| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67853] |
Sun, 20 December 2009 11:49  |
kenneth hugelier
Messages: 89
Registered: August 2008
Karma: 0
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Member |
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I may have pressed my luck a bit. My coach is in the drive packed, full of fuel and propane ready to take off for Florida after Christmas. We have about an inch of snow on the ground now with small amounts predicted up to Christmas day. I will not drive the coach in snow or with salt on the roads. Due to the economy around here, the cities are not using very much salt if at all. The main road by my house has four lanes each way with large islands in the middle. Only one lane each way was salted yesterday.
If I am able to get out of here on my terms, (I don't want my outfit to wind up in a ditch in Ohio or Kentucky some place), I will post trip updates on my way down. I will be using I-75, as it gets me out of here the fastest.
ken hugelier 77 PB Det. Mich.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67858 is a reply to message #67853] |
Sun, 20 December 2009 13:38  |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Ken,
We have been doing Florida the last three winters. We leave in early
January and come back the last of March. January 08 we left in a bad
snow storm on the 14 of January. From where we live north of you we
go to Horse Park KY the first night to try and get out of the snow and
cold. Well It was still snow and cold in HP KY. Went to Spartanburg
SC the next night and spent several hours washing the coach and toad
and de-winterizing all the systems. Last year when we went to sleep
there was no snow on the ground and the roads were snow free and dry.
Woke up and greeted with 6" of snow on the ground. Both cases we kept
our speed down to a safe rate and proceeded south. until the roads
cleared and we could get to our destination. We did enjoy all the big
SUV's ending up in the ditch after flying by us on the Xway. Although
our coach is stored inside in a heated barn it in not a garage queen.
The coach has averaged 4k miles a year since it was new. One thing
that the previous owner always did each year was to power wash the
frame and spray it with ATF to rustproof it. I have continued to do
the same process every year. If you live in Michigan and go to
Florida in the winter then your going to get some salt on it. It
won't hurt anything as long as you do a good under cleaning each
spring and do the frame. Other than some surface rust in some spots
ours looks very good. Good luck on your trip.
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
TZE Zone Restorations
77 Eleganza Custom (For Sale)
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
On Dec 20, 2009, at 12:49 PM, ken hugelier wrote:
> I may have pressed my luck a bit. My coach is in the drive packed,
> full of fuel and propane ready to take off for Florida after
> Christmas. We have about an inch of snow on the ground now with
> small amounts predicted up to Christmas day. I will not drive the
> coach in snow or with salt on the roads. Due to the economy around
> here, the cities are not using very much salt if at all. The main
> road by my house has four lanes each way with large islands in the
> middle. Only one lane each way was salted yesterday.
> If I am able to get out of here on my terms, (I don't want my outfit
> to wind up in a ditch in Ohio or Kentucky some place), I will post
> trip updates on my way down. I will be using I-75, as it gets me out
> of here the fastest.
>
> ken hugelier 77 PB Det. Mich.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67859 is a reply to message #67853] |
Sun, 20 December 2009 13:46 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Ken,
I have traveled on various type of snow with the GMC for the last 30 years.
Keep in mind that the rear wheels track about 3" outter than the
front. This does not present much of a problem on powder snow where it
is dry.
When the snow gets wet and starts to be packed and slushy, the rear
tires will neet to create a track wider than the front. This creats
additional drag and will cause the front to slip or spin easier.
Should you need to chain up, do not use the cable chains as they are
weak and you'll snap the cables in slushy snow.
Always use tensioners to keep the chains tight.
Lay out the chain and rol over them. No need to jack up the wheel. I
have been on hills where I had to let the coach roll backward onto the
chain as I couldnot get traction to go forward.
On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 9:49 AM, ken hugelier <kahugelier@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I may have pressed my luck a bit. My coach is in the drive packed, full of fuel and propane ready to take off for Florida after Christmas. We have about an inch of snow on the ground now with small amounts predicted up to Christmas day. I will not drive the coach in snow or with salt on the roads. Due to the economy around here, the cities are not using very much salt if at all. The main road by my house has four lanes each way with large islands in the middle. Only one lane each way was salted yesterday.
> If I am able to get out of here on my terms, (I don't want my outfit to wind up in a ditch in Ohio or Kentucky some place), I will post trip updates on my way down. I will be using I-75, as it gets me out of here the fastest.
>
> ken hugelier 77 PB Det. Mich.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67907 is a reply to message #67858] |
Sun, 20 December 2009 22:05 |
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In March of 08 I drove back from Georgia. The snow started about
Murfreesboro, TN. Just north of Nashville it was four to six inches on the
roadway and not being plowed...yet. I finally stopped when I crossed into KY
on I-65. Going in the snow wasn't the problem. Seeing was. I couldn't see
past the steering wheel.
While trying to pull up the driveway to the Hampton (no water or LP) it
wouldn't go. So, I backed down to the next motel and spent the night.
It'll go as long as you have momentum. Of course, I'm crazy and have driven
when sane people get off the road. BTW, I enjoy driving in snow when it
isn't blizzard-like.
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Louisville, KY
Personal - http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Eastern States - http://www.gmceast.com
John Wright wrote:
> Ken,
> We have been doing Florida the last three winters. We leave in early
> January and come back the last of March. January 08 we left in a bad
> snow storm on the 14 of January. From where we live north of you we
> go to Horse Park KY the first night to try and get out of the snow and
> cold. Well It was still snow and cold in HP KY. Went to Spartanburg
> SC the next night and spent several hours washing the coach and toad
> and de-winterizing all the systems. Last year when we went to sleep
> there was no snow on the ground and the roads were snow free and dry.
> Woke up and greeted with 6" of snow on the ground. Both cases we kept
> our speed down to a safe rate and proceeded south. until the roads
> cleared and we could get to our destination. We did enjoy all the big
> SUV's ending up in the ditch after flying by us on the Xway. Although
> our coach is stored inside in a heated barn it in not a garage queen.
> The coach has averaged 4k miles a year since it was new. One thing
> that the previous owner always did each year was to power wash the
> frame and spray it with ATF to rustproof it. I have continued to do
> the same process every year. If you live in Michigan and go to
> Florida in the winter then your going to get some salt on it. It
> won't hurt anything as long as you do a good under cleaning each
> spring and do the frame. Other than some surface rust in some spots
> ours looks very good. Good luck on your trip.
>
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> TZE Zone Restorations
> 77 Eleganza Custom (For Sale)
> 1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
> Michigan
>
> On Dec 20, 2009, at 12:49 PM, ken hugelier wrote:
>
>> I may have pressed my luck a bit. My coach is in the drive packed,
>> full of fuel and propane ready to take off for Florida after
>> Christmas. We have about an inch of snow on the ground now with
>> small amounts predicted up to Christmas day. I will not drive the
>> coach in snow or with salt on the roads. Due to the economy around
>> here, the cities are not using very much salt if at all. The main
>> road by my house has four lanes each way with large islands in the
>> middle. Only one lane each way was salted yesterday.
>> If I am able to get out of here on my terms, (I don't want my outfit
>> to wind up in a ditch in Ohio or Kentucky some place), I will post
>> trip updates on my way down. I will be using I-75, as it gets me out
>> of here the fastest.
>>
>> ken hugelier 77 PB Det. Mich.
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> List Information and Subscription Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67923 is a reply to message #67859] |
Mon, 21 December 2009 00:02 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| jimk wrote on Sun, 20 December 2009 13:46 |
Ken,
I have traveled on various type of snow with the GMC for the last 30 years.
Keep in mind that the rear wheels track about 3" outter than the
front. This does not present much of a problem on powder snow where it
is dry.
When the snow gets wet and starts to be packed and slushy, the rear
tires will need to create a track wider than the front. This creates
additional drag and will cause the front to slip or spin easier.
Should you need to chain up, do not use the cable chains as they are
weak and you'll snap the cables in slushy snow.
Always use tensioners to keep the chains tight.
Lay out the chain and roll over them. No need to jack up the wheel. I
have been on hills where I had to let the coach roll backward onto the
chain as I could not get traction to go forward.
|
CHAINS?
What are "Chains"?
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #67924 is a reply to message #67853] |
Mon, 21 December 2009 00:10 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I do not drive where there is salt. I do not take my cars or my GMC where there is salt. I do drive in the snow.
If is snows there simply delay your departure 2 or 3 days and all of the salted roads will be dry by then. I snowed here a couple of days ago. I stayed off of the state and US highways for a couple of days and only used county roads. Today I was out on the the state and US highways. They were clean and dry.
If you plan your departure right, you can make it out of there and southbound with the rest of the snowbirds without driving in the salt. What is the rush anyway? Ken H. will leave the light on for you for an overnight stay whenever you get there.
Ken B.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Will it go in the Snow? [message #68063 is a reply to message #67923] |
Tue, 22 December 2009 04:03 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 00:02 |
CHAINS?
What are "Chains"?
|
Since Jim did not answer, let me tell you a little trick that works well if you need temporary chains to get out of something.
Take two good quality ropes. Nylon works well. Wrap each tire in a spiral around the tire and through the spokes. Wrap all the way around and tie the ends. Drive one city block and stop to retighten the rope. (Nylon rope stretches when it is wet.)
The thicker the rope, the better, but you need to make make sure it will clear the front calipers on a GMC. GMCs with wheel spacers should not have a clearance problem. I know of one person that carries two pre-cut pieces and two rubber tire chain tensioners in acouple of zip-lock bags in his PU truck.
I have only seen this done on rear wheel drive pickups with drum brakes. I have never done this on a GMC myself. I did do it years ago on a Toyota PU.
TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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