Arctic Fox 29-5K feedback?

ElCaminoManT wrote:
Fortunately for us the dealer here has a good long standing relationship with Northwood in case we need it.

Rv construction in general really leaves a LOT to be desired, regardless of price point it seems. Within our group of RVs that we regularly camp with, there is a Mobile Suites. That is one NICE rig but I’m a bit surprised at the issues that have been had with that trailer, not what I would expect for what they cost. And I’m not talking about the equipment inside but rather structural and electrical systems.

We’ve looked at/been inside of literally hundreds of trailers and motorhomes over the last few years and we keep coming back to the Arctic Foxes. To me they feel better built. I like that they do not have all the flash and glitter. Even the wife says she feels a difference. I’m 6’5”/265lbs and usually as soon as I step foot inside a rig, the way a floor feels under my feet gives me an indication of how the unit is built. The chassis also looks far stronger than anything coming out of Indiana.

There is no perfect unit, I’m just hoping to not get into another unpleasant situation like what we had with our moho. I will say that we’re not particularly fond of the new interior colors/finishes they are putting in for this new model year. The counter color is hideous! The one we’re looking at is an early 2019 so still has the graphics, darker counters and more cherry colored cabinets of the 2018 models.

We also have been looking into full-timing at some point in the future so the carrying capacity, tank capacities and storage room that the 29-5k has is another thing that appeals to us.

You’ve done your homework. Scott is correct about the dealer being very important.

When people look high and low the glitzy differences that sell rigs does show up and don’t really mean a lot. I was talking to a buddy recently who snow birds. He is helping a fellow RV neighbor change out equalizers and installing wet bolts. His fifth wheel is the same as mine, his neighbors is a Redwood. What they found was his neighbors Redwood didn’t come with shocks and plastic bushings instead of wet bolts.

In the RV world, it truly is buyer beware, thus having a dealer that brings value. Mine did when I paid a small repair bill while on the road from a Dexter seal problem and got me fully reimbursed by NW.

Well electrical: I'm currently fighting with an stupid electrical problem in my unit, tho I understand this applies to other models too. NR installed two exterior junction boxes on curb side. One directly ABOVE the WHEELS?! And one just behind the two wheels. And furthermore tho they used 'weatherproof' boxes those boxes are not proof against being blasted by rain water thrown up by the wheels directly against the box.

So I discovered if I turned on the over the table light all the 12V circuits went off. Turning it off repowered the other circuits. This reminded me of something Lucas Electrics would produce. Queries on NROA lead to the boxes and one suggestion was replacing the covers which used 2 screws with ones that use 4 screws. Then applying a heavy layer of silicone after the box is closed. I got the box covers at Lowes. Opening the above the wheel box found it full of water.

I drained that, blasted the box several times with contact cleaner to dry the inside and looking at the wiring. There are 4 wires, two crimped together and one loose wire that seemed to be attached to something. More questions on NROA got the hint that these should be spliced together, did that and the 12V circuits went out. Separated them, have 12 V but the converter isn't charging the battery. Right now I'm in the puzzlement stage, you know 'what the heck?'

ElCaminoManT wrote:

ScottG wrote:
As stated above, one of the things I like about NW products is that they don't have a lot of the new blingly junk. Mainly multiplexed control over lights, etc. The industry simply doesn't have the quality in emgineering and especially, matierials, to use this technology reliablely. It's also completley unneccesary.

Funny you mention that as I think the current build units appear to be coming with the touch screen control systems for the lights and other functions. I'm not a fan of that!! I like a regular ol trusty switch!

Well that's disappointing! NW wiring is sloppy and they even had things wired backwards.

Normal switches work fine and I like the ability to change things easily.
My trailer came with a switch by the main entry door that turns on the toe-kick lights in kitchen and the bathroom.
It was nice to be able to install another switch in the bath to fix this sillyness.

ScottG wrote:
As stated above, one of the things I like about NW products is that they don't have a lot of the new blingly junk. Mainly multiplexed control over lights, etc. The industry simply doesn't have the quality in emgineering and especially, matierials, to use this technology reliablely. It's also completley unneccesary.

Funny you mention that as I think the current build units appear to be coming with the touch screen control systems for the lights and other functions. I'm not a fan of that!! I like a regular ol trusty switch!

As stated above, one of the things I like about NW products is that they don't have a lot of the new blingly junk. Mainly multiplexed control over lights, etc. The industry simply doesn't have the quality in emgineering and especially, matierials, to use this technology reliablely. It's also completley unneccesary.

Fortunately for us the dealer here has a good long standing relationship with Northwood in case we need it.

Rv construction in general really leaves a LOT to be desired, regardless of price point it seems. Within our group of RVs that we regularly camp with, there is a Mobile Suites. That is one NICE rig but I’m a bit surprised at the issues that have been had with that trailer, not what I would expect for what they cost. And I’m not talking about the equipment inside but rather structural and electrical systems.

We’ve looked at/been inside of literally hundreds of trailers and motorhomes over the last few years and we keep coming back to the Arctic Foxes. To me they feel better built. I like that they do not have all the flash and glitter. Even the wife says she feels a difference. I’m 6’5”/265lbs and usually as soon as I step foot inside a rig, the way a floor feels under my feet gives me an indication of how the unit is built. The chassis also looks far stronger than anything coming out of Indiana.

There is no perfect unit, I’m just hoping to not get into another unpleasant situation like what we had with our moho. I will say that we’re not particularly fond of the new interior colors/finishes they are putting in for this new model year. The counter color is hideous! The one we’re looking at is an early 2019 so still has the graphics, darker counters and more cherry colored cabinets of the 2018 models.

We also have been looking into full-timing at some point in the future so the carrying capacity, tank capacities and storage room that the 29-5k has is another thing that appeals to us.

We bought our 32A last year.
The most important thing I can tell you is to have a strong, high volume dealer behind you.
If something is seriously (read "expensive") wrong with your RV, Northwood will say pretty much anything to get out of it. Only the strength of good dealer behind you will get action.
Now I know there will be folks out there who will argue about this but that was my ACTUAL experience.
Don't read too much into the percieved quality of NW products. If the avg RV is a 5, NW stuff is probably a 6. In many ways my TT, the flagship model, is not built as well as my old 2004 Wildcat was.
What the extra cost of a AF gets you is more Hardware related. Stuff like more and bigger windows (some models are dual pane), better water pump and water heater. Also solid surface Kitchen and bath counters (but not ALL counters). Lots of other stuff.
It also gets you a superior chassis frame - the only thing that's better than my old WIldcat. The house frame is inferior.

I just registered over at NROA so will post there shortly. Have been searching and reading there for a bit.

Truck has air helper bags and 17” wheels with 285 series 126R load tires good for 3,750lbs each. I know it’ll be over the GVWR but should be fine on the axles. Even fully loaded with the old toy hauler it could be as much as 3k over the GCWR but was under all of my axle ratings. All in how the weight is distributed.

The truck can be upgraded, I’m more concerned with the trailer and how people like them since that is something I would like to keep for many years. I’m trying to do as much research as I can this time around after having such an unpleasant moho experience.

Sure wish you could ‘test tow’ a trailer like we’re able to ‘test drive’ a moho and cars.

This unit was on my shortlist but Arctic Fox was slow in releasing them last Spring when we purchased. And the dealer sales person was a jerk. I loved the sink not being on the island. Arctic Fox quality is always considered one of the best out there.

I’ll give you a unique perspective. We currently have an 2016 Arctic Fox 27-5L, before that we had a Komfort rear kitchen, the floor plan was very simular to the 29-5K.

For the floor plan, we never had an issue with the fridge being blocked by the slide. We still haul things to the trailer in batches, bedroom going there, food headed to the kitchen, etc. For the food, we just would wait to fill the fridge once the slide was out and fill it all at the same time. When traveling if we planned a lunch stop we would plan accordingly with a few things in a small cooler. The living area was very good as was the bed/bathroom area.

Now to the Arctic Fox. They are known to be heavy rigs. Ours is about the same weight as our Komfort was, but is about 4 feet shorter. The difference in the trailer length is between the pin box and axles. Ours tows better than the Komfort and being shorter is easier getting into tight sites and can pick from more sites. Arctic Fox builds a very good rig for the price point. That’s not saying they don’t have some quality control issues. Some we had were pretty minor. I’ve done many mods with ours so learned many of the componants are better than other brands. They build their own frames which is one thing they are known for and are excellent.

If you have time, check out the NROA forum, its full of knowledgeable folks and information.