six people, 3 dogs, and ice

[David Anderson]

Ah, the ultimate family SUV.  We left Pleasanton on the 30th and drove to Stephenville to pick up some kids and a dog.  We drove north to Witchita Falls and the weather just got colder and hints of snow.  When we turned north up US 287 the rain and snow began to fall and lots of ice on the road.  We were nice a warm in the coach.  My defroster and driver's heat kept the windows clear and me warm up front.  We stopped in Iowa City Tx to let the dogs run around.  They just laid in the snow.  

We arrived to Daddy in law's farm in Pampa at about 12:30pm.  He lives 2 miles off pavement and his road was solid ice with snow on top.   I could feel the bus plowing and sliding as I drove to the farm place.  Yeehah, stay in the center and out of the bar ditches.  

We parked the coach and all jumped out and I said, "let's take a picture.  We made it!"  Thus you see the wayward family (and dogs) below.  

The bus accumulated so much ice on the bottom and the wheel wells.  It completely iced the radiator.  The temp never climbed above 175, however.    My tach pickup iced over and grounded out, so it quit working.  It is on the bottom of the bell housing.  I bet I had a 1000lbs of ice hanging all over the coach.   The tach thawed out and worked fine on the trip home.  

Wife and I stayed in the coach each night and the Webasto kept us toasty warm.  It got down to 20 each night.  We came home on the 3rd and drove though ice fog for about the first 2 hours.  It finally got clear when we went through Abilene.   (Sorry Dreamscape we didn't have time to stop for a visit.)

It sure is nice to use the bus when all works well, and I sure feel safer driving this beast through ice and snow than in my car.

David

[Ericbsc]

Oh the things we endure to make the inlaws happy. I remember those days!! We drove our 05 to Maggie valley NC xmas day to my brothers house. I have only drivers heat and a couple small electric heaters right now. 12" snow on the ground, and a draft somewhere? Toasty sitting still, but rather cool moving. Drove thru. ice and fog for 2 hrs to get home. I guess I would have felt safe had that not been our second, and longest trip after 9 years in conversion. Can't wait till I can make one of those long ones like that. From the smiles looks like all had a blast!!!!

[Dreamscape]

Sounds like a fun trip! We decided to stay home in a warm and cozy bus because we had a blizzard on Christmas Eve!

[David Anderson]

Holy Cow, I am so glad we didn't try to make it up to the inlaws place for Christmas.  We would have been in that mess you endured, only we would have been driving.  I heard it was a nightmare on US 287 on Christmas Eve.   It was bad enough on the 30th. 

I don't guess you've been using your lawn chairs much, lately

David

[Dreamscape]

They had I-20 closed from Abilene heading to Dallas all night, what a mess!

The snow and ice lasted for three days, wheew, glad that's over for now.