Moving from SC to MA in winter with small TT

[theheather1]

I will be moving to MA from SC early to mid December. Even though I'm lusting after a Winnebego Minnie, I have a 16' 2013 Starcraft AR-one and am pulling it with a Chevy Silverado. I'm not very experienced in driving in the snow (being from southern CA and all) and will be travelling with two young kiddos and two cats.

I'd like to save money and live out of the camper on the way up there. Driving more slowly is a given for safety but beyond that I'm here to mine your collective wisdom on tips, tricks and advice on staying safe and keeping us more comfortable on the trip.

[xteacher]

Are campgrounds that far north even open that time of year? As an inexperienced driver on snow, I would be nervous driving my truck in that weather, much less having a TT attached. Store your TT in SC until the snow melts in MA, then retrieve it. If you insist on driving it up there during the winter, and I pray you decide not to, winterize before you go, and use the campground facilities for bathing, going to the bathroom, and refilling drinking/dish washing water containers.

[Passin_Thru]

Ya but you must bring Bear Traps! Be careful about all things that could be made into fishing equipment, including, string, sticks, needles, and pointy things.1st liar doesn't stand a chance. My Dad was in Amarillo Tx and they went to bed in 60 degree weather. A norther came through and there was frost all over the ceiling in the morning. He claimed it was the coldest he ever was.

[Gdetrailer]

westend wrote:

Bayoubass wrote:
Many years ago when we were young and crazy ( 28 years old) we pulled a small 12' travel trailer to Silverton Colorado for the Thanksgiving holiday . Set up at a closed service station and had no power, remember, we were 'crazy'. When we got back to the trailer to bed down after visiting and partying, IT WAS COLD and my wife's contact solution and all the can goods froze! Thank God for good sleeping bags..... and in the morning, it was hard to get out of them..... your post brought back those memories, thanks, it was a great time in our lives and wouldn't change a thing. Good luck......it will work out!

And I've done much worse when I was young.....

The OP sounds like She is strapped to either selling the trailer or bringing it along when She moves to MA. A benefit may be to stay in the trailer on the way up. Another might be using some of the trailer as a moving van. I know how this works, lol.

I'd suggest to winterize the plumbing and carry water in cans, bottles, etc. for drinking, washing, and flushing. Buy a couple of gallons of RV antifreeze and use it in the drains when cold weather is encountered.

If it snows and you're on the Interstate, slow down with traffic and be mindful of what the trailer's doing. If it's freezing rain, pull off and park. If you have to drive through accumulated snow, pick out a spot in a parking lot or in a rest stop and apply the brakes hard. This will give you an idea of braking in snow. Try to drive on cleared, treated roads and don't press your luck. You should do fine. Most folks get in trouble pulling trailers by extending their ability beyond what the combination or what they can do in bad weather. If you're not digging the weather, pull off/over and park. The weather will get better.

FWIW, I spent 2 days parked at the mouth of the Eisenhower tunnel in CO. I didn't trust the roads to go back and the road was closed ahead. After the plows came through and the snow stopped, I headed back to Denver and went up through Wyoming to reach the coast. There is always an alternative to driving in bad weather.

Brings to mind something else that no one has mentioned..

Don't wait until you are less than a 1/4 tank of fuel before looking for a gas station!

Towing eats a lot of fuel and towards the end of your trip you will be unfamiliar areas and once you get past Scranton on I81 gas stations get pretty sparse (there is some at the PA/NT boarder then a stretch of nothing..

Been 10 yrs since the last time I was up that way and I followed I81 to the NY thruway at Albany, drove the thruway for a short distance and got off (Mind is fuzzy on the route number) that was toll free at that section.. Ran into a ice storm just before Albany that time, made for a slow drive for miles.. Not fun and I wasn't towing.

Depending on how far you are going on I81 in NY you might wish to fill up at the PA/NY border.

Lot of open undeveloped land along that route and can go for quite a few miles before finding fuel or civilization..

New England states ARE spectacular so enjoy!

If you ever get bored to death and are looking for adventure, VT has the MOST covered bridges! My brother before he passed made one heck of a tour guide.. One year he decided to take us hunting for as many of them as we could find in a day..

Then there is the Bridge of Flowers which is a bridge that has been repurposed as a walking bridge and is line with flowers all summer long..

Not sure if it still there but there also is a Floating Bridge that literally is nothing more than wooden bridge that actually floats.. It was closed to traffic the time I was there..

VT has a lot of State Park campgrounds but you do need to be aware, they are ALL non electric, no hookups and NO GENERATORS.. There are some private campgrounds that do have hookups so you will have to do some research..

[westend]

Bayoubass wrote:
Many years ago when we were young and crazy ( 28 years old) we pulled a small 12' travel trailer to Silverton Colorado for the Thanksgiving holiday . Set up at a closed service station and had no power, remember, we were 'crazy'. When we got back to the trailer to bed down after visiting and partying, IT WAS COLD and my wife's contact solution and all the can goods froze! Thank God for good sleeping bags..... and in the morning, it was hard to get out of them..... your post brought back those memories, thanks, it was a great time in our lives and wouldn't change a thing. Good luck......it will work out!

And I've done much worse when I was young.....

The OP sounds like She is strapped to either selling the trailer or bringing it along when She moves to MA. A benefit may be to stay in the trailer on the way up. Another might be using some of the trailer as a moving van. I know how this works, lol.

I'd suggest to winterize the plumbing and carry water in cans, bottles, etc. for drinking, washing, and flushing. Buy a couple of gallons of RV antifreeze and use it in the drains when cold weather is encountered.

If it snows and you're on the Interstate, slow down with traffic and be mindful of what the trailer's doing. If it's freezing rain, pull off and park. If you have to drive through accumulated snow, pick out a spot in a parking lot or in a rest stop and apply the brakes hard. This will give you an idea of braking in snow. Try to drive on cleared, treated roads and don't press your luck. You should do fine. Most folks get in trouble pulling trailers by extending their ability beyond what the combination or what they can do in bad weather. If you're not digging the weather, pull off/over and park. The weather will get better.

FWIW, I spent 2 days parked at the mouth of the Eisenhower tunnel in CO. I didn't trust the roads to go back and the road was closed ahead. After the plows came through and the snow stopped, I headed back to Denver and went up through Wyoming to reach the coast. There is always an alternative to driving in bad weather.

[Bayoubass]

Many years ago when we were young and crazy ( 28 years old) we pulled a small 12' travel trailer to Silverton Colorado for the Thanksgiving holiday . Set up at a closed service station and had no power, remember, we were 'crazy'. When we got back to the trailer to bed down after visiting and partying, IT WAS COLD and my wife's contact solution and all the can goods froze! Thank God for good sleeping bags..... and in the morning, it was hard to get out of them..... your post brought back those memories, thanks, it was a great time in our lives and wouldn't change a thing. Good luck......it will work out!

[lucy6194]

Red roof inns with military discounts $53.00 . We tailored south in January in 5th wheel. Too cold to camp cape cod to south Carolina.

[bobndot]

From a snowmobiler who tows all winter long in New England 15 years :
There are a few things to do first , but you can do it.

I would tow it but winterize it and motel it, so you do not have to do it on the road. Use it to eat or sleep at rest areas because you will have a furnace for heat. This will offset motel costs .
Take a southern route where non snow covered roads are less likely.

As you get into north country, in case of a heavy snowfall, plan ahead to spend an extra night somewhere, until the roads get plowed. The major roads will be cleared to tow in a relatively short period of time.
As said, a 12 hr one-way drive can be done from PA., which is the way I go. Professional weather people can sometimes actually predict somewhat accurate weather , a day in advance.
BY-pass Wash.D.C. and NYC .
I use , RT 81 north from VA. to PA. and cut east on rt 84 ( Scranton) to rt 91 north in Hartford, Conn.

#1. prior to departing on this trip. Make sure you are hitched up 100% correct by taking wheel well height measurements, as far as weight distribution is concerned. Do a search or ask here , if you have any doubts on how to do this.
Towing on a possible snow covered road requires you to have enough rear tongue weight on your rear axle of your truck in order to maintain proper rear wheel traction. Winter tower's get into trouble when a lightweight rear truck axle swings out losing traction and causing the rig to jackknife. Make sure your brake controller is working so you can manually apply the TT brakes if you have to.

#2. My friends and I that tow all use 'winter tires' like Blizzaks .
Do yourself a favor and outfit your truck with FOUR new tires if you plan to live and drive in New England, you are going to use and need them . Border patrol, Fish and Game and first responder vehicles run them on their vehicles in Northern NY, VT, NH and Maine.
Do a google search to review brands and decide . They make a difference keeping traction on ice and snow but you need to have them on all 4 wheels. Think about doing this prior to departing in case you encounter snow and ice.
If you have room to transport them, you could always keep the tires you are using now as your summer tires.

[DownTheAvenue]

Winterize the trailer before leaving SC so that will not be a problem you have to deal with. Then just stay in motels along the way. By the time you get to central VA, you will be in colder temperatures and finding an open campground will be a problem. Don't complicate your life!

[Gdetrailer]

jfkmk wrote:
I think folks are worrying too much. In early to mid December, it's not horrifically cold in ma, and there's not an appreciable amount of snow, if any st all. It's certainly not -35 as someone was saying. It will be cold in the trailer-i have an AR-One and while it's a solid trailer, it's not a cold weather one either. There are some campgrounds open along the way, you just have to plan ahead to stop at them.

I'd say you'll be fine, take your time, and best of luck!

Hmm.. Boy, sounds like your weather is much "warmer" than mine..

Not sure I would buy that.

My parents on more than one occasion got "snowed in" having to park in a parking lot for several days with no power while on their way to Florida when they left just before Thanksgiving.. And that was in Virginia and West Virgina..

I am very sure in MA that you DO get some cold/bad weather in December..

Just trying to prepare the OP for the worst case and hope for the best case.. Winter weather is nothing to scoff at and if you are not properly prepared things can go from bad to worse in a hurry. And when "Mr Murphy" decides to cross your path, it WILL be at the worst possible time.

Do I think it can be done, sure..

Would I do it? NO.

I spend to much time out on the roads in bad weather just to get to work without the added fun of towing.. I don't think it will be much fun or pleasure..

[Gdetrailer]

theheather1 wrote:
I already own the trailer so it's either abandon it in Sumter, South Carolina or sell it way cheap, or tow it with us the earliest I can move, that being December. Not a great situation that's for sure, but it's what we have to work with.

I can't afford multiple trips.

If you are not attached to the trailer (you did mention about wanting a Winnie) and cannot afford to make a second trip, sell it cheap.

Here is the reasoning.

If you sell it you will have some money to pay for moving expenses.

You will have some money for a Hotel room.

You WILL save considerable money in fuel costs (towing eats gas).

You will have some money to buy needed items you don't have already.

You won't have to deal with towing and potential bad weather.

You will have a less stressful move in the end.

You ARE in a good place to SELL the RV, SC is a pretty active place when it comes to camping. Lots of State parks with lake side camping and not to mention a fantastic coastal area.

Sometimes it is best to dump excess baggage when moving long distance.

[Gdetrailer]

deltabravo wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
Umm.. you are planning to move to MA AND LIVE in a travel trailer?

No, the OP wants to use it instead of a motel room:

theheather1 wrote:
I will be moving to MA from SC early to mid December. I'd like to save money and live out of the camper on the way up there.

ALREADY FIGURED THAT OUT.

But really, using a RV instead of a hotel room just to save some money is not really all the great of an idea in the middle of winter in the northern climate.

[jfkmk]

I think folks are worrying too much. In early to mid December, it's not horrifically cold in ma, and there's not an appreciable amount of snow, if any st all. It's certainly not -35 as someone was saying. It will be cold in the trailer-i have an AR-One and while it's a solid trailer, it's not a cold weather one either. There are some campgrounds open along the way, you just have to plan ahead to stop at them.

I'd say you'll be fine, take your time, and best of luck!

[dakasa47]

Hi,
First of all welcome to Massachusetts. We have traveled and stayed in South Carolina and want to say people are friendly,welcoming and helpful. We love Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach
Travel Park twice and the beautiful campgrounds in the Appalachians. We have stayed at Ocean Lakes at least 4 times, WillowTree Resort and Campground once, Oak Planation once. Myrtle Beach campground twice,and Hunting Island once. You could check out Normandy Farms on the south shore . It used to be open all year but I think it may be closed in the winter now. I'm not sure. It is close to Foxboro ,the winter home of our beloved Patriots, so it might be open longer than other campgrounds. There are are a few campgrounds in NH that stay open for skiing and snowboarding seasons but if you are attending school in MA that would not really work out well as most are up in the White Mts.

Two years ago we had reservations at various state parks in the Keys FL. but because of all the snow we got and the narrowness of our street we had to cancel all reservation. Last October we stored our RV in a storage facility in Conway SC. We then traveled to SC in February to pick up the RV to head to the Keys. Of course last winter we did not have as much snow and we could have pulled the RV out of the yard, made the turn onto our street and headed south. One problem though is that there are not really any campgrounds open until you get to maybe North Carolina.

If you are planning on looking for housing it will all depend on where you will be located. I don't have any knowhow about housing for students but as we have thousands and thousands of students coming here for the colleges there is, I think, many opportunities for some sort of housing.
Good luck in your future endeavor and thank you and your family for your service to our country.

[deltabravo]

Gdetrailer wrote:
Umm.. you are planning to move to MA AND LIVE in a travel trailer?

No, the OP wants to use it instead of a motel room:

theheather1 wrote:
I will be moving to MA from SC early to mid December. I'd like to save money and live out of the camper on the way up there.