Snow advice needed

[jamaddox]

We are picking up our 23MBH on Monday (2/3/14) an unfortunately Sunday we are supposed to get between 1and 2inches of snow just south of Louisville. We have to travel to just north of Louisville to get it. I owned a 20 foot (exterior length) popup previously so not my first trailer pull but this is heavier and longer. Any advice for snow driving out there. I know that the snow is not much and the streets should be clear but sometimes our weather forecasters are unpredictable

[dalenoel]

If there is snow on the roads I park it until clear.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by dalenoel

If there is snow on the roads I park it until clear.

X2 (been there, done it)

Plus, I'm sure that your WDH adjustment won't be optimized coming off the dealer lot, not good on challenging road conditions.

Bob

[LilBigfoot]

Your new trailer will be covered in all kinds of road grime and maybe even salt from the trip home. That plus the accident risk would have me putting off the pickup till the rough weather goes by.

[msturtz]

It depends on wether you TV is 4x4 or not. If not I wouldn't.

[cekkk]

Why not take a night near the dealer to shake out any obvious problems and give the weatherman a day to clear the skies? I have seven 4WD vehicles (Jeez. Never counted them before!) and none of them stop any quicker on ice than a 2-wheeler.

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by cekkk

Why not take a night near the dealer to shake out any obvious problems and give the weatherman a day to clear the skies? I have seven 4WD vehicles (Jeez. Never counted them before!) and none of them stop any quicker on ice than a 2-wheeler.

This can be true depending on the 4WD system. Full time or AWD systems don't help much. Whereas 4WD I.e. Systems that lock the front and rear together do help when descending grades on compact snow and ice. I put the transfer case in 4 low and the transmission in low and creep down the grade. If you have a 2WD system this method would not be nearly as effective and likely would not work depending on the grade. I have been able to lightly apply the brakes in this condition being careful to not lock up the wheels.

[cekkk]

Msturtz, true enough. But having been with three volunteer fire departments over many years it seems some 4WD drivers push their vehicles beyond the vehicles' actual safe limits on snow/ice/rainy roads. As for towing, we live at 9000' in Colorado, and so far I've been able to avoid towing on snow/ice. But if I did, I'm pretty sure I'd want chains on at least one axle of the trailer to keep it behind me in a stop.

[Chakara]

I agree - and with the extra weight trying to keep you moving, and on a hinged connection to the TV - well, I personally avoid it like the plague.....

-Chak

[max2bob]

unless it cannot be avoided I would not recommend it. if it cannot be avoided bring a spare pair of underpants and apply the trailer brakes first (manually) that will keep the truck and trailer in line. otherwise the trailer will push the truck.

[jamaddox]

I was thinking all the above too. One problem is that the weather has been so flakey here that it is hard to know until that day what the snow and road conditions will be like. I do have to agree about the salt in that even if it only snows .25 inches they have been putting down a monstrous amount of salt. I am looking forward to a new trailer but not the driving in the snow with a new trailer

[cekkk]

Max2 gives good advice in avoiding the situation. His suggestion can help, if you had to drive in bad conditions, but with a caveat. lt's a good idea in theory, but in practice the TV will likely have winter tires versus smoother highway tires on the trailer. They'll lock up before the TV's do. Of course, in even a semi-emergency situation, there's a good chance the rig will reach the problem area before the driver finds and activates the manual slide on the trailer brake controller.

[Camping Couple]

I wouldn't try it....just because anything can happen. You may be fine towing it but I'd be more concerned about other drivers on the road not stopping in time and slamming into the back of it.

[jamaddox]

I am watching the weather carefully but I will have to call them tomorrow. Right now it is not as bad but I have a lot of time for it to get worse. Of course the other thing to worry about is we have to reschedule our time off. However that pales in comparison to our safety. As I said it is always good to have confirmation of what you think (even if a delay is not really what I want, but in reality we will not be going camping anytime soon anyway.

[outofhere]

Best to just call the dealer and ask if you can reschedule the pickup I have towed in the snow before and it is just no fun .If you do go slow better you get home late then not at all And remember it not who you hit its who hits you. Enjoy your new trailer

[clutch]

The urge to have it is probably strong. The need to have it home is probably not as great. Be safe, I'm sure the dealer will hold it for a few days or weeks.

[jamaddox]

Yeah the weather is getting worse. I will call tomorrow and see if we can get the pdi and paperwork done or if he would prefer to wait a couple of weeks. After all he has to get his crews in to work as well

[33 RLDS]

We picked up our New Jayco last March in the snow. Roads as well as the dealer was empty

[jamaddox]

So just to update everyone. I fully intended to take the advice and my gut feeling to not bring the trailer home. I so intended to do this I forgot my tow mirrors and my hitch lock. Well as we were traveling there was no snow on the roads and they were empty (no school today). Eye decided to go ahead and bring it home today and we did. We did not have a snow problem but I was still nervous because it was my first full size trailer. I do think there is some salt on it so I have to give it a bath later. For my first trip I did learn some things: a tow mirror would have been good, I have more respect for tractor trailers as I now have more of a grasp how much they can not see (I had several people crowd me when I was trying to change lanes because I could not see how far back they were). I have some WDH questions but I will ask in another post. Oh yeah I said we did not have a snow problem except I slipped on ice as I got out of the truck. At least the trailers okay

[nevercominhome]

Glad to hear you got her home ok. Now you get to wait around like the rest of us for warmer weather and the first trip of the year!