Arctic Fox 1150 on F350 DRW diesel?

I have a 2013 1140 on a 2000 F350 DRW Diesel and pull a Jeep 4-down. I also have airbags, Stable Loads, and Rancho 9000 shocks. I haven't done anything to the factory sway bar, but might consider that. Handles very nice even fully loaded.

We chose the 1140 for the storage space primarily. We have just about every option including solar, generator, thermalpane windows, even the barbecue that mounts on the ladder, but that's kind of in the way of the stairs and I'm concerned about smoke going into the camper when cooking (haven't used it yet).

I'll agree that the stereo is a POS. We have the DVD player option, but it skips constantly. Kerry4951 hit the nail on the head with the manual - might as well be written in Chinese. We're getting that replaced under warranty, but I'd be curious to know what aftermarket systems others are putting in to replace it.

I'd like to upgrade the mechanical thermostat (another POS), but it's in such a small space (3.5") wide that there aren't many options without relocating it.

One option that we have which I haven't seen discussed is all LED lighting. This will save tremendously on battery usage. They can do that at the factory or the dealer.

I'm also installing a catalytic heater (Olympian Wave 3) to conserve on battery power when dry camping - the furnace takes a lot of juice. There's a perfect spot for it below the drawer next to the refrigerator and plumbing it is a breeze. There's another thread on here somewhere that explains that in detail.

If you're going to do a factory order, we were told in March that they weren't planning an 1140 run until July. Apparently these aren't their most popular models. You might be wise to contact the factory and inquire about their production schedule as this might impact your decision making timeline.

Good Luck! You'll love the rig.

cdbinns wrote:
We are new to truck camping and have not yet purchased a truck or a camper. We've done a lot of reading and ideally would like to purchase an Arctic Fox 1150. The truck we are interested in is a 2013 Ford F350 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed Diesel DRW. Based on the weights published on the Ford site, it looks like we would be able to carry the 1150 and be within the 14,000 GVWR limit. However when we test drove a truck, the camper certification in the glove box said the limit was 4460 lbs, which means the 1150 would be over the limit once it is loaded for camping. It looks like the AF 990 might be pushing the limits as well. I'd like to hear from others that are carrying an 1150 on a comparable truck - have you weighed your rig when loaded? Is it under the 14,000 GVWR limit? How does it handle? Did you need any modifications (airbags, stable loads, etc)?

Thanks,

An AF1150 on an F350?? Who would do such a thing...



My weights WITHOUT the Jeep, but fully loaded with water, propane, whiskey and beer are---
Front 4420
Rear 9560
Total -- 13,980

I have pretty much EVERY option they can throw at it, PLUS--
-3 awnings, one on each side.
-4 Golf Cart 6v batteries.
-Inverter
-32" and 19" LCD TV's
-Dish tailgator
-Baseboard heating
-Very upgraded sound system, Polk Speakers&Amp, Kicker sub
-Built in 110v Icemaker

I've easily added 500-600lbs beyond the normal fully loaded weight. the camper weighs in itself at 5480 last time I checked the truck empty vs. loaded. I have a DOT scale on a rural highway about 5 minutes from my house, so I do check somewhat regularly.

How did/does it handle?
Does vs. did--I recently put on Rancho 9000 shocks and replaced the factory rear anti-sway bar with a Roadmaster.
OMG what a difference.
It literally felt like when I went from SRW to DRW all over again. That combo made a HUGE difference in sway control and stability. Also worth noting, I have the rear suspension from an F550, and no bags.

Regarding RichieC's one statement: My 2010 stereo has a built in DVD player that works thru the TV, so Im sure your new unit will too. But that said, I agree with RichieC that the stereo leaves alot to be desired. The buttons are very hard to see and the owners manual should be burnt, its that confusing. When we toured the factory in late 2010 they told us they were changing to another system, but Im not sure if that ever happened.

cdbinns wrote:
We are new to truck camping and have not yet purchased a truck or a camper. We've done a lot of reading and ideally would like to purchase an Arctic Fox 1150. The truck we are interested in is a 2013 Ford F350 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed Diesel DRW. Based on the weights published on the Ford site, it looks like we would be able to carry the 1150 and be within the 14,000 GVWR limit. However when we test drove a truck, the camper certification in the glove box said the limit was 4460 lbs, which means the 1150 would be over the limit once it is loaded for camping. It looks like the AF 990 might be pushing the limits as well. I'd like to hear from others that are carrying an 1150 on a comparable truck - have you weighed your rig when loaded? Is it under the 14,000 GVWR limit? How does it handle? Did you need any modifications (airbags, stable loads, etc)?

Thanks,

Ours is a 13,000 lb GVWR - F350 diesel - with a AF 1140 dry bath
Total camping ready travel weight (with 1/3 full fresh water tank) is 14,100 lbs.

It has a Onan generator and air conditioning which is an absolute necessity for a "go anywhere anytime" comfort ability. Don't short yourself on this option. (think global warming)
No solar on ours. Solar would be a good option.

The stereo is a POS. . .it has a two star rating on Amazon.com - no built in DVD player either.
Check it out and see if you can get it upgraded.

The thermostat is a POS - its not digital and not connected to the AC.
AC is a manually operated on/off and cooling level switch. Same thing, look for an upgrade.

The 1150 WILL put your truck over it's rated capacity when camping ready but not by much.
The 950 will be about right for the truck when fully loaded.

That said, there are no problems with "handling". These dually one-ton's are the bomb.
The truck that you've chosen will handle it with ease.

You will want to change out the factory shocks for Rancho 9000's or similar adjustable shock.
You may want to add Super Springs or air bags to assist leveling out the truck when loaded.

I think the answer to all of your questions will depend on how and where you will use the camper. Here in MT we rarely camp below 5,000 feet of elevation so have very little need for A/C, and definately don't need a generator just to run a microwave, but if you plan on camping in AZ in the summer you will need that A/C. I do carry a small generator on extended boondocking trips to charge battery's. The thermal windows are a good idea wherever you camp to keep out the heat, cold and noise. One other thing to consider is resale. If you live in an area where generators and A/C are the normal, it will hurt resale value later if you don't have them.

We have the 1150 on a 99 Ram 3500 dually diesel quad cab and have been across the country many times...staying in Az for months during the winter. AC is a must with the genny. Solar is good for keeping the batteries charged... have fun

I had a 2010 AF 1150 on my 05 Chev 3500 dually and it worked fine.
The glove box listed the max weight at 3500 lbs so I was way over the limit. I added Rancho shocks,Stableloads,swaybars-front & rear and
airbags.It felt safe back there but a little on the heavy side but I experienced no problems. I would not put it on a SRW truck.

Having roof A/C is a must for us during the summer. If we travel when its hot, we stay at SP's or CG's with atleast electric hookup. When its real hot outside, the Fantastic Fans just dont cut it for us. Again, it depends on the temps you travel in and if you even like A/C. Dry camping in the spring and fall is great with just a fan and no A/C.
The built in on board Onan is nice for convenience. Hit the button and you have power. Not as quiet as a Honda but very convenient and no need to carry gas. We like ours and I would order the Onan again.
Dry baths are tight, but the 1140/1150's have alot of storage in them for towels, toiletries, etc. There is still something said for having a separate shower and be able to step out into a dry bathroom, atleast for us. Wet baths give you more TC counter space and storage outside the bathroom, but you still have to store all that bathroom stuff somewhere. For us it made more sense to have a dry bath and keep the bathroom stuff in the room where it belongs.
I would order thermal pane windows on all my RVs. More energy efficient and they also help with outside noise.
If you go with the 1140, you will not be disappointed with all the storage inside and out. Ours has been a great TC and very well built.
We also love the cabover full wall wardrobe. You loose a window but you gain a ton of storage.
Solar is definitely a must have for us, and if it was me I would see about adding an extra panel if you get the factory to install it. When I ordered mine they offered 50 or 100 watts. I since added another 120 watt panel, giving us 220 watts.
Keep in mind you can always add mods yourself, and you probably will. Im approaching the 60 mark in added mods.

Well... We've taken the first step - we ordered the truck. It will be a 2014 Ford F350 Lariat Diesel DRW CC Long Bed 4x4. It is White with Adobe. We are waiting to hear back from the dealer on a delivery date. We also stopped to visit Bill at Truck Camper Warehouse. He was really helpful. We plan to order the camper late this year so we can pick it up in the spring. Now we just need to decide exactly which camper. We are leaning toward the Arctic Fox 1140 primarily for the extra storage. Bill also gave us a few other things to think about and I would love to get input from others on the forum.

1. Skip the air conditioner. Bill said the fantastic fan kept things comfortable most nights and eliminates the need to run a generator when boondocking (which we hope to do often).
2. No generator. Says we would only need it to run the AC or the microwave (we plan to have solar installed). If we do decide to get a generator - should we go with the LP Onan or Honda gasoline?
3. Wet bath or dry? The dry bath in the 1140 is tight but useable. I like the idea of having a place to keep things dry in the bath but also like the less cramped feel of the wet bath.
4. Thermal pane vs storm windows.
Any other options you would suggest?

no you need a semi truck to haul a 1150.

There is no new truck camper being made right now that needs more than a 1 ton dually to carry. Will you be over a little? Possibly, but these trucks have such a high margin of error for the capacities that you can safely carry these Truck campers.