Wanted to post a follow up to my Wolf Creek Spliced In Anchor Bolt Story and show how Northwood MFG has reinforced the anchor bolts on my 2015 WF 850.I was anticipating the reinforcement to show on the outside like the Arctic Fox campers. Kevin @ apache camping advised me Northwood was going to do it this way.Here is a picture of the arctic foxAnd here is a picture of my 2015 wolf creek 850When I saw this for the first time last week at the dealer my heart sank and I thought I drove 1,100 miles for nothing. I was ready to head back to san diego without a camper.I then went inside the camper to inspect the anchors from the inside.I removed the furnace vent and noticed a second piece of plywood on top of the standard skirt piece. It is about 16" wide, 1/4" thick stapled down and attached to the sidewall with angled aluminum.Here is the drivers sideWhen I fully inspected everything I was content with the reinforcement and happy they made the change. I feel pretty comfortable with the solution, but isn't the way I would have done it. I am not an engineer. I am curious what your thoughts are on the reinforcement. I have the torklift tie downs and fastguns. (Was supposed to get the new talons but that is another story)Thanks for any feedback it is much appreciated :)Happy TrailsNolan

Somebody forgot to take the shop vac and clean up the debris field.

I'd like to see the load spread out more on the vertical plane. A 4" X 4" piece of angle aluminum would make me feel better.But it is a lot better than what it was..............

jmtandem wrote:Somebody forgot to take the shop vac and clean up the debris field.OHHH, you have know idea the******left behind. Screws, ear plugs, snippings of every sort. Not just a little bit...everywhere. Anutami's is clean by comparison. Don't get me started on the rats nest of wires under the bed step. Sorry, off topic. carry on......

joeshmoe wrote:jmtandem wrote:Somebody forgot to take the shop vac and clean up the debris field.OHHH, you have know idea the******left behind. Screws, ear plugs, snippings of every sort. Not just a little bit...everywhere. Anutami's is clean by comparison. Don't get me started on the rats nest of wires under the bed step. Sorry, off topic. carry on......Ear Plugs? Hilarious :)

joeshmoe wrote:jmtandem wrote:Somebody forgot to take the shop vac and clean up the debris field.OHHH, you have know idea the******left behind. Screws, ear plugs, snippings of every sort. Not just a little bit...everywhere. Anutami's is clean by comparison. Don't get me started on the rats nest of wires under the bed step. Sorry, off topic. carry on......Wow, that's surprising. Mine was clean and all wires professionally routed and tied off. I was very impressed with the wiring and build of my camper.

Northwood Wolf Creek 850 Reinforced Tie Downs/Anchor Bolts

25 Replies

joeshmoe
Explorer
May 25, 2014
anutami wrote:

I don't think he is as we bought our campers from the same place and they install the fastguns for you. Ed who did everything for me at apache camping center was great.

That's correct. Ed did my Fastguns as well. He was specific about how to install them.

anutami wrote:
Joeshmoe, have you called Northwood and talked to them about issuing a recall on your camper and reinforcing the tie downs or apache camping center? I just called Kevin at apache camping center because my fresh water tank appears to have a very slow drip on the bottom where the supply line is connected. I was ready to bring it back and have it fixed, but he said to continue with my trip and when I get back to san diego he would help me find a place in san diego to get the warranty work done. I bet northwood would cover someone in LA to reinforce the tie downs. for you. It would be worth a call.

Nolan

No, I haven't called them. Can't see them doing anything about it. I'm just gonna ride out the remaining warranty period which is only about 16 months, then probably reinforce it myself.

Sorry to hear about the tank leak. Not good. How does that get fixed? do they locate it and shoot some repair resin/epoxy into the hole or does the entire tank have to come out? When it comes to that stuff, NW seems to be great honoring their warranty. You're going to be without a camper--again. :S
anutami
Explorer III
May 25, 2014
deltabravo wrote:
joeshmoe wrote:
...Every time I cinch down my fast guns, I hear wood. Like it's setting or slightly splitting. Like you would hear when you step on improperly supported piece of plywood.

I wonder if you are putting too much tension on the Fastguns.

I have Fastguns on my AF811 and have never had a sound like you describe. My dealer gave me specific instructions on how much tension to put on the Fastguns.

I have 35k miles on the truck, about 29-30k have been with the camper on, and the camper has never shift.

I can't post pictures showing an example of how I tension the fastguns because the camper isn't on the truck at the moment.

I don't think he is as we bought our campers from the same place and they install the fastguns for you. Ed who did everything for me at apache camping center was great.

Joeshmoe, have you called Northwood and talked to them about issuing a recall on your camper and reinforcing the tie downs or apache camping center? I just called Kevin at apache camping center because my fresh water tank appears to have a very slow drip on the bottom where the supply line is connected. I was ready to bring it back and have it fixed, but he said to continue with my trip and when I get back to san diego he would help me find a place in san diego to get the warranty work done. I bet northwood would cover someone in LA to reinforce the tie downs. for you. It would be worth a call.

Nolan
joeshmoe
Explorer
May 25, 2014
deltabravo wrote:

I wonder if you are putting too much tension on the Fastguns.

My dealer gave me specific instructions on how much tension to put on the Fastguns.

1/4" space at the o-ring, right? Been doing it that way from the beginning. It was actually worse at first. Since then, the anchors seem to have "settled" in more if that makes any sense. It's usually only when they've been off the camper for a while.

You also have a an AF, which are anchored better.
woodhog
Explorer
May 25, 2014

From your signature it looks like your talking about a 2006 Northwood?

No it is Northstar.. as in the solar system...

Small outfit but high quality...

Nice wiring
nycsteve
Explorer
May 25, 2014
woodhog wrote:
They are all not like that...

If they cannot even lace in wiring neatly and properly what are the areas like where you cannot see.
Our camper has wiring even neater than this picture, most runs even have labels on them.

From your signature it looks like your talking about a 2006 Northwood? Its my theory that after the economic slowdown in 2008 RV manufactorers lost the most experienced of their workmen and the workforce now building are inferior. Due to new inexperienced hires,less pay and the younger generation attitude of who gives a ****. "they don't build them like they used to covers more than RVs unfortunately.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 25, 2014
joeshmoe wrote:
...Every time I cinch down my fast guns, I hear wood. Like it's setting or slightly splitting. Like you would hear when you step on improperly supported piece of plywood.

I wonder if you are putting too much tension on the Fastguns.

I have Fastguns on my AF811 and have never had a sound like you describe. My dealer gave me specific instructions on how much tension to put on the Fastguns.

I have 35k miles on the truck, about 29-30k have been with the camper on, and the camper has never shift.

I can't post pictures showing an example of how I tension the fastguns because the camper isn't on the truck at the moment.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 25, 2014
gitpicker2009 wrote:
and what the heck is that huge wood screw doing sticking out of that stainless steel looking box??

That's the back side of the water heater. I believe the screw would have been installed by the water heater manufacturer. The screws to attach water heater in to the camper wall would be on the mounting flange of the water heater, which isn't visible from inside.
joeshmoe
Explorer
May 24, 2014
I wonder why that is? Aren't both models identical dimensionally in those areas?
I'm not so sure till I see both. :h Maybe when you get a chance, you might throw up a few pics. Just for comparison sake. :)

Either way, you have to admit, a few small diameter lag screws hardly constitute "bolted through the frame" as they advertise. I'm also disappointed that they were supposedly going to update the anchor points to what AF's have, but clearly haven't. I kinda feel like they said it just to humor you and your blog readers and Nolan.
Mello_Mike
Explorer
May 24, 2014
joeshmoe wrote:
Have you pulled the furnace cover and looked to verify that? You can't tell by looking at it from outside. The splice is apparently covered on the outside on some longbed units, like mine. No seam line is visible. But go inside and look under the cabinet and behind the furnace cover, there it is.

Yep, I did all this months ago when Nolan first posted about his experience. No splices on short bed models as they aren't needed.
joeshmoe
Explorer
May 24, 2014
Have you pulled the furnace cover and looked to verify that? You can't tell by looking at it from outside. The splice is apparently covered on the outside on some longbed units, like mine. No seam line is visible. But go inside and look under the cabinet and behind the furnace cover, there it is.