If you could get a new one today.....

thomasmnile,

Being in very hot and humid Florida, I would hope you had ordered the optional Glacier Package on your WhiteHawk as it's almost a must. $179 option (2011 price) and that's very cheap and well worth it.

The Glacier Package is this:

The floor has a layer of foil bubble wrap added inside the enclosed and sealed bottom increasing the floor R-value to R-22. The roof will have a layer also over the fiberglass insulation increasing the R-value to R-26 and especially effective in sunny hot locations. The front, rear, and side walls remain the same as without the Glacier Package.

Without the Glacier Package, the roof is R-8, all vertical walls are R-5, and the floor is R-7. Not nearly adequate insulation R-value for very hot Florida.

Florida climate and heat is tough on A/C cooling and your trailer is not small and has a large slideout also.

I would like to have a 2015 Lance 2185. Small, lightwght, and plenty of space for people to sleep.

donn0128 wrote:
There are only two brands I would consider. Arctic Fox or Cedar Creek.

Ditto, and add Nash (A Northwood product) and Outdoors RV, which has several brands, Black Stone, Black Rock, and a few more.

Like mentioned earlier, Outdoors RV does NOT use Lippert (LCI) frames. They build their own.
Same with Northwood (Nash, Desert Fox, Arctic Fox and the other brands that Northwood builds.)

Probably Outdoors RV. No Lippert frame for starters... No Amish "craftsmen" also a plus.

Never a KZ again. Even our KZ dealer is @#$%^ - can't fix things properly and won't honor the warranty in the 2nd year because of all the mods I've done (still need to sort out with the factory).

It would be another Jayco Jay Flight for sure. Love the floorplan, quality, and features. If there was anything to complain about it's the ****py innerspring mattress. Either give me a quality innerspring or put in the standard foam mattress. The foam mattress is the rear is much more comfortable.

Purchases for us are based on our needs and expectation of the product. Budget is based on how long our plans of its use are expected. Some of us drive BMW's and some Chevy Cobalts. Its totally up to what you like. We have owned our Arctic Fox Silver Fox 26x for almost six yrs now. Faults have been simple and minimal. And they were the Stove and Bed Shocks. It did cost more than others in its size range and heavy as hell, most definitely a 3/4 ton truck is needed. but, today it can still be held to anything that's rolling off an RV assembly line.

Egg camper (Oliver, Escape or Casita) or a small Airstream. Kind of assuming "If I could ..." includes being able to afford what I actually want. But also leaning toward having a van converted to camper.

For conventionally built box RVs, I've not observed that brand matters that much. When I was shopping 11-12 years ago I thought I was seeing differences among manufacturers (each offering several, maybe more than a dozen, brands) but ten years experience in two RV clubs has been enough to learn that they call all have their problems.

goducks10 wrote:

3oaks wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
Every day I wish that I would have bought the Arctic Fox, the price was high but it would have spared me from a very miserable experience.

I currently have an Arctic Fox on order. But even Northwood is not without it's problems. Quality control has gone down hill as far as fit & finish and plumbing leaks, etc. A lot of chatter about these issues on the Northwood RV Owners Association Forum.

NROA

Agree on QC dropping. But it's hard to find a more solid built unit. From the in house frames to the solid cabinets. We are on season 3 with our Fox Mountain, which is a step under the Arctic Fox line and with the exception of a slight plumbing leak in the 1st week it's been virtually trouble free. We tend to make the rounds during RV show season and it's really amazing to walk thru some units and feel around. Northwood has all the backing and support in their walls and floors so you get a real solid feel. Sure they make a few mistakes on units now and it sounds like it started in 2013. But I would take some cosmetic issue and a solid built unit any day. I think it boils down to all the little things that NW does that helps set it apart.

With all that being said I really like what Outdoor RV is doing with their exterior design, floor plan choices and interior colors. Large TV's and big holding tanks make them a nice alternative to the AF line.

I understand that all brands have their problems. At least the frames are stronger on the Northwoods products. I have done considerable work repairing, replacing and upgrading components on my KZ. It is like building a mansion on a mud foundation.

3oaks wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
Every day I wish that I would have bought the Arctic Fox, the price was high but it would have spared me from a very miserable experience.

I currently have an Arctic Fox on order. But even Northwood is not without it's problems. Quality control has gone down hill as far as fit & finish and plumbing leaks, etc. A lot of chatter about these issues on the Northwood RV Owners Association Forum.

NROA

Agree on QC dropping. But it's hard to find a more solid built unit. From the in house frames to the solid cabinets. We are on season 3 with our Fox Mountain, which is a step under the Arctic Fox line and with the exception of a slight plumbing leak in the 1st week it's been virtually trouble free. We tend to make the rounds during RV show season and it's really amazing to walk thru some units and feel around. Northwood has all the backing and support in their walls and floors so you get a real solid feel. Sure they make a few mistakes on units now and it sounds like it started in 2013. But I would take some cosmetic issue and a solid built unit any day. I think it boils down to all the little things that NW does that helps set it apart.

With all that being said I really like what Outdoor RV is doing with their exterior design, floor plan choices and interior colors. Large TV's and big holding tanks make them a nice alternative to the AF line.

I'D be tempted by an eggcamper, if money was not a consideration but it had to be a trailer.