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

[rhagfo]

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?

[time2roll]

Waiting out a storm is great when the forecast is correct.
Sometimes things change and best to be prepared.

[Bionic_Man]

I've been in an instance pulling a trailer once when chains were needed. I will wait out the storm in the future. Staying on a Set travel schedule, even when working full time, isn't worth the risk.

[chinook507]

Personally I pull over and wait out the storm, figure I got everything I need. In case of emergency I have one set of tire cables for the trailer and a set for my truck to get me safely to a place to wait it out. Figure not worth trashing everything and dealing with the lack of insurance money.

[Sluggo54]

New trailer owner (thus new trailer tower), a huge 41' trailer, and never owned chains. Consider the wind load on a trailer that size. 400 plus square feet area on the side of that trailer... Try carrying a piece of plywood across the yard in a stiff breeze.
Sorry, but I see a looming possible disaster here.
If nothing else, be cognizant of the really ugly damage that can be caused if a chain or cable breaks. It can make blowout damage look minor.

[time2roll]

tgwright wrote:
Link to some chains for my truck? When I search for this, the variety of chains is staggering.
I have lived in New England for a number of years and feel very comfortable driving in snow and ice. It is the towing that has me wondering.

http://www.tirechain.com/Truck-Tire-Chains.HTM

For the truck I recommend the regular twisted chain.
Or for HD expedition style go to the V-Bar.
Lots of people with duals just run chain on the outer tire.

Cables should be fine on the trailer unless again this is some expedition style trip.

Bought mine from JC Whitney. Only used a few times so they are still good.

When fitting the chain you will need to cut some links for best fit. Unless your tires are new leave 1 to 3 extra links so they will fit new tires when you get them. Rubber tensioners might be sold separate, be sure to get them.

[spoon059]

I've pulled my trailer in the snow before. We left for Florida on a Friday morning, it snowed 6" on Thursday night. I'll be darned if I was spending one more day in the cold and snow... put the truck in 4wd and pulled through about 40 miles of snow. Drive slow and be sensible. If it is actively snowing and heavy, I would just pull off for the day.

After it snows, they should clear the roads... at least major highways. They know how to clear snow out there, shouldn't take too long before the road is safe to pass.

[RAS43]

mowermech wrote:

I have lived in "snow country" most of my life, and if chains are required I will stay home if at all possible. I recommend you do the same. If chains are required, find a place to park and stay there until the roads are clear!

X2 I have been involved with trucking all my life and this is the best advice. Having to chain up is work and messy and can be dangerous as you are usually along side a road. Driving is stressful due to the conditions and concern about breaking a chain or staying out of the way of drivers who think they can drive as fast as they want. This is work, not RVing.

[WyoTraveler]

You are pretty much safe on the interstates in the winter if you watch the weather reports. Like mentioned not only snow reports but wind reports which can be dangerous. Black ice can be a real hazard.

Off the interstate in the winter could be a major problem if you are not familar with the area.

We're in the 21st century dial 511. Most states have weather info available on phone. If you have internet many states have DOT info for the truckers that is available.

Wyoming has some of the best weather information available both on the phone 511, or nationwide 888-996-7623. If you have internet

www.wyoroad.info/

The Wyoming web site also lists other states under neighboring states. Wyoming also has a snow plow priority plan. Be familar with it and the maps they show. During a heavy snow storm if you are on a low priority road you may not see a snow plow for a long time. Maybe over a week.

Other than that it is a piece of cake. Like mentioned, tire chains for tow vehicle and tire chains for the braking axle of the TT, or toad if in a MH. I have towed a TT over some of these passes in the winter, just be cautious. I now have a MH. Much more weight to think about. I carry chains for my MH. Cable chains are lighter and are very easy to install on vehicles, especially MHs. I would recommend them over the old style chains. for MHs you can buy bus cable chains.

I blow out my water lines at anything below 10 degrees F. Fill up again when above 10 degrees F.

The big thing is CAUTION and WEATHER REPORTS. Don't get overly brave, stay on the interstates as much as possible and you will be OK. That said I have to get off the interstate at Rock Springs and go north over South Pass to get to Cody (7500 ft). I have driven it hundreds of times in the winter but I still use a lot of caution.

[trail-explorer]

Coming down Lookout Pass on I-90 will be a white knuckle experience if the weather is bad.

The only good thing I can say about that pass is they are rebuilding the Idaho side of it right now, the west bound lanes.

[tgwright]

Link to some chains for my truck? When I search for this, the variety of chains is staggering.
I have lived in New England for a number of years and feel very comfortable driving in snow and ice. It is the towing that has me wondering.

[mowermech]

If driving over mountain passes in most Western states, you must have chains on board, even if the "Chains Required" sign is not displayed.
If the chains required sign is displayed, and you are towing ANYTHING, you must have chains on the drive axle of the tow vehicle, and IF the trailer has brakes, you must have chains on one axle of it. On some passes there will be a check station where they will inspect your vehicle, and turn you back if you don't comply with the requirements!
When driving with chains, do not exceed 35 MPH. Personally, when I have to use chains I don't drive any faster than 25 to 30 MPH. If a cross link breaks it can cause severe damage, and it is much more likely to break one at higher speeds!
I have lived in "snow country" most of my life, and if chains are required I will stay home if at all possible. I recommend you do the same. If chains are required, find a place to park and stay there until the roads are clear!
Even so, get M&S rated tires with an aggressive traction tread for the tow vehicle (front and rear) at least, and maybe even for the trailer!
Good traction is a must when driving on packed snow and ice!

[newman_fulltime]

gbopp wrote:

Executive wrote:
Drive only in States that begin with Ariz or Fla. :B...Dennis

Dennis has he best tip so far.

Jack_Diane_Freedom is second.

Use chains and go slow is about all you can do if you must drive in snow/ice.
Keep your fuel tank at least half full.
Please be careful.

How would you know you blow snow on yours to try and hide it:B

[Bedlam]

Your trailer will require at least one wheel have chains or cables applied so the trailer brakes will have some bite if there are chain up requirements. Whether your vehicle is 2wd or 4wd, you will need to chain up the rear wheels if restrictions are in place. You may find chain requirements are only for vehicles above a certain weight or that are towing - Do not assume that because the vehicle next to you does not have chains, that you do not need to run them. My 4wd F250 could be run without chains as long as I did not tow - My 4wd 5500 requires chains even when not towing due to its weight. I would advise waiting out storms where chains are required but still carry them just in case you are caught somewhere that required them to get out of even worse weather that may be approaching.

I run my furnace in the RV when traveling in bellow freezing temperatures. Others will drain and blow out their lines to prevent freezing. Remember that any fluids in containers will also freeze in your RV if you do not run heat, so remove them or carry them in your tow vehicle.

[gbopp]

Executive wrote:
Drive only in States that begin with Ariz or Fla. :B...Dennis

Dennis has he best tip so far.

Jack_Diane_Freedom is second.

Use chains and go slow is about all you can do if you must drive in snow/ice.
Keep your fuel tank at least half full.
Please be careful.