We got the rare pummeling of snow yesterday. It'll all melt by the end of the weekend but we had planned to take the coach to Sonoita tomorrow. Think I could get out? Is there enough weight over the backend to give traction? I need to make it just a little past that white truck in the picture and then it's clear dry roads all the way to Sonoita.
Here's the catch: if I get stuck I pin the neighbors in :D
Hmmmm to try or not to try? Wife says try. My better judgement says stay home and work on house projects.
If I wanted to go I would go, get it rolling pretty good clip and don't stop until the white truck. Should be no problem.
No problem going through that snow
If one tire starts slipping I think traction control would kick in and apply some brake to the spinning wheel to let the other one get some traction.
If you try, have wife video it so we can see how it went.
Probably no sweat but depends on what is below the snow. Hopefully, not mud/dirt. If in doubt, use a flat nose shovel to clear the snow but betting you don't have one on hand. Weight on the back of the coach gives good traction. As Dub says, don't stop until past the white truck.
Pierce
Crushed granite 70% of the way then nice gravel
These coaches have great traction. Go out and move your coach around at bit and
see how it handles. One thing to know the warmer the snow the slippery it is. You
have a nice flat driveway so I don't see a problem but then I have been driving in snow
and ice since I learned to drive. With snow tires on I think my coach has better traction
then my 4x4.
Go for it!!
I suspect our coaches handle snow reasonably well but there are two issues to consider:
1. Our coaches have enclosed structure under the basement area that can easily collect water & chemicals and then hold it. I don't want snow or salt near that area.
2. Our coaches probably have "steer" tires on the rear axle and those aren't designed to get the best traction in deep snow.
For those reasons I do my best to avoid snow and similar conditions.
Elliot, we drove through snow deeper than that on I-90 and while in Yellowstone NP. No issues!
If ice or hard pack snow is present...if idle speed is high and coach will roll without throttle...when you brake the front brakes will lock and you will have no steering control. Putting trans in neutral and getting off brake will restore steering control and with gentle brake eventually stop. I will never reveal how I know this. ::)
Thanks guys... we'll give it a go. I went and moved off all the powder so the sun can blast the rest throughout the day. If I'm online tomorrow you know we didn't make it :D
No traction control on our older couches. Sounds like a great mod. On the list of things I still want too do
Nice to install a selectable hand valve on the steering column like most big rigs have to be able to apply brakes to the selected rear R or L side. Since our diesels were all manual transmission, the hand control was used to keep from rolling back at stop signs/signals on hills.
Pierce
Elliott, our coaches handle the same as an automobile in the snow, if your automobile weighed in at 32,000 pounds. So everything happens in slow motion. Especially when you're chanting Oh S@$t! Oh S@$t! Oh S@$t!
Keep a full water tank. The pushers will go straight on snow and heavy rain . Steer gently , jab the brakes to keep the fronts from locking up.
Driving over fresh snow on level ground is the easiest as once it's been driven over and crushed, it turns into slippery ice. So, you should be home free.
Pierce
No issues and smooth sailing the whole way ^.^d
I drove I17 for a couple hours yesterday and forgot how much I enjoy sonic booming much newer coaches on mountain grades.
Sonic booming???
It's the sound I make as I blow past them
That's what I'm talkin about Willis!
Does the DW give you strange looks when you do this??
They did have traction control as early as 1995. Trouble with ours was, no replaceable parts.
I believe you are mixing up ABS with traction control. ABS controls stopping and no parts are available. Traction control controls acceleration and is on new coaches.
2003 and newer I believe had traction control. It uses the ABS to actuate brakes on indicated slipping wheel, requires more HP to work but I'd take it.next would be a locker and although they work are not recommended for slick roads. Both rear wheels brake loose at same time.
I think if it is that bad that I need traction control I will just park the coach and
wait. I have driven both this coach and the dynasty in snow and ice with summer
tires and the coaches did well and with the snow tires on it is amazing.
You will enjoy the sonic boom much more with a resonator on board. I too like to blow by coaches when I had my 36 foot. My 42 worked but not on every one since they had ISX in some of them
It was a couple cold desert nights in wine country so the big rig with an aqua hot turned into the late night hangout spot.
If anyone is wondering how many people can [somewhat] fit in the living room, the correct answer is 15. And it only takes about 4 petite women and bad 90s music to get the suspension really bouncing.
At our age if the rig is bouncing it's because the EMT's are performing chest compressions.
Another reason why there are TVs in the bedrooms. >:D