Clieb
Carlsbad, NM
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Joined: 10/10/2006
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I snow ski and love going in my Motorhome. Most ski resorts will let you park in the Bus Parking area and I often stay overnight there. Water (gray tank) lasts 3-4 days.
Last year I had a Itasca Sunrise 1996 (Gas)and had very few problems. This summer I traded up to a 2002 Horizon (Diesel).
I usually stay and ski at Taos, NM. It is very RV friendly there and they have a couple of RV parks open year round. I also went right after Christmas to Colorado for a week and hit a number of resorts. This was where we had our most trouble. Very few open RV parks in Colorado.
If you travel in the winter plan ahead. Always find an open RV park well in advance. We had found a few but plans changed and we found ourselves hunting a place to stay. Even a Wal Mart we tried had a no overnight parking sign up.
Check your batteries. We had batteries go dead during the night once while we were sleeping in a friends Condo and spent half the next day defrosting water lines, thank God none busted.
I now carry a space heater and some heat tape just in case.
Never take advice from anyone not driving an RV simular to yours. We tried to get to a RV park we heard was open in Pagosa Springs. Stopped at the top of a hill leading into the park and was about to turn around when a guy in a pickup came out. Chatted with him and he told us that the park was open and there were a couple of rigs just like ours there. Turned out the park was not open and the rigs there were 1 winterized and the other was stuck. We also ended up stuck, finally got unstuck late in the day got and turned around. We decided to stay the night and hit the hill the next day rather than being stuck again at night.
We made it up the hill (with chains) the next day and had a good day at Wolf Creek.
Got my jacks frozen to the ground once, now I always use a wood block. I use a 2'x2' block with a 2x6 nailed to the center of the bottom. I put it with the 2x6 down so when it comes time to leave I have leverage to break it free. I also have ropes tied to the blocks to make it easier to find and remove them.
Start your engine often, at least twice a day and let it warm up.
and keep your exhaust open and the base of the Motorhome clear of snow. Carbon Monoxide is sneaky and will kill you and your family. I lost a little sister to carbon monxide poisoning last year at a friends cabin which had not been used. They got in late started the heater and went to bed.
Test your Smoke, LP Gas, and Carbon Monxide alarm, if you have an older RV make sure you have a Carbon Monxide alarm. My old one did not.
When I empty my tanks I put in some anti freeze to keep the valves from freezing, they are the weak point.
Hoses get cold and they shatter easily. Uncoil them carefully or warm them up inside before using to fill your tank. Never leave hosed connected.
An RV'r is someone driving a $300,000.00 Motorhome pulling a $40,000.00 car and looking for a free place to park.
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Aridon
SE Florida
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Joined: 06/06/2007
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Wow, lots of great informationin this thread.
2008 Newmar 4330 (Modified)
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propane1320
Edmonton, Ab, Canada
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Joined: 07/06/2008
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Aridon wrote:Wow, lots of great informationin this thread.
Yeppers.... nothing like the voice of experience!
Keep 'em coming! 
2003 Winnebago Journey 32T with propane injection 
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sowego
northwest panhandle of Nebraska
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Joined: 03/14/2006
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I do fully agree with calling ahead for RV parks space in the winter. Some RV parks shut down completely, some just shut off the water. Don't trust what Woodalls says -- We trusted them and found out some were actually open that the book said would be closed. Check the whole area where you will be traveling through just in case a storm or bad roads should change your travel timing. Be prepared -- in winter anything can happen!
2002 Tiffin Phaeton
2005 Malibu Max toad
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mblaster
Los Angeles
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Joined: 02/19/2007
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Great thread. I'll add that that bought 2 halogen lights to put in my bays. Even though The basement is heated I had a water pump freeze on a very cold night in mammoth. Now I put halogens in there and they throw a lot of heat and haven't had a problem since. Carry chains,sand, shovels and brooms.I even bring a extra 12v deep cycle.
Very good info.
This thread should be a sticky till spring!!
01 Southwind 32V
02 Grand Cherokee toad
21ft Carrera Elite daycruiser (summer)
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IndyRVFolks
Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Joined: 10/19/2003
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Another suggestion, for the occupants, not the coach, Get a HEATED MATTRESS PAD! Purchase at WalMart for about $80. Turn that puppy on a few minutes before bed time and life is good.
IndyRVFolks
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MattLong400
Georgia
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Joined: 10/18/2004
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We winter in our 04 Journey and just love it in snow country. I have found the following is helpful (some of this has already been said in prior post).
I put a small electric heater on low in the water compartment (if we are going to keep the water from an outside source hooked up).
I put a small electric heater in the second basement bay (passenger side).
We use extra window insulation (as our year doesn't have dual pane windows). The windshield seems to be a big area for cold air so I use a sun side on the inside. The extra layer of insulation helps. Also keeping the shades down helps.
Put a vent cushion in both of the roof vents.
I stuffed extra insulations every place I could find.
We put a small shop drop light in the outside refrigerator access (passenger side).
We have a washer/dryer unit in the bath room (never use) and I stuffed extra insulation around that and unhooked the exhaust hose and closed up and insulated the exhaust flap on the side of the coach.
We also use an extra electric heater in the bathroom area for extra cold nights and one near the front door if we have someone staying on the pull out up front.
The only issue I have had is that the water line to the shower freezes up sometimes and I have yet to figure that one out... but it is on my list to do before the weather turns cold.
It's so much fun I can't wait for this winter!
Matt
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FrontRangeRVer
8,600 feet elevation in the Rockies
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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To answer the post about the road salt, lots of us "up here" spray Salt Terminator on our chassis before and after our road salt trips. This product will dissolve any road salt away and it leaves a protective sheen. Remember....water alone will NOT remove the road salt. our chassis vitually has no rust, and looks as good as the day we bought it. The key is to clean your chassis IMMEDIATELY after returning from our ski trips, and use this product for the salt removal.
Also, the question about propane use high up here in Colorado? We stay at Tiger Run in Breckenridge alot and night time temps are typically in the -10 to -20F range and it is located about 9,500 feet. We have no problems with the BTU output of our propane use or flame outs or any other propane problems.
Last year we left our house in our RV, and it was -36F, got to Ski Cooper and it was -22F....now THAT'S COLD! It's amazing what our bodies get used to when you live in it!
2006 Winnebago Voyage 35A
W-22 Chassis
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sowego
northwest panhandle of Nebraska
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Halogen lights do put out a lot of heat but so much so they get scorching hot to the touch. Be very careful they are not near anything that can melt, catch fire, etc. We've had good luck with just a regular incandecent bulb or small ceramic heater set on low. Both are much safer.
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mdprince
Santa Clarita, CA
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Joined: 11/13/2004
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We have used our RV several times to go skiing in Mammoth, CA. I do the Christmas lights in the water works bay and all is good.
All we miss is the fireplace !! But we get to bring the dogs !!!
2006 Revolution LE 40E
2004 Jeep Rubicon Toad/Brake Buddy or
20' Toy Trailer/Quads 'n Dirt Bikes
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