Dashing through the snow...

I got an invite from inlaws to join them next week for skiing. At this time of year, of course there are no reasonably-priced flights, so it will be a 2600-mile round trip by road.

My RMW has about 80K on the odometer and as far as I know, has never left Texas. Some of the rust stories scare me. Should I be concerned about a week's exposure to salt and snow? I could make the trip in another vehicle if that makes a difference in preserving the one that matters.

Go skiing, have a good time, but do NOT take that wagon in the snow and salt, you'll be sorry if you do.  Many of us store our cars for the winter, just for that reason.

Tom
New Hampshire

My 2 cents: I've driven wagons in the snow for several winters, and I don't think I'd worry too much about a week in the salt if you washed the undercarriage, ports in the frame, engine bay, doors drains, etc., thoroughly with a hose and a LOT of water upon return. BUT, I still wouldn't take a wagon without 4 snow tires on it. The risk of doing some unintentional off-roading is high, especially on mountain roads. Without dedicated snow tires, these cars are really a poor option for snowy roads, and yes, you do need them on all four corners.

Rent a car if you don't have another option. It's cheaper than the tires you'd need, and it definitely cheaper than sliding into the back end of that Mercedes full of lawyers.

dmg4 wrote:

My 2 cents:  I've driven wagons in the snow for several winters, and I don't think I'd worry too much about a week in the salt if you washed the undercarriage, ports in the frame, engine bay, doors drains, etc., thoroughly with a hose and a LOT of water upon return.  BUT, I still wouldn't take a wagon without 4 snow tires on it.  The risk of doing some unintentional off-roading is high, especially on mountain roads.  Without dedicated snow tires, these cars are really a poor option for snowy roads, and yes, you do need them on all four corners.

Rent a car if you don't have another option.  It's cheaper than the tires you'd need, and it definitely cheaper than sliding into the back end of that Mercedes full of lawyers.

I agree 100%.

""Should I be concerned about a week's exposure to salt and snow?""

Yes.

Pffft,.

Pffft,. A weeks worth of salt,.. thats funny right there,.

Don't go to snow country with texas tires,.is very good advice.

After you've been back in texas for 24 hrs things be so dry any salt residue will be dried up and will get washed away on rainy day,.

I was thinking the damage would be minimal (probably a little surface rust on a couple of bolts and such?), especially if a good wash like others have suggested came as soon as you got it out of there.

But I’d hate the thought of exposing the wagon to that even if I knew it wasn’t making a big difference... so if I had the choice I’d just choose not to put it through it.

I ended up leaving the wagon at home.

There was zero snow on the road the entire round trip, but better safe than sorry.

Do people not wash their cars after it snows? Just wash your car if you drive it in salt next time.