Winter towing & camping with 5th wheel

[amauri]

Just got home from our latest trip.
Spent a week at the Watchman campground, located just inside the Zion National Park south entrance.
Very peaceful camp, plenty of distance to neighboring campers. Saw lots of wildlife and went on nature hikes every day.

Photo below taken yesterday morning just before I hitched up to leave.
Pulling out with nearly 15k in tow, thru slush, mud and a little ice was challenging. Had to use rear tire chains to keep it safe.

Our truck has just clicked over 10k miles and has been flawless so far.
Really enjoying the options I special ordered:
-50gl tank makes all the difference.
-TTPMS works great
-Uconnect 5-Nav 8.4" has been perfect
-digital rear view camera mounted on back of trailer is really nice to have
-ventilated seats are great, never had this on a vehicle before

 

[sanda]

Just got home from our latest trip.
Spent a week at the Watchman campground, located just inside the Zion National Park south entrance.
Very peaceful camp, plenty of distance to neighboring campers. Saw lots of wildlife and went on nature hikes every day.

Photo below taken yesterday morning just before I hitched up to leave.
Pulling out with nearly 15k in tow, thru slush, mud and a little ice was challenging. Had to use rear tire chains to keep it safe.

Our truck has just clicked over 10k miles and has been flawless so far.
Really enjoying the options I special ordered:
-50gl tank makes all the difference.
-TTPMS works great
-Uconnect 5-Nav 8.4" has been perfect
-digital rear view camera mounted on back of trailer is really nice to have
-ventilated seats are great, never had this on a vehicle before

Didn't have to worry about crowds this time of year.

 

[AH64ID]

Fun! We enjoy winter camping.

Not sure I’d chain only the rear of the truck thou. The trailer is the first thing I chain up, since its brakes are more touchy than the trucks brakes.

I also don’t mess around with just chaining one axle on the truck if I’m towing. Both truck axles and one trailer axle. Steering and braking are too important and just the rear axle of the truck doesn’t do much to help either.

 

[amauri]

I carry a set of chain for the truck and another set for the trailer.
I've been in similar situations like this before, and with a 2WD truck I am a bit traction challenged.

I first tried getting out without the chains, but the back of the truck was sliding around too much.
Did not have any issues with the trailer sliding around, and I only needed the chains for about 1/2 mile to get out of the campground.
I do agree that having a set for the front wheels is a good idea and will acquire a set for the next time.

 

[AH64ID]

I carry a set of chain for the truck and another set for the trailer.
I've been in similar situations like this before, and with a 2WD truck I am a bit traction challenged.

I first tried getting out without the chains, but the back of the truck was sliding around too much.
Did not have any issues with the trailer sliding around, and I only needed the chains for about 1/2 mile to get out of the campground.
I do agree that having a set for the front wheels is a good idea and will acquire a set for the next time.

Gotcha, didn’t catch it was 2wd.

That’s bold camping conditions with a 2wd truck.

 

[ppine]

Towing trailers in the snow is a miserable experience, especially if they are over around 4,000 pounds.
Waiting out a spring storm is one thing, but towing in the snow is not for me.

 

[AH64ID]

Towing trailers in the snow is a miserable experience, especially if they are over around 4,000 pounds.
Waiting out a spring storm is one thing, but towing in the snow is not for me.

It can be miserable and it can be benign, lots of variables.

Don’t be afraid of drag chains, that’s the #1 thing for slick road towing. Turning the trailer brake gain down is the 2nd. I did hundreds of snow miles with 8-12K lb trailers last fall, many of them with 6 chains on. Just relax and take your time… and expect the horses to slide the trailer some
There is a huge difference in towing trailers with live animals, and luckily only half of those miles had horses. Even thou that trailer was lighter it takes more caution.

 

[amauri]

It can be miserable and it can be benign, lots of variables.

Don’t be afraid of drag chains, that’s the #1 thing for slick road towing. Turning the trailer brake gain down is the 2nd. I did hundreds of snow miles with 8-12K lb trailers last fall, many of them with 6 chains on. Just relax and take your time… and expect the horses to slide the trailer some
There is a huge difference in towing trailers with live animals, and luckily only half of those miles had horses. Even thou that trailer was lighter it takes more caution.

Thanks for the wise words of experience.

I've chained up on many occasions over the years, sometimes even when offroad in deep snow with 4WD, but only a couple of times while pulling a trailer.

Photo bellow from about 30 years ago, my dad and my 84 landcruiser diesel

 

[ppine]

IK would tow in the snow on a job, but not for fun. I had my fill of it in Colorado and Wyoming.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Towing trailers in the snow is a miserable experience, especially if they are over around 4,000 pounds.
Waiting out a spring storm is one thing, but towing in the snow is not for me.

I don't mind towing in the snow i do it all the time its not bad 99% of the time. This trailer is 6600lbs empty The biggest thing i find is when the trailer is empty and its slick you have to tun the trailer gain way down!

 

[44Dan44]

It can be miserable and it can be benign, lots of variables.

Don’t be afraid of drag chains, that’s the #1 thing for slick road towing. Turning the trailer brake gain down is the 2nd. I did hundreds of snow miles with 8-12K lb trailers last fall, many of them with 6 chains on. Just relax and take your time… and expect the horses to slide the trailer some
There is a huge difference in towing trailers with live animals, and luckily only half of those miles had horses. Even thou that trailer was lighter it takes more caution.
View attachment 53147
View attachment 53148

First time I'm seeing your truck @AH64ID Very nice! White Longbed FTW!

 

[Nick]

Too many years on the road fighting snow , ice and stupid drivers . I swore I would never drive in it again voluntarily when I retired . Putting iron on a semi and a drag on the trailer is a royal PIA ! But you guys have fun sliding around, chaining up and dodging dummies .Been there, done that !

 

[CFE]

Just got home from our latest trip.
Spent a week at the Watchman campground, located just inside the Zion National Park south entrance.
Very peaceful camp, plenty of distance to neighboring campers. Saw lots of wildlife and went on nature hikes every day.

Photo below taken yesterday morning just before I hitched up to leave.
Pulling out with nearly 15k in tow, thru slush, mud and a little ice was challenging. Had to use rear tire chains to keep it safe.

Our truck has just clicked over 10k miles and has been flawless so far.
Really enjoying the options I special ordered:
-50gl tank makes all the difference.
-TTPMS works great
-Uconnect 5-Nav 8.4" has been perfect
-digital rear view camera mounted on back of trailer is really nice to have
-ventilated seats are great, never had this on a vehicle before

nice camper - what's the length?

 

[amauri]

Thanks, the book says it's 35' but I measure 36'

 

[CFE]

Thanks, the book says it's 35' but I measure 36'

Nice - that's roughly what i would have guessed. I have a 43'+ but I think I might downsize in the next year or two to something around 32' to allow me to camp at more national parks.

 

[amauri]

Thanks for the well wishes.
Climbing on the roof to clear all that show would surely result is a serious fall. I brought along a lightweight ladder and a push broom that I used to clear the slides.
I was expecting some snow on this trip and tried to prepare for it.