Helping my daughter look for a trailer. Looking for a true 4 season unit. We went to the RV show last weekend in Tacoma, and she is impressed with the Arctic Fox and Outdoors RV. Intended use will be the Washington Coast in the winter, and also at the local ski areas, in addition to the usual better weather camping. She can buy new, but I have suggested she look for a used unit. The 2020 Arctic Fox 25W is her current favorite. Whatever she ends up with, she would like to keep the overall under 30 ft. Can you folks suggest any other brands or lines to check out?

The brands you looked at are likely best choices for her intended use, but I've no experience with them. My FW is a 4 season, but in reality, I'd not want to use it much below 20 degrees, for an extended time. Mine is well insulated, with good plumbing protection. IMO, no matter the model, keeping warm is not as big an issue, as moisture control. An experienced Winter camper, willing to go to the trouble, can likely do this. I think it may work for her along the coast, but trying to tow it to, use it at the higher elevation, colder temp ski areas may not be best choice for her. Jerry

IMHO there is no such thing as a 4-season camper, ie. one that can be used in the dead of winter. It's not a house.One option might be to buy a 3-season camper and rent a cabin for the really cold times and locations.

Dick_B wrote:IMHO there is no such thing as a 4-season camper, ie. one that can be used in the dead of winter. It's not a house.One option might be to buy a 3-season camper and rent a cabin for the really cold times and locations.Dick, the weather is different here in the winter than in IL. Way warmer in the areas that the OP is talking about.All the coastal areas are rarely below freezing in the winter. Weather hovers in the 40s most of the time. And the Cascades at the ski areas are only just enough colder typically to turn the rain into snow. In all my winter mountain outings in the Cascades in the last 8 years, we ski and snowmobile, I can think of 2 "cold" days, like zero or single digits in the morning and far more days where the snow turned to rain or vice versa during the day. RVing at the ski hills or snowparks is fairly common and popular out here due to the generally mild temperatures.

Winnebago also now makes a line of trailers with 4 season capabilities. I’ve liked what I’ve seen in that line as well and would suggest she look at those too.

Escape trailers Chilliwack BC - 4 NW season capable. (going to rain, light rain, wet rain, wet snow).Talked to an owner last week. They had used theirs which was spec’d for cold weather at -10F no freezes.

4 season camping | Good Sam Community

TECMike
Explorer
Jan 27, 2021
Deltabravo is right. Nash is now aluminum framed, according to their website. This is causing me and my wife to now consider the Nash 23D, as we like shorter trailers.
deltabravo
Nomad
Dec 17, 2020
richardcoxid wrote:
I understand that the Northwood Fox line is Aluminum framed and the Nash (same manuf.) is wood framed if that makes any difference.

As of the 2021 Model year, the Nash is now aluminum framed laminated walls like the AF.
Freeway_Flyer_0
Explorer
Feb 07, 2020
All good info, thanks, she is heading to the Seattle RV show this weekend. If they make her a deal, she will be calling me to come get it. (Her truck isn't ready yet.)
deltabravo
Nomad
Feb 04, 2020
Freeway Flyer 05 wrote:
Can you folks suggest any other brands or lines to check out?

Check out the Nash line, it's a lower cost RV from Northwood MFG, who also builds the Arctic Fox.

I ended up buying a TimberRidge 24RLS
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 03, 2020
Edd505 wrote:
Why would you take an RV up in the passes to ski? Its a couple hr drive from the coast, rent a room at the resort or in the area when you want to spend the weekend. Way safer that taking an RV into the mountains in the winter for a weekend.

Because it's fun. And most of our ski "resorts" have few to no accommodations at the ski hill, or even nearby.

Different scene than most of the Rockies ski resorts. Think Sandia Crest and you have to drive back down to Tramway or out to Rio Rancho for a room.
kellem
Explorer
Feb 03, 2020
Huntindog wrote:
Vintage465 wrote:
If your trailer has a good solar setup and a generator for backup the winter camping locations you describe you'd be fine. I'm partial to Northwood and Outdoor RV(ORV), but in all fairness, most any half way decent trailer will work in high twenty's to forty's and do fine. As stated earlier in the post, Nevada, Arizona winters are different story. We boondocked with 16-24 degree nights and started loosing ground with batteries about a 10th of volt a day. After 4 days I was at 12.3-12.4 volts. Then we moved to another location and it was regularly 7-14 degrees but we had hookups. The issue of power and gas is conquerable. The big issue is going to be moisture and managing that.....as mentioned earlier.
In my previous post I forgot to mention the other reason for my Generator use.... A big dehumidifier. This keeps the moisture under control, and puts out a little heat. That and being able to close the TT up tight saves a lot of propane. We do crack a window next to the stove and run the exhaust vent while cooking,as that puts too much humididty into the air faster than the dehumidifier can remove it.

Good advice, exactly what we do.
ppine
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2020
I like Nash besides the ones you mentioned.
These discussions always make me laugh. I just came from Elko, NV a mining town with below zero winters. Don't tell all of those people living in RVs that they are not supposed to be there.

Having a covered under carriage makes a big difference.
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 03, 2020
Vintage465 wrote:
If your trailer has a good solar setup and a generator for backup the winter camping locations you describe you'd be fine. I'm partial to Northwood and Outdoor RV(ORV), but in all fairness, most any half way decent trailer will work in high twenty's to forty's and do fine. As stated earlier in the post, Nevada, Arizona winters are different story. We boondocked with 16-24 degree nights and started loosing ground with batteries about a 10th of volt a day. After 4 days I was at 12.3-12.4 volts. Then we moved to another location and it was regularly 7-14 degrees but we had hookups. The issue of power and gas is conquerable. The big issue is going to be moisture and managing that.....as mentioned earlier.
In my previous post I forgot to mention the other reason for my Generator use.... A big dehumidifier. This keeps the moisture under control, and puts out a little heat. That and being able to close the TT up tight saves a lot of propane. We do crack a window next to the stove and run the exhaust vent while cooking,as that puts too much humididty into the air faster than the dehumidifier can remove it.
canoe_on_top
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
I had a Nash and now have an Arctic Fox, both Northwood.Have storm windows for both which makes a huge difference. Been to zero and a bit below a number of times with no problems.She will need a generator if no hookups. Don't forget chains for the trailer. You may never use them but, in most states, if they are required, you need them for the trailer too. 4X4 is almost a necessity for tow vehicle. I've used 4WD, low range when descending mountain passes with snow and ice. It allows you to roll along nice and slow. Northwood encloses the dump valves in the tank compartments. If the valves are exposed, they will freeze.
Vintage465
Nomad
Feb 01, 2020
If your trailer has a good solar setup and a generator for backup the winter camping locations you describe you'd be fine. I'm partial to Northwood and Outdoor RV(ORV), but in all fairness, most any half way decent trailer will work in high twenty's to forty's and do fine. As stated earlier in the post, Nevada, Arizona winters are different story. We boondocked with 16-24 degree nights and started loosing ground with batteries about a 10th of volt a day. After 4 days I was at 12.3-12.4 volts. Then we moved to another location and it was regularly 7-14 degrees but we had hookups. The issue of power and gas is conquerable. The big issue is going to be moisture and managing that.....as mentioned earlier.

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