier than a 5,000 pound car.
2. Never plan on it but if you drive to the snow you will get to or have to drive in it, at some point in time. If the roads are cleared then it should not be a issue.
3. Best time to drive up โ from my experience is the day before โ pretty big crowd on the day after.
4. If you are not needing to winterize the rig at home, then, if I were you, Iโd just start the Generator and keep the Coach warm(not necessary to run all the time but enough to keep the heat up and batteries charged). We keep the water tank full and the heat on ($5-10 for a remote thermometer at Wal*Mart โ just to know) If you are using Propane, be sure you are filled up. Then you might need a snow shovel and a good broom to sweep the snow off. One more tip โ have something that will fit in the basement to put your boots on set them in it and place a small electric heater so that it warms them up and drys them out, warm boots in the Morning thatโs soooo nicee.
5. That will make it easier.
โI think what I'm hearing is........take your timeโ Just be smart, and stay in YOUR comfort Zone.
You will be surprised how many people will come over to just TALK โ it is a novel way to Ski.
Now when you get home get a stron little sprinkler and turn it on HIGH then pull it under the coach to wash all the grim off.
Best of Luck and post a picture or two of the rig.
Tiger Run in Breck, CO
Busskipper wrote:
A picture or two, sort of explains it - some clean some don't;
These are all from Tiger Run, in Breck.
BOL
Busskipper
Don't think you need to worry about winterizing in Bear Valley winter.
I had several motorhomes on snow, including cheap Toyota ClassC and never had freezing problems.
We don't have negative temperatures and if that happen, I doubt you will think about going in the first place.
When you have heat on inside the coach, it makes "air bubble" around that keeps even exterior siding warmer than the air few feet away.
Than black tank seem to be resistant to pretty low temperatures and if you have gray water tank just hanging under the coach, you can dump a gallon of antifreeze in it.
I drove to Bear Valley only once years ago, but I80 and I50 summits make for +- 20 miles of snow driving during storm and again, that doesn't happen very often, although we hope for wet El Nino this winter.
I had several motorhomes on snow, including cheap Toyota ClassC and never had freezing problems.
We don't have negative temperatures and if that happen, I doubt you will think about going in the first place.
When you have heat on inside the coach, it makes "air bubble" around that keeps even exterior siding warmer than the air few feet away.
Than black tank seem to be resistant to pretty low temperatures and if you have gray water tank just hanging under the coach, you can dump a gallon of antifreeze in it.
I drove to Bear Valley only once years ago, but I80 and I50 summits make for +- 20 miles of snow driving during storm and again, that doesn't happen very often, although we hope for wet El Nino this winter.
