rv brands for winter living
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
ellebasi
Member
Canadian make Triple E is good, newer models, but a lot of makes out there offer a winter package, insulated tanks and more...
Make sure you get the right info from the maker of the RV and beware of sales people, do your own research to be on the safe side
[b]Make sure the valves are heated not just the tanks[/b]
Good luck
Make sure you get the right info from the maker of the RV and beware of sales people, do your own research to be on the safe side
[b]Make sure the valves are heated not just the tanks[/b]
Good luck
Jammer
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I am currently of the opinion that they're all pretty bad despite some of them being marketed as being "arctic ready." If there's anyone who lives someplace where it gets really cold and runs their rig in January with a positive report I'll stop thinking like that.
They're all insulated and many have heated tanks and water lines but that's not really enough for serious use in cold weather. Things to watch:
* is there a vapor barrier between the interior wall and the insulation (I've never seen one on any rig, condensation between the walls is a huge problem for frequent/lengthy winter use)
* are the windows double glazed (some are, you'll get condensation if they're not)
* are the roof vents double glazed (some are)
* is the city water inlet protected from freezing (never seen one that is and usually the pressure regulator right behind it isn't either, crack, drip drip drip even if you're running with the tanks and internal pump)
* is the insulation continuous around the shell? Areas to watch: wheelwells... sides of fridge... compartment doors. Often makers figure a certain amount of heat loss is acceptable. If you have a compartment under the bed, accessible from in and out, is the outside door insulated?
Caveat emptor
They're all insulated and many have heated tanks and water lines but that's not really enough for serious use in cold weather. Things to watch:
* is there a vapor barrier between the interior wall and the insulation (I've never seen one on any rig, condensation between the walls is a huge problem for frequent/lengthy winter use)
* are the windows double glazed (some are, you'll get condensation if they're not)
* are the roof vents double glazed (some are)
* is the city water inlet protected from freezing (never seen one that is and usually the pressure regulator right behind it isn't either, crack, drip drip drip even if you're running with the tanks and internal pump)
* is the insulation continuous around the shell? Areas to watch: wheelwells... sides of fridge... compartment doors. Often makers figure a certain amount of heat loss is acceptable. If you have a compartment under the bed, accessible from in and out, is the outside door insulated?
Caveat emptor
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Teton & Travel Supreme (both no longer in production) has good reps for winter use. Nuwa Hitchiker is supposed to be pretty good as well.
Jammer
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What do you expect for $17,xxx? It's an economy RV, one step up from a popup. If you're OK with that and you understand what you're getting, fine.
Can you take it on a ski trip once in a while? Sure. Will you be happy living in it for all of January and half of February in North Dakota? Well, no.
Can you take it on a ski trip once in a while? Sure. Will you be happy living in it for all of January and half of February in North Dakota? Well, no.
It seems to be of more quality thain some I have seen please not bash each outher just try and help thanks whell thain what is a good rv for cold weather at a resonable price under 25thousand and is nice and roomy some you guys have mentioned similar to what I want like the sunnybrook layout is almost 40g I can't afford that right now I waqnt a new or leftover but still new as I wil probably stay in in in the winter any help would be nice thanks
Jammer
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The trouble is that even a modest upgrade with "winter stuff" adds considerably to the price and also puts you in a factory order situation where you're not going to be able to make a deal on leftover inventory. If I were looking at a winter TT I'd look at Arctic Fox:
http://www.northwoodmfg.com/arctic/model.php?id=584501689
But the base price is higher and then if you want the winter windows and stuff it's more money.
http://www.northwoodmfg.com/arctic/model.php?id=584501689
But the base price is higher and then if you want the winter windows and stuff it's more money.
glen54737
Well-known member
I don't have much experiance with that model. I like the layout but 1 thing to check is where the water lines run. if it goes across under the floor it may be trouble when it's cold.
What's the typical temps in Maryland?
It says r-7 insulation so it will use a lot of heat. you should get a 100# tank some campgrounds have them on site and will refill it.
What's the typical temps in Maryland?
It says r-7 insulation so it will use a lot of heat. you should get a 100# tank some campgrounds have them on site and will refill it.
Jammer
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I think they typically end up selling around $25,xxx or so. They're supposed to be nice trailers.
Lou Schneider
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I bought an Arctic Fox 26x in 2000 - it's a very nice trailer. In fact, I got mine from a salvage yard after it flipped and fell over onto it's side. After replacing the bent hitch, some patching of the Filon exterior and fixing a couple of interior dents from flying furniture it's been good ever since. I doubt many other trailers would have survived as well.
The 26x tows nicely. The hitch weight is on the high side, which adds to stability, but means you have to be careful and get a hitch that can handle the weight. I use a Reese Dual-Cam sway control and am very happy with it. The payload capacity is absolutely amazing at something like 3000 lbs. You won't be able to get that much stuff inside, but it means the running gear and frame won't be stressed as much as a trailer that is running at it's full rated GVWR.
I've used it down into the low 20s and it's performed well.
The 29V is exactly the same trailer except with additional space in the bathroom and bedroom.
The 26x tows nicely. The hitch weight is on the high side, which adds to stability, but means you have to be careful and get a hitch that can handle the weight. I use a Reese Dual-Cam sway control and am very happy with it. The payload capacity is absolutely amazing at something like 3000 lbs. You won't be able to get that much stuff inside, but it means the running gear and frame won't be stressed as much as a trailer that is running at it's full rated GVWR.
I've used it down into the low 20s and it's performed well.
The 29V is exactly the same trailer except with additional space in the bathroom and bedroom.
SaltyAdventurer
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When we were researching Class B (van) RVs, I talked with a guy who had just sold his 2002 CoachHouse Platinum and he lives in south central Colorado where it gets very cold in the winters, and he had gone RVing all winter long with it for all the years he owned it, using filled water tanks, shower, toilets etc....7 yrs...with no problems. He said he bought it because Coach House had better insulation of water tanks etc. for winter use. Since he'd already sold his unit, we ended up buying a Roadtrek, which isn't really insulated for winter use. Therefore I can't verify what he said about the CoachHouse, but he seemed honest. You might want to check it out, if you think you can live with the smaller Class B unit.
