We're thinking about a trip to North GA then onto Banner Elk for a few days. I've never driven the coach on icy roads and in fact having been in FL since age 15, I haven't driven on icy roads period. While it doesn't look like the weather is going to be too rough over the next week or so...I'm still a little uncertain about it. The place we stay in North GA has a steep drive down from the highway into the campground (Morganton area). Can I expect much of a difference in handling? How about in snow? What conditions should an inexperienced winter driver just park it?
Icy roads qualify for park it time for an inexperienced coach driver. Many of us can handle some pretty extreme conditions, but sliding a vehicle your size can ruin your whole day.
One night I remember coming down a small hill and letting off the fuel pedal. Was running about 55 mph and it was winter time with temps around 30. Coming down the hill everything went quiet. No engine noise or road noise to speak of at all. I looked down at the speedometer and it was bouncing back and forth at about 10 mph while the tach was just above idle, while I had not slowed down at all. Was on glare ice doing still doing 55 mph. The speedometer was only showing 10 mph because I was sliding down the road. I knew I could not touch the brakes cause I would be a goner real fast. I finally got coasted to slow enough speed that I could get onto the shoulder and stop. That covered about a miles distance to get slowed down that much. Got out of the cab and when I hit the pavement I fell flat on my butt. Got back into the rig and I sat there about 15 minutes waiting for a big rig to come along and break it up, but no one did. I was driving a rig pulling a empty aluminum gasoline tanker and only weighted 26,000 lbs. So I tried to pull ahead while driving on the shoulder and ended up on the opposite side of the road. Crawled it very slowly back to the right side of the highway. Finally a big rig came along and it was heavy enough that it broke up the ice and I was able to get traction and crawl into the next town. I had unknowingly driven into a ice storm that blanketed a 4 county area. Black ice will not break up like that. And you can not tell that you are on black ice because it looks just live the pavement.
The moral of this (very true) story is that I was very lucky to get stopped without wrecking that night. Do not try to drive on any type of ice because you have no control of the vehicle you are driving! Snow I can handle, but ice there is no handling unless you have chains or studs installed!!! And personally, I will wait it out even if I have the chains! Be safe!!!
For me , ice and snow covered roadways and the Foretravel will be parked . Why----me having been raised in western Pa. done lots of driving on this stuff etc etc . But---- how about that meat head driving way to fast comming straight at you headed down hill . Well you get the picture . There are darn few things that will get me out in this type of mess , after all my coach keeps me nice and snug , so why expose yourself to someone who doesn't share your safty values . Got the insurance part covered , but the funeral , well thats why I wiil be parked . Happy New Year Brad Metzger
FWIW,
Just got back from colorado. Had a little snow and stuff on the way in and really clean on way out. I left on Sunday am as there was a storm coming in during the pm (to avoid the new snow). The idea was to avoid the issue of winter roads (snow and ice). The idea to sit and not drive during the storm is indeed sage. When I came in through the Eisenhower tunnel there was a little snow on the road. I went very slow (like 20-25). I would not go any faster. There was not a chain law in effect (which meant there was not enough snow to be too bad). If there had been a chain law, I would have stopped and not put on the chains that I bought to continue. I had heard that there was a 1000 dollar fine for not having chains (also flares and fire extinguishers on board)
. Well, I have the chains but not much of an intention to use. They were truly there for emergency use only. Long thoughts here, to shorten it up my advice parallels everyone else, don't drive on ice (especially) or snow that is deep at all. This may sound remedial, but keep the diesel, propane, potable water full. This will allow you to pull over, run generator and or heat/furnaces for quite a while in comfort. It was for me a fun trip though, so don't let the winter weather stop you, but be ready for an extended stay or as I did leave a little early to avoid the possibility of a longer stay.
Don't drive on ice. Avoid snow. Find a safe place to park and enjoy the time while you wait for safer conditions. The safest place to park is usually at your home base.
We are currently in our coach near Kansas City, MO. Outside temp is 7F. We are in a great campground with full services. We plan to to travel from KC, MO, to Billings, MT, over the next three days. We have a full tank of diesel fuel and are filling the fresh water tank. We'll dump waste tanks today. Propane is just below 1/2. That should do supply us for a few days. I plan to fill propane when we get fuel tomorrow. There is lots of food in the refrigerator. I've looked at weather forecasts for the next several days and picked the route that is most likely to be clear of snow and ice. We tow a four wheel drive Jeep with mud and snow tires.
The point of my message is: plan, plan, plan. A mistake or oversight in winter conditions is likely to be much more dangerous than in mild conditions. Plan to avoid ice and snow, plan to stop if conditions are bad, plan to have redundant resources in case something goes awry. Plan to stay put if there is ice on the route.
Great posts above! I can only add that bridges ice over first so when driving in cold, rainy or light snow conditions. While the snow may be not sticking much yet, the bridges are the first to get really slippery.
Chains and Foretravels don't go together.
If there has been a rainstorm during the night but early morning is clear, the black ice creature is probably lurking out there. Best to postpone departure until mid morning when the temps have come up a bit.
Downhill, even if not in much snow is especially dangerous. Once a coach has started to slide, no ABS or turning into the slide will stop it. Never let traffic behind you dictate your speed.
Love the "speedo at 10 mph" story above. Terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach when that happens.
Pierce
We are near Little Rock right now in a dead standstill on I30 due to poor conditions. Not fun! :-(
Oh yes, A few states in that area depend solely on God to clear the road as they have zero equipment for ice or snow, so just sit back and enjoy the show. :o
Cheers
Dave M
@J.D. What campground are you in near KC? We have relative and friends in the area and the only decent campground I've found is at Worlds of Fun. It's OK but geared to the Water and Fun park.
see ya
ken
Add us to the "park it" side. We both grew up in the northeast. Snow is one thing. Ice is a whole different ballgame, especially on flyovers, bridges, etc. and in states that don't routinely have to deal with frozen precipitation removal. Once you get all wheels sliding, all bets are off, you're along for the ride.
Please be safe!
Michelle
Benjie Zeller
We are near Little Rock right now in a dead standstill on I30 due to poor conditions. Not fun! :-(
If you are still in stuck in Little Rock don't forget the rv park on Hwy 10 . Maumelle COE . Don't know how the roads are and if you are near downtown there is a rv park by Clintion's library, Downtown Riverside RV Park. I would not want to go East bound on I40 a lot of construction.
Bad timing for this storm. Lot's of folks traveling right now. Our oldest son just left here driving back to NYC. Told him to take a blanket so he could sleep in the car if need be.
Be safe out there....
D&D
Well I 81 is a mess right now. We have 5 inches of snow and now freezing rain and sleet that will keep up all night and then change back to snow. Ouch. I was to start tomorrow for TX but will put it off a day or so. As to your question on driving. I have thousands of miles of snow driving. In fact I just drove home and in to work today in the stuff. I have driven the FT in it as well and it does very well as the weight is over the back tires. Now saying that, I will stop and wait it out n o matter how long it takes if it is snowing out or icy. I just wait for the trucks and the sun. I suggest you do the same. If you have no experience on ice and snow then do not even think of driving the FT. You have longer to recover but once you go too far you are done.... it is a slow motion train wreck and very expensive to fix.
Ellen,
Thanks for the suggestion. It's taken us 48 hrs what normally takes about 24, but we made it I think. We are 1.5 hrs from my parents. We stayed on a couple Walmart parking lots. You were right I40 was just as bad as I30. I should have stuck to my regular route and we prob would have been there yesterday!
Best Regards,
Benjie
Benjie Zeller
(512) 587-4628
Benjie,
Weather Underground and Google Maps/Mapquest are your friends for planning a trip. I used the "Prevalent Weather" forecast map to plan our route from MO to MT. Today we are driving across Kansas under partly cloudy skies rather then across Nebraska in falling snow. Often you can adjust your route or timing to enjoy safer and more pleasant travel conditions.
JD,
Great map, thanks
Rick
Driving a FT on ice covered surfaces is no different than any other vehicle, you can't. As others have mentioned you will just be along for the ride, and most of the time does not have a good outcome. Time is on your side, wait it out and keep others and yourself safe. David
If you are not used to driving a heavy vehicle on icy roads my best advice is don't. Why give yourself a lesson in abject terror as you slide into wherever? If you have a large parking lot or similar open space you could take the coach over there and see how it handles on ice and if the ABS is working. You never know if you might be caught in a snow/ice storm. At least you will know what to/not to do. I leave mine in it's warehouse as I won't drive it on salted roads and I have driven on a lot of ice over the years.
One word of caution when driving on ice be careful you don't spin the wheels and then suddenly get traction. The shock to the components is considerable. We would spend a lot of money fixing drive lines and replacing springs and broken spring hangers each winter because of heavy footed operators.
Keith
Keith makes a good point. Peggy and I both grew up in snowy areas but a motorhome is a totally different experience. Getting experience in a controlled area is invaluable because you never know what you will encounter on the road. We got caught in a surprise snow storm in New Mexico last winter and the coach handled very well but we would never knowingly drive in snow or ice. Sit still if you can. IMHO
Suprisingly, no one has mentioned the effect of the rear engined coach, the major weight is located at the rear, if you get it sliding, it WILL swap ends. Picture how your toad will handle the crack the whip experience. I suggest you find a large parking lot with some good snow or ice and educate yourself. You will learn more in 10 miutes than all the reading you can do in a month.
Give it a try, but leave your toad at home.
FWIW
Dave M
Living all our life in Michigan, we do have some snow/ice driving experience.
With that said, we left home Nov 14 heading for Florida this year. FT is safe and warm in Riverview, Fl.
Left the "driving" to Delta and flew home last Thr and will fly back New Years Eve.
Last year we left 2 days after Xmas, had no problems, but 2 other friends left a day and 2 days after us and they ran into all sorts of snow and ice.
Now I need to snow blow the driveway and clean up another snow drop before we head out to see the kids.
Can't beat our F150 4x4 Off Road in this stuff. Just remember, 4x4's don't stop any faster!!
4X4 vehicles are always the very first to find a ditch or guard railing, some learn a little late that a 4X4 locked up is 100% out of control when it starts to slide :o, yup, been there playing with an old IH Scout, did not wreck it, but felt the need for a head call.
Sperience is a good thing if you live thru it.
Just saying
Dave M
At Arcadia Fl, with about 100+ converted buses and a couple SOB's too.
We try to not drive during and immediately after the first few snowstorms. We prefer to let the idiots with bald tires and those that think that stopping distances are the same as dry pavement. We prefer to let them take each other out due to their stupidity rather than cause us grief.
Several years ago we were hit with a MAJOR ice storm. Everyone in the county lost electricity for at least some of the time, and some were out for three weeks. Everything had an inch or more of ice on it. School was dismissed early that day. I had our 4wd vehicle, and I put it in 4wd for the seven-mile trip home. At one point I got up to nearly 20 miles an hour (going downhill). The ice was just starting then, so the highway wasn't too bad, but I wasn't taking any chances. I was very glad that I had given up my CDL when I started here, or I might have been driving a school bus that afternoon.
I don't mind driving in a bit of snow, especially when the other drivers have also grown up driving in it, but I absolutely HATE driving on ice. Springfield got their first measurable snow yesterday, and the news was full of stories about cars sliding off the roads. Seems like it always takes a few snows for people to remember how to drive on it.
I always said the MS rated tires on my truck mean they were rated to get me stuck in the mud and slide all over the place in snow. Each year hundreds of 4X4 owners prove to themselves that physics really, really still works.
About 25 years ago I was in Anchorage, AK, when the first snow of the fall arrived. It was as crazy on the roads as anywhere else when "new" snow arrives.
After 40 years and 3 and 1/2 million miles of driving I pray to goodness I never have to make another track on snow or ice. The best way to not loose control of a vehicle on slick road is don't get on it... Personal injury lawers just waiting on someone to make a mistake.