artic fox rvs

beemerphile1 wrote:


Don't confuse the PDI with the dealer/customer walk through. The PDI should be done by a tech before the customer ever arrives for delivery. All RV manufacturers rely on the dealer acting as quality control. I am sorry to hear that the dealer I am considering using may have been negligent with their duties.

I am convinced my PDI was pencil whipped. They showed me the checklist the tech used, and every item was dutifully initialed. When I got home and started checking on my own I found all kinds of problems -- tire pressures all 20+ lbs low, leaks in plumbing, loose bolts and screws, etc.
Moral: Do your own PDI after you take delivery. Recheck EVERYTHING even if the dealer swears everything was done right.

WDP wrote:
Purchase was through Kelly Mobile Homes. PDI was adequate, more show and how-to turn stuff off and on. Most of the mentioned defects would not show up until used a while or in my case a complete inspection and check out is completed to MY satisfaction.

WDP

Don't confuse the PDI with the dealer/customer walk through. The PDI should be done by a tech before the customer ever arrives for delivery. All RV manufacturers rely on the dealer acting as quality control. I am sorry to hear that the dealer I am considering using may have been negligent with their duties.

Several new owners have had their axles pumped way to full of grease. Grease seals failed and brake shoes got full of grease. I feel it's the delivery guys. They want to make sure they don't have any bearing problems, so they get around the corner and break out their grease gun and pump way to much grease in.

This is what happened with our TimberRidge by Outdoors MFG (sister company) They replaced 4 sets of breaks due to this issue along with a lot of major repairs, some were manufacturing defects and others that were created by a bad repair shop.

We are very happy with our 2013. I think there are some concerns as some QC has slipped over the last few years. But I would certainly look at Northwoods again if we buy another trailer or 5th wheel.

Purchase was through Kelly Mobile Homes. PDI was adequate, more show and how-to turn stuff off and on. Most of the mentioned defects would not show up until used a while or in my case a complete inspection and check out is completed to MY satisfaction.

WDP

WDP wrote:
I am going to bust everyone's bubble. I am the 1 in a thousand owner that spends more time under, on top and all over than inside camping. I took delivery of a 32A at the end of June, nothing but trouble, greased brakes as described,slide drive gear slid off the rack, neither were drill detented, lock tighted or even tightened. My unit never saw an electrician during construction, low voltage wiring was not twisted before crimping, power panel bus bar had multiple loose screws, two not tightened at all. Nice cabinets but NW over tightened hinge screws and stripped the wood, bad scratch cover repairs in eight locations that has turned white. All cut outs in the paneling for electrical are sloppy, some too large to engage mounting screws, cut outs and other debris stuffed in the hole. Carpet staples were not set deep enough, couldn't walk in bare feet, missed securing carpet at slide edge, rolled up under the slide. Frame may be heavy duty but the axles are 5200 pound with the 6K never adjust brakes and 4 leaf springs, too light weight for a 10.5 K trailer. Bathroom drain plumbing is not working properly, toilet is set one inch back and one inch too far left, lid will not stay up. Construction debris everywhere, never saw a broom during the build. Warranty?? you say?? Dealer is 4 hours away. The BEST warranty is the one not needed or used. I will get the bugs out eventually but right now I consider this build below average. Think I am a troll? I can post photos of all the documentation that will go to Northwood soon, I have not completed my inspection yet.

WDP

Could you share what dealer you bought from? It sounds like the dealer failed to do a good PDI/prep.

I only know of one dealer in PA and would like to know if they can be expected to do their job.

I just finished cleaning all sort of debris, including pieces of paneling that was cut out for the outlets.

WDP wrote:
I am going to bust everyone's bubble.... 5200 pound with the 6K never adjust brakes and 4 leaf springs, axles too light weight for a 10.5 K trailer

A given backing plate/brake assembly will be used for several sizes of axles.

Two 5200lb axles gives a GVWR of 10,400, which is likely what your RV is rated at. Sometime manufacturers will bump the rating up some and include "extra" weight as "hitch" weight, which could explain if your rig was rated at 10,500 - but at any rate, two 5200lb axles are sufficient.

WDP wrote:
Construction debris everywhere, never saw a broom during the build.

That's the norm for any RV built, unless it's a Prevost Bus Conversion, or $300k and higher diesel pusher - where the factories employ people that understand "clean up your mess during the build process."

Cabinets on an assembly line built RV will always be full of construction debris, even areas that are blocked off, like under the fridge, behind the furnace, etc. You can almost always find the little rectangular cutouts from the wall outlets laying in the pile of sawdust too!

path1 wrote:
Right off the bat, the Care free of AZ awning

You must mean Carefree of Colorado. They are the manufacturer of Awnings.

http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/

I am going to bust everyone's bubble. I am the 1 in a thousand owner that spends more time under, on top and all over than inside camping. I took delivery of a 32A at the end of June, nothing but trouble, greased brakes as described,slide drive gear slid off the rack, neither were drill detented, lock tighted or even tightened. My unit never saw an electrician during construction, low voltage wiring was not twisted before crimping, power panel bus bar had multiple loose screws, two not tightened at all. Nice cabinets but NW over tightened hinge screws and stripped the wood, bad scratch cover repairs in eight locations that has turned white. All cut outs in the paneling for electrical are sloppy, some too large to engage mounting screws, cut outs and other debris stuffed in the hole. Carpet staples were not set deep enough, couldn't walk in bare feet, missed securing carpet at slide edge, rolled up under the slide. Frame may be heavy duty but the axles are 5200 pound with the 6K never adjust brakes and 4 leaf springs, too light weight for a 10.5 K trailer. Bathroom drain plumbing is not working properly, toilet is set one inch back and one inch too far left, lid will not stay up. Construction debris everywhere, never saw a broom during the build. Warranty?? you say?? Dealer is 4 hours away. The BEST warranty is the one not needed or used. I will get the bugs out eventually but right now I consider this build below average. Think I am a troll? I can post photos of all the documentation that will go to Northwood soon, I have not completed my inspection yet.

WDP