Thank you for your reply! I appreciate the info and links. I just realized that I never did reply since having taken the maiden voyage from Central Illinois to Portland, Oregon (my home area) in the second week of December 2013. It was quite the adventure...
Wouldn't you know, my need to drive back home from Illinois (to Oregon) fell on one of the coldest Decembers recorded. We stuck to I-80 traveling through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah then up through Idaho and Central Oregon for a quick stop in Bend. We rolled through temperatures of -20 and more! At the time I had only had this coach for about two months, so you can imagine I was a little bit nervous to be putting her through paces such as this, and on such a stringent timeline but I can't sing her praises enough! There was only one stretch through western Wyoming where the air suspension valves in the front started to freeze, but besides the annoying howl it made, no problems or damage. The temps were so cold that the LP stopped flowing, and the furnace wouldn't work. From that point on (Mid Nebraska somewhere) we were all bundled in insulated coveralls and blankets - it was quite the sight!
The CAT engine purred all the way, climbing that steady grade from the Midwest to the west coast. We bounded through Central Oregon on HWY 20 as if we'd done it a hundred times before, climbing the Steans Mountains and floating through the high desert valley.
When we stopped in Northern Utah for some sleep, my dad who had flown in with my grandpa to make the drive with me for fun, was at the helm through Wyoming and by the time he got to Utah around 3am, was seeing non-existent figures out the windshield so it was time to stop! I awoke around 6am to see snow flurries out the big windshield. I immediately hopped up from the sleeper sofa, released the brakes and headed from our truck stop "slip" to the fuel island. We topped off the diesel tank, and headed for Idaho. From Idah to Oregon it was the worse section of the drive - snow snow snow and more snow. Cars in the ditch everywhere, we counted at least 30. But the big 'ol Beaver held her ground and stayed true, not giving one sign of slipping or sliding. We kept up with the truckers, followed their lead, and were into Oregon by 10am. I took lots of pictures, but included a couple for those coming across our story.
I am alive today to say, the trek accross country in winter - it can be done! It might get a little hairy but as with anything difficult, you just have to keep on truckin'!
