Looking for your opinions on Christmas camping trip

[CruizinKim]

Hi all!

We live in Southwest Ohio, 7/10 mile to Indiana line! I would like to take our TT to Charleston, SC and Tybee Island (Savannah) for 9 days over Christmas. I am concerned about taking it south (I-75) through the Jellico mountains and Asheville area and back home again New Years. We will have it winterized during the trips, but I'm just worried about snow and how it will do. And the underbelly is not enclosed so we have salt issues, as well.
Long story short, has anyone traveled in winter conditions for vacation or am I just crazy & should rent some condos? Lol!

Thanks for your help!

Kim

[Doug]

I've had some pretty bad weather along that stretch of I-75. Very unpredictable that time of year.
Fog can also be a very scary thing there along Jelico area at the TB/KY boarder.

Greenivy hauls trailer in the snow, but I am not sure it's fun. He's up in Canada.

They don't have the same expertise with snow removal along that stretch of I-75.

Could be a fun trip if the weather would cooperate.

Best of luck,
Doug

PS: I'll be renting a house in Cape Coral over Christmas and hoping my 4Runner 4x4 will get me there in Dec :-)

[Ladywendolyn]

My parents go from central Canada to Texas in the winter every year. They leave with the trailer winterized, and then they "dewinterise" once they are in a warm enough climate. They stay in a hotel the first night, and by the second night even though its below zero they stay in the trailer. Windows fog a bit, and ledges need wiping in the morning. Usually by the third day it is warm enough to dewinterise.

[norty1]

They roads between can be unpredictable due to the weather.

If you decide to come down, we guarantee great weather in Charleston. Get early reservations at James Island County Park. They place is really decorated for Christmas with a acclaimed light show all thru the season.

[Ecfeick]

States with infrequent snow generally don't use salt.

I would make sure to wash the underside well in return

[CruizinKim]

Originally Posted by norty1

They roads between can be unpredictable due to the weather.

If you decide to come down, we guarantee great weather in Charleston. Get early reservations at James Island County Park. They place is really decorated for Christmas with a acclaimed light show all thru the season.

I've booked our reservation at James Island months ago! I just hope I won't have to cancel it.

[msturtz]

We traveled though passes etc. in the winter in our Jayflight 29BHS, kept the heat on water on etc. never had a problem. Since you don't have an enclosed underbelly I would get Ultraheat pads from www.ultraheat.com it is what Jayco installs on their higher end units.

[Bassdogs]

A fresh snowfall will cause you problems but as soon as the snow plows do their thing, you should be good to proceed [slowly]. Slick roads are dangerous when you are towing. Lane changes, exit ramps, stops etc can be unpredictable. We have camped in the winter in a TT without underbelly and had zero issues even in temps down to 0 degrees once over New years. Just winterized and used CG facilities for water and showers. I would watch the weather closely and time your drive to avoid predicted winter weather problems. Maybe leave a couple days early to get thru the questionable areas and then just veg at a Wally World or CG within a short drive of your destination. Winter trailering just requires a few extra precautions. Keep winterized until you get to the warmer area and rewinterize before heading home. I wouldn't worry about sleeping in the TT overnight while traveling. We do it every trip that requires a stop on the way. Usually check the GPS for a WW when we get withing 50 miles of where we feel like stopping. NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH WALMART.

We made the trip from Ky last January to Charleston SC and stopped overnight somewhere in NC [yup at a WW]. Stayed 4 days at a NFS campground on the intercoastal about 20 miles north of Charleston. Then on to Savanna for another 5 nites and stayed at a State Park just SE of Savanna on a coastal island. No issues in transit, but it got so cold where we overnighted in NC that frost must have built up on the slide. Stayed toasty warm with the furnace overnite, but noticed puddles on the floor when we open the next day. The frost must have melted as we entered warmer weather and dripped off the slide after we had pulled it onboard. Toweled it up and hung a throw rug out to dry, and we were good to go.

[norty1]

We will be there between Christmas and New Year.

[krackeer]

Not sure if you will end up on I-40 near Asheville, but if possible to avoid it, I would. Lots of steep hills and turns as well as an occasional rock slide! I don't like driving it period, towing or not!

[norty1]

Not to many ways to get from Asheville to Tennessee without traveling I-40. One you get into NC, it is a piece of cake.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Do you have a 4x4 TV? If so, don't be afraid to use 4x4 if the roads are sketchy. Once you get the TT home, be sure to hose the entire thing very well especially the underside. Use lots of water and be prepare to get wet. Our camper was hauled to an early spring camper show in Syracuse and when we bought that August, There was still salt on the underside! We didn't notice all the rust under it until I was working on a water leak on one of the fresh water tanks after we got it home.

[CruizinKim]

Yes, we pull with a 4x4. We planned to de-winterize upon arriving and winterizing before leaving. I've taken this route many times...in the summer, and it's a beautiful drive. I just get nervous.

[RoyBraddy]

Myrtle Beach is full of storage places on US17... Maybe tow it down there now and place in storage. Then make your Christmas trip for a longer stay during the winter months... Been to Charleston and N Chargleston alot during the winter months in my working years but have never looked for storage places there...

Something to think about maybe?

Roy Ken