Winter Towing

[daplumbr]

[quote source="/post/17461/thread" timestamp="1451867512" author="@peislander"][quote source="/post/17274/thread" timestamp="1450746040" author="@sandroad"][span style="font-size:10pt;"]How did you clean the salt off the trailer to avoid corrosion? None of our local carwashes are large enough for our Camplite. [/span][/quote]Check your Yellow Pages directory (if you still have one) and see if there's a local truck wash. If there is one you can forgive yourself for not knowing about it (unless you are a trucker). I live near a small 'city' of 30k residents and there is a brushless automatic truck wash. They happily was rv's too and even have a dumping station. If there isn't one in your area - it might be a business opportunity...

In the Yellow Pages I find our local one listed under "Truck Washing & Cleaning". If you don't have one then a mobile washing service could be another option.[/quote]Of course! We are near the intersection of 2 major Interstates with LOTs of truck traffic. I'm sure there's a wash close by. I'll check it out. 

[spot1]

We use hand held wand type car washes for the TV & CampLite, too! Also carry a
wash brush on a long handle to clean bugs off front of TV & Camper daily during
road trips.

Try to let the snow/ice melt on the roads before towing in these conditions:

[scout]

X2 on the truck wash, most bays have elevated walk ways so you can reach the top of the trailer as well. I find the spray wand removes most of the salt/dirt, etc. Make sure to carry lock de-icer or cold weather washer fluid, you may need it to get into the locks on the door/storage compartments.
 
I've had the 13 RDB out on a number of trips in the snow and no issues so far (except for frozen deadbolt). No corrosion on the frame at all. I have towed many trailers in the winter, and the usual corrosion issues tend to creep up with the rear tail lights and the main 6 point connector. A bit of di-electric grease usually prevents corrosion issues on the plugs every 2-3 mos. At worst, you may have to remove and replace plug ends or bulb sockets after a few years in the snow&salt...that's after 50-60 trips a year though...A good set of hitch mounted mud flaps should cut down on spray...and a good wash down before storage...

A good set of tires makes all the difference on ice/snow...I would recommend the BF Goodrich AT/TA or similar LT tire with a snowflake symbol if you are consistently in the mountains in the winter (this also includes the trailer tires - e.g. off road package). Also make sure your trailer brake is set to brake equal or less than your tow vehicle (or you risk jack-knifing around the corners...keeping in mind my tow vehicle is usually a 1/2 to 1 ton 4 X 4 which is heavier than most trailers). Deep snow is another issue where you need to be sure you have enough HP and torque to make it up a bad hill around a corner - (I'll leave this for another time). It's also a good idea to load as much hitch weight onto the tow vehicle as is recommended, this helps with traction and reduces rear sway on the ice. Manual down shifting on the hills is also a good option as it allows you to slow to a crawl before you need to brake on the downhill corners (for those small winding forestry roads).

If you are towing in sub zero weather and there is any risk of black ice - do not use cruise control!!  The wheel spin of the vehicle when it hits the ice is catastrophic as the tow vehicle decelerates faster than the trailer and the whole road train will do a complete 180,360,720 etc...or worse yet...roll the trailer while travelling backwards...
however, if you stay alert, keep the rubber side down, and spend a few extra minutes on cold weather maintenance, the fall/winter is a great time to beat the crowds and experience a different season...start with small test trips and move further out into the great white unknown...




[attachment id="1064" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="1065" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="1066" thumbnail="1"]

[leslie]

I have been involuntarily offline - no service where we were camping in St Marys GA - have to get rid of Sprint. Anyhow, last winter, I had to drive in the mountains of West Virginia on I-64. Snow, ice, road plows, idiotic drivers, etc. I have a really good set-up with WDH and anti-sway. I went slowly, about 35 mph on the interstate, up and down with a 7% incline and decline. I really gripped the steering wheel HARD, but I didn't skid once.

I really like the pics of people who camp in the snow and cold, but for me it is 72° and sunny that I am looking for!

[admin]

So who's going to be the first to try these this winter?



[img style="" style="max-width:100%;" src="http://www.ironbaltic.com/files/Product/large/13292228499.jpg"]


Dual Axle option:



The irony is I've thought about doing something similar to this to "tow" a small trailer while on soft sand at the beach

[scout]

sweet set up!  might be a bit crazy on the downhill though...it needs ski brakes!!

Sean, could you roll with the low pressure oversized "bubble tires"...kinda like a fat bike...watch out bay watch !!!

[drdave]

[quote source="/post/17504/thread" author="@admin" timestamp="1452002579"]

The irony is I've thought about doing something similar to this to "tow" a small trailer while on soft sand at the beach  [/quote]Yea you don't want to wind up like this guy:





[img style="max-width:100%;" style="" src="http://cdn.doityourselfrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Monster-rv-Travel-Trailer-Funny.jpg"]

[scout]

sweet lift kit...i think we need a new thread for stair mods...

[admin]

I cant even imagine how someone would think towing something like a 5th wheel onto any kind of beach is a good idea  

This is going to open up a can of worms for me...
I could see a QS 6.0 like this:

[img style=" " style="max-width:100%;" src="http://www.farmshow.com/images/resize.php?w=300&img=/images/articles/32/1/11161_l.jpg"]

[scout]

I bet he had to open the windows to get the "condensation" out...sweet... pismo beach fail