baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Aug 25, 2018 14:39:23 GMT -5
Greetings, my wife and I are planning to spend first 2-3 weeks of October in Colorado. Not sure where, but would like to see some snow and not get snowed in. I have a 2018 F350 SRW 4x4, but don’t necessarily want to be towing on any snow packed passes. We are thinking of Ouray or Estes park. Then we may go back around December as college daughter wants to snow mobile. What are some suggestions to prevent problems if it happens to get cold while there say 10 degrees. I originally was looking at Keystone Alpine or Avalanche 5ers. They had heat pads on waste tanks when needed. I don’t believe the Durango Gold has heated tanks, though I know the water pipes are in a heated area.
Do I need to get a short water hose and put heat tape on water hose and/or waste lines.
Regards, Ron
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Post by Chuck on Aug 25, 2018 16:06:04 GMT -5
The Durango Gold have heated underbelly an storage area, but I have to tell you I don't care what 5th wheel you own 10 degree temps heating a trailer is pretty ruff an you will use allot of propane to do such ... October in Estes park it may be cold but not to the below freezing levels daring the daytime an possibly during the night, I have seen a bit of snow in Colorado in late October but not often as I have crossed on I70 many times ... I would also say invest in some snow chains for truck an trailer if you plan on driving in December, winter in the Rockies is no joke, if you have never driven in such you are better to get a hotel in Estes park in December an get a car than take your trailer ... Safe Travels  Chuck |
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Post by mtcowgirl on Aug 26, 2018 13:58:50 GMT -5
We camp often in November in our Gold in Montana. We get the cold and the snow. We "dry" camp though. I bring bottled water for drinking and cooking and 5 gal jugs of water for dishes and keeping the body clean. We don't drain anything into our tanks! Yes I know the basement is heated. Not to be gross but we use plastic bags in the toilet and because it is cold when set outside they freeze. Easy to dispose off when we get home. Dishes are washed in plastic basins and water is dumped outside. Obviously, we are not in an RV park. We carry two extra propane tanks and have a generator to keep the batteries up (extra gas for that too). That furnace really pulls the juice both electric and propane. We also use the fireplace to help keep warm and keep the moisture down. We also have an additional electric heater that we can use if needed. We always have tire chains just in case. It has snowed here in August! If you prepare and are ready to adapt a little you can have a wonderful time! By the way flannel sheets feel really good when it's cold.
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Post by mtcowgirl on Aug 26, 2018 15:41:03 GMT -5
As I said earlier, we can get s@0$ in August. Chuck I didn't use the four letter word!  |
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Post by lynnmor on Aug 26, 2018 16:24:08 GMT -5
Do I need to get a short water hose and put heat tape on water hose and/or waste lines. Don't deploy any hoses in freezing weather. Fill your tank and quickly roll up the hose and put it in a heated area. If you have exposed gate valves for waste water, they either need heat tapes or filled with anti-freeze. Windshield washer fluid is cheap but it needs replaced when it is diluted too much. |
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Post by Edd505 on Aug 27, 2018 20:58:05 GMT -5
As I said earlier, we can get s@0$ in August. Chuck I didn't use the four letter word! Just saw 4-6" snow ID, MT,WY over 9000ft. Chucks chain advise is sound, chains are required Colorado's Chain Law: Colorado's Chain Law is not just for Large Commercial Vehicles. All vehicles need to be prepared to have adequate tires and equipment when traveling in Colorado during the winter. Chain Law and safe tire requirements can be put into effect at anytime for all types of vehicles. You will find similar in almost all western states |
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Post by laknox on Aug 28, 2018 13:55:19 GMT -5
Got snowed on in Silverton in July, '76. :-)
Lyle
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Post by Chuck on Aug 30, 2018 18:11:09 GMT -5
As I said earlier, we can get s@0$ in August. Chuck I didn't use the four letter word!
I'm watching LOL !!! But I have as you say, seen that stuff that you didn't mention in late August as well an have heard whispers of such already ...
We are in Nebraska for a day yet an then onto Utah for a day, so will not be up your way going home, following I-84 an the I-5
Safe Travels
Chuck
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baranski37
Weekender RV’er
Princeton, TX
Posts: 52
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Post by baranski37 on Aug 30, 2018 18:43:24 GMT -5
In the event I do venture in CO near Denver around Jan 1 with plans to stay on outskirts and drive 4x4 truck into mountains can I find RV parks open all year? Also as to chains what do you recommend with ~15K Durango 380FLF and F350 SRW CC LB. Don you put one set chains on truck rear tire and chains on one or both trailer tires?
Thanks Ron
Ps also thoughts on heated water hose use?
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Post by Chuck on Aug 31, 2018 9:35:52 GMT -5
baranski37
Again there is many things to consider driving out west in the winter Local Tire shops should have the size of chains you need for your truck an trailer, one set of chains for the rear of your truck an one set of chains for the rear axle of your trailer is called for ... This of course unless you have studded tires, but I would recommend chains over them, there is also an exception in some but not all states if you have 4 wheel drive on your vehicle they will let you go, but I would not count on this exception ... If it is snowing an you have no chains they will not let you go any place on mountain passes, but on some mountain passes they
have people that will rent you chains an put them on for a fee (not cheep) but again I would not count on such do to the fact
they may not have your size so you are stuck ...
Please trust me I am not trying to scare you, but snow in the mountains is no joke, I have had to run on chains on my tandem axle semi with both axles truck an trailer chained from Val to Denver over Eisenhower pass on I-70 at 45mph in
snow storm, it's not fun Coming from the east it's mostly flat lands with rolling hills an no mountain passes till you get out side of Denver were you get into the Rockies... But saying this you still have blowing snow across the roads and they will close the road if there is to much snow thus you may be stuck in a small town or even along side the road waiting for them to open the road again along with dozen's of trucks all waiting to go ... Even in the summer I carry 10 gallons of extra fuel in 5 gallons containers, in the winter I believe I would carry 20 gallons just in case you have to sit someplace ... Some RV parks may stay open but I'd guess that about 98 percent will be closed for the winter, I would check RV Parky, KOA or the Good Sam RV parks to see who is open ...Some if they are open may shut water off during the night so their pipes will not freeze ... Safe Travels Chuck Safe Travels |
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Post by Edd505 on Sept 1, 2018 22:35:20 GMT -5
I'll add when camping in freezing weather plan on the water in your tank, most CG's shut water off like chuck said. Keep propane tanks full, it gets really cold when the heater stop. (Froze milk in the fridge on an elk hunt, never again)
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