Towing in snow/ice/mix

[ajg617]

I'll be keeping an eye on the monthly forecasts for mid-April as we bring the trailer out from NH to Elkhart and hopefully, they will change in the next months (i.e. warmer) but right now, most routes have some mixe precip which means the weather folks don't know what it will be. Possibility of snow and/or ice and/or mix on each one as of now. Four possible routes (and no, despite RVTW and Garmin routing me over the Molly Stark Trail, not an option in forecasted snow). But the most intense driving I've ever done was pulling a U-Haul with brakes from NH to San Antonio over I-80 in PA in January. Freezing rain in western PA and whiteout lake effect snow after crossing the Ohio border the last of which scared me to no end. Big rig went off a bridge into a deep ravine in PA, and I couldn't see either side of the road in Ohio but was being passed continuously by trucks when I had no idea if I was on a shoulder or off the road. They finally slowed down when headlights appeared in the depression between East and West but would never want to repeat that. There was simply no place to pull over and I wouldn't have been able to tell even if I had pulled over - visibility was that poor - max 15mph.

That's the only trailer I've ever pulled in freezing precip. Looking for strategies in the event we run into some. I have four routes I can take - I-90 upstate NY which is probably the least mountainous but also runs along Lake Erie, I-88 through Binghamton NY, I-80 in PA, and the PA pike which is the furthest south. And family farm south of Cleveland, there was always late lake effect snow in April.

Those who have driven in slippery conditions, do you change your gain settings at all? Any other advice? I'm leaning towards I-90 as the most flat route despite the proximity to Lake Erie - the challenge there might be in MA near Stockbridge. All suggestions welcome.
TIA,
John

 

[Second Chance]

I've only towed in snowy/icy conditions once in the whole time we've been full-time... and that's only because we couldn't avoid it. Otherwise, we just don't travel in those conditions. Personally, I wouldn't want to increase the trailer brake gain. The last thing you want is for trailer brakes to lock up before the truck and have the trailer come sliding around beside you. Perhaps a working or retired commercial trucker will see this and chime in.

Rob

 

[ajg617]

Thanks Rob,
My initial thought was to reduce the gain for the reason you suggested. I would have liked to have push this off by 15 days or so, but it is what it is. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate but you just never know. Driving from Denver to C Springs in late July I hit a huge hail storm South of Castle Rock - cars off the road everywhere and about 2 inches of large hail on the road. In a car, wasn't a problem for me. RV is another issue.

 

[mwdilday]

I normally watch the weather a week or so out and try to refine my plans or cancel if it is impassible. Mostly the interstates are passable but the side roads can get messy. If your truck and I never have changed my gain in the snow. Just take it slow and use technology to choose the clear roads as much as possible. I am comfortable driving in the snow from an accident standpoint my biggest fear is getting stuck. I have quite a bit of experience driving semis in the snow. A bigger concern for me is taking the RV thru the salt/chemicals.

 

[Tom Traveler]

I normally watch the weather a week or so out and try to refine my plans or cancel if it is impassible. Mostly the interstates are passable but the side roads can get messy. If your truck and I never have changed my gain in the snow. Just take it slow and use technology to choose the clear roads as much as possible. I am comfortable driving in the snow from an accident standpoint my biggest fear is getting stuck. I have quite a bit of experience driving semis in the snow. A bigger concern for me is taking the RV thru the salt/chemicals.

We always allow some schedule flexibility to pick the best days or avoid the worst days. We do drive Montana and Idaho mountain passes in December on our way south. We carry tire chains for all eight wheels, four on the truck and four on the trailer. We haven’t had to use them yet and I hope we never do but I’m not going to risk pulling an 18k RV in slick roads without chains. Luckily, the chains from previous trucks fit the current truck and the RV.

 

[orbsah]

A bigger concern for me is taking the RV thru the salt/chemicals.

I agree. A few years ago we saw a new rig that had just been delivered to an RV dealer in MA (pretty sure it was the month of January) and the salt and road grime that was plastered to the underside looked terrible. If you’re driving in these conditions, I’d suggest hosing off the underside after every driving day.

 

[Captcolour]

If it were me, I'd do I-90 because it's less hilly. Plus they are probably pretty good predicting storms off the lake so not as many surprises. If you can, you could always plan to leave earlier so you have more flexibility, and camp in the Elkhart area if you arrive a few days sooner.

 

[ajg617]

If it were me, I'd do I-90 because it's less hilly. Plus they are probably pretty good predicting storms off the lake so not as many surprises. If you can, you could always plan to leave earlier so you have more flexibility, and camp in the Elkhart area if you arrive a few days sooner.

Leaving early and probably will do I-90 and planning on doing only 250 miles or so a day - worst area will likely be western MA which is pretty hilly. Last time I put chains on a car was in the 1960s when we only had big heavy rear wheel drive cars. I remember my dad always had a set in the 1950s and were they a pain to put on - can't imagine what it would be like on a big rig or RV. I've driven in snow all of my life so I'm not uncomfortable with it - just haven't pulled in it or had to drive through really mountainous terrain. Last August we were driving in ice at Yellowstone over Dunraven pass - really slow.

 

[SGT ROC]

Leaving early and probably will do I-90 and planning on doing only 250 miles or so a day - worst area will likely be western MA which is pretty hilly. Last time I put chains on a car was in the 1960s when we only had big heavy rear wheel drive cars. I remember my dad always had a set in the 1950s and were they a pain to put on - can't imagine what it would be like on a big rig or RV. I've driven in snow all of my life so I'm not uncomfortable with it - just haven't pulled in it or had to drive through really mountainous terrain. Last August we were driving in ice at Yellowstone over Dunraven pass - really slow.

Your absolutely better on I-90. For one it's fewer miles to your destination. No way would I travel the PA turnpike - in any weather if I could help it. I-80 is OK, but is hilly, and some of those bridges spanning wide river gorges. I've driven on 80 in PA and Ohio in the winter, not towing but on business trips. Didn't like it at all. The only issue with the I-90 route (other than the lake effect snow), for me, is the traffic around Erie. It gets intense at times. Good luck and safe travels.

 

[Nuffsaid]

I'll be keeping an eye on the monthly forecasts for mid-April as we bring the trailer out from NH to Elkhart and hopefully, they will change in the next months (i.e. warmer) but right now, most routes have some mixe precip which means the weather folks don't know what it will be. Possibility of snow and/or ice and/or mix on each one as of now. Four possible routes (and no, despite RVTW and Garmin routing me over the Molly Stark Trail, not an option in forecasted snow). But the most intense driving I've ever done was pulling a U-Haul with brakes from NH to San Antonio over I-80 in PA in January. Freezing rain in western PA and whiteout lake effect snow after crossing the Ohio border the last of which scared me to no end. Big rig went off a bridge into a deep ravine in PA, and I couldn't see either side of the road in Ohio but was being passed continuously by trucks when I had no idea if I was on a shoulder or off the road. They finally slowed down when headlights appeared in the depression between East and West but would never want to repeat that. There was simply no place to pull over and I wouldn't have been able to tell even if I had pulled over - visibility was that poor - max 15mph.

That's the only trailer I've ever pulled in freezing precip. Looking for strategies in the event we run into some. I have four routes I can take - I-90 upstate NY which is probably the least mountainous but also runs along Lake Erie, I-88 through Binghamton NY, I-80 in PA, and the PA pike which is the furthest south. And family farm south of Cleveland, there was always late lake effect snow in April.

Those who have driven in slippery conditions, do you change your gain settings at all? Any other advice? I'm leaning towards I-90 as the most flat route despite the proximity to Lake Erie - the challenge there might be in MA near Stockbridge. All suggestions welcome.
TIA,
John

Interesting subject, good to ask. I live in the Rocky Mountains and in the winter it snows and roads become snow packed. I have towed trailers in this for many years and many thousands of miles both for work and personal use. I have never been back East so I don't have any experience with your particular roads. In general I would ask how well the highway department cleans snow where you are planning on driving. Make sure your truck has good tires that can help you control the trailer. If the roads are snow covered and your truck is 4wd, use it! Test your trailer brakes if you get into snowy conditions and if they lock up too soon, back off the gain. Slow down and keep extra distance between you and the vehicles in front of you and be ready for someone to cut in front of you and make you white knuckle it. Snow driving is a lot different than ICE driving. Hit an ice storm, pull over as soon as possible and wait it out, not worth it. I use to haul food at work with a 28' gooseneck trailer and my truck had studded snow tires, made a huge difference, but I got caught in a 50 mile stretch of ice covered roads on one trip without my studded tires and it was sketchy, the wind was blowing my trailer sideways as I was driving at 20 mph. Not fun. Carry tire chains for your truck for at least the rear tires. I have driven over the Sierra Nevada mountains many times with a trailer and if chain controls are up, Chains on the Trailer are Mandatory! Talk to some CDL truckers that travel the route you will be taking to see how they deal with snow conditions. I have driven on snow packed roads with our 310gk many times from Wyoming to Montana on a 600 mile loop. Montana uses a lot of Calcium chloride sprayed onto the road ways to help melt the snow, it is very corrosive and will rust unprotected areas under the trailer. Wyoming uses sand with Salt mixed in to help melt the snow and in some cases has started using calcium chloride too. I would rather drive on unplowed roads than after the plow goes by because after the plow is basically a sheet of ice. Test your truck brakes with the trailer to see how it reacts. Use your exhaust brake. Worse situations with a trailer are going down hills especially with a turn involved, the trailer weight can push the rear axle of the truck sideways if it brakes traction, this is where being in 4wd can help by easy application of the throttle to straighten out as well as turning into the skid, don't ask my wife about this feeling! Most of the time driving in the snow is no big deal, just slow down and take your time. On my last trip over Christmas returning from Bozeman, Montana to Wyoming, I was driving east bound on I -90 between Livingston, MT and Big Timber running about 45 mph semi's were passing me on occasion, but with 2-4 inches of snow on the road I wasn't pushing it, all of the sudden I look in the fast lane (I 90 only has two lanes) and here comes a semi truck driving the wrong way and blast past me doing 50+, couldn't believe our eyes, dial 911 and report to hiway patrol!

 

[ajg617]

Interesting subject, good to ask. I live in the Rocky Mountains and in the winter it snows and roads become snow packed.

All good points. I have 57 winters of driving behind me but fortunately, not the mountainous terrain you travel through. As far as road treatment goes, it used to be very good - state plows out and waiting. Now it's contracted out to pickup trucks with plows because the state can't find enough plow drivers for their rigs. It's a bit odd to see pickups plowing major Interstates. So roads can be pretty messy. In the time frame we'll be traveling, I'd be more concerned about ice - which means I won't drive in it. I have aggressive tires and 4WD - studded snows are illegal in some states and must be off by April in others. I haven't carried chains since the 1960s and there are no chain-up locations en route that I recall. And, despite DW's screams, I always test my brakes multiple times when leaving in inclement weather. Typically, salt is used in the NE - sometimes a mixture of sand and salt but salt does not work typically below 15-20F temperatures. Hence the movement to pre-treat the roads with calcium chloride - which IMHO doesn't really do much.

 

[Nuffsaid]

All good points. I have 57 winters of driving behind me but fortunately, not the mountainous terrain you travel through. As far as road treatment goes, it used to be very good - state plows out and waiting. Now it's contracted out to pickup trucks with plows because the state can't find enough plow drivers for their rigs. It's a bit odd to see pickups plowing major Interstates. So roads can be pretty messy. In the time frame we'll be traveling, I'd be more concerned about ice - which means I won't drive in it. I have aggressive tires and 4WD - studded snows are illegal in some states and must be off by April in others. I haven't carried chains since the 1960s and there are no chain-up locations en route that I recall. And, despite DW's screams, I always test my brakes multiple times when leaving in inclement weather. Typically, salt is used in the NE - sometimes a mixture of sand and salt but salt does not work typically below 15-20F temperatures. Hence the movement to pre-treat the roads with calcium chloride - which IMHO doesn't really do much.

Sounds like you just need encouragement, you will be fine! As far as the wife screaming, turn up the radio, LOL easy for me to say. I can't imagine plowing a highway with a pickup and a plow. I used to plow the grounds where I worked which was about 40 acres and if I went over 20 mph the snow would just come over the top of the plow even with a deflecter on it and overwhelm my windshield and wipers. It was fun though.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

If your forecasters are anything like the ones in our area.......what they say now will have nothing to do with the weather you will get in April...
I've only pulled the trailer(s) a couple times in snow. Don't recommend. No tips other than be very sensitive to your trailer behavior and only slow measured steering or braking inputs.
If it were me I'd look at the forecast a week or two out. See a two or three day window in the weather? Hitch up and hammer down for two or three days. Run into ice? Pull over and wait. It's what we did when we drove to Phoenix last February. There was a three day window of decent weather so we hitched up and got to OKC in three days. Paused for some freezing rain south of the Twin Cities but thought waiting it out was better than sliding off the road. Potentially.
I'd miss my GD appt rather than tow through significant ice and/or snow. So leave early if possible to give yourself flexibility.

 

[Sprocket-MGRV]

Back in the last winter vortex. We headed back from Alabama to Western Kentucky...because of a worse forecast. All choppy ice from freeze and refreeze through Tennessee What would've taken 4 hours...took us 8. Just slow and go. We did not have any real grades to worry with.

 

[lorend]

Leaving early and probably will do I-90 and planning on doing only 250 miles or so a day - worst area will likely be western MA which is pretty hilly. Last time I put chains on a car was in the 1960s when we only had big heavy rear wheel drive cars. I remember my dad always had a set in the 1950s and were they a pain to put on - can't imagine what it would be like on a big rig or RV. I've driven in snow all of my life so I'm not uncomfortable with it - just haven't pulled in it or had to drive through really mountainous terrain. Last August we were driving in ice at Yellowstone over Dunraven pass - really slow.

One thing to pay attention to is what kind of snow you may encounter. Snow is snow, right? nope. My son lives in Montana and it snows 10" and they still drive 70 on the freeway because the snow moves out of the way. A dry snow. Here in Washington we get 3" of the white stuff and it shuts the region down because it is wet and slick. My son called one time and said they got 4" of "Washington" snow and he counted 147 vehicles in the ditch on his 10 mile trip to work. I have no idea what kind of snow they get in that part of the country but just something to keep in mind.

 

[terryriddle]

When the roads are slippery due to snow or even very minor icing, get off the road before you find the RV running beside you and out of control. The advice of a 76-year-old who has pulled RVs for over 50 years. It is not worth the risk.