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**familytruckster4** · 11-05-2022, 06:57 AM

We have towed from MI to FL during Jan/Feb for at least 15 yrs. My advice is to have flexible plans and a good weather radar app so you can work around the inevitable weather. Since the interstates are the first roads to be cleared and salted they typically are passable within 24 hrs. We carry a generator and enough propane, fuel and water to get us by for several days on the side of the road.

If you encounter roads that are salted I would try to rinse the underside of the trailer when you reach your destination since they typically arent painted very well

**Guest** · 11-05-2022, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by Scott'n'Wendy View Post

Probably going to be heading south early to mid January 2023. I've never pulled a trailer in winter conditions but seeing as transports don't stop for winter I'll assume it's doable.
But is there anything different I should do to the trailer for before leaving?

Scott,

Adjust your brake gain accordingly for slippery roads.

Jim

**NoPeeking** · 11-05-2022, 08:53 AM

As far as pre-trip preparation, inspect the frame and undercarriage for loose paint and remedy. Salty roads/spray are a killer to the frame and (especially) exposed electrical and dump handle components. I purchase a few cans of the Krown rust control treatment from the local dealer and use liberally. (Actually, I do this as part of seasonal maintenance.)

Have a great trip!

Mike

**Jlawles2** · 11-05-2022, 08:58 AM

I've never towed in icy conditions, but general rules should apply:

1 - Take your time and be comfortable with your speed regardless of what everyone else is doing.
2 - when in doubt, slow down or stop and take a break. This becomes your best friend as you may be tired and do not realize it
3 - as mentioned, be flexible. Be prepared to stop and spend a day or more waiting for conditions to improve enough for you to be comfortable.
4 - Be prepared to make changes to your setup as needed. You may need to decrease or increase the WDH tensions to provide more steering or traction.
5 - BE SAFE. Try to avoid driving late in the day or as conditions are changing. I been bit more times driving right at the freezing temps vs full on freezing or above. This is mainly due to ice patches.

**Scott'n'Wendy** · 11-05-2022, 09:38 AM

Yes, we plan on being flexible. Our plan at the moment is to be in AZ by Feb1, Leaving northwestern Ontario Canada when there looks to be a decent window of weather from here to south of the twin cities. Then check the weather and plan accordingly.
familytruckster4 Have you ever had to spend a day or two on the side of an interstate because of snow? How far south do you have to get before snow is not normally a concern?

Hmmm, brake gain...ya, I didn't think of that.

**Cate&Rob** · 11-05-2022, 10:42 AM

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, we plan shorter travel days for winter. The daylight hours are shorter and roads are more likely to be icy at daybreak and nightfall. We don’t plan to be on the road until at least 9AM and try to be at the next campground by 3PM. There will be very few campgrounds open for the northern half of your travel, so learn where these are ahead of time. We have never had to pull over on the shoulder or even in a parking lot . . . but, have decided to wait an extra day at a campground waiting for better weather window.

Rob

**Jkwilson** · 11-05-2022, 10:42 AM

Unless you have to move, I’d stay parked. No matter how careful or prepared you are, some idiot will cut you off or spin out in front of you.

Places where snow stays on the ground for longer times are well-prepared to get major roads cleared in a day or two. Just hunker down and wait it out there. Somewhere south of Chicago is kind of where that starts to fade as does the likelihood of big snows.

You really need to be observant of the forecast when you get to places in the middle of the US as far as north and south. Places along the latitudes of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Missouri. -ish. That area gets bad winter weather rarely so they aren’t nearly as well prepared. They don’t have enough equipment, and people just stay home, resulting in businesses closing everywhere, including gas stations and grocery stores

When a forecast shows rain on the south end of a weather system and snow on the north, do not trust that little band of ice in the middle to be accurate. You may think you’ve cleared the bad weather, but it may fool you.

**Guest** · 11-05-2022, 11:09 AM

Scott,

If your passing through Ohio send me a PM if you should need a hand in your travels. We are 50 miles east of Toledo and about 3 miles north of Rt 2. East Harbor State park is right across the bay from us.

Jim

**Scott'n'Wendy** · 11-05-2022, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post

Scott,

If your passing through Ohio send me a PM if you should need a hand in your travels. We are 50 miles east of Toledo and about 3 miles north of Rt 2. East Harbor State park is right across the bay from us.

Jim

We don't plan to be that far east, but thanks for the offer. We plan on angling south west somehow after Minneapolis.
We stayed at East Harbour some years ago...I'm a fan of roller coasters...and Cedar Point is close by! Come to think of it. I'm due for some Cedar Point action.

**Guest** · 11-05-2022, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by Scott'n'Wendy View Post

We don't plan to be that far east, but thanks for the offer. We plan on angling south west somehow after Minneapolis.
We stayed at East Harbour some years ago...I'm a fan of roller coasters...and Cedar Point is close by! Come to think of it. I'm due for some Cedar Point action.

I think its nice for folks that are traveling to know forum member(s) could help out if there is an issue. Cedar point is 20 miles east of us by auto or 10 miles by water. I love this place, even when its ice.

Jim

**FlyStar** · 11-05-2022, 05:17 PM

In my rig the furnace really can’t/should not be used whilst moving. So. Kind of stuck with a winterized plumbing system until you get far enough south.

**Jkwilson** · 11-05-2022, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post

I think its nice for folks that are traveling to know forum member(s) could help out if there is an issue. Cedar point is 20 miles east of us by auto or 10 miles by water. I love this place, even when its ice.

Jim

I’ve thought it would be nice if there was some kind of sort of organized way to help each other when folks have problems on the road. I’m three miles from an interstate and have the tools to fix most any traveling problem and have room to park hundreds of trailers or one extra with power. I am a member of the GD emergency alliance on FB.

**Cate&Rob** · 11-05-2022, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by FlyStar View Post

In my rig the furnace really can’t/should not be used whilst moving. So. Kind of stuck with a winterized plumbing system until you get far enough south.

It is true that no RV propane furnace should be used while travelling . . . although, this will work . . . which I found out by accidentally leaving the furnace turned on for a travel leg of our trip south. If you have a conventional 6 gallon water heater, this is a heat sink that will keep the surrounding plumbing above freezing for a 6 hour travel day in temps down to -18C (0F). Once we are living aboard our trailer and travelling 6 hour days between campgrounds, we use our trailer water system.

Rob

**Dave27** · 11-05-2022, 06:29 PM

We try to avoid snow through planning. I watch the weather patterns very closely using two apps - Ventusky and Wunderground. With Ventusky, I watch the larger scale patterns, looking at both temperature and precipitation. You can sweep through about a week of forecasts, which gives you a really good feel of what the weather will be like where you will be travelling. We time our departure from Michigan after Christmas based on these, and plan our route. For example, we may head straight south until warmer temperatures, or angle southwest if there is no snow predicted. Finally, we stay flexible. Sometimes we hold up for a day or two as we wait for snow to clear out ahead of us. My goal is not to drive in snow, I would rather stay put somewhere for some extra time. The system has worked well for us for four years. We use the same process when heading home in early March.

Good luck -
Dave

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