duraduk

You were wise to choose the truck that you did if your hauling a big fiver.  Have you looked at Northwood Manufacturing.  The make quality built trailers and fifth wheels that may not have as much bling but are well built.   SAFE TRAVELS!

I believe that electric vehicles will be PART of our future.  I personally like the hybrid concept.  If I were commuting that would be the way I would go.  At this point it takes a lot of driving to make up for the extra cost of an EV. The problem as I see it is not the vehicles themselves.  Their limitations are well known and can be adjusted too if they serve your purpose.  I can't tow my trailer with a EV truck for example.  Maybe that we change in the future. The problem is infrastructure.  I live in a rapidly growing area and a college town.  There are huge apartment complexes with large parking lots and very few charging stations.  I was visiting a large hospital complex in Austin and in the parking garage where there are 6 floors and hundreds of parking spaces there were only 12 charging location which were usually occupied by a EV that was not hooked up to charging.  In Hays county (population 255000) I could find 35 charging stations.  There are 215000 vehicle registered in the county.  The grids in Calif. and Texas can barely handle peak demand. Private companies should develop what the market demands without govt. interference.  The market will and should decide where we are going in the future with EV's.

I use a Haloview system.  It is wireless and has a repeater that deals with the length of the travel trailer and RV.  The system has a complete set of accessories.   Sold on Amazon.

https://www.haloview.com/

If you haven't done so you might post this to a FB group that is dedicated to the sale of AF and ORV campers.........   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1992714080993698

If I didn't have my own issues with family medical problems I would be interested.  This is a very popular model!

Which way are you going after you hit I-5 ?  You should have no problem with any of those routes.  If going south take 126 and north take 20 or 22.

Spent  over a week in So. Cal. in late Feb. with a Texas reg. truck and trailer.  No issues other that the terrible roads...........

I have the TST 507 with flow through sensors.  I am disappointed in the accuracy of pressure readings.  I have confirmed with two pressure gauges that my tire pressure is 80 lbs. I also checked with a gauge at a tire shop and confirmed 80 lbs.  My reading is constantly 74 lbs.  Yes I can relate the pressure reading to the actual reading but I feel I shouldn't have to. The instructions do say that there can be a variable but at the cost of these things I feels they should do better.  At their best they are a alert about blow outs or rapid loss of air.  

Thanks for the recommendations.  I am researching the recommendations.  After being out of the RV market for a long time I am surprised at the prices.  New is not in the picture.  I have a reliable truck that has been modified for our use so as long as i feel comfortable pulling the trailer  I think I will stick with that for a while.  Spent the past couple of days looking at shorter trailers (mine is 32 ft.)  I am liking some of Outdoor RV's offerings.  With what is going on  with fuel prices and the economy I don't think I'll be making a big change right now.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

My concern is not about the chassis and I assume problems that they have are consistent across all manufactures They are pretty standard.  The fit, finish, and customer support are the potential issues.  I understand that the Mercedes is expensive upfront and according to what I have read their maintenance costs are quite high.  That mileage is negated by the high cost of diesel.   I like the Thor Compass on the smaller Ford chassis but their seems to be much more negative reviews about problems with slides and terrible customer service through the dealers.  I will do some looking into the Chev. chassis as well.

I have had a Arctic Fox travel trailer since 2003 and it has been virtually trouble free.  That along with my 2012 Ram pu have had few issues on the road.

The prices of the smaller motor homes are very high and at my age and fixed income don't want to make a mistake.  

Thanks for your suggestions.

I have been pulling a travel trailer for the last 40 yrs.  At 73 we are taking shorter trips and we are thinking of getting a smaller RV.  I have been doing extensive reading and reviewing different Class C and B+ floor plans along with reviews.   The negative reviews on quality are concerning.  For example I like some of the Thor floor plans but the company has an overwhelming number negative reviews concerning both chassis, build quality and customer service.   I would prefer to buy used.  

Another line to look at is Northwood.  They make the Nash and Arctic Fox.  They build their frames in house.  A sister company is Outdoor Recreation.  They both are manufactured in Oregon and have limited production.  Dealers are usually located in the west.

I don't have a problem with EV's.  I have a problem with the govt. putting pressure on the free market.  Let the consumer decide what they can and want to buy.  I have a problem with the lack of infrastructure.  Electric power is not abundant especially when there are weather extremes.  The grids can barely keep up now.  Where is the talk of govt. investment in the infrastructure.  On a smaller scale I have stayed at several campgrounds in the summer where the campground grid can't keep up with the RV AC's.  Brown outs are common.  Not much is mentioned about the effect of heat and cold on these batteries.  I would consider a hybrid which would give you a safety margin and mitigate (somewhat) the effect on the grid.  We are not ready and can't afford a full EV transition without further investment in the support infrastructure and studying the  effect of mining on the environment 

Another thing to worry about!  DEF Shortage......  https://marketrealist.com/p/def-shortage/

We were planning on a trip from Texas to Nevada via AZ and Utah and then back home through Calif.  I computed average diesel fuel prices  for the trip and rounded up to $6.00 a gallon.   With an estimate of total mileage it will work out traveling will work out to a buck a mile!!  A family health problem will cause me to cancel but I was considering canceling due to the price of fuel but I think it would still be cheaper to RV due to the high cost of motels and eating out.  

I can't recall the year (probably 30 yrs ago or so) but this park was open to everyone.  We used to stay there for a few days over Christmas break so my daughter could swim in the indoor pool taking a break from the winter cold and rain.  While we were there a very strong coastal storm hit with gale force winds.  We could not evacuate as they closed the Newport bridge and area highways.  We hooked the travel trailer to the truck and tied it down to trees and post pulled in the slide and rode out the storm.  It was a very rocking night.   The next morning several trailers in the park had overturned.

That was when they went to exclusive motor homes only.  No trailers allowed.

Have you considered a Toy Hauler?  They offer many floor plan options, easy modification at the rear and heavier frames.

Northwood and Outdoor Recreation do not use Lippert frames.  They build their own.  I've read of a few wheel alignment issues but I'm not aware of actual frame problems.  They are heavier built that Lippert's.

1 hour ago, FlyFishn said:

@duraduk - Excellent information!

Can you elaborate on your AC options? I assume the RV has one on top then the "portable AC" is in addition? Why go with a portable instead of on top? I suppose if the ducting isn't there for a 2nd unit that might preclude a roof top unit.

@Kirk W - Thanks for the info. That is a good point and something that we are taking to heart on our search. When it comes to the density/sturdiness of things I am probably the most picky of the two of us there - I tend to think of the bigger picture and "what is behind it". But you are bringing up an important point on the weight issue. To that point - if all of our realistic options are in that "boat" then we need to consider what the options are between brands and what we can live with. As mentioned before - she would be happier with porcelain sinks but if those aren't realistic and metal is - metal would hold up better than plastic. 

I have the standard 15000 btu AC over the living room.  It is ducted.  In Texas summers the front bedroom stays too hot and the air doesn't move well there.  I have used fans but later decided on a portable 5,000 btu AC.  The solar panels installed on the roof prohibit the installation in the bedroom vent.  I installed the solar before I new I needed additional AC.  In addition I only have 30 amp service which will not run two AC's at the same time.  So I improvised and purchased an external unit initially used for dog kennels and tear drop trailers.  I duct it through the bedroom door.  I plug it in to a 15 amp outlet.  Unfortunately due to the supply chain they are no longer available from china.    https://climateright.com/products/cr5000ach?variant=34672044343448

On 1/31/2022 at 6:30 AM, duraduk said:

I've have had a Arctic Fox since 2003 and it has served me well.  I recently thought about getting a newer trailer and after several months of reading I settled on these lines.....Arctic Fox, Outdoor Recreation, Winnebago and Grand Design.  My survey was before the latest RV purchase rush and due to production demands quality has been reported to be sliding on most lines.  Due to the price increases I have decided to stay with my old unit and continue to refurbish it to my needs.

On 1/31/2022 at 8:41 AM, FlyFishn said:

@duraduk - Excellent feedback.

Since you have been an owner of a unit for ~19 years - can you please elaborate on your experiences? You mention continuing to "refurbish to your needs" - what do mean specifically with that?

Also, how much do you use the RV? As in - are you using it over 10-20,000 miles a year? Does it sit in a permanent spot at a year-round campground? Does it sit in your side yard under trees and you take it out 2-3 times a year?

What "deteriorations" have you seen? Does it use torsion axles or leaf springs? Have you replaced any suspension/running gear hardware? How about things like mentioned earlier in this thread - the under side of some Forest River units' slides rotting?

Have you had any notable problems with the plumbing? HVAC?

When initially purchased in 2003 in Oregon we used it for weekend and vacation usage.  We also tailgated with it at football games (up to 50 guests) circulating through trailer.  When I retired in 2010 we went on the road for 4 months a year and averaged around 10000 miles traveling through out the west.  In 2018 we went back to part time use due to family health problems but are planning on hitting the road again this year.

Over the years I have remodeled  the interior to fit our needs.  This includes the moving of the couch, removing the free standing dining table.  We added reclining swivel chairs and use tv trays to eat inside.  We added cabinets inside. 

We have also added a 400 watts of solar, inverter, and I have a Yamaha generator to the rear.  Now living in Texas and the weather has required that I add a portable AC to assist in cooling off the bedroom in the summer. 

The trailer has always been stored under cover and we also use it as a guest house when we have company visiting. 

I used to maintain the wheel bearings myself but now have it done.  When I traveled on a longer basis the bearings lubed every year.  Now every other year.  I had to replace a slide motor back in 2007.  It broke a leaf spring in 2010. The oven needed a new thermo couple.  I had the wheel bearing and brakesreplaced last year.  I've added 16" tires and wheels due to the weight of the rig being close to the 15" tire rating.  I experienced a little dry rot on the bottom edge of the living room slide.  I discovered that a seal did not cover completely.  I fixed the problem myself.  I've replaced the water heater circuit board.

My current plans included the additional of a portable AC,  replacing the leaf springs, general touch up of metal fixtures

(jacks/steps/hitch)  additional solar and a good buffing of the fiberglass. 

The unit is a Arctic Fox 30U which is no longer made.  It was one of the first of the rear lounge trailers at the time. It has a full width bath, a large living room slide, and a small bedroom slide (motor replaced).  It is 32 foot and is quite heavy.  It weighs about 12,000 lbs and has about 1400 lb tongue weight.  It is all wood framed.  It has been towed occasionally on dirt roads.  After replacing the 15" tires and wheels (numerous blow outs due to the tire weight capacity being marginal) I have replaced the tires twice.   I tow using a E-QUAL-I-ZER WD hitch and experience no sway. I tow with a 2012 Ram srw mega cab with snug top shell.

The new trailers emphasize being light and IMHO a lot of the frames are substandard and are not heavy enough for long term ownership and use.     The newer 30U's have metal wall frames.  I paid around 30K when new.  

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2013-Northwood-Mfg-ARCTIC-FOX-30U-5019239962

I've have had a Arctic Fox since 2003 and it has served me well.  I recently thought about getting a newer trailer and after several months of reading I settled on these lines.....Arctic Fox, Outdoor Recreation, Winnebago and Grand Design.  My survey was before the latest RV purchase rush and due to production demands quality has been reported to be sliding on most lines.  Due to the price increases I have decided to stay with my old unit and continue to refurbish it to my needs.

.  I have towed at TT successfully for over 40 years with a E-Qual-I-zer brand hitch.  I currently tow a 12000# 32 ft. Arctic Fox trailer with a Ram 3500 SRW and it is rock solid regarding sway.  Go to E-trailer or the hitch manufactures web site to determine the operation of the hitch.  The only downside is that they are noisey.  Don't overload your rig.

It is true that controlling sway is the proper tongue weight and the ratio of length between the tow vehicle.  I am sold on the quality of the Northwood brand along with Outdoors RV (companion companies)  All manufactures have glitches so be prepared to do some work on your RV.   

Check the plans carefully.  Some plans offer fixed rate premium for the rest of you life when you sign up.  Others offer a lower premium when you sign up and increase with age.  I was not aware of this when signing up and have an increasing premium which is substantial over what i paid for it.  I am now considering a medicare advantage plan which will save me considerably in the long term.  For example....United Health care has fixed premium plans and Mutual of Omaha are aged based.  Plan G is a good plan IMHO>

I lived in Oregon for 30 yrs.  The gas pumping issue was always a joke.  I got both gasoline and diesel at a card lock in our small town for years.  At some point I was told I could no longer pump gas for my private vehicle due to complaints to the Oregon State Fire Marshal about the station.  (Probably a competitor) I also worked for the city and we were allowed to pump our own gas there after completing a State required gas pumping course but I still couldn't apply that to my POV.  They have changed the law in Oregon to allow self pumping at unmanned stations at night in rural area's due to the stations being closed as it was not profitable to have a attendant all night.    

Any one have any experience with voip and Starlink?

On 12/21/2020 at 9:58 PM, GlennWest said:

Yes, and Chevy stood behind those injectors too. They knew they were faulty and put a lifetime warranty on them. I had a 2005. Loved that truck. Just regular maintenance. Traded it at 250k and that was a mistake. Tht 2012 was a big disappointment. 

You were fortunate.  I had a 2003 Duramax and they replaced the first set at 70,000 miles,  paid for half of the second set at 110000 and refused to pay for the third set and 145000.  I had extra filtration and always bought fuel at high volume stations.  The injectors were faulty by design.  Sold the truck in 2012 and bought a Ram.  No problems with it.