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shoebox303's avatar
shoebox303
Explorer
Sep 04, 2016

Best brands for full time and cold weather living

Hi folks

New member here. My wife and I are selling our house and buying a 5th wheel trailer. We'll be full-timing it, and spending winters in Colorado and Utah, so some cold weather places. We've just started this process, and I'd love to hear opinions about the best BRANDS for cold weather living. Are there any that are better insulated, etc? A salesman recommended the Jayco Eagle line, but I'm not always quick to trust a salesman, especially when he happens to have a couple of the exact model he recommends sitting on his lot... :)

Surely we have a lot of other questions about transitioning to full-time RV living with a couple of small kids, but we're taking it slow and this is our first question. I'd love any suggestions you have.

Thanks!

39 Replies

  • darsben1 wrote:
    Where are you going to put it in the winter?
    How do you intend to get water when it is really cold out?
    How do you intend to deal with waste water?


    1. Parked at an RV campground connected to 50 amp full hookups.
    2. I figured I'd leave it connected to the campground connection, with the hose wrapped in insulation and heat tape.
    3. Connected to the campground's sewer connection.

    For items 2 and 3, I could theoretically disconnect during the very cold times so that my hoses didn't freeze and break, and just limit water/sewer use as best as possible. That's assuming my holding tanks were protected.

    These answers are based on m current assumptions about how this all works. Please tell me if I'm being foolish or if my ideas are not realistic. I'm grateful for the information!
  • Check out the specs and options on each unit you are looking at getting. Look at things like "R" ratings of floor, roof, side walls and slider walls. Check out the options like heated holding tanks, heated underbelly and storage area. Make sure the unit is rated for zero degree weather. Zero degree weather is a option, meaning two extract model units one will be build for cold weather and the other will not be built for cold.
  • Where are you going to put it in the winter?
    How do you intend to get water when it is really cold out?
    How do you intend to deal with waste water?
  • I see, thanks.

    We're looking at either the 2016 JAYCO EAGLE 325BHQS or the Northwoods (makers of Arctic Fox?) Fox Mountain 335BHS. We need the bunkhouse for the kids.

    We're going to go check them out next weekend, but I can't find a Fox Mountain model anywhere near me to go look at - I'm in Denver. Are their any specific questions I should ask the salesmen about winter-ability of the models?
  • One of the features you will want will be that the unit is perfectly usable with all slides in.

    Another really big question is how much do you want to spend, and how big a rig do you want to have?

    The more specific you become in your requirements, the better answers you will get.

    If you plan on sitting in a park and weathering winter with full skirting, heated tunnels for your waste and water lines, and other full time electric heaters and cold shields, it can be done. If you think that you can just pull in and park, hook up and unhook... I would think again.

    The thing to remember always is: Do I have a rescue plan? What if power goes out? What if my water freezes and pipes burst? Your investment can be reduced to zero really fast if you have no alternate means of protecting it from cold weather.
  • Not at all. Jayco makes a good trailer. Lots of them out there with lots of satisfied owners.

    Just saying that Arctic Fox might be better suited to full timing in cold winter locations.
  • downtheroad wrote:
    I'm just guessing, but by chance was the salesman who recommended the "Jayco line" selling Jaycos?


    Yep, sure was! :) Would you not recommend Jayco?

    downtheroad wrote:
    Take a look at Arctic Fox.


    I'll do that, thanks!
  • Welcome to the Forum.
    I'm just guessing, but by chance was the salesman who recommended the "Jayco line" selling Jaycos?

    Full timing in any RV in really cold weather is going to be a challenge.
    Take a look at Arctic Fox.