Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[Trackhead]

Finally good enough skiing to want to sleep in a parking lot. Diesel heater on low windows/roof vent open too hot!

[SchralphMacchio]

Not sure if you guys are up on the news that western Oregon has been having epic ice from Eugene to Hood River, epic as in, the town of Cedar Flat outside of Springfield looks like a tornado ran through with how many power poles, trees, and power lines are down. We melted out down low and after I pre-scouted a route out of my neighborhood (we still have some low hanging power and data cables that are below my RV’s height) and helping neighbors clear storm debris and cut back some branches etc, we decided to get out of town. I should have been checking the WX history to see if the mountains were getting the same shit weather as the valleys! This is what the dry camping RV sites looked like at my local hill. First time for me, while my kids were melting down in the truck, I had to use a mallet and flat blade screwdriver to chisel depressions in the ice for my wheel chocks to fit into, so that our trailer wouldn’t just slide into the lot at the faintest puff of wind (our rig is too long to stay connected to the truck). I was the only one with Sno/Yak trax … after chocking and leveling the trailer, I had to escort my wife across the skating rink to it, then carry each kid to her. Somehow we got some alpine and XC skiing in this weekend without any concussions …

Apparently I wasn’t the only one chomping at the bit to get up over the passes, these morons (only one is pictured, other morans made it before this one could not) tried illegally passing on a two lane stretch, in an avalanche hazard don’t get out of your vehicle section, on a blind corner, because vehicles in the uphill lane were unable to get traction without chains … and ODOT didn’t have the chains required signs flipped up even though the pass was glare ice. My vehicle handled the shitshow quite well (thank you Nokian) pulling our 6000 lbs trailer, my kids did not handle the shitshow very well at all. Lesson learned, the vehicle is only one part of the can/should you try to make it equation, the other morans and emotional capacity of your kids are equally important factors. Note the apparel of the driver here. Also should be noted that these *cables* had their brand new zip tie still on them when he pulled them out of the cabin. Also funny was watching him try to ask the other drivers to back up the uphill lane so that he could try to make a run for it … with his cams not properly tensioned … he did not try to re-tension after any bit at all, just made a run and then slid into the embankment while parallel with the rig in front of me (who did eventually make it, after putting on proper chains, while wearing proper attire and safety vest).


Sometimes I ask myself if all the RV fuckery is worth it but then I see my family happy on the hill and the beautiful mountains, and … yes it is (there is only one resort in Oregon offering slopeside lodging accommodations, and it’s not close to here).


Just maybe I will try to avoid days that have questionable conditions …

[evdog]

Damn....I'll be driving through WA and OR next week sometime. Was already thinking of taking the coast hwy rather than I-5, and this might make that decision for me!

[Snow Dog]

Why is that trucker using light weight cable chains?

Apparently winter driving and using chains is not part of any commercial driver training. There's a filmed in BC show called Highway through Hell about heavy rescue and bad driving.

[oldnew_guy]

Not sure if you guys are up on the news that western Oregon has been having epic ice from Eugene to Hood River, epic as in, the town of Cedar Flat outside of Springfield looks like a tornado ran through with how many power poles, trees, and power lines are down. We melted out down low and after I pre-scouted a route out of my neighborhood (we still have some low hanging power and data cables that are below my RV’s height) and helping neighbors clear storm debris and cut back some branches etc, we decided to get out of town. I should have been checking the WX history to see if the mountains were getting the same shit weather as the valleys! This is what the dry camping RV sites looked like at my local hill. First time for me, while my kids were melting down in the truck, I had to use a mallet and flat blade screwdriver to chisel depressions in the ice for my wheel chocks to fit into, so that our trailer wouldn’t just slide into the lot at the faintest puff of wind (our rig is too long to stay connected to the truck). I was the only one with Sno/Yak trax … after chocking and leveling the trailer, I had to escort my wife across the skating rink to it, then carry each kid to her. Somehow we got some alpine and XC skiing in this weekend without any concussions …

Apparently I wasn’t the only one chomping at the bit to get up over the passes, these morons (only one is pictured, other morans made it before this one could not) tried illegally passing on a two lane stretch, in an avalanche hazard don’t get out of your vehicle section, on a blind corner, because vehicles in the uphill lane were unable to get traction without chains … and ODOT didn’t have the chains required signs flipped up even though the pass was glare ice. My vehicle handled the shitshow quite well (thank you Nokian) pulling our 6000 lbs trailer, my kids did not handle the shitshow very well at all. Lesson learned, the vehicle is only one part of the can/should you try to make it equation, the other morans and emotional capacity of your kids are equally important factors. Note the apparel of the driver here. Also should be noted that these *cables* had their brand new zip tie still on them when he pulled them out of the cabin. Also funny was watching him try to ask the other drivers to back up the uphill lane so that he could try to make a run for it … with his cams not properly tensioned … he did not try to re-tension after any bit at all, just made a run and then slid into the embankment while parallel with the rig in front of me (who did eventually make it, after putting on proper chains, while wearing proper attire and safety vest).


Sometimes I ask myself if all the RV fuckery is worth it but then I see my family happy on the hill and the beautiful mountains, and … yes it is (there is only one resort in Oregon offering slopeside lodging accommodations, and it’s not close to here).


Just maybe I will try to avoid days that have questionable conditions …

Please tell me OSP or ODOT showed up and fined the shit out of this guy.

[apex dave]

Why is that trucker using light weight cable chains?

Apparently winter driving and using chains is not part of any commercial driver training. There's a filmed in BC show called Highway through Hell about heavy rescue and bad driving.

Here is a clip from the series. The Coquihalla snowshed is in the background as semis try to get up the hill known as 'The Crusher'. So many of the truckers are from the warm Vancouver area and have no clue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad2A1XeNuA8

[DanoT]

Here is a clip from the series. The Coquihalla snowshed is in the background as semis try to get up the hill known as 'The Crusher'. So many of the truckers are from the warm Vancouver area and have no clue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad2A1XeNuA8

So many truck drivers are from South Asia and have never seen snow before, let alone have any experience driving in it.

[Stuntmonkey]

So many truck drivers are from South Asia and have never seen snow before, let alone have any experience driving in it.

And they basically pay for a license, almost zero training.

[Shug]

hi all, planning a trip to Baker & Crystal with one of my kids early April. @Baker any preference overnighting in White Salmon vs. Heather Meadows? Checked that both are operating 7-days per week for our dates.

[themutt]

hi all, planning a trip to Baker & Crystal with one of my kids early April. @Baker any preference overnighting in White Salmon vs. Heather Meadows? Checked that both are operating 7-days per week for our dates.

If they're younger kids or intermediate skiers I would go White Salmon. Easier access to the intermediate terrain at the resort. If they're good skiers and you're planning to tour up there, go Heather Meadows.

[Shug]

thank you! He's 16 and starting to beat me down the hill. Heather Meadows it is.
Know any mags that might want to do some party/posse skiing for a few hours? I'll hit up a PNW thread when it gets closer.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Don't know where else to ask this question: I got a second chinese diesel heater from Amazon and have set it up permanently in my shop exhausted through the exterior wall with one of those boat exterior penetration exhaust ports. I'm currently running it off a 12v truck battery. With a full charge I can get about 6 hours continuous run time on the heater before the voltage drops too low and the heater shuts off. I'm waiting for a delivery of a 110v ac to 12v dc transformer. Then I can run it from a the shop ac power. In the meantime is it ghetto/dangerous to run the heater off the battery while at the same time having the battery hooked up to a charger? I'm guessing while charging its too much voltage too the heater? While in trickle mode it will be bad for the battery?

Is there enough people using these to have a dedicated chinese diesel heater thread in tech talk?

[NBABUCKS1]

wrg-

not an issue at all, the electrons will find their way. This is preferred if it's a low amperage/smart charger. We charge massive battery banks at work and this is how we do it. Most prime power applications are on battery banks and are constantly being charged/used.

So long as you aren't blasting a ton of amps at it it's perfectly fine.

I'd be a little concerned that 120v ac to 12v dc transformer might give too many amps and puff up your battery if it doesn't know to dial it back when it's full.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

wrg-

not an issue at all, the electrons will find their way. This is preferred if it's a low amperage/smart charger. We charge massive battery banks at work and this is how we do it. Most prime power applications are on battery banks and are constantly being charged/used.

So long as you aren't blasting a ton of amps at it it's perfectly fine.

I'd be a little concerned that 120v ac to 12v dc transformer might give too many amps and puff up your battery if it doesn't know to dial it back when it's full.

So the 120 to 12v is so I can run the diesel heater without using a battery at all. This one I ordered can be adjusted using a voltmeter and the built in dial. I guess the diesel heaters actually want 13.5v roughly to run optimally.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

[schindlerpiste]

FYI: A buddy of mine has spent the past 3wks or so in the PL of Planet Fitness in Sandy. It is open 24/7. He likes that he is able to shit, shower and shave there whenever he wants.

[byates1]

Plus yoga pants^

[NBABUCKS1]

So the 120 to 12v is so I can run the diesel heater without using a battery at all. This one I ordered can be adjusted using a voltmeter and the built in dial. I guess the diesel heaters actually want 13.5v roughly to run optimally.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

oh right on perfect, for some reason I thought there was a battery in the mix. You should be golden either way.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Ok had to share one more. This is fucking awesome. Great way to capture the wasted heat from the exhaust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WrCJcfICF4

[pfluffenmeister]

FYI: A buddy of mine has spent the past 3wks or so in the PL of Planet Fitness in Sandy. It is open 24/7. He likes that he is able to shit, shower and shave there whenever he wants.

Do they have good proximity to other ski Meccas?

[snowaddict91]

Do they have good proximity to other ski Meccas?

You are across the parking lot from Lone Pine Bakery, which is delicious and ski bum owned.

[schindlerpiste]

Do they have good proximity to other ski Meccas?

Look it up on their website. There is a 24hr. PF in Bozeman.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

So many truck drivers are from South Asia and have never seen snow before, let alone have any experience driving in it.

I've posted this before. I worked at a warehouse when I first move to Bozeman we had insane trucker encounters all the time. Guys driving direct from CA ports with like a million dollars of high end marble, or fixtures etc etc. Sandals/shorts/no jackets in February. 20 below zero. New snow. Ice everywhere. These guys would get stuck in our barely inclined lot. No chains. Many of them didn't even know what tire chains even were. Never used em ever. Just insane.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Look it up on their website. There is a 24hr. PF in Bozeman.

They literally just opened. Used to be an Office Depot. The lot is small. I'm guessing parking overnight right there would be tough. That said there are plenty of other good places to park not very far away.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Triple post incoming:

So just to be clear as someone who doesn't fully grasp all this battery stuff. Assuming the battery is fully charged is there any reason I can't power the heater which is connected to the battery which is also connected to the charger?

These guys touch on it here:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...charger.93424/

While charging the battery from empty I saw 16v on the charger. So if the charger clicked on while the battery was being used/drained would that potential 16v kill the diesel heater computer?

[Touring_Sedan]

Triple post incoming:

So just to be clear as someone who doesn't fully grasp all this battery stuff. Assuming the battery is fully charged is there any reason I can't power the heater which is connected to the battery which is also connected to the charger?

These guys touch on it here:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...charger.93424/

While charging the battery from empty I saw 16v on the charger. So if the charger clicked on while the battery was being used/drained would that potential 16v kill the diesel heater computer?

I doubt it. Your heater is typically connected to a vehicles electrical system. That voltage can vary from around 9, with a dead ass battery, to 14.5 while charging via the alternator. I would assume the manufacturer of the heater has taken that variability into account with their computer.