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bobinyelm's avatar
bobinyelm
Explorer
Oct 13, 2014

Questions about Arctic Fox 30U Storage

I am asking this for some friends who bought a used 2003 Arctic Fox 30U a year back.

They moved to the Chicago area and will be storing the trailer for the foreseeable future as their plans to "full-time" were ambushed by the arrival of a grand-child, so are moving into an apartment to help their daughter raise the child for a few years.

The believe that because it is an "Arctic Fox" it is impervious to freezing or water intrusion and rot (because they believe it is only fiberglass and aluminum-no wood members or plywood anywhere). Obviously, AFs are well insulated, but I also know insulation only works if enough heat is supplied to the interior by the furnace (ducted to plumbing areas) to keep the interior above freezing.

I just had a leak in MY 2007 Forest River do considerable damage before being discovered (or noticeable, even), and it also has an "almuminum framework" and is covered with laminated panels with FG (Filon) skin as I understand the AF uses (though much MORE insulation).

My pleas for them to check and caulk their seams (as necessary) at least every 6mo are falling on deaf ears, and before I get more vocal, I wanted to ask here about Arctic Fox to see if maybe I am being alarmist. Maybe AF trailers ARE "bullet-proof," but they frankly look pretty similar (though certainly a step up from my Wildcat unit).

They will be leaving the trailer in an unheated storage lot near Chicago over the winter, so maybe someone WITH an Arctic Fox can offer their suggestions as to what needs to be done to allow the trailer to survive a couple years or so of relatively unattended storage.

At a bare minimum, I am getting them to install a winterization valve to introduce RV anti-freeze into the water supply lines, and throw a bit into the traps, fresh water tank, and the waste tanks so the dump valves won't freeze.

If anyone has a link to a "cut-a-way view" of AF construction showing the materials, it would be appreciated as well.

These are NICE folks, and I don't want to see them end up with large repair bills.


Thanks,
Bob

10 Replies

  • campincandice's avatar
    campincandice
    Explorer
    Oct 14, 2014
    They should do a full winterization, pumping the pink stuff thru the entire system. You can buy 2 gallons for under $5, and it takes 15 min. Why would you risk it? Chicago winter was brutal last year!
  • bobinyelm's avatar
    bobinyelm
    Explorer
    Oct 14, 2014
    Ah, so you don't even winterize by pumping pink stuff through all of the water lines, but just allow the lines to gravity feed down to the toilet flush line and back to the fresh water tank, and have had no problems? Nice to know!

    I had advised them to bypass and drain the HWT through the anode, and to use a winterization kit (if not present) to suck-up and circulate pink stuff through all the water lines. (Someone said AFs leave the factory w/ the winterization valve already)

    They WILL be checking on it periodically, I suspect, so pink in the traps will probably be OK. By "unused," I meant not used for camping.

    I did advise them to remove the batteries and store them charged in their apartment.
  • Steamguy's avatar
    Steamguy
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2014
    bobinyelm wrote:
    They will be leaving the trailer in an unheated storage lot near Chicago over the winter, so maybe someone WITH an Arctic Fox can offer their suggestions as to what needs to be done to allow the trailer to survive a couple years or so of relatively unattended storage.

    If they're going to leave it sit for years without being used, then they should open the low point drains, open all the faucets (including the shower) step on the toilet to allow the water from the valve to back-drain.
    Then they need to drain the water heater, and the fresh-water tank. Also even though it's not really environmentally-friendly, they should fill the traps with 50/50 antifreeze and water; this won't evaporate like the pink stuff can. But you're using a minuscule amount, so no real harm done.
    Since it's going to sit, the batteries should also be removed.

    I used to leave mine this way through harsh winters in my upper meadow and had no harm done to it.

    I had an Arctic Fox for 14 years, sold it last year for another Northwood product, a Snow River.

    If they have other questions, they should visit the Northwood forum; there are lots of friendly and knowledgeable folks there.
    LINK - CLICK HERE
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Oct 13, 2014
    snip...The believe that because it is an "Arctic Fox" it is impervious to freezing or water intrusion and rot (because they believe it is only fiberglass and aluminum-no wood members or plywood anywhere) Snip...

    That belief is going to eventually cost them a lot of money. There is a lot of wood involved in the construction of the Artic Fox trailer. Just take a look at the brochure link posted earlier.

    The roof trusses are wood, the roof is covered with plywood, the walls have wood on the both sides, the floor is made of wood. Why in the world would they think there is no wood in the Artic Fox? The only trailer that I know of that has no wood involved in its' construction are the LivinLite RVs.

    Good for you for trying to help your friends out. Keep it up, and perhaps they will get through the winter without major damage.
    Barney
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Oct 13, 2014
    Got any good web links illustrating that?


    Northwood Mfg has quite a few good videos. Some illustrate the construction. Their brochure also has some cut away illustrations. In reality, the walls are aluminum with block foam. The floor, roof, rafters and all the inside cabinets are still wood. Your friends may find out there is a lot of wood/plywood in an Arctic Fox. Northwood even uses wood inside the aluminum wall tubes as a better anchor/fastener for screws for interior cabinets.
  • bobinyelm's avatar
    bobinyelm
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2014
    Got any good web links illustrating that?

    I'll forward them to my friends.

    I'm not being hard on their unit; only trying to break through their brand-complaincency.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Oct 13, 2014
    The believe that because it is an "Arctic Fox" it is impervious to freezing or water intrusion and rot (because they believe it is only fiberglass and aluminum-no wood members or plywood anywhere).


    They might want to check out some web links on how the 30U was constructed. No wood?? What is the floor made of, what are the rafters made of? Answer is wood!
  • bobinyelm's avatar
    bobinyelm
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2014
    Re caulking is secondary to RE INSPECTING. I meant they should re inspect and caulk as necessary.

    I just sustained damage on my unit because I evidently MISSED a spot during an inspection that somehow admitted enough moisture to cause wood rot that was a LOT of work to repair.

    If I said "re caulk" I meant it as "inspect and re caulk where necessary." At least here in TX caulk shrinks and gets cracks/fissures that can admit moisture.

    Bon
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2014
    Simply
    They are wrong, but then maybe you are also. Recaulking every 6 months is probably excessive.
    I never did "extensive" recaulking my 99 24-5N (and it was wood framed)
    I also haven't on the 2012 29-5E

    Their rig should already have a valve at the water-pump to winterize, just as there should already be a set of valves at the water-heater to by-pass that.

    They must either heat or winterize the rig

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