[Bernie]

Alex, if you pass through the east side of Houston on I-10 at a time you would like to stop for the night, I have a guest full hoop up site 2 miles north of I-10 at Exit 791, the Buc-ees exit.

Can introduce you to another Prevost owner and I know where the locals go to eat.

Safe travels.

[Roscoeapproved]

Alex,

Running the bottom still needs attention in Jan. I would run out 10 to the split 180 miles into TX and if weather is good take 20 into Ft Worth then take south bypass around Dallas and back on 20 into Atlanta and from there you can figure out your northern route.

Or stay on 10 at the split and go see Rudy and get 85 out of Mobile, Al up tp ATL.

Your cutting off major miles angling up northeast like this instead of boxing yourself into Florida and making a left turn to go north.

Any interstate you run is gonna have choppy patches I would just go about my business and not worry about it.

Later

bv

---

Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL

[Art]

Hi Rudy,

thank you for the offer. Will keep that in mind and give you a shout

Alex

[Clint]

Hi Bernie,

thanks for the travel tips. I will take a look at those routes.

Alex

---

Clint & Tammy Summers
2000 XL 45 Country Coach (rivets)
1977 FC31 Bluebird Wanderlodge (more rivets)
Vonore TN

[Clint]

That’s I-65 out of Mobile N to Montgomery to pickup I-85 to ATL

---

Clint & Tammy Summers
2000 XL 45 Country Coach (rivets)
1977 FC31 Bluebird Wanderlodge (more rivets)
Vonore TN

[Roscoeapproved]

I suggest planning 3 routes. A direct route, southern angling north route as discussed in previous posts, and your southern to east coast route. Then let the weather decide which route makes the best sense for you at the time of travel.

Make sure your bus is ready for winter before leaving home. Ensure the air system is dry to prevent frozen brakes and begin using anti-gel fuel treatment before turning north. Liquid diesel fuel is life in the winter.

Hope you have a great trip!

---

Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL

[Art]

Don’t forget to make sure your windshield washer fluid is the winter type.

Chuck

[Art]

Mike / Chuck,

thanks for the tips. I am planning on changing the air dryer filter next week, will change out the washer fluid, and recheck all bay heaters. I am looking at a couple of routes as suggested and will let the weather dictate the course as I go.

thanks again

Alex

[Rudy]

Alex,

If you go the I 20 route, I’m outside West Monroe, La one mile north of the interstate, full hook up.

[Chris]

Alex, you can come across on I-10 and visit Carolyn and I. Then go north on US 59 toward Sheveport and over to West Monroe on I-20 to visit my very good friend, Steve Magown. A super fine fellow.

[Chuck & Katrina]

Alex

We took I10 from Jacksonville to Houston in February 2020.

Typical interstate some good some not as good but ok.

Safe travels,

Chris

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2000 Featherlite H3-45

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Leesburg, FL

[Dick]

Alex:

I just looked at the map for a trip from Los Angeles to Greenwich Conn. There certainly are lots of options!

I don’t want to discourage you from visiting Rudy or anyone else on the PC Forum along a southern route. But take a good look at the various routes and their distances.

We’ve typically leave Wisconsin right after Christmas for Florida and have returned direct from Florida as well as traveling along the Gulf coast and then west to Phoenix and LA returning to Wisconsin through Vegas, SLC, and Cheyenne WY in late March and early April. I’ve driven the coach in the snow (up to three inches, both dry and wet), I don’t like it, but I can do it if I have to. I found the coach more stable in snow than my FrWD daily driver.

If your mission is a direct run SOCAL to CT with no compelling reason to stop along the way, I would recommend to watch the weather forecasts and consider the more direct routes to save you miles and going through the Atlanta area.

You’ll find that your Prevost coach is truly an all weather coach. We have a Liberty, you have a Marathon, but I think they are both are very capable winter weather coaches. You’ll be surprised at how warm the water bay will be in cold weather, especially if you’re set up to run coolant from big Detroit through the water bay and the water heater. There have been a number of posts about the “pressure relief valve” getting “soft”, then when the engine coolant is routed through the water heater and the water pump is on the relief valve opens and fresh water is pumped out the PRV overflow. I think this can be mitigated by leaving the water pump OFF while running the Detroit or implementing Jon W’s solution of putting a thermostatically controlled valve on the coolant line into the water heater.

We’ve stayed in our coach down to 0*F, the adult kids to -15*F in relative comfort considering the outside air temps. If you have heated floors (which we don’t have) and multiple electric toe kick heaters (which we don’t have, only one) your comfort level will go up dramatically in cold weather.

Having traveled in winter weather through the route you need to take and having lived in NYC for three years, you could have great weather for traveling or it could get rough. If you’re faced with material to heavy snow or freezing rain, just park the coach and sit it out … the conditions will improve in a day or so. As you travel north be forewarned that some campground turn off their water. Others have water systems plumbed for very cold weather. Plan ahead. We were surprised to find lots of construction, railroad, and oil field workers living in RVs in Cheyenne WY over the winter.

Good luck with your trip and keep us posted!

[Bill]

Florida Boy Question:

Wife wants to go to inlaws next Christmas in western Massachusetts. I have no doubt the the bus can handle it, after all they are built in Canada. I however am very concerned as to how the driver (me) can handle it. I am already nervous and talking with a lot of Northerners. General consensus is as noted in previous post, take it easy and if it gets to bad wait it out.

Biggest thing that scares me it the last 60 miles are on state and county roads through the western hills of Massachusetts. I have heard horror story’s of black ice on the roads around bends in the middle of what would appear to be a nice day because of water run off and shading from the mountains. Come around a corner, wheels turned but vehicle goes straight because of black ice you can’t see.

In as much as I hate flying and especially at holiday time, this chicken S_ _ _ southern boy is considering flying.

Any comforting words, or is it just book a ticket?

Chuck

[Jon]

Captain Chuck,

Black ice is something that few come out of if they get on it. I have hit it a few times and came out of it because of doing the right maneuver.

Many moons ago coming down one of the 3 Sisters in Wyoming in the middle of the night in a curve and last time on a bridge outside of Little Rock.

Knowing outside temp is a must and if you get in a slide you have to step on the throttle to correct the slide OR proceed with extreme caution in the middle of the day.

You have handled huge boats in the ocean this is just a little frozen water.

Later

bv

[Dorel]

Chuck: I have lots of experience winter driving in Wisconsin, Minnesota, UP of Michigan, and Illinois; none in the hills of western Massachusetts. I probably wouldn’t hesitate to drive the coach in those hills around the Holidays.

Watch the weather, know the outside air temps (keep in mind that if the road temp is 20*F due to extremely cold weather and the air is 38*F with high humidity, you’re likely to get ice especially in shaded areas), and make the trip in the areas you’re concerned about in the late morning and early afternoon.

I’ve driven in minimal, moderate, and heavy snow. I’ve driven on icy roads often, slushy roads, and black ice a few times. But only on minimal snow and slush with the coach. So far I’ve found the coach to handle the snow and slush better than a car, I think due to weight. We typically leave Wisconsin for Florida right after Christmas (and have had snow as far south as Tennessee!) and have returned through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and back into Wisconsin in late March and early April.

At the end of the day, its your coach, your family, and your decision. Good luck with your trip.