Great Plains Crossing Calamity

[CountingFireflies]

All -

My wife has posted a 3 part story of our crossing from Illinois to Seattle during a winter storm.  It was quite an adventure.  I won't tell you if we lived or died, but you an probably guess before you get too far into the story. 

Anyway, this is a sister article to the one she wrote for RV magazine in this issue. 

If you've got a few minutes, check it out.  Again, it's a 3 part story.   Here is the link to all 3.

http://www.countingfireflies.com/home/tabid/41/Page/3/Default.aspx

http://www.countingfireflies.com/home/tabid/41/Page/3/Default.aspx

Best to all from a sunny BLM plot outside Yuma.

Chris.

[John316]

Chris,

That is great. Here is the link to part four. http://www.countingfireflies.com/home/tabid/41/Article/180/travel-tales-great-plains-part-4.aspx

Seriously, I loved the story. We have been in similar situations, but not caught in the cold like that (been places way colder, but we were prepared....some of you guys in Canada, brrrr -30 and wind). I know where the spot is, that you stopped. Too bad we weren't out there, because I would have helped get you going.

Travelling that route can be tough, if you don't know what it can have to offer. That and I-80, I  always plan on snow. We have driven more miles with chains on along there, then anywhere else in the country.

Did you ever figure out what happened with the generator?

For everybody else, that might learn from reading this. A couple thoughts. If it is going to be cold, and you genset is your only source of heat, start it and DO NOT shut it down. Don't worry about saving fuel. Just DO NOT shut it down.

Have extra sources of heat. Meaning, make sure you don't just rely on the genset.

Make sure the windshield defrost works.

And most of all, maintenance! Make sure you coach is maintained! It doesn't always protect from breakdowns, but it often does. The air dryer is the most critical part of your air system. Keep that thing maintained.

Glad you all made it through okay. At least you will be wiser for next time

John

[Oonrahnjay]

Amazing story.  I hope that you didn't have any lasting problems due to the plumbing system freezing.  My old bones have begun to tell me that 34 degrees is getting to be too chilly; I'll listen to my bones in the future.

[artvonne]

  Amazing story, and one your not likely to forget. There is a beauty to winter, even severe winter, you just have to be smart about it.

  My Parents made a winter trip back to San Francisco from MPLS in 1949, and Mom suggested they take US 40 west out through Denver. They talked about that trip most of my life. Hairpin turns, tire chains, cars and trucks smashed to bits at the bottom of deep cliffs, no guard rails, snow more than 20 feet in places, a real white knuckle ride. IIRC it wasnt until they were west of Truckee that they dropped out of the cold and snow. Someday I would like to travel that route, but probably not in winter eh?

[Scott & Heather]

Hmmm..it's having the opposite effect on me. I want to winter in our coach now...I live for this stuff!  and for those of you who think i'm crazy, remember, some people go rock climbing...others skydiving, still others race cars...I love storms...I love winter weather and surviving it. That being said, sorry you guys had to go through all of that involuntarily. What a trip!

[John316]

Hmmm..it's having the opposite effect on me. I want to winter in our coach now...I live for this stuff!  and for those of you who think i'm crazy, remember, some people go rock climbing...others skydiving, still others race cars...I love storms...I love winter weather and surviving it. That being said, sorry you guys had to go through all of that involuntarily. What a trip!

Scott, funny that you mention it. I am much the same way. I really enjoy winter weather, preparing, the storm, etc. The only thing is, I enjoy it so much more, when it doesn't put my family in danger. That is where I stop enjoying it as much.

Chris, the more I think about it, the more amazed I am that you all were okay. First off, a coach coming from Florida, to that extreme....Then things catching up with you, like the air dryer (I don't remember reading how you ever did get that fixed permanently). Also, the heat not working.....what a time.

The coldest our bus has been is -30. So far, we have had no problems. However, we plan for it. We built our bus, for cold. All of our pipes, in the bay, are wrapped with electric heat tape. Our tanks are sitting on electric heat mats. We have a safe extra space heater, available too, that we can run down there. Upstairs we have dash heat, for down the road. Also a hydronic (like an Aquahot) heating system that will preheat the engine, heat the cabin with engine heat, or diesel (if the engine isn't warm). That is independent of the electrical system, except for the fans to push the air. We have large batteries, so even if our genset didn't work, we could make it to a campground. We also carry four sets of chains and tensioners. In addition, there is always plenty of food and water, so we could boondock for several days.

I think you bring up a very good point. Few busnuts travel in winter storms, but some of us do. If you are one, think ahead, be prepared, and be safe. Your family is at stake here.

FWIW

John

[Scott & Heather]

Ditto John...not sure when we'll experience our first winter in our coach, but we're not yet ready for it. We have really really good insulation. Once again, we're running in 90 degree weather with one roof a/c (13,500 btu) and have been keeping the coach at 69 or 70 even with the sun streaming through the windshield as it sets. On 29 degree nights we've used only a single 1500 watt space heater to keep things toasty. But we want to be ready for the negatives or at least single digits. That will involve of course heating the plumbing bays and buying a heated water hose as well as a better interior heat system than just a space heater. Someday...

[Kevinmc5]

Great story and pics! Glad you all are safe. Something you and your kids will remember for the rest of your life. My wife and I on our first run in our bus went through extreme heat broke down half way. Waited 4 months to have the bus fixed. Then drove through WY. when it was very cold with no heater or defrost, but nothing like what you had to go through. From S.C. to Boise ID. Even if we never get to go that far again it was worth all the money in the world. We had a great time and can't Waite to  get in the bus and go.
Once again thanks for telling your story. I can't get enough of this stuff. Guess that's way we bought a bus

Kevin

[Fred Mc]

Most of your problems I have also had. Just not on a trip or at one time.LOL You did well.

I am a little confused by the comment that you couldn't idle the engine for more that 2 hours without serious damage. I wasn't aware of that fact.

Regards

Fred Mc.

[artvonne]

  Having grown up in Duluth MN I always envied warmer places. Coming down to the Twin Cities at Easter and often times seeing green grass, trees in bloom, lakes free of ice, then driving back into the frozen north, it was like being teased. I wondered why we had to live at the North Pole?

  So I know how to survive the cold, I grew up in it. I played outside with friends at -30 and colder. Frost bit my hands a feet a few times. But then I realized I dont have to.

  74°F today. Trees are flowering. Grass is high enough to mow. I will try to live out the second half of my life in a gentler climate. My buddy up in the Cities had to shovel 8 inches this morning. He can have it.

[buswarrior]

Yes, a well written set of articles, and thanks for sharing!

Unfortunately, for the reader seeking thrills, there is no adventure in being prepared.
Being prepared is quite boring.
And that's just the way we've got the world to spin.

The real cold is no entertainment.
Kids lose fingers and toes to frostbite when adults get it wrong.
Or worse.

At those temps, in a coach that hasn't been sorted out yet, whether a generator was running or not, the coach would be on high idle all night, whichever combination of defroster or coach blowers or auxiliary heat via the generator as works for the interior temp.

Where did this "idling causes damage" get started? Idling is a waste of fuel, (and makes pollution) but if it is cold out, the fuel consumption is a small cost versus a no-start or freezing to death.

And any busnut in the US or Canada: Where in either country does it not freeze on a busnut and the coach sometime?

If you have an air drier, you need to upgrade to a purge valve with a heating element, check that there is power to the element when the engine is running, and that the desiccant has been serviced sometime this side of biblical times.

An improperly maintained air drier will be your first point of failure, with others to follow, in the cold. Guaranteed.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[pipopak]

I do not know how urgent the trip was, but "I" (what I would do) is not start such a trip in a bus that obviously was not even close to ready and then keep going when the thing is falling apart.... with small kids also. I do not know if you realized already how close have you been of becoming featured in the news for the wrong reasons. Hope you learned something and make more sensible decisions in the future.

[lostagain]

Countingfireflies,

your story was well written and entertaining, great read.

I hope you don't mind the constructive criticism you have opened yourselves to in the responses. Take that adventure as a memorable learning experience.

When I used to drive bus in the '70s, we would leave our buses idling in the back of hotel parking lots at -20 or -30C all night, to make sure we could run the next day.

This is before the days of Webastos and air dryers.

There was alcohol in the air system so it wouldn't freeze.

Buses run all winter routinely up here without problems.

Make sure you are prepared the next time across the frozen continent.

JC

[TomC]

This is exactly why, when I was driving cross country truck, I only worked from April 15 to Dec 15, taking the 3 winter months off.  I picked up a load in up state New York, saw that a winter storm was crossing the states, and dropped down to interstate 40 and then drove back up to my destination of Salt Lake City-an extra 1,100 miles!  But-no winter storm, no ice, no problems.
Personally-I would have stayed on interstate 80 to 84 to Portland, Or then up to Seattle-but at least you got there in one piece!  Good Luck, TomC

[Tikvah]

Awesome story - thank you for sharing

I also had a question about the 2 hour idle.  My question has always been (and yet unanswered), do I let it idle on high or low?  But, back when I drove tour coach, if it was cold, we never shut down.  Sometimes for weeks at a time.  We couldn't risk not starting in the morning for our groups.  It seemed to keep the coach much happier.  But, I don't remember today if it was left on high or low... I think low.

Any experts want to chime in and give use some guidance?