Hi, all:
Apparently 127 people read this post but no one replied. I'm re-posting in hopes of getting some response. We sure would love to hear your wisdom on this...
While we have lived in the Pacific Northwest forever and done lots of long road trips we are new to TTs + truck. We are driving from Portland, OR to Austin, TX in early December and are considering different routes. We'd love to travel Salt Lake/Moab/Albuquerque or at least Winnemucca/Las Vegas/Albuquerque but have a few winter weather questions for you. We know we can do I-5/I-10 but we've done that route many times and want to avoid it, though it's our back-up if the weather is truly bad. P.S. I have looked for forum discussions on winter travel and most questions seem to focus on water/no water due to freezing. P.P.S We are originally from Canada and spent four years living in Saskatchewan so despite living in the PNW we are not total winter driving newbs ;)
Here are my questions.
1. How will our 2007 Scamp 13' handle if there is snow on the road? Our TV is a 2019 Honda Ridgeline AWD.
2. Would there be an advantage to having a sway bar in this scenario?
Thanks in advance for your input. We are new to "Scampo" and this forum as of this summer. We've really appreciated the wisdom of this very active and supportive community!
I have limited winter experience towing a trailer. When I picked up my new Scamp last December, I was driving home to Michigan from Minnesota. Crossing northern Wisconsin, I hit a blizzard. By the time I got into the western UP of Michigan, there was about 6 inches of snow on the roads, and the plows were just starting to tackle it. I opted to find a campground with electric hookup and sat out the remainder of the storm in comfort and safety. Driving with a trailer on slippery roads, especially with high winds is NOT something I would recommend. Most areas have enough "good" travel days that there is no reason to risk an accident with your trailer attached. I don't mind driving in snow, don't like ice at all, but with a trailer, it's a "no go".
To answer your question specifically, my 16 ft Scamp handled fine behind my F150 with no sway or weight distribution attachments, but I was on fairly level terrain. I would not like to tackle long steep downhills. Also, it was fear inducing when passing an oncoming semi and the wind buffeting. My advice would be to sit out the bad weather days.
NEVER use cruise control in winter driving conditions. In addition, a trailer that trails fine on a dry road may not on snow or Ice. Be ready to pull off the road and enjoy the safety of a rest area or local Walmart.
I have traveled for a living for 21 years, and at my peak I was driving 45,000+ miles annually in Michigan and Ohio in all kinds of weather. I am not as brave (foolish!) as I was in my younger years. Between distracted drivers, bored kids switching lanes willy nilly, large SUV owners who think 4WD makes them invincible, and truckers trying to get their loads to a destination driving in winter weather is a crap shoot. You are traveling for pleasure...allow extra travel days and get off the highway when conditions are bad. You can set your rig up for cross country skiing, but it won't help when you have to share the highway with all the above road hazards. I assume everyone on the road with me is a terrible driver, and with a little luck I have not had an accident in all those years of traveling. I've seen it all, repeated over and over again. At best, driving in bad weather is usually a slow process due to delays from accidents. At worst, you risk having someone else wreck your rig and your trip.
Rhonda Riebow
I certainly wouldn’t trailer the 13 Scamp in winter conditions without trailer brakes. Some have them, some don’t and not sure if yours is equipped. Sway bar probably overkill as you can control any trailer sway with manual lever on the brake controller. I have done a fair bit of trailering in winter conditions with heavier rigs, but not much with the 13.
The best advice is to not be on a schedule, so if weather hits you can pull in, hunker down for awhile till the roads are clear again. If you can get across I70 and down to Moab, the remainder of the drive down to AZ is usually kept pretty open if ur patient. You’re not necessarily safe from winter even far south. One year we got stuck in a white out at Cracker Barrel in Las Cruces, NM. I10 was closed to El Paso, and we only made it to Van Horne TX when it opened, before it shut down again. Got one of last spots at KOA and waited it out. We spent more nights on the road then TGiving with family in Ft Worth.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Hello. I can respond to your questions, the first with experience and the second, opinion.
We hauled our 13' Scamp (electric brakes) with an '08 Ridgeline over Lookout Pass from CDL, Idaho to Florence, MT in a snow storm last winter. No problems. We drove at a reasonable rate, any adjustment to speed or direction was done gradually. We transitioned from rain to snow and back to rain as we went over the pass. Used the D3 option on some of the downhill turn sections. In short, not a problem.
Second, in my opinion, no sway bar is necessary.
Now, I'm sure you know to pack food and warm clothing, just in case. I pack water containers in a cooler, the insulation will prevent or at least slow freezing. Boxed soups are quick and easy, the new freeze dried meals are quite good, not at all heavy, easy to pack and quick to prepare in the event you have an unscheduled "boondocking" experience. Take plenty of time, stop if you are at all uncomfortable driving but be sure to enjoy yourselves.
Frosty
Two weeks ago (Oct 27) we left our home in Midway UT to drive to southern Nevada. We were towing our 1993 Scamp 16 with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. From Provo to Cedar City on I15 it was slush, ice, and very little visibility. We arrived in Cedar City UT at 13 degrees with a trailer that was a solid ice ball. We had to chip ice off the door to be able to open the door lock. We have a sway bar and highly recommend it. Trailer handled beautifully, but it was not a pleasant drive.
<p>Katy and Jerry White Midway, Utah</p>
practicing to come to Scamp Camp SW in December?
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
I wish we could, Greg A, but we are not able to leave until December 14 now.
YUP!
<p>Katy and Jerry White Midway, Utah</p>