Tow in the Snow? Yes or No?

Here in North America we’re in the heart of the snow season. Happily, most RVers have already hit their snowbird destination, and won’t be worrying about heading north again until the cold winds are history. But what if you “have to” tow your rig in the snow?

Snow towing presents a whole plethora of issues. First, make sure both your trailer and your tow rig are in excellent mechanical condition. Cold weather is not only a miserable place for a breakdown, cold weather can exacerbate mechanical issues.

Chains? For the drive vehicle, absolutely. What about for the trailer? Some states don’t require them, but they’re nonetheless a good idea. Put then on axles that are braked; for most of us that means all trailer axles will need chains. Chains on braked axles will help trailer braking.

Adjust the brake controller? Here’s an issue that meets with heavy arguments. Some RVers tell us you should back off on the controller sensitivity, reasoning that if the trailer brakes come on first, or heavier than the tow rig, you’ll have control issues. Others argue just as fervently that if the trailer brake controller is well adjusted for non-snowy pavement, leave it alone.

Driving is the key. The old trucker’s maxim, “Snow: Go Slow. Ice: No Go,” applies to RV towing. Keep the speed down, and when in motion, don’t do anything fast. How’s that? Don’t try to slow down fast. Don’t try to turn fast. Don’t try to accelerate fast. Nice and easy is the key word. When braking, apply the brakes gently–don’t try and rely on ABS systems–you’re having to brake to hard if your ABS kicks in. And in starting out, go easy on the accelerator. If you find yourself in a no-traction situation and can’t get started, putting dry sand under the drive wheels and GENTLY accelerating may get you started.

Some RVers suggest you find an empty, but snow-filled parking lot. Try accelerating, turning, and various other maneuvers with your rig hitched up to “get the feel” for how your rig responds. Once again, do so slowly, as even if there are no cars there to hit, putting your trailer into a skid can put a lot of stress on your hitch system; too much and you’ll come away with damage.