New Member planning 3 month adventure with 2 young kids...

[OTRA15]

Seems as if the OP may have enough experience in cold climates to make sound choices about his family IMO.

Originally Posted by bacon612

Im actually born and raised in Ontario(Canada) and have spent most of my life there. That said, I am no stranger to colder weather and more importantly winter driving conditions.
. . .

[Isuzusweet]

I just love all these Americans trying to tell a snowbird what to do in the winter.

All I'm going to say to the OP is this; be very flexible, if you have any concerns for the safety of your family be prepared to put them up for the night in a motel. Also have no fixed schedule as weather will dictate when and how far you can travel safely.

Goodluck; us Canucks are made of hardy stuff (I hope your better half is also a Canuck......or there could be trouble ahead. )

Cheers
Tony

[bacon612]

Thanks again to everyone for the valuable input. After deliberating costs of Airstream vs AirBnB and the locations of some of the trailer parks in our target cites, we are opting to go the AirBnB route. I am sad as this will delay my plans of Airstream ownership but the fact remains is that our objective is to get the most 'data' from each city as possible while we are there. I think the AS (however convenient) gets away from the core of our experiment. We will drive and likely begin our trip from Knoxville, TN where I have family. We plan on doing the trip in reverse and heading west along I-40 with our first stop being the Bay Area.

Apologies for the tension or excitement I offset here. I came to get perspective as I planned and that's exactly what I got. For those that are still concerned for the welfare of my family, rest assured that I'll travel with emergency supplies for cold weather breakdowns (as I always have). Looking forward to coming back to Airstream forums when im ready for my future AS.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Seems as if the OP may have enough experience in cold climates to make sound choices about his family IMO.

Hi

Having grown up just across the lake from Ontario and having spent a bit of time there in the winter ..... yes .... they have cold and snow there. One would not be considered a "novice" at winter conditions after growing up there. Novice at towing or playing with an AS - sure.

Bob

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by bacon612

Thanks again to everyone for the valuable input. After deliberating costs of Airstream vs AirBnB and the locations of some of the trailer parks in our target cites, we are opting to go the AirBnB route. I am sad as this will delay my plans of Airstream ownership but the fact remains is that our objective is to get the most 'data' from each city as possible while we are there. I think the AS (however convenient) gets away from the core of our experiment. We will drive and likely begin our trip from Knoxville, TN where I have family. We plan on doing the trip in reverse and heading west along I-40 with our first stop being the Bay Area.

Apologies for the tension or excitement I offset here. I came to get perspective as I planned and that's exactly what I got. For those that are still concerned for the welfare of my family, rest assured that I'll travel with emergency supplies for cold weather breakdowns (as I always have). Looking forward to coming back to Airstream forums when im ready for my future AS.

We all wish you the best in your endeavor to find a new city to relocate to, and I personally hope you eventually find the perfect Airstream for your family.

There is someone here who did exactly what you are planning, tho took a couple of years of fulltiming with his young family to find the perfect place.

You might look up his threads, as he did several on various issues they encountered...he is BoldAdventure.

Good luck to you,

Maggie

[Len n Jeanne]

Good choice, bacon612. Have a good and safe trip.

Perhaps, Isuzu and OTRA, you've noticed our BC location.

Canada obviously has different kinds of winter driving. A lot of Ontario roads are relatively flat and heavily salted. Driving in a southern Ontario city during a snowstorm is nothing like being out on a long lonely stretch of highway in the mountains in either western Canada or the western states, where you've got the additional variables of steep grades, curves, and no handy place to pull off.

Folks in parts of southern Ontario and neighbouring states do encounter extreme Snowbelt (like around Buffalom NY and east of Windsor, ON) and fog conditions in winter, so that would count for a lot.

However, many stretches of western Interstate are not plowed down to bare pavement right after a snow storm. When you see a lot of snow fences lining a highway, that says something about blowing snow.

We moved to BC from southern Ontario. Trust me-- you do need additional skills and judgment for mountain winter driving.

[kendrick.l.j]

Glad to hear you changed your mind about traveling with the family at this particular time frame. There will be time for your Airstream later. Keeping everyone safe is the most important thing. As some mentioned, winter travel is doable but not without some serious risk. No one mentioned money so I will, snow chains and or tires are rather expensive, hotels book up with in coming storms, plan B ( whatever that may be ) often becomes very expensive. Spend the money you have now wisely then later when employment is secure, kids are a little older (old enough to remember the experience) and life is a lot more stable....get the Airstream.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

Good choice, bacon612. Have a good and safe trip.

Perhaps, Isuzu and OTRA, you've noticed our BC location.

Canada obviously has different kinds of winter driving. A lot of Ontario roads are relatively flat and heavily salted. Driving in a southern Ontario city during a snowstorm is nothing like being out on a long lonely stretch of highway in the mountains in either western Canada or the western states, where you've got the additional variables of steep grades, curves, and no handy place to pull off.

Folks in parts of southern Ontario and neighbouring states do encounter extreme Snowbelt (like around Buffalom NY and east of Windsor, ON) and fog conditions in winter, so that would count for a lot.

However, many stretches of western Interstate are not plowed down to bare pavement right after a snow storm. When you see a lot of snow fences lining a highway, that says something about blowing snow.

We moved to BC from southern Ontario. Trust me-- you do need additional skills and judgment for mountain winter driving.

I'm a B.C expat myself so I know the snow and driving conditions are very different to SW Ontario; both have their own distinct challenges.....I for example never had to in B.C drive with my car door open, looking at the road below because the white out was epic and I couldn't see beyond my headlamps. We tend to get more freezing rain and black ice events as well.

Cheers
Tony

[maa]

We have a 4.5 year old and a 1 year old and I think you’ll enjoy Airbnb much more for this type of trip. We love our airstream but having a sick kiddo who has a rough night in a 25 ft RV is not fun...especially multiple nights in a row.

[SCOTTinNJ]

I actually think for the purpose of your trip air Bnb is better anyway. You probably can now stwybin the city rather than the outskirts.

[Len n Jeanne]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I'm a B.C expat myself so I know the snow and driving conditions are very different to SW Ontario; both have their own distinct challenges.....I for example never had to in B.C drive with my car door open, looking at the road below because the white out was epic and I couldn't see beyond my headlamps. We tend to get more freezing rain and black ice events as well.

Cheers
Tony

Open car door? Gosh. I used to live near Park City, UT, but commuted to work, &c. in Salt Lake via I-80 through Parley's Canyon. Because ski areas do tend to get major snow accumulations (surprise, surprise) I had times driving back at night when the only way I could tell where the pavement was, was by seeing the reflector posts on the right. In the mountains we often see one reflector post fastened on top of another for added height. Opening the car door would merely have revealed more snow under the tires. If I could follow a slow-moving semi, that was about the best for visibility.

In hindsight, on those nights I probably should have stayed with friends in SLC, but then elevation makes a big difference in accumulation amounts, and you can't always tell what you're going to get into before you're into it.

In BC, as you know, there is a big difference between the relatively warmer coastal cities and the higher elevation Kootenays, where we live. Our highways are posted that snow tires are mandatory from October 1 through March 31. Several years ago, driving through Fernie, BC during the tail-end of a blizzard, a police car spun out in front of us and landed in a snow bank.

We lived in Ontario for many years before moving out here, and are well aware of those awful lake-effect snow belt and fog patches. As well as the ungodly amount of road salt.