Would you tow on snow?

[John McMillin]

If I ever needed the learned advice of you fellow FGRV'ers, I need it now! Advice is needed urgently-- my dear wife and I are at loggerheads about an upcoming trip to the Grand Canyon. It's been almost two years since our last successful trip with the Scamp. She's been dreaming of a spring break trip there since long before one year ago, when our Audi allroad blew its engine on Vail Pass, scuttling the same mission and causing us a $10K loss.

This time, the problems are different, but real. Colorado's being hit by a spring snowstorm as I write tonight. Denver is due for 6-12 inches by tomorrow night. Vail Pass is only getting half that much, but both places will remain cloudy and subfreezing, with continued snow showers, until Tuesday at least. So I believe getting out of Denver by I-25 or I-70 would be icy and snowpacked until mid-week. By then, with half Spring Break gone by, the Grand Canyon is just too far away, especially at trailer towing speed. And heading south through Alberquerque adds 50% more mileage; I estimate a 44-hour roundtrip at 50mph average.

Given those facts, I'd prefer to leave the trailer behind and use our reliable new SUV to drive there faster and cheaper, and stay in $50 chain motels in Flagstaff, or even better, near Zion, where the this week's weather will be 20 degrees warmer. Next week at the South Rim will be winter camping, nights at 15-20 degrees. Hmm...

Our trailer has brakes, our tires are good, fresh A/S, not snows. Oh, and the car has 18-inch wheels that leave footprints as wide as iPads. It's an AWD Tiguan, which we've never used to haul this trailer.

But enough of our (not-so)-little marital squabble. My questions for you and ya'll: what do you think about towing a Scamp 16 on wintery roads? Have you done it? Would you do it again? By choice?

I feel like Desi Arnez at his low point, about ten minutes before the end of "The Long, Long Trailer" here. I like the Scamp when it fits the trip, but it just seems like, this time, it doesn't. Looking for someone to back me up or set me aright about this quandary.

[Jared J]

Vail pass...
ice and snow...
new, never used tow vehicle with wide tires...

Not only no, but hell no. Don't piss off Murphy, IMHO.

[Raz]

Like you I am use to driving in snow. Only once have I towed in snow. We were on our way to Yellowstone in early June and after waiting for two days we ventured across Togwotee pass. Our 4wd Tundra did fine pulling us through the several inches of slush. You know, the greasy stuff. The trip down was one of those white knuckle rides I would prefer not to repeat. I'd leave the trailer home or go the long way. Good luck, Raz

[Joseph Kristan]

So you start off the conversation....... " Honey. I'm really concerned for your safety......"
She'll KNOW you're lying, but at least you'll still have your Tiggy when you get back home.

Also, do you REALLY want to see what your Scamp looks like upside down at the bottom of a swale?

[Donna D.]

Camping is supposed to be fun. The idea of towing in the snow sounds harrowing under the circumstances. I wouldn't

Be safe!

[Rick Mooyman]

My answer is NO, Don't do it. My way of thinking is when there is snow on the ground it is time to vacation where there is sand and palm trees and the means getting on a plane. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Kevin A]

For us, we would leave the trailer home AND go the long way around. Safety first.

[Bob Miller]

Late season snow storms can be sudden and fierce on the south rim roads. We got caught there several times and can't count the number of cars, trucks and trailers we saw slid off the roads. Leave the Scamp at home.

We just returned (Last Night) from Zion & Bryce. Zion, warm and beautiful, Bryce, snow, snow, very cold, and then it snowed.....

BTW: Didn't see any $50 motels anywhere near either place. Good luck on that...and... the Zion shuttle starts Sunday

[Cricket]

As I don't have an egg...I don't know how much my input will be worth......

Here in the land of snow and ice (Minnesota), people don't camp much in the winter....however, we do ride snowmobiles! People tow anywhere from 2 to 6 sleds on trailers all over the state, many times on snowy icy roads. I know with our two sleds on a trailer, we are probably close to a small Scamp weight....and most snowmobile trailers do not have brakes! That being said, I have also driven on he snowy passes and seem to remember it being a bit of a trick to stay on the road from time to time....so I guess it is all a personal choice.

In your situation, I wouldn't go. Simply because the first trip was costly and you never made it, and now the weather is conspiring to stop you....for some reason you aren't supposed to get where you are headed!

[Terry G]

John, I've had two instances towing my 17' Casita in snow with my Ford Escape. Once, I set out for Arizona and I had agreed to take some riders along. That morning I woke up and there was about 18" of snow on the ground. I thought I-25 would be clear but it was snow-packed and icy all the way to New Mexico. There were lots of cars in the ditch but I slowed way down and had no problems, other than being a couple hours behind schedule.

The other time, it was November and I was coming back from Canyonlands in Utah and it was storming bad at Vail Pass and at the tunnel. Again, I took my time and didn't have any problems although a lot of the semis and vehicles around me seemed to be sliding a bit and making me nervous.

Our little trailers seems to handle surprisingly well in the snow and as long as you don't get carried away and start moving too fast. They're really quite stable. Still, if you don't get into a situation where have to do it, it's obviously a whole lot safer to wait a few days.

[Mike Magee]

I grew up in Michigan, so I am very familiar with snow driving (although I've been away from it, in Tulsa, for 20 years). When I was young and cocky I'd drive anywhere in anything, even with a trailer in tow. Now I think differently.

You only get one life, and health is both precious and easily damaged. Traveling needlessly on slippery highways for an extended length of time is a risk.

I now would look at the forecast and say, "The weather didn't cooperate this year, so I guess I'll try this trip at a later date."

You may feel differently. You may want the trip so badly that you're willing to accept the increased risk. And maybe nothing bad will happen. Or maybe something will happen. It's sort of like gambling.

[John McMillin]

Thanks, I agree with all of you. I just wanted neutral opinions for a reality check. Searching "tow" & "snow" here, I didn't find much discussion of the risks. Too obvious, perhaps. I found a little more cautionary advice at the Casita Forum, plus the youtube video of a semi being pulled backwards over a cliff by its trailer.

My wife is getting the point, after sleeping on it. This Front Range blizzard came just as her vacation began, aimed directly at us. So the first hundred miles of the trip will be the toughest. We won't be leaving for a few days, until the roads start clearing. By then, we'll need to make time, so the trailer stays home this time.

Like the title of a Pat Metheny song you've all probably never heard of-- "Spring ain't here yet." This is when more reasonable (and rich) people fly off to the tropics.

[John McMillin]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

BTW: Didn't see any $50 motels anywhere near either place. Good luck on that...and... the Zion shuttle starts Sunday

P.S.-- the cheap hotels are in Flagstaff and Hurricane, UT. The online sites like hotels.com are showing good availability among the usual chains. Yes, Flag's an hour away, but it's closer than Denver!

[Francesca Knowles]

I would, and do.

Chains for both trailer and tug are essential. I also have a four wheel drive vehicle, without which I'd be more reluctant to confront snow covered roads.

Francescas

[Jared J]

I lived in North Dakota for 18 years. The only tow vehicles on the farm were two wheel drive, and it worked fine. That being said, some of you are missing the fact this is through a mountain pass with an unfamiliar tow rig. Those can be hairy without a trailer, with four wheel drive, and even with chains sometimes. I would chain (cable in this case) the vehicle and trailer if I was doing it.

If you find out you're outside of your vehicles towing ability, your name will likely be in the back of the paper the next day. I spun out going up Loveland pass to the Eisenhower tunnel, I just about threw up. Luckily the pickup barely slid (maybe 10') and we could get chains on.

[Brian M. in NY]

No matter how good a driver you are and how experienced you may be in snow and ice, there is always that other guy out there without a clue...

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Brian M. in NY

No matter how good a driver you are and how experienced you may be in snow and ice, there is always that other guy out there without a clue...

EXACTLY!!!!!!

There may be times I would try if I were the only one on the road.
But these days, that don't happen. As a ex-five year four season truck driver, if they is ice on the road, I'm hold up. Just think of that commercial of Mr. Chaos just waiting to test your insurance.

[Francesca Knowles]

Let's remember that the O.P. is going anyway- the only question is whether or not the trailer's going, too.

I frankly wouldn't have a problem taking it provided the trailer's properly equipped with brakes and chains (and chains for the tug, too). According to what I see on maps, the grades on the proposed route aren't that steep, at least as compared to some of the short steep climbs I've made over some passes in the Cascades. If the tug's up to the job there's no reason in my mind to fear any trouble simply due to the trailer being back there, especially on a highway as well maintained and traveled as Interstate 70.

Francesca

[Evan Friesen]

I've done Vail Pass in slushy snow once and dry another time with our Subaru pulling the Boler.
I cannot recommend towing the trailer in the snow during the day.
That particular trip strikes fear in me when I think of it. It was a combination of road conditions, heavy traffic, fast drivers and very slow semi's that left me in an awkward speed category and created a lot of white knuckled passing going uphill while trying not to pull out in front of faster moving vehicles.
The other time was at night and there was not much traffic. No problems. I would make that trip again with a trailer! Especially for some camping at the Grand Canyon!

[Brian M. in NY]

Check today's news for the the 50 vehicle chain reaction pile up in Colorado.