Use in Winter

pat walsh

pat walsh

Junior Ranger
We hope to drive from Minnesota to Texas and back for Christmas vacation. We would love to hear some experiences driving a 550 in ice and snow and also how do you manage road salt removal in the dead of winter. We could do an under body wash at a car wash but then we would need to drive on salted roads back home 5 miles or so. We have not (and will not) be walbenizing, etc. just keeping her clean and letting her age like us.
 
I'd spray it really good when you get back home - that salt will kill it! Once again, I'd talk to the owner about Sharkhide - that stuff is awesome. Mine's been sitting outside, covered in Texas heat all summer and running the roads back and forth to Arkansas and she looks great! Not that shiny new look everyone has when you first get it, but very nice patina and no spots! I'm with you - I'm not for working my butt off to use it. It looks great, through thunderstorms, heat and all! Headed out later today for another return trip to Arkansas and taking MiniMc with us . Headed for some fall foliage camping in Hot Springs!
 
Hi Pat,

Ours (10 years old) has never had anything applied to it other than me washing it with Ivory soap. It has traveled to/from Florida in the winter snow, salt & a blizzard. It travels locally on winter roads every year. It's been to Alaska & over many a dirt road. It's still looking pretty good. It has some wear & tear spots but nothing major.

Make sure when you take it to a car wash that you ONLY use the water, no soap & especially NO aluminum cleaner & you ONLY use the sprayer, not the brush. Although the soap may be okay, you don't want to take the chance of it discoloring or causing spots. The aluminum cleaner is a definite no-no...I've seen one that used it & it is NOT a pretty sight. Brushes often have pebbles/dirt in them (even after being rinsed, some will still be "hidden" in the brush), along with the bristles being a stiff plastic. Don't want anything to scratch the surface.

When you get home after washing it, you could (if you don't have access to garden hose) fill a pitcher, bucket, gallon jug, etc. with water & rinse down the top, sides & tongue. The undercarriage would be trickier but it is more important to get the aluminum rinsed.

The biggest test of the effectiveness of any protective coating applied to a teardrop is dirt roads (rocks will chip some coatings) & salt.

Have a fun trip!

:cool:
 
Sure do wish someone at CI would have given us that car wash warning when we picked up our tear. That and a coat of wax would have been an attitude changer and saved a whole lot of work.

Which reminds me: Evan, we are waiting to hear the rest of your Walbernize story and about your new TV.

Hilditch, 1%er
 
No new TV yet, but we will be spending the night in Snugglebug tonight (extra bedroom when relatives come from out of state.)

It will be next spring before I get around to messing with the finish.
 
Hi Betsy,
This is helpful. We want to enjoy our Suite Retreat and not worry inordinately about her finish. So do they hold pretty good to the road in snow and ice?
Thanks,
Pat
 
Hi Pat,

Living in the Cities, you have experience driving on different types of snow & ice. Everyone has different backgrounds/experience with driving in snow & ice. In addition, every tow vehicle will be a bit different in how it handles snow & ice, as will every trailer. This should all be taken into consideration as you read the following info.

If you have electric brakes, turn the controller down low. Do a few practice stops to get the feel for how the trailer handles.

Whenever possible when slowing down/stopping, make sure you at least double the following distance you would normally use under good driving conditions.

Slow your overall speed down. Drive 5-10mph below the speed limit & watch for things like curves, bridges, intersections. If you cannot safely drive at 10mph below the speed limit, it may be best just to get off the road & wait out the storm (possibly in your teardrop!) :cool:

What I've mentioned are just some basic good rules to follow. Because there are many possible situations & responses, I will leave the list at these few.

Lastly, the two things to always remember:

1) Slow down & anticipate things (stoplights, intersections, pedestrians, etc.)

2) Assume everyone driving around you is an idiot in their driving (in other words, don't assume they know what to do, or are in control of the situation, or are being cautious, or are as alert as you may be.)

Hope this helps.

:cool:
 
Hi Betsy,
thanks for yo ur comments. I do not drive but may friend who is a very dilligent driver has never driven with a trailer in the winter. We have a dodge grand caravan and just got the brakes serviced so it should be good. We did not get the break package with our tear. So the slow down and stopping distance are probably what we need. We might need to do a motel our first night out of Minnesota if the weather is in a deep freeze. And if the weather forecast is too bad we will put up our Christmas tree and stay home. But is fun thinking about it anyway. Thanks again.
 
something else about driving. Assume that people do NOT know you are towing a trailer. I'm not sure what that means in real life, but the cars around you will see YOU (the towing vehicle) but may not see your trailer.

This may be the only real DISadvantage of towing a low-profile camper, especially one that can appear "invisible" in certain lighting.
 
Alcat,
That's a very good point about people not seeing the trailer...I'll definately keep that in mind when driving!
 
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