First Timer!!! Question regarding Mountain roads in the winter...

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SMT

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Posts
12
Location
Orange County California
Hello All,
First time on any forum, but figured i should start sometime.  Last week I bought my first RV, a 2003 39ft. Fleetwood Diesel Pusher for the trips to the desert to ride dirt bikes with my five kids.  I have rented in years past and feel comfortable heading out to the desert for dry camping.

What i know nothing about is driving mountain roads in the winter.  Are you supposed to carry chains?  Is this a safe trip during snow season?
I am torn as to drive my 4x4 Yukon XL or take the new Rig to Park City Utah for Christmas break.  I would not be sleeping in it as i have accommodations once i get to Park City.

Any advice as to the trek from Southern California to Park City, would be appreciated.  Not sure if this is too big a maiden voyage for me as I have only logged 10 miles driving home from the dealer last Saturday.

Thanks!
Steve


 
I would have a set of chains and also know how to install them for the freak storm.

The good thing about being in an RV is that you can hole up in it until the roads are passable once again.

Oly
 
Congrats on getting your new rig! You have a fairly late model but I would still do a short shakedown trip before any major traveling.

The mountains with snow is another story especially while driving the coach is still new to you. Personally, I won't be driving mine in snow, if the roads have snow I will be parked until they are clear. I'm sure there are some here who will drive in snow and they will reply.

Good luck with your new rig.
 
Personally, I would stay away from driving a heavy rig like that in snow/ice conditions until I had much more experience behind the wheel. Do you have heavy rig driving experience??  Driving from the dealer to home does not count!!!

Stick with the Yukon as you will not be needing the accommodations provided by that BIG motor home
 
SMT said:
Hello All,
First time on any forum, but figured i should start sometime.  Last week I bought my first RV, a 2003 39ft. Fleetwood Diesel Pusher for the trips to the desert to ride dirt bikes with my five kids.  I have rented in years past and feel comfortable heading out to the desert for dry camping.

What i know nothing about is driving mountain roads in the winter.  Are you supposed to carry chains?  Is this a safe trip during snow season?
I am torn as to drive my 4x4 Yukon XL or take the new Rig to Park City Utah for Christmas break.  I would not be sleeping in it as i have accommodations once i get to Park City.

Any advice as to the trek from Southern California to Park City, would be appreciated.  Not sure if this is too big a maiden voyage for me as I have only logged 10 miles driving home from the dealer last Saturday.

Thanks!
Steve

Obviously your choice but if you take the RV to Park City... the reason for chains on winter mt roads is so you can stop as much as it is so you can "go"... The big trucks carry chains in the winter so if you drive the RV, unless you have the option of waiting for the roads to clear, get some chains.  Often the parking lots are the last areas to be cleared...

Another major concern is making sure that the RV is kept above freezing unless you are going to drain every drop of water and any other fluids that could freeze.  You could damage the appliances and plumbing if the RV gets really cold.

If it were me, I'd take the Yukon this time and pay attention to notice how many big RV's are on the road or visiting Park City.  If there are none, you could assume that there's a reason.  If there are a few, watch how they are doing, especially on the higher elevation roads.

Also, it's a smaller issue but if the roads are being plowed and sanded (or salted?) your RV is going to get really caked with ice, dirt, sand and whatever.  The wheel wells could fill up with snow/ice.  This could, at best, mean a major cleaning effort when you get to a warmer area and, at worst, a real problem with steering when you are in the mountains so you'll need to have a way to remove the buildup of ice/snow/dirt. 

What's the advantage of driving a RV to Park City?
 
These photos were taken here on I-80 up by Nyack.  The news this morning said this storm is hitting the rockies this morning.  Just after we got to Nyack, they shut the freeway down from 9:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at a lower elevation.  Just a sneak preview of what you've got to deal with....

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8298477420_7b9a0eedd4_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8297428225_bd87a855a2_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8298479072_b8275a653a_c.jpg

Several tractor trailers were just sitting still and spinning their drive wheels and they had chains on.  One was kind of diagnal across the two lanes and looked to be slipping even further sideways.  We believe he was the reason it was stopped initially but it stayed stopped until the afternoon.  We passed miles and miles of stopped traffic in the east bound lanes.  Sure glad we weren't stuck in that mess.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8297549585_ae2c3ecc72_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8298600562_50ae28314e_c.jpg

Staff edit: Make links live by removing parens
 
SMT said:
Hello All,
First time on any forum, but figured i should start sometime.  Last week I bought my first RV, a 2003 39ft. Fleetwood Diesel Pusher for the trips to the desert to ride dirt bikes with my five kids.  I have rented in years past and feel comfortable heading out to the desert for dry camping.

What i know nothing about is driving mountain roads in the winter.  Are you supposed to carry chains?  Is this a safe trip during snow season?
I am torn as to drive my 4x4 Yukon XL or take the new Rig to Park City Utah for Christmas break.  I would not be sleeping in it as i have accommodations once i get to Park City.

Any advice as to the trek from Southern California to Park City, would be appreciated.  Not sure if this is too big a maiden voyage for me as I have only logged 10 miles driving home from the dealer last Saturday.

Thanks!
Steve
.Dont be dumb.Leave it home and take the Yukon XL. end of story
 
There is a law in Utah requiring you to carry chains if there is any chance of driving in snow:

http://www.coopsareopen.com/news/chain-law.html

This law also exists in many other states. I have put chains on a car many times. The thought of me putting chains on an RV horrifies me. The thought of driving in snow and ice in an RV with chains on scares me even more. And if you are in snow you better have your RV winterized so the water doesn't freeze and burst your pipes. And that's why I am a snowbird.
 
SMT said:
Hello All,
First time on any forum, but figured i should start sometime.  Last week I bought my first RV, a 2003 39ft. Fleetwood Diesel Pusher for the trips to the desert to ride dirt bikes with my five kids.  I have rented in years past and feel comfortable heading out to the desert for dry camping.

What i know nothing about is driving mountain roads in the winter.  Are you supposed to carry chains? 
Yes.  Absolutely.

Is this a safe trip during snow season?
No.  Even with chains, it is not particularly safe in an unfamiliar and very large vehicle.

I am torn as to drive my 4x4 Yukon XL or take the new Rig to Park City Utah for Christmas break.  I would not be sleeping in it as i have accommodations once i get to Park City.
No question -- take the Yukon.

Have you ever driven with chains?  Buy a set for your Yukon and in a dry run, try putting them on in your driveway.  Now think about wrestling a larger set onto you MH's wheels -- along side of a mountain hwy in a wet snow storm.  Take your Yukon up to to Running Springs or Big Bear for a trial run using chains on snow on mountain roads.  The weather this week is cooperating by giving you the snow.  Highways 330 or 30 should give you a lot of personal information about snow chains and mountain road driving.

Any advice as to the trek from Southern California to Park City, would be appreciated.  Not sure if this is too big a maiden voyage for me as I have only logged 10 miles driving home from the dealer last Saturday.

Make it in the Yukon!  Better yet book a flight.  Driving the Utah high country in the winter is a character building exercise at best.  Especially this year it appears.



 
I'm with the rest of the bunch. If you're not going to be staying in the RV, leave it home. I know there are several states that require chains in snow and ice but we don't have any. If it's bad enough for chains, we're parking it.

Wendy
Anza Borrego Desert - where there's snow predicted up the hill several miles.
 
Thanks All!!! I really appreciate the info. I hadn't even considered the winterizing of the rig.  All good reasons for taking the 4x4 instead of the RV.
I knew I found a goldmine of information when i stumbled upon this site last night.  This is exactly the feedback i was looking for. 
Expect to hear from me after the holiday as i need some advice on your favorite tow hitches for pulling a vehicle.
Merry Christmas!
Steve
 
As I am an older Alabama boy. I hate snow! Had all I wanted when living in Tennesse and Virginia. If you don't have to go I'd stay home. LOL I have a 37 foot fleetwood and wouldn't consider even getting in it to go where you're going. What ever you do be safe! Good luck. I'm going to Florida tomorrow!
 

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