Christmas towing to Oregon

[jeffnvegas]

happy holidays everyone!

it is my duty this year to haul the wife and kiddies 1K miles to great grannies house on the northwest coast to spend Christmas with them and my in-laws on the beach. besides being cold and rainy i imagine along the way i am going to encounter some less than ideal weather conditions which i hope at least do not require me to chain up. if in fact it happens that i do, are there any recommendations about which axle to chain up on the trailer. i've been told that for the truck i should chain up the rear although i can remember off-road chaining up the fronts while in 4x4. both trailer axles have e-brakes and have almost brand new tires. secondly, any recommendations for service in oregon as i'm probably going to do my 15k service while there. i've also been told not to use the exhaust brake on snowy, icy roads either. is this the case?

thanks for the help

jeff

 

[TKeeler]

happy holidays everyone!

it is my duty this year to haul the wife and kiddies 1K miles to great grannies house on the northwest coast to spend Christmas with them and my in-laws on the beach. besides being cold and rainy i imagine along the way i am going to encounter some less than ideal weather conditions which i hope at least do not require me to chain up. if in fact it happens that i do, are there any recommendations about which axle to chain up on the trailer. i've been told that for the truck i should chain up the rear although i can remember off-road chaining up the fronts while in 4x4. both trailer axles have e-brakes and have almost brand new tires. secondly, any recommendations for service in oregon as i'm probably going to do my 15k service while there. i've also been told not to use the exhaust brake on snowy, icy roads either. is this the case?

thanks for the help

jeff

Jeff,



We have definitely got some snow in the mountains the last few days and the forecast is for more. The exhaust brake can be pretty aggressive especially when in the 'Tow/Haul' mode, I wouldn't recommend using it in very slick/icy conditions while towing especially going down any kind of grade. We had freezing fog on the road in the Eugene area this morning and I used it just fine but I was on flat ground and not towing. This link will give you the Oregon chain requirements as well as the current road conditions TripCheck - Road Cams, Road & Weather Conditions in Oregon - ODOT I would recommend the chains on the rear of the truck when towing and an axle with working brakes on the trailer.



What part of Oregon are you headed for and from what direction?

 

[WalterRyan]

Oregon does require chains on one axle of the trailer if chains are required on the tow vehicle. It should not matter which axle they are on. As for the exhaust brake, definitely leave it of if it is icy. I use mine all the time but not on ice. I have not tried it while towing but empty even the slightest downhill will cause the back end to start coming around. It will not be a fun ride. I would not expect to have to use chains since it is supposed to warm up a little. It never takes long to clear I5.



Walt

 

[jelag]

Take I-15 north through Salt Lake and thsn I-84 over to Portland... . and than to the coast. . You might get snow across ID and to Pendleton OR... I suggest that you wait out the plow and don't chain up... these two passes can be tough on someone who's never chained... I have pulled lots of trailers over the blue's from I-15 to Portlnad and have never chained in the winter. . the most I've waited for the road to clear and the plows to go through and change the signs is about 8 hours. .

OTOH - if you have done this before... . chain the rear axle on the truck and the rear axle on the trailer and use the hand controller to tug on the trailer breaks, pull the trailer straight and tug on the truck brfore you apply the trailer brakes... no exhaust brake and at least 10 MPH under the suggested rating on the curves and down hill grades...

I've driven home to OR from Vegas north on 95?? to Klamath Falls and over to I-5 through oak ridge... and the route I suggested above is longer but much faster and safer as it's a major truck route. .

Hope this helps. .

 

[Jefff929]

I would not use the cruise control on the snow or ice.



Be prepared for the worst and you will have dry pavement.

 

[MMeier]

Jeff, if you head north and the weather looks like it'll be OK, I like to use Highways 93 and 318 going through Ely and Wells up to Jackpot at the border. Knocks a couple of miles of the route.

 

[Bob V]

Just a note, Hwy 30 east of Clatskanie is one lane only. My 30 min drive home from work is now 1 1/2 hr

 

[NoSeeUm]

Given a choice, I would not I tow a medium to heavy trailer on icy roads. I would also stay mostly to freeways and/or major roadways if I could and travel only during daylight.



If your trailer has brakes, chain up a trailer axle even if you don't chain up your truck (4x4?). A jack knife is a pretty easy situation to get yourself into especially going down hill.



I have seen quite a few RV trailers scattered all around the roadway when it was icy. It amazes me how many pieces of them get launched all over the place with ussually a rear corner of the tow vehicle munched up as well.



And a Merry Christmas to you as well !



Jim



Edit:



From my experience, assuming you have a 4x4, I would not chain the trucks front wheels only. I would chain the rears only or both the front and rear. From a traction stand point, you get better traction with front chains. But it can cause some pretty severe spin out problems.



This is because the front axle is traveling a larger circle on a turn. But because the front wheel traction is so good, as if the tires are locked to the road by the chains. It can cause the rear wheels to spin much more than they normally would. I once had some disasterous results, that I couldn't do anything about once it started to happen.



Just remember, once the momemtum of a slide begins, the heavier the equipment is the harder it is to control. As soon as you start trying to fight the weight of the trailer, you can get into trouble in a very quick hurry. Just control the truck if you can, and let the trailer do what it has to.

 

[jimnance]

If you tow allow some time to stop if the weather goes downhill. Frankly, if chains are required it is probably best to stop and wait out the weather. Chains are rarely required for more than twelve hours so a stop in Redding CA to wait for the road to clear is best. The journey between Redding, CA and Ashland Oregon over the Siskyou mountains is the main problem. Icy roads on some of the passes further north occur occasionally, but if you stick to driving during daytime the chances are reduced.



Watch the weather and try to pass through the mountains in between storms.

 

[HBarlow]

I survived three winters pulling conventional trailers and fifth wheels as an RV transporter through the mid-west and mountain western states. I scared myself a few time but stubbornly (and stupidly) refused to chain up and never waited for the roads to be cleared. I probably was just lucky but I slowed down and drove cautiously and kept on pushing. My thinking was the cheap communist Chinese chains I could buy would probably not survive on pavement long enough to crest even one grade and the damage they would do to the rear fender extensions on a dually Dodge and the sides of a trailer were not worth the trouble. I got away with it but can't promise you that you will but I do know that each fender extension will cost $1000+ to replace not to mention the sidewalls of a trailer. I "carried" chains as required but never put them on.



Harvey

 

[Buffalo]

I'm not trying to be a "wise guy" but, I wonder if you might not be better off staying in motels or with friends & relatives, this trip.



It sounds like there is a fair amount of 'risk & inconvenience' associated with this trip. You could apply the fuel savings to the motel costs plus, it would be much easier to drive in bad weather, without the trailer. I understand that "this" is what you have the truck & trailer, for. And, there is not too much I enjoy more than hitching up my trailer & travelling.



Good luck with your decision.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[KennethS]

My Wife and I traveled through Cabbage mountain doing a bad storm and I was pulling a car trailer with a Model T on the trailer. Going through drifts higher then the truck. I had winter treads with studes and had a 800 pounds of sand in the bed. I got along fine but what a hairy trip they close the roads the night before. Any of you ever been there in the winter?I am fron Pa. and a trip I will never forget.

 

[KennethS]

Picture of trip the easy part

I got this picture when we first got into bad weather. Can't find the reast of the pictures, maybe later?

 

[EEdmondson]

"Did he ever return or is his fate still unlearned?"

 

[MMeier]

"Did he ever return or is his fate still unlearned?"

Gotta wonder!