Forum Discussion

brholt's avatar
brholt
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2020

Arctic Fox and frameLess windows

We ordered a new 2021 AF1150 back in early Feb at the Seattle RV show. It was supposed to come in July. With the virus and everything that has happened we are now looking at September.

What is really disappointing to us is all their AF truck campers are now coming with frameless windows. When we ordered it they had started shipping a “Legacy” 990 dictions with the frameless windows but we were assured by the factory representative that all other production models would come with the sliders. That is not the case.

I went to the dealers and did some measurements of a new model AF camper with the windows. Given how little they open I estimate they reduce the opening size for airflow by 67%. With the loss of the opening pass through window these campers are losing a lot of airflow. No more sitting in the camper and enjoying a breeze I guess.

Just a heads up.
Truck Campers
  • Bert_the_Welder's avatar
    Bert_the_Welder
    Explorer II
    Jul 23, 2020
    Corporate **** and pillage is the new way.
    This isn't very encouraging, being in the market for a new TC.
    Maybe buying a cube van and building it out is better.......:S
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Jul 22, 2020
    I messaged Northwood and got the same info, framed windows are no more.

    Sad that LCI (Lippert) keeps buying up companies, and wrecking the quality or closing the facility all together.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Jul 17, 2020
    Host also used Hehr and they were complaining about the options they now have with Hehr gone. Mine used Hehr, but that changed the following model year.
  • brholt's avatar
    brholt
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2020
    At DeltaBravo’s suggestion I called and talked to Doug Karr of Northwood. He confirmed that all of the truck campers coming out now we’re going to be frameless. If I have it right the reason is that Lippert bought out Hehr and closed down their production. Northwood could get Lippert sliding windows and has been installing them but they are much poorer quality and they have had a lot of trouble with them. To alleviate that they switched to the frameless.

    I can attest to the quality of the sliders. When I was at the dealers two days ago to check on my order the dealer still had a couple of 2020’s on the lot. The windows were not Hehr, the hardware was cheaper, and they didn’t operate very well.
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Jul 17, 2020
    I'd highly recommend calling the factory. I've seen the factory post multiple times that the Frameless are an "option" on the 2021 models. So with that in mind, it would appear as though that's how dealers are spec'ing out the orders. Every 2021 I've seen online, at various dealers in the PNW, and in person in Spokane has frameless windows.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Jul 16, 2020
    I specifically avoided certain camper brands due to their choice of frameless windows. You usually only hear about failures from the toy hauler and truck camper groups because the pavement queens do not kick up as much debris to cause problems.
  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2020
    Frameless windows have the plus of easy cleaning and exterior look the disadvantages of opening and in our case over 12 years and 50k+ miles 2 broken ones because tempered glass cannot take an edge strike from road debris.
    We would go back to framed.
    The Heir frameless awning style also has been troublesome with the rollers disengaging from the track if the window is opened to full which placed too much arc stretch on the rollers.

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