I’ve only seen it snow once in my life and have never driven in the snow. In a couple weeks I’ll be moving to Mount Shasta, CA, which normally gets about 25 inches of snow this time of the year. Looking for some advice for moving into that kind of weather…
Normally I’d just hop in a Uhaul and do it myself, but I didn’t feel comfortable driving one in the snow for the first time and towing my sedan behind me, all without snow tires or chains (Uhaul apparently doesn’t offer them). I looked into hiring some movers, but they want $2k to $4k, and my belongings aren’t even worth that much. I’m going to sell the big stuff before I go, but it’s still more than I can probably fit in my sedan in one trip.
Some options I’m considering:
It looks like the roads are plowed, so maybe I can just make two trips (4 hours each way) with my sedan? Do I need snow chains and/or snow tires, and if so, what’s the difference?
Would renting an SUV help at all? I’m not sure if their bigger tires, etc. help snow driving. The rental websites don’t indicate whether they have 4WD, but I might ask the agency about that.
Is there any way to make a Uhaul better equipped for snow driving without spending a lot of money? I can buy a set of snow chains for it, but it seems silly to do that for a one-time move since those chains won’t fit on my car. Or is there any other vehicle type that’d be better than a Uhaul? I can probably fit all my stuff into a minivan or a large SUV with the seats folded down.
What kind of car do you drive? One option could be to install a trailer hitch and rent a trailer to move your gear. This depends on your car, because in general the bigger the car, the bigger the trailer it is rated to tow. Go to U-Haul’s site and reserve a trailer - the process makes you enter your vehicle to show you what trailers you can tow with your car. All without making the actual reservation.
About driving in snowy conditions, IMO you’re better off learning to drive your own car and not getting an SUV - yet. Especially if your car is front wheel drive. FWD cars will handle snowy conditions well. The key is that most of the weight, the engine, is over the drive wheels. Learning to drive your car in the snow will give you good experience in learning about traction and its limits, inertia and momentum and how they affect your car, and recovering from a skid.
An SUV is a more capable vehicle but until you understand how to drive in the snow and ice, you might get into more trouble with an SUV because, like many people, they think an SUV makes them impervious to the laws of physics. But yes, driven correctly an SUV will tackle deeper snow and more slippery conditions.
If you are not a seasoned snow driver, I would avoid driving in severe storms at all costs. Even if it means renting a hotel room for a couple of days to wait out a big storm – do it. Being a new snow driver and handling a trailer all at the same time would be very challenging, and potentially dangerous.
I don’t know about California, but here in Oregon, you are required to carry chains for snow conditions over all the passes likely to be affected by snowfall. Even if not required by law, it’s a good idea to have them and to know how to put them on. Practice so you have the skill before it is a necessary one. That said, I’ve only been required to put them on once. Ever other time, the snow plows were out and doing their thing well enough that they could keep up with the accumulation. You’re only making the one or two trips. I wouldn’t personally buy snow tires for that. Chains work fine. If you do have to use chains, don’t drive over about 35 MPH and remember to stop and take them off just as soon as you’re back on all asphalt.
Driving in snow is all about not over-driving for the conditions. Give yourself at least twice as long to stop as you think you’ll need. Practice this early and often. Get a feel for how long it takes to slow the vehicle and keep it under your control. Gentle, gentle. No sudden moves – or more accurately, don’t drive in a way that requires you to ever make any sudden move.
If your vehicle does go into a skid, remember to turn into the skid to correct.
All-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicles can help, but they can’t fix the road conditions or the basic rules of driving in snow.
Most of the areas you will be driving will be well attended to by snow removal equipment. If you manage to drive over the dicey areas during a lull in storm activity, you’ll be just fine and can spend your time admiring the pretty scenery enhanced by the recent snow storms.
I wouldn’t rent a vehicle you’re not used to, not if you’ve never driven in snow before. (Although chances are the highways at least will be OK.) Stick with your own car. Since you’re moving up there. I’d buy a good set of winter tires now - you’ll want to switch back to all-seasons once the weather clears.
It has to be pretty bad for chains - again, if chains are required, you don’t want to be driving on it without experience. Keep your eye on weather forecasts and road conditions. Snow driving: no substitute for experience. Best overall bit of advice, is do everything in slower motion than you normally would, if roads are slick. Accerelating, braking, speed in general. Remember bridges and elevated roadways ice up faster, and may look dry. Be cautious, take it easy, and congrats on moving to a beautiful area!
As for the moving itself, you only need chains/snow tires if there’s a storm currently underway, or so recently passed that the roads haven’t been plowed yet. If you have some flexibility in your moving date, just watch the weather forecast and check the road conditions, and move on a day when the roads are clear.
If you’re willing to take two trips anyway, instead of towing your car, rent a van just big enough to haul your stuff. Take your stuff over, return the van to your original location, then drive over in your car.
You may already have all-season tires on your car; check on that before investing in snow tires. Then get chains that fit your car; you will need them occasionally to get around during storms. Practice putting them on sometime when it’s not snowing, so you know how.
Since you’ve never driven in snow before, you might also want to find a vacant parking lot on some snowy day to practice in. Learning how to stop and how to handle a skid in a safe location will be a big benefit next time you’re in traffic on a snowy day.
Unless there has been a recent storm, the roads will likely be plowed. I used to drive across country in a rear-wheel drive station wagon and never had an issue. You’ll have a lot of extra weight over your drive wheels, which is good. Keep your speed steady and reasonable: no sudden acceleration or deceleration, especially on hill climbs, and you’ll be fine. Also, pump your breaks, don’t slam them if the roads are slippery. You may want to consider leaving the car behind and driving the U-Haul back to pick it up, as towing adds an unpredictable element to winter driving.
Also, if you’re moving from Arcata to Mt. Shasta, I assume you’re taking 299 to Redding, then up 5 to Shasta. Even if there is a storm on moving day, you’re only going to see snow on the last few miles of that trip.
Find someone who drives, and has some experience driving in the snow. You’ll need some snow tires or all weather tires on your car for when you get there. Renting an SUV makes sense, it will fit a lot more stuff, and maybe you can just put the leftovers in the car you’re towing. The driver can take the SUV or truck back with him, renting one-way may cost more than the round trip including mileage and gas. Just make sure to get the insurance on any rental if you won’t be driving back yourself.
Check whether whatever vehicle you’re driving has computer-assisted brakes — ABS, or an automatic braking system.
If, in snow, you have to jam on the brakes, it makes a difference. With ABS, jam them on if you have to, don’t pump the brakes to keep being able to steer and ignore any brake-pedal vibration, which may be considerable. The vibration is the computer pumping the brakes for you so you can continue to steer, at least better than if the brakes weren’t being pumped. (But you may know all about this if you’ve driven on rain-slicked roads and the ABS had kicked in.)
There still are new cars on the market with ABS only as an option. In Canada, at least, I think ABS is mandated on all 2015 cars (maybe 2014). I have no clue about the type of trucks you might consider renting.
OP, what do you have in the way of winter clothes for cold, snowy weather? All of us have seen movies of people going into cold/snowy areas completely unprepared clothes-wise.
Note if you do get stuck in the snow you need to have some stuff in the car to help you get through this situation.
Anyone have any specific recommendations about these two topics?
Best I can tell, it’s about 200 miles on a well-travelled freeway for the most part. Not like he’s setting off across the pass by covered wagon. Since the OP will be moving household, I imagine he (or she) will have some spare clothes and such on hand.
A pair of gloves and a hat wouldn’t be a bad idea though.
Something you might consider, if you have a lot of bulky but not easily breakable items (to wit, clothes), is mailing some boxes to your destination.
I used to live in Michigan so I have driven in quite a bit of snow in the past. I would not, personally, attempt the drive with my rusty-ass skills except in clear conditions. A loaded car, an inexperienced driver, slick conditions, mountain roads, a trailer… any two of these make a drive hazardous and stressful. Add up all five and its near-suicidal to drive in the snow.
Possibly overkill for California (scroll down to the deluxe survival emergency kit), although a few years ago I had to park overnight at a closed gas station during a snow storm because the interstate was closed over the mountains.
It made for a long, cold night, but the gas tank was nearly full.
If your car has ABS there is good news and bad news.
The good news: No matter how hard you hit the brakes you will retain steering control
The bad news: That stop is going to take a LOT further than it would with no ABS.
Brake early way early.
I’m assuming you will move into a house, so get a GOOD shovel and snowblower. Keep a can of gas full all winter. DO NOT drive on the driveway until its clear. Once you pack it down, it is likely there till spring. Stock up on firewood no later than August. Late spring is best. Get a GOOD pair of boots and a nice coat. Dress in layers. Drain your hoses EVERY TIME you use them. Keep extra canned food on the shelves in case you don’t feel like going out in a storm.
Enjoy! Snow is great! Mt. Shasta is fantastic, except that part about being in California and all.
Don’t get to freaked out by this thread between the tires,
chains and snowblower, we have spent approx 2000$ and you don’t even have a winter coat yet.
Personally I think snow chains are overkill given the amount of snowfall you mentioned , (then again I am Canadian) and aren’t even allowed on certain roads, just saying.
25" of snow doesn’t require snow tires IMO, unless you are expecting repeated icing conditions. Driving carefully and slowly, and avoiding driving in the worst weather and you should be fine without snow tires. Just make sure your all season tires aren’t bald.