Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Driving the LD in Snow – Report  (Read 11 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Driving the LD in Snow – Report
Yahoo Message Number: 98030
Let me begin this driving report by saying that Eastern Washington State has received a record snow fall this past week.  Many of our area's school have been canceled and the school district Maria and I work at has had a 2-hour delay almost everyday this week.  Even Western Washing has received snow, which is a rarity for the Seattle and Vancouver area.  Earlier in the week I posted a question about driving the LD in snow and the responses I received gave me confidence about driving the 22FL in these adverse weather conditions.

We packed the LD Thursday night and the weather seemed to break for us on Friday.  For the first time all week our school district ran schools on time.  The final bell rings at 2:20 and by 2:30 I was out the door and heading home.  Our goal was to leave by 4:00.  Friday night we planned to drive to Vancouver Washington to visit some family that flew into the area for the Holidays.  Prior to departing Richland, our hometown, we received a phone call cautioning us about I-84 East around The Dalles and Hood River.  Chains were required for trucks and traction tires for cars.  Maria and I briefly discussed the situation, looked at a couple options and decided to soldier on.

In The Dalles we stopped to give our daughter a rest from the car seat.  The temperature was below freezing and heavy snow was falling steadily.  About 10 miles outside of The Dalles trucks and vehicles were pulling over to put on their chains.  In some sections visibility was about five feet.  The Interstate had not been plowed nor had sand been dropped.  When the conditions worsened and I had to dedicate full concentration to navigating the LD, I shut off the radio and asked Maria to stop talking.  This was a white knuckle experience for me.  Shortly after Hood River all cars came to a stop.  The conditions were very icy.  This was about 9:00 pm.  The Interstate had been shut down.
 It's pretty amazing how an American artery, like an Interstate can be closed.  We left the LD running with the heater's defroster blowing and the coach's furnace was keeping us warm.  By this time our eight month old daughter was asleep in her car seat in the passenger's chair.   We waited and about 45 minutes later the American artery was reopened.  We heard reports about an accident but saw no evidence of police cars or tow trucks.  Our normal three hour trip took seven hours.  Thank God we arrived to our destination safely at 11:00pm.
 Had it not been for the folks that commented about the sturdiness of the LD's in snow, we would not have had the confidence to have made the trip.  We were amazed by how solid feeling a 21 year old RV handles.  Not once did we slide or have issues gaining traction.
Once again we are amazed of the construction of the Lazy Daze and feel blessed to have the opportunity of owning one.  Not sure if we'll make it to Leavenworth Washington for the Festival of Lights.

May God Bless the Lazy Daze community and may you all have a Merry Christmas.

Rob, Maria and Selah
Re: [LD] Driving the LD in Snow – Report
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98032
Rob:
 In addition to the thanks and cautions offered by more experienced members of our board, give Maria and yourself credit for using great common sense and extreme care in making the journey. If you had not, no matter how great we all think LDs are, your story would have been quite different.
 We hope got some good photos of Selah in her car seat, etc., to add to her album and the tale of her first Christmas.

Tina P 2006 MB "Wild Thing" NE 59 Currently in Sunny Las Cruces, NM & Watching the ME (Home) Weather ("Yecchh!!!")
2006 MB
Re: Driving the LD in Snow – Report
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98034
Glad to hear your trip was safe and without incident.
 You touched on another aspect of driving your LD in winter conditions.
If the road is closed, or if conditions deteriorate beyond one's comfort zone, you can pull over with all the amenities at hand.  No doubling back for a rest area, motel, cafe, bar(!) or whatever might be needed.  And definitely no need to answer the call of nature in the snow!
 The last time I had a winter road closure, I pulled over to a safety rest, cranked up the furnace, the TV antenna, generator, and stove.
Had a pleasant dinner, watched the news, rested, then continued on when the road reopened.  (While the skiers in expensive 4WD SUVs shivered or turned around to head back where we came from)

Merry Christmas to all   /noel/
 
Re: Driving the LD in Snow – Report
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98035
Quote
You touched on another aspect of driving your LD in winter conditions.
If the road is closed, or if conditions deteriorate beyond one's comfort zone, you can pull over with all the amenities at hand.  No doubling back for a rest area, motel, cafe, bar(!) or whatever might be needed.
When we picked up our MB in Sept-06.  We never expected this on the way home.  less than 1500 miles on the vehicle. Not even a license plate on her.

http://tinyurl.com/83lw2u

-Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis  (a balmy 7F here this morning)