So, we went ahead with our trip up to our house (
http://www.city-data.com/forum/maine...s-van-not.html ).
The van did really well... We had a small issue on Sun (Dec 28th). We woke up and our road was a big sheet of Ice and goes slightly uphill to get to rt 188. The van just would not move and we were heading out for the day to go skiing. Our VERY nice neighbors (3 different ones) helped show us how to use the dirt piled on the side of the rode on top of the snow to use for traction as well as toss dirt under the tires and helped us get up the hill. I also now know how to call the city to ask them to dirt our road when we wake up to a road like that. I met quite a few neighbors this time as well with ones down the road a bit. Everyone up there is so very nice. Other then that small issue... the van was great in the snow... just didn't like the hill on solid ice! LOL
Only other issue we had but we made due... we arrived at our house (2 houses - 1st is a 3 bdrm mobile home which is winterized, 2nd is a small cottage which we keep running with heat etc for when we come up). So obviously we had to stay in the cottage for heat etc. Last time we came up, the water stopped working on about our 8th day, we went to the PSI gauge and saw it stopped working and my husband did something (i have no clue!) and got it working again which made the water work again. So, when I arrived... No water! I went and checked the PSI gauge remembering watching him and I told him it looked like it burnt out or something (no clue what i was talking about...) He was worried at first and I told him, don't worry, I may not know how to fix it... BUT I can survive without running water. I grew up going to my friends cabin in Pocono Mountains, PA to ski almost every weekend in the winter and she had a woodstove, electric and no water. We flushed toilets with water we got from the stream behind her cabin and managed just fine.
I told my husband... the kids have been looking forward to this trip for so long, I won't let this ruin it.
We ran to Lincoln Walmart to get enough jugs of water to drink and cook with. We boiled snow and filled our 7 gallon water tank I keep at the house to wash dishes and flush the toilet and did so again when needed. We had heat and electric so we were more then ok.
I did call out a plumber and find out it is the PSI gauge, but then it was the issue of fix it now just for this trip OR get it fixed next trip up in Mid to end of March. Since the other house is winterized and the cottage we keep the heat running anyway, I said lets do it next trip so we can have it planned out to get fixed as we arrive. I hope I choose the right thing and all else stays ok!
All in all, we had a WONDERFUL trip, the kids LOVED being up at the house and did not want to come home. They want to know when we can move up for good.
If anyone wants to check out any pics they are in my album (
http://www.city-data.com/forum/membe...aine-trip.html )
We had such a nice time and can't wait till we are up there for good, but until then we'll just keep enjoying our trips up every few months! We come up every single break I have from college. I am soo close to graduating and then we are ready!
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Update on van or not (and trip to Maine)
I'm glad you had a wonderful time and didn't let anything prevent that 
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