After nearly two years of entertaining the idea it is almost time for me to acquire my first TC. Earlier this week I made a leap of faith and traded my Nissan Titan in for a 2014 Ram 3500 CC DRW with the Cummins. Definitely more truck than I'm accustomed to piloting, but suitable for an AF 990 I'm hoping. I decided it might not hurt to open the floor to suggestions/ideas from forum members before placing my order. I also have a couple questions.1. What kind of suspension upgrades will I need to make for this truck/camper combination?2. Any guesses on delivery time frame assuming I order before the end of the month? Keep in mind I live in AK.3. Thermal Panes?It would be great to hear from someone who has bought an Arctic Fox from the lone dealer in the Anchorage area in the last few years. I could certainly use some clarity on the price issue. Thanksk

First off, Congrats on an awesome truck!!!As far as upgrades I would try it first with whichever camper you decide on. You may need nothing and that makes more $ for fuel!!!Can't help you with the other two.

In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.

kerry4951 wrote:In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.x2

Mello Mike wrote:kerry4951 wrote:In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.x2X3

Rettrooper wrote:Mello Mike wrote:kerry4951 wrote:In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.x2X3[/quote]X3 I drive one and I think your good to go. Congrats

Nearly Trigger Time | Good Sam Community

n7bsn
Explorer
Feb 21, 2014
harnmanGCM wrote:
...

It would be great to hear from someone who has bought an Arctic Fox from the lone dealer in the Anchorage area in the last few years. I could certainly use some clarity on the price issue.

Thanks
k

One fellow I know bought one from the Sumner WA dealer and still saved money after he had it shipped via barge up
That was three (?) years ago.
Butch50
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Congrats on the new RAM.

I never seen anybody respond to your question about how long it takes to get a camper. That is something only a dealer well have any idea of. AF builds in groups of ten campers at one time. This means they would build 10 990s, then maybe 10 1150s, then 1140s. So you can see it all depends where they are in their build cycles. Now if they are just starting into a cycle on the 990s and some are just for dealer stock they may put your name on it and build it the way you want it.

Also I would check with Apache as they are a big dealership with numerous dealership and they might have just what you are looking for. I agree with Gripnriprod, buy it at a dealer in WA and then take a trip down to pick it up. Probably have better luck and get a nice vacation out of it. One fellow on here bought an AF and had it shipped to AK and it got some pretty heavy damage on it. If I recall the dealer reordered him a new camper but then he had to wait again for the camper.

ON EDIT: I also just noticed you are a new member, welcome to the forum.
harnmanGCM
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Thanks for the responses, especially those from the local fellas. Don't be shocked if you receive a few PM's from me in the future. GripnRip, I like your thinking! Unfortunately the logistics won't work out for me this go around. More than likely I'll place my order this week.

Thanks
k
Gripnriprod
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Sounds like you already have your truck. We bought ours through Dave Smith Motors in Idaho. We flew to Spokane where Dave Smith picked us up and took us to the dealership. We took delivery and drove to Tacoma where we took delivery of the TC from Apache. Gave us a chance to put 500 miles on the truck and a shakedown of the TC before heading back to Alaska. We saved enough to cover the expenses and got a nice trip out of it. You might consider driving down and picking up your TC in the L48. Not sure how much you can save.
Best wishes on your new adventure and we'll probably see you on the roads here in Alaska.
MORSNOW
Navigator II
Feb 20, 2014
harnmanGCM wrote:

1. What kind of suspension upgrades will I need to make for this truck/camper combination?

2. Any guesses on delivery time frame assuming I order before the end of the month? Keep in mind I live in AK.

3. Thermal Panes?

It would be great to hear from someone who has bought an Arctic Fox from the lone dealer in the Anchorage area in the last few years. I could certainly use some clarity on the price issue.

Thanks
k

1. Try your truck stock, otherwise TorkLift StableLoads are a great easy and inexpensive upgrade. I picked my StableLoads up at Alaska Performance RV on the corner of Raspberry and Arctic for less than MSRP (which you know isn't common up here for anything special ordered).

2. Delivery is dependent on when the shipments head north. The dealer knows what is coming up, but not the actual arrival date due to weather on the AlCan highway. I saw my Wolf Creek arrive on a truck that was towing a travel trailer (I passed them going the other way on the Glenn Highway on my way up to Eureka).

3. A coworker of mine wished he had the storm windows instead on his AF. I have storm windows, but think that thermal panes would be nice.

I have had great service from Valley RV. ABC out by the airport used to be the AF dealer, they lost it to Valley RV, I'm not sure why. The salesman used to be at ABC, so he has been selling AF and Lance for many years, and now Wolf Creeks. Valley RV worked on pricing with me, but I'm certain not as cheap as the lower 48, just like everything up here. They prepped it very well (The Alcan makes them filthy) and went over every little detail with me. After my first trip out, I brought it in for a few minor issues that were fixed right away. My only recurring problem is my bathroom door snap/latch, your AF will not have that problem.

Send me a message if you have any other questions that you may not want on the forum.
JumboJet
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
I bought a 2013 RAM 3500 DRW and the only thing I added was a 1/2 set of StableLoads to the front of the overload springs. I still have the other half just in case. I carry a 4,500 lb. Lance 1050S (The hydrogen gas escaping from the batteries may be lightening that load though! :) - see thread on ....Battery Compartment Saftey Issues)
trander
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Rettrooper wrote:
Mello Mike wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes
With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.

x2

X3

X4
zb39
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Rettrooper wrote:
Mello Mike wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes
With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.

x2

X3[/quo
te]

X3 I drive one and I think your good to go. Congrats
Rettrooper
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Mello Mike wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes
With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.

x2

X3
Mello_Mike
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
kerry4951 wrote:
In Alaska definitely Thermal Panes
With that truck I would also try it first with no mods. Than you can add as you see fit. Id start out with Stable Loads first.

x2