While in Nashville this past weekend thru all the sleet and snow, I was amazed when a couple of motorhomes, and a couple of 5th wheels pulled out of the park. The roads were pretty bad. Almost no traffic on the roads. While I have driven a good bit on snow and ice, never in a Motorhome. I felt the best decision was to give it a day before getting on the road, especially in the mountains. I am curious to hear others opinions.
Jerry
Here in north central Wisconsin the county roads are treated with a sand and/or salt combination. When we picked up our coach from the shop we had to tow our Vue behind the coach because the DW had a cast on her right foot.
I usually try to not drive in rain or snow but the roads were just wet.
When we got home our nice white & burgundy coach and our silver Vue were almost unrecognizable because of all the sand stuck to them. I washed the coach down right away (27 degrees) to prevent salt damage, and then washed it again yesterday (30 degrees).
The Vue we took thru a car wash.
I just hated to hear the grinding noise when a window had to be lowered.
If at all possible I will always avoid driving our Foretravel in conditions where it could be subjected to salt. I just don't like the idea of subjecting it to all of that corrosive material. I'm sure there may be times when it's unavoidable, but if the schedule will permit it then I will avoid it.
The problem with salt and corrosives is underneath it gets into crevices that can't be reached to wash out.. A person could never get into all the crevices even with a pit and high pressure washer... I understand there are times when you folks who travel a lot get in a situation where you "need" to pull out and drive on salted and treated roads, I can't count up the total miles in 46 years of traveling 150,000 miles a year for a living I have been thru the stuff.. If I didn't really "need" to be on such roads with my coach I would leave it parked but then I don't even drive my newer pickup in such.. I use one of my lesser pickups..
We were planning on starting our snow delayed trip to Florida this morning. There was too much snow and ice between storage and the highway so we will try again tomorrow. Better to be safe....
Jeff, good move...I consider you two, the pups & the coach all to be (as they say) "precious cargo" & not to be taking chances! Hope it all melts down today....always tough to put a trip off but better not to take a risky chance. You guys have some serious mountains up there to get down too, so that adds to the equation. Please, continue to be judicious in your decisions! O:) We love you guys & wanna keep ya around for a long time to come!
Wow, I must say I'm glad my life is setup as it is. I have never had to drive my coach (or my precious 1996 BMW M3 for that matter) in any kind of snow or salt. Even dried salt. I will never expose them to salt. The M3 has 250,000 miles and is still mostly rust free. Now we're in Florida though so it's really not a problem.
Our 1989 coach had its first owner in California, second owner in Kentucky or Tennessee, third owner in Wyoming (south to the border states for the winters) and now us. 79,000 miles now. I see pictures posted by members and I see LOTS of rust and dirt whereas our coach is/was pretty darn clean with none of the rust issues. Our engine still has all the pretty decals and information stickers on it and the rocker arm covers are shiny blue paint yet.
I really dreaded bringing the coach home on the sand/salt roads but I didn't want the coach sitting in a busy work yard, in the way, and we felt it would be safer here where it was locked up and in our sight every day.
I also wanted to start my planned projects on the coach so spring & summer were free for excursions.
Living in BC Canada you kind of get used to snow and rain so after moving 12 yrs ago South Okanagan of BC it was a nice change to have very little rain and any snow is usually the dry fluffy stuff that blows away or melts in the sun, so no real rust or dangerous driving.We have been going away for the winters and coming home in end of Feb or march puts us right into Nevada, Idaho winter snow etc. This trip home we are going to head west from crossing the border and visit Don and Tys (it will be cold there) and up the Calif coast so hope no snow but going into Oregon we will hit a pile I am sure till after Medford or so then should be fine. The problem is the liquid stuff they spray on roads to stop freezing is worse than salt as it just keeps regenerating every time it gets wet. This is the stuff that is rusting out trucks etc so hope we have dry roads, ha, good luck I guess.
Our coach is squeaky clean frame wise and I hope the inside of framework(between fibreglass sheeting) is the same. If I see a water leak in one of the bays I right away find the problem and fix it, which luckily has been very rare. I even have small deflectors under the coach so no road dirt or wet gets thrown up thru' the vent holes etc- simple things help.
JohnH
John,
I thought of trying that with some 1.5" aluminum angle, but did not want to add more screw holes. How did you attach yours? I have never used that strong 3M tape (name escapes me at the moment), but it sounds like it would do the job.
Trent
I actually bent some 1/16th alum sheet cut to about 2" x 2" and 6" long then cleaned the fibreglass up really well and used the VHB tape ( you can also use the 3M tape for mouldings) they have been on now 2 yrs and still there. Wyatt Sabourin was here yesterday and looked at them and he was impressed how clean and dry the bays are. Actually said he has never seen any this clean!! nice guy.
I bent the angle to about 45 degrees as 90 angle is too steep I think.
JohnH
Or like these, also used where LP refrig drain line exits.
Another great idea John. I need to go find a small shear and brake. I worked one summer while in college in a sheet metal shop, learned a lot.
We pulled the plug on our planned trip to Florida. It's just not worth it. We tried to get out of town again this morning but there is still too much snow, ice, slush and salt on the roads. We loaded and unloaded 3 times this week....Just not worth it.
Good for you being prudent, we crawled into Flagstaff one time and it was three days before we could get out!
We were just plowed out but it would be hard to get to the interstate. I think you made a wise choice if you are like us with the snow. It took a tracked Cat to plow us out last night and many places in closer to the city are only one track wide. The Federal Gov has been closed for two days here in the DC area and the Metro is not running on all its lines either.
Here is what plowed me out this morning early around 4 am
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1675/24337289080_9364e4f334_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/D5AY9q)Jonas Day 5-20160126_DSC3167.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/D5AY9q) by tinstafl (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31167455@N04/), on Flickr
If the need this I am not driving on the road in the coach
Jeff and Sandy, We have been hoping for a break for you so that you could get away together. Snow happens. Rats. You could just turn on as much heat as you can muster in the coach, go out and have there and have a nice dinner, watch some TV or play a game or whatever you would normally do in the evening and then snuggle up for a one night vacation. A nice breakfast in the morning and you should be all set for shoveling.
A night out in the coach, just because, sometimes can be a real treat even if it doesn't even get out of the barn.
A tough but smart choice to stay put. Next time!
Roger and Susan
I have driveway camped before and do it sometimes when we arrive home late.
Thanks guy, appreciate the support. O:)