Cold Weather Towing

[tgwright]

I am a new trailer owner. I have a 2015 Ram 2500 and an Open Range 3x 427BHS(41ft).
I am headed up through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and on down through Washington to Colorado in December/January.
I have lived up north for a while, but have never driven a rig like this in cold weather/snow.
Can anyone offer any driving tips for how to deal with snow and bad weather?

Thanks!

Tim

[stetwood]

It sounds like you have never driven in wintery conditions so, when it does snow or the roads are snowpacked, unhook and drive in those road conditions to get some just plain driving experience. Even those born and raised in those conditions seem to forget their driving skills as soon as the first snow hits the road. At 50 mph stopping distance will be 3x as far on snow and almost 6x on ice, plus the vehicle can do some strange gyrations, like fishtailing, spinning in circles and half circles and all kind of thrill invoking actions.

[PAThwacker]

I towed on snow last year. 4w low range, locked in 1st, trailer sliding left and right. I do not recommend it at all.

[tatest]

RV delivery drivers drive all year long. RVs are winterized for the trip, and winter roads are now quickly cleared.

The key is waiting for roads to be cleared. You don't drive when the roads are too slick. You make such slow progress that it is not worth the trouble to drive through conditions where you at best creep along. Sometime you have no choice. Across the Great Plains and to some extent in the Midwest, when driving conditions get to bad the roads are closed. Sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for days.

Mountain roads may be more of an issue. There are places that do not get cleared to dry pavement, and if you expect to get through, you must be equipped and prepared to drive through on ice. That means chains in most cases, and progress in those conditions is slow. That is somethng to work into your schedule.

[blt2ski]

campigloo wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Sway should not be an issue going 10 to 25 mph with chains on.

The question is not sway but what effect a brake at the swivel point would have on handling. With it tight it seems like the trailer would be considerably less responsive to steering adjustments, especially on a slick surface.

Do you have issues on a rain slicked surface? probably not. If not, you will not have issues on snow or ice generally speaking. A friend used to lighten up the friction sway control on his 32' trailer behind an F250 Crew cab towing to the mtns. Somewhere he tried it without relasing/loosening up.....Keeps the same now year around. I used to use just a WD, no issues, lost a bar on the way to E Washington to ski in Wenatchee, went to a dual cam. No real issues with either fully locked up.

now where I have had issues on slick surfaces, is when with my GM 8 lug trucks, is when the FA loses or has more than around 250-300 lbs off the fa from empty wt. IE if empty there is 4500 lbs, if I get down to 4200 with that on the RA along with a load, then I lose steering control until I use a WD on a trailer, or shift a load forward in the bed such that more wt is on the FA.

The worst slick surface is a heavy white painted stripe from a crosswalk, or equal. These when wet one can slip the front wheels on really easy, lose control, slide when you do not want to forward.....Ice and snow are not always the worst situation from a slickness standpoint. Even metal grating on a bridge can be bad or worst than snow and ice in the winter.

I've pulled trailers upwards of 12K with ball and pintle hitches in snow, rain, dry etc. for over 30 yrs. TT and equipment trailers with bobcats, mowers etc in and on the trailers.

Go slow, take your time, think ahead of time what to do if something goes haywire.....then do the best you can.

Marty

[campigloo]

smkettner wrote:
Sway should not be an issue going 10 to 25 mph with chains on.

The question is not sway but what effect a brake at the swivel point would have on handling. With it tight it seems like the trailer would be considerably less responsive to steering adjustments, especially on a slick surface.

[2oldman]

First place I'd look for chains is an auto parts store.

[Calicajun]

campigloo wrote:
What about sway control devices? Disengage?

Yes, at least that what I was told by the manufacture back when I bought our first TT in 1990.

[time2roll]

Sway should not be an issue going 10 to 25 mph with chains on.

[campigloo]

What about sway control devices? Disengage?

[tgwright]

Thanks for the input!

blt2ski wrote:
A tire dealer may have chains available depending upon where you are. You may literally have to drive someplace where chains are legal. IIRC Wisconsin and a few other midwest states metal traction devices, be them chains or studs are illegal. You may not be able to buy them any where! If in the NW and some other western states Les Schwab is probably one of the best or better places to go to. They will setup, show you how to install etc.

I'm not going to say towing in snow is fun, horrible etc. I used to use my TT as a ski hut. THere were many times over 100 rvs of ALL types, sizes and shapes at the local ski area's I went to. We all arrived and left in good shape, got home, and came back the following week from December to early April. Traction tires for the rear of the truck are good. as are AT or equal on the front of the truck, and something somewhat aggressive for the trailer are good too. A 5 rib hwy tire is not as good as something with major grooves on the side. This lets slush etc get squished out as you drive.

There are some vent covers, forget the name. Invest in these for the vents. You can keep the vents open when it is raining and snowing.

keep your water tank full, hopefully it is heated or somewhere with in the heated part of the trailer as mine was. You may get froze out of some area's if you have manual drains. The water will freeze upwards, stopping water from flowing to parts of the unit. Find and remove this drains, then water will flow throw out. If the black tank is fluid, somewhat full, and you have a chance to drain it, do so! 48 hrs of sub freezing temps will net you a chocolate fudgecicle in that tank. possibly to never drain until you have 48-72 hrs of above freezing temps. Unless you have a heated tank.....

As noted, many have said chain up rules. Look up the states that you will travel thru to figure out snow/winter weather rules. In Washington, if you are towing or over 10K lbs total gvw, you need chains for truck and trailer if applicable from Nov1 to April 1. Sometimes the later date will get extended depending upon the weather in early april in mtn passes.

As noted, go per weather forecasts etc. Winter has a different look and feel than summer sunny weather no matter where you are. Hence different beauty to the region(s) you will travel in. You may not also get to places in winter, that you can not in the winter. many parts of Yellowstone, North cascade hwy 20 in northern washington state......

Have fun
Marty

[blt2ski]

A tire dealer may have chains available depending upon where you are. You may literally have to drive someplace where chains are legal. IIRC Wisconsin and a few other midwest states metal traction devices, be them chains or studs are illegal. You may not be able to buy them any where! If in the NW and some other western states Les Schwab is probably one of the best or better places to go to. They will setup, show you how to install etc.

I'm not going to say towing in snow is fun, horrible etc. I used to use my TT as a ski hut. THere were many times over 100 rvs of ALL types, sizes and shapes at the local ski area's I went to. We all arrived and left in good shape, got home, and came back the following week from December to early April. Traction tires for the rear of the truck are good. as are AT or equal on the front of the truck, and something somewhat aggressive for the trailer are good too. A 5 rib hwy tire is not as good as something with major grooves on the side. This lets slush etc get squished out as you drive.

There are some vent covers, forget the name. Invest in these for the vents. You can keep the vents open when it is raining and snowing.

keep your water tank full, hopefully it is heated or somewhere with in the heated part of the trailer as mine was. You may get froze out of some area's if you have manual drains. The water will freeze upwards, stopping water from flowing to parts of the unit. Find and remove this drains, then water will flow throw out. If the black tank is fluid, somewhat full, and you have a chance to drain it, do so! 48 hrs of sub freezing temps will net you a chocolate fudgecicle in that tank. possibly to never drain until you have 48-72 hrs of above freezing temps. Unless you have a heated tank.....

As noted, many have said chain up rules. Look up the states that you will travel thru to figure out snow/winter weather rules. In Washington, if you are towing or over 10K lbs total gvw, you need chains for truck and trailer if applicable from Nov1 to April 1. Sometimes the later date will get extended depending upon the weather in early april in mtn passes.

As noted, go per weather forecasts etc. Winter has a different look and feel than summer sunny weather no matter where you are. Hence different beauty to the region(s) you will travel in. You may not also get to places in winter, that you can not in the winter. many parts of Yellowstone, North cascade hwy 20 in northern washington state......

Have fun
Marty

[Dave_H_M]

I have thought over your plans and all the only contribution I have is a hearty "GOOD LUCK." Enjoy your planned adventure.

[tgwright]

The truck is 4x4. We are not rushed on a day-to-day basis, and will sit out the storm if at all possible. I would like to have some chains for truck and trailer in case of emergency.

rhagfo wrote:

tgwright wrote:
We have about 9 months to spend on the road and due to some family obligations, the route is what it is.

Where do I start looking at what chains to get? I've never owned a set.

Thanks for the help so far!

NEVER had Chains???

I would suggest a different travel plan!!!

Is the TV a 4X4? That is a lot of 5er for a 2500, even a 2015! Have you ever towed in the snow, any thing?

[wing_zealot]

I've never Owned chains, and I have towed many times in snow storms in northern Michigan. The fact is, people do it every day in northern Michigan on roads that won't see dry pavement for 4 months. The key is to use that thing on top of your shoulders. People from Ariz. and Fla. may be interested to know life goes on even when it snows 200" plus a year.

OP- if you see 18 wheelers parked, then you should be parked. If the 18 wheelers have chains on, you should have chains on (or stop). Fact of the matter is, most of the time the roads will be fine and if you're careful and watching out for the unexpected you should do just fine. You're from New England, it isn't like you have never traveled in bad weather before. You just have to be aware that the trailer would rather pass you on ice then stop. So be aware of that and take it easy. If you feel uncomfortable, stay off the road, tomorrow the road will be a whole different story. Use your head and don't press the issue.