What defines a TT as a "True Four Season"?

westend wrote:

I said all this because there seems to be almost a singular focus on how well an handles the cold, and no discussion about how it handles the heat. I think this is because there is a general consensus that, if a RV designed to handle the cold well, it will also be good for the heat. While this is true to some extent, I think the complete ignorance of radiant heat, which is he main source of heat in the summer on RVs, has lead to a misunderstanding that a good cold weather RV is best for summer heat as well, and this is simply not the case.

Considering all the above information, my question then is. Are there Travel Trailers that are specifically design with a focus on use in a hot climate where there will a lot more radiant heat then conductive heat to deal with?

If you are a builder, you should know that R-factor is a resistance to the transfer of heat and cold.
One large problem with RV's is that the Mfg's skew the R- ratings by tossing in a foil bubble wrap and add the large rating number into the mix. Since the bubble wrap is never installed to meet the high rating, i.e. installed in a cavity with no convective loss, it is a marketing gimmick.

What I did with my trailer is probably not what you want to do but maybe it's insightful: I gutted the whole thing from the inside. I packed in as much extruded insulation board as I could friction fit in the cavities. From the wall cavities, I then installed a 4 mil vapor barrier. Inboard of that vapor barrier is 1/4" fanfold extruded insulation. This latter layer removes any conductive transfer through the wall studs/exterior skin. Paneling was laid across the frame and secured with finishing nails and screws. I pretty much did the whole trailer like this--wheel wells, ceiling, floor.
I also eliminated a good bit of window glass and replaced what glass is left with Low-E sliders or a stationary panel. The roof was painted with a white acrylic coating. I replaced the RV furnace with a non-electric propane heater, surrounded with masonry. The furnace is piped for combustion and make-up air in the stack.

The result of all my work is a trailer that is easy to heat and cool. If I leave windows open to catch 70f night air and close everything up in anticipation of a 90f day, the interior temps at noon will be 75f.
I haven't done a lot of Winter camping but if it is like previous trailers I've upgraded, parking in average MN Winter temps of 10f, will mean 30 lbs. of propane/wk for heating. Water heating and cooking, which vary by number of occupants (as do door openings), will add to the propane bill, maybe an additional 20 lbs/wk.

You are probably not looking for all the work of a gut out and repack. Just try to find a trailer with solid insulation, thermal windows, and an efficient air conditioner/heat pump. Using some type of shade cloth in Summer and skirting in the Winter will add a lot of comfortability.

That is quite amazing what you did with you rv. I wonder why no RV maker ever thought of making an RV with 3 inch thick walls (BOOM! Mind blown!). I am sure full timers would gladly give up two inches of width to effectively double the R-value of their TT. I know I would.

Here is my dilemma. I want an Arctic Fox, but Northwood does not make it in the floor plan I want (Bunkhouse model that sleeps 7+). The only Nash model that has the floor plan I want (29S) just came out and I can't afford it. The Outdoors RV model I want (27bhs) is rarer then ice cubes in the Mojave and I can't find one for sale within a thousand miles of me and I have traveled across four dang states (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California) trying to find one.

Bottom line, I am looking for alternate brands that might fit my needs. I am so tired of looking at models that are designed for singles or couples with no kids it makes me sick. It's like no one in this country wants or cares about family anymore. I was even thrown out of a couple RV parks I pulled into in Phoenix because I had my 15 year old son with me. I have never seen such hatred for families and was completely unaware that such places existed. The look on those old bags faces when I told them I needed a spot for the night for me, my wife and my son, was unbelievable. You would have thought I had just told them that I had the Bubonic plague. After I was turned away by the third place, I just asked the next place right out, "Do you hate kids too?" I finally did find a run down RV park in Phoenix that did take kids, but I was starting to wonder if I ever would.

What astounds me more then an RV park that has an age limit, is the thousands of grandparents that live in those places that hate their own grand kids and want nothing to do with them. There is not a single person in my family for the last five generations that would ever consider living in such a place where they could not have their kids and grand kids stay with them. We actually love our family and want to spend time with them. But I guess my family is unique, because there sure were a lot of old people in those parks. It blows my mind, but since the overwhelming majority of RVs are designed for people with that mentality (Especially Arctic Foxes), I guess I am the abnormal one here. What has this country come to? Okay. Off my soap box now. LOL!