This will be our first winter traveling in our fifth wheel, and I'm just trying to sort out a way to handle it best.
We want to be home with family in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York during the Thanksgiving through Christmas season. However, we DON'T WANT to travel from the northeast pulling our camper through ice and snow which is inevitable that time of year.
We are considering heading south into the Carolinas in early November, staying within a 10-12 hr. driving distance of home (Myrtle Beach would work), and then driving back home -- without our fifth wheel -- to stay for that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
After the holidays, we would drive back to pick up the fifth wheel, and head towards AZ to get to our winter rental place.
We would have to find a location where we could leave our camper for that month we are gone. Has anyone done this? I know Fred and Jo Wishnie had a heck of a time going south after the holidays last year.... that's what got me thinking about another kind of plan.
Any advice or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Roz said
09:03 AM Jul 27, 2009
We just spent a week at Briarcliffe RV Resort in Myrtle Beach. It is large but wondefully quiet. Not sure they have a storage area, but it is both Coast to Coast.
It does get cold in South Carolina and can and does drop below freezing. By leaving your fiver in an electric site, not storage, space heaters could protect it from freezing temps. Not sure what the monthly rate is, but having that assurance would be worth a price.
There are other CGs within the area, but not resorts that could work. RVparkreviews.com should provide you a good choice even closer to I-95 and in a lower rent district.
Mallo said
09:27 AM Jul 27, 2009
We have found that just slow down and the RV is fine on ice and snow.
Get a good set of chains for the truck and trailer and you'll be fine.
We have stayed in Boston in Feb without an issue (OK at minus 9 we had a minor freeze up thing).
Go up stay near the finger lakes, then head south when you get a decent window of weather I understand you'll have lake effect snows but even up there the roads get plowed I understand.
Mallo
Luvglass said
10:00 AM Jul 27, 2009
We didn't really have any problems towing in the snow and ice, it was more a mental thing. We had just stopped up in Milwaukee for a supposed short visit and then got sucked in with Jo breaking her foot and then needing rotator cuff surgery. We ended having to stay a long time and the weather turned bad. So it sounded bad, because we were sulking.
I would have no problem going to a cold, snowy area with the rig, and I personally don't see the need for chains. Just wait to move, as Mallo says, when there's a window of decent weather.
Acorn said
10:17 AM Jul 27, 2009
I know.... once you get a mindset that you want to go, you want to go!
I don't think Larry would have a problem driving in the weather either -- it just seems like a good idea not to if you don't have to. I'm probably the one worrying needlessly about this.
Doesn't seem the average low temperature in South Carolina would be below freezing.... but I suppose it could get down there.
Maybe we would need to go further south -- it's a short 2-day trip even from Florida to upstate New York.
Roz said
06:56 PM Jul 27, 2009
For a few days, the low at night will dip into the 20s or sometimes the teens once or twice per winter even in South GA or extreme North FL. Unusual, but in Northern SC it happens.
Realize Myrtle Beach is not far south of NC. No ice storms near the coast, but freezing temps.
We want to be home with family in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York during the Thanksgiving through Christmas season. However, we DON'T WANT to travel from the northeast pulling our camper through ice and snow which is inevitable that time of year.
We are considering heading south into the Carolinas in early November, staying within a 10-12 hr. driving distance of home (Myrtle Beach would work), and then driving back home -- without our fifth wheel -- to stay for that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
After the holidays, we would drive back to pick up the fifth wheel, and head towards AZ to get to our winter rental place.
We would have to find a location where we could leave our camper for that month we are gone. Has anyone done this? I know Fred and Jo Wishnie had a heck of a time going south after the holidays last year.... that's what got me thinking about another kind of plan.
Any advice or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!
It does get cold in South Carolina and can and does drop below freezing. By leaving your fiver in an electric site, not storage, space heaters could protect it from freezing temps. Not sure what the monthly rate is, but having that assurance would be worth a price.
There are other CGs within the area, but not resorts that could work. RVparkreviews.com should provide you a good choice even closer to I-95 and in a lower rent district.
I don't think Larry would have a problem driving in the weather either -- it just seems like a good idea not to if you don't have to. I'm probably the one worrying needlessly about this.
Doesn't seem the average low temperature in South Carolina would be below freezing.... but I suppose it could get down there.
Maybe we would need to go further south -- it's a short 2-day trip even from Florida to upstate New York.
Realize Myrtle Beach is not far south of NC. No ice storms near the coast, but freezing temps.