Towing car on snow or ice covered roads

[Hpymils]

Is it possible/safe to tow a car four down on snow or ice covered roads?

[George_H]

Park until the road is cleared, then continue on.

[mowermech]

rhagfo wrote:

mowermech wrote:
Possible? Certainly.
Safe? Until the slide begins, yes.
For me, the motorhome is parked until snow and ice are no longer an issue.
Once upon a time, we towed a custom Jeep Wrangler behind a Jeep Grand Cherokee over a snowy mountain pass. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the entire combination made a slow 360 degree circle, and stopped in a snow bank. There was no damage, so we very carefully drove out of the snow and proceeded on our way. THAT was an experience I never want to repeat!

Way different than a MH towing a Toad! You didn’t mention the years of the units, but even in the late 70’s when the Grand Cherokee was a larger vehicle that would still not much larger than the Jeep Wrangler. Did the Wrangler have it’s brakes activated by the Cherokee?

What good are brakes when you are sliding sideways on hard packed snow and ice? The two vehicles stayed in perfect alignment while completing a full circle in the middle of the highway (I-15, on the South side of Monida Pass).
While the combination may have been different than my motorhome with a towed vehicle, the resultant near accident was enough to further convince me that the motorhome stays put when the weather goes bad and the highways and byways get snow packed and icy!
THAT, sir, is the gist of the story whether you wish to accept it or not.

[SidecarFlip]

Think I'd stay home in front of the fire...

Nothing better than wadding one up on ice or a snow covered road. It happens in slow motion and all you can do is hang on and kiss your butt goodbye..

Been there and did that before (with a tractor trailer). It's not pretty, costs a bundle and if you do it, you'll wish you did stay home..

[rhagfo]

mowermech wrote:
Possible? Certainly.
Safe? Until the slide begins, yes.
For me, the motorhome is parked until snow and ice are no longer an issue.
Once upon a time, we towed a custom Jeep Wrangler behind a Jeep Grand Cherokee over a snowy mountain pass. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the entire combination made a slow 360 degree circle, and stopped in a snow bank. There was no damage, so we very carefully drove out of the snow and proceeded on our way. THAT was an experience I never want to repeat!

Way different than a MH towing a Toad! You didn’t mention the years of the units, but even in the late 70’s when the Grand Cherokee was a larger vehicle that would still not much larger than the Jeep Wrangler. Did the Wrangler have it’s brakes activated by the Cherokee?

[Harvard]

Because we used to be Snowbirds who travelled just after Christmas Day we always used 6 Winter Rubber tires, as opposed to 4 season tires on the E450 MH. And, yes we also had a toad four down. Never had a problem but then we never pushed our luck either. The winter tires never had a chance to wear out in summer driving because tire age always came before tire wear.

[rr2254545]

The car is not the problem - I found out last winter the MH itself has poor traction on snow and ice.

[mowermech]

Possible? Certainly.
Safe? Until the slide begins, yes.
For me, the motorhome is parked until snow and ice are no longer an issue.
Once upon a time, we towed a custom Jeep Wrangler behind a Jeep Grand Cherokee over a snowy mountain pass. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the entire combination made a slow 360 degree circle, and stopped in a snow bank. There was no damage, so we very carefully drove out of the snow and proceeded on our way. THAT was an experience I never want to repeat!

[Mandalay_Parr]

Sure. With my Blue Ox tow bar, no problem at all.
My car would always stay perfectly behind my coach.