Vegas to Jackson Center in mid December

[CMHM]

Hi folks,

I have a service appointment in JC on Dec 20th and will be in Vegas prior to that.

I am experienced with winter driving but not with an Airstream in my back. Does anyone have any experience of the road conditions at that time, or any advice on getting the trailer there? I am open to having it towed as well.

Thank you all.

[Gibson3798]

Not a trip I'd make at that time of year. I don't have any experience pulling a trailer in snow or ice, because it's "not a trip I'd make at that time of year".0

Good luck sorting it out.

[field & stream]

Check out this current thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42...-247878-2.html

[Tyler2you]

Probably adds an extra 15 hours, but down to Phoenix and across to San Antonio-New Orleans-Destin. Leave early enough that you can spend a few days at the beach watching the weather. Hopefully there will be a window to head North when the weather is nice.

[xpcdoojk]

I agree you need to watch for a weather window. I would give myself a week additional to whatever driving per day you feel comfortable with. I would not drive pulling my airstream on any snow or ice.

jc

[majorairhead]

If the roads are dry, or there is rain, I find towin no problem at all.

I always watch the weather, if snow is forecast, I leave earlier, or later than it's arrival.

In fact, we will be heading south in a few weeks, and it is the snow forecast that will determine our departure date.

I won't tow in snow, or roads that have been treated.

[mojo]

Check each states DOT websites for road conditions ahead of each days travels and as others said, give yourself extra time if you need to wait it out. Also, you can always arrive earlier than your scheduled date to check in and leave the trailer.

[MMCMRET]

Lot's of good advice in this, and the recommended thread.

Don't underestimate the salt/brine on the road. We live in Ohio (2 hours from the mothership) and made a January service trip. After getting home, we pulled our AS into our heated garage. Spent the next winter sanding, priming, and spray painting the under carriage. This could have been prevented by pulling into a car wash and spraying off the under carriage, before parking our rig.

Just wanted to save you a little work. Good luck on your trip.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

There's no way to really *know* what the weather will be in mid December. Long range forecasts seem to suggest it will be a bit warmer than normal. How much snow and ice here or there? who knows.

As noted above, heading south is probably your best bet. That could add as much as 10 hours of driving to the roughly 30 hour "short route". At kinda sorta 5 hours a day "on route", you would be chugging along for a week to 10 days.

You can get "pretty good" weather guesses 14 days out. They are not going to be perfect. They should let you do a much better job of ruling out this or that route. I would cross off heading up through Denver on I-70, even if things look ok.

Since it will be cold and your trailer will need to be fully winterized, there's a very basic question of where to stay as you travel. Over most of the routes, campgrounds are going to be long closed when you are there. Even when they are "open" things like washrooms might not be. Finding someplace to stay each night *and* park the trailer could be a bit of a challenge.

Planning wise, if you can, scheduling maybe 2 weeks for the drive would be a good idea. If something crazy happens, you pull over and spend 3 or 4 days waiting things out. Once the roads are back to normal, you move on towards your goal.

Will you see salt on the roads? I'd bet a half bottle of beer that you will . Will you see snow? You certainly can. Is it a dusting over night or is it 3 foot deep drifts? Again, no way to be sure. The beer probably gets bet on the dusting.

You don't mention the return trip part of this or how long the work at JC is supposed to take. If it's a "couple days and then drive back" sort of thing, you will be right in the middle of Christmas and New Years sort of traffic.

Just how the cost of all this compares to having a pro haul it out there is always a bit unclear. Rates for that sort of thing vary. If you can catch somebody who just delivered an AS out there and who now is headed back to JC, the price might be pretty low. Do you trust some random dude with your pride and joy? There are risks. How does your insurance treat that process? I'd certainly do a deep dive into that if you head that way.

Lots of choices

Bob

[PatLee]

I have gone to JC for service appointments in November, December and January. There was snow one year but the well-maintained highways are kept plowed so it wasn't an issue. However, it was cold. JC has an on-site campground but I stay in a hotel, especially if it's a multi-day appointment. This enables the service techs to keep the AS inside the service bay, which minimizes movement (back and forth from bay to CG) and sustains their momentum. The waiting area is comfortable. Be sure and check out the new factory expansion and Heritage Center.

[HoWee]

We have done Michigan to San Diego as late as Thanksgiving each year for 9 years. Tow 23 FB currently w F-150. Alway use I-40 west and I-75 south. JC is just off I-75. Have had cold weather every year w many nights as low as 28 degrees. Never snow. Never ice. This year we actually dipped to I-10 into TX due to temperatures.
Return trip may be more risky depending on how late in year. Just to note: return in Spring is much harder. South is complicated by severe weather and north is snowing and icy. Often end up on I-25 N and I-70 E. Good luck.

[Life is a Highway]

Respectfully - Its a fun trip in good weather or at least no snow ice weather. I would re-schedule. As previously stated I would not want to make that trip at that time of year. Salt on your rig will destroy it not to mention the danger of bad roads.

[akarakos]

Omg, then they’re done that once before, but in February. Made it to Jackson Center and then found out there was a snowstorm coming from Texas.
Make sure your trailer is winterized. If you show up on a Saturday or Sunday, park it in a teraport (Camping site) to the right side of the service center entrance. On the left side of the building, there is a security guard always on duty. It’s not uncommon to have your keys and your note regarding the check in and which site number your trailers parked in. If you’re an ACI member tell them what your membership number is on the front of your trailer. The security guard will get the note to the service department. In my case service was shut down for seven days because of a snowstorm, and I barely made it out of town.
Watch your weather closely

[Genebuilder]

OP did not mention what he was having done to the Airstream at JC. I can’t think of anything that needs to be done to a trailer to risk a long trip in unpredictable but assuredly inclement, dangerous weather. Is JC on the way home? Are you returning to the Vegas area after repairs? Not enough information from OP to do a proper risk/reward analysis.

[Julierohr]

I’m from Michigan and we stop at Jackson Center terraport on our way to FL approximately December27. Chances are, you will not have snow or icy conditions. You can expect power and water at your terraport site but be prepared as temps can be 30-25 degrees.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Getting appointments at JC is never simple. If the work is going to take weeks, the next slot may be a ways out. Putting your RV into limbo for a month or two in the middle of summer .... not so much ....

There are indeed good reasons you just might be doing this in December.

Bob

[CMHM]

Folks, thanks so much for all your thoughts. Someone posted about the risk/reward, and honestly my only reward was flying to Europe over the Christmas holidays from Chicago vs LA/Vegas, and then picking up the trailer a month later.

My 3-year warranty expires in December this year, hence why I was trying to squeeze a visit in -- but Airstream just told me they would honor those repairs also next year as long as I report them before the warranty expiry date.

I think I'll plan a nice Spring visit and won't have to worry about snow, ice and salt.

Thanks for keeping us all safe!