Tips for Driving your RV in Winter Conditions
TL;DR: Driving an RV in winter weather can be dangerous, but sometimes unavoidable. Prepare with essential supplies, check tires, battery, and handle drivable and towable RVs differently. Consider location and use caution, opting for major roads. Use judgment and have a backup plan ready.
No matter how much preparation goes into planning a trip, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. This is oftentimes the case with inclement weather. The forecast might say rain, but Mother Nature could have other plans in the forms of ice, snow, sleet, or hail. Driving in winter weather can be challenging and dangerous, especially so in an RV. While Harvest Hosts would never recommend driving in inclement weather, but there may occasionally be times where RVers don’t have another choice. In that case, being informed on how to drive in winter weather can be life saving. Below, we’ve outlined some tips for driving an RV in the snow that should really help you if you find yourself in this situation.
Supplies
Before leaving the comfort of your current location, it is imperative that you have the necessary materials needed for driving in winter weather. It’s better to err on the side of caution and prepare for the worst. Stock up on groceries, drinking water, fuel, propane, and anything else in case you become stranded at a rest area, for instance. Thankfully, most RV refrigerators run off of propane, and most cooking can be done with propane as well. It’s also important that your RV has an emergency roadside kit with flares and reflectors. This is helpful anytime you drive your RV, should you need to pull over on the side of the road for any amount of time.
Tires
Similar to car tires, if RV tires are older or worn out, then your chances of sliding are more likely. If you’re unsure if your RV’s tires are up to snuff, check out our helpful blog article all about RV tires. The type of tire can also affect your RV’s handling in the snow. Most RV tires are made for heavy highway use or summer use, not for winter weather. If your tires are not made for driving in winter weather, then it may be safer to avoid the risk. Alternatively, you can increase your traction with tire chains, which are sometimes even required in certain areas. If you choose to use tire chains, it’s imperative that you practice installing them ahead of time. Another consideration is the type of RV you have. Motorhomes almost always have dual back wheels. This provides additional difficulty when installing tire chains. If you own a Class C or towable RV, then tire chains can easily be installed using a .