My DW and I have the opportunity to Staff Nurse in East Tennessee beginning next year. With two miniature dachshunds who stay inside we have not found many housing options because of the dogs. We are looking at purchasing an Arctic Fox TT and long term at one of the area campsites in the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area. In reviewing the daily highs and lows in the area for the past 5 years, there are several time periods of 7 days or more where the high temp doesn't reach 32 degrees and the low is below 25 degrees. We are wanting to purchase a quality product, in that this will be our primary home for the foreseeable future. Our TV is a SRW Ford F350, 4 door, LWB.Having read several posts here about their durability, I would appreciate any updates from Arctic Fox owners or others who have a different brand and have used their unit during the winter with success.ThanksRadio

Define "cold"No rig there is, as delivered, is up to sustained below zero use.Your proposed "cold" would work, if you heated via propane (the heat ducts help keep the pipes/basement from freezing.I believe (we did a lot of looking) that while Arctic Fox is -not- the best made rig in the world, it is the best value of the rigs we looked at. We had owned a Fox before, and when we started looking they were a solid "look for" on our list.Their factory defects are low, due I believe Northwoods policy of basing worker bonuses on the amount of warranty repairs.Their rigs are "tight", part of how they do this is pressure testing of the rig, before delivery to looks for leaks.Due to pure chance, I was at the dealer when our current rig arrived. So I had the chance to see the rig as shipped. There are those they say that you should only buy a rig from a firm that has lots of dealers nation wide, that sell the most rigs. This is the type of argument that says you should have bought from Fleetwood (before they went bankrupt) or GM (before they admitted to covering up recalls, and required a bail-out to keep from vanishing)

n7bsn wrote:Define "cold"No rig there is, as delivered, is up to sustained below zero use.Your proposed "cold" would work, if you heated via propane (the heat ducts help keep the pipes/basement from freezing.I believe (we did a lot of looking) that while Arctic Fox is -not- the best made rig in the world, it is the best value of the rigs we looked at. We had owned a Fox before, and when we started looking they were a solid "look for" on our list.Their factory defects are low, due I believe Northwoods policy of basing worker bonuses on the amount of warranty repairs.Their rigs are "tight", part of how they do this is pressure testing of the rig, before delivery to looks for leaks.Due to pure chance, I was at the dealer when our current rig arrived. So I had the chance to see the rig as shipped. There are those they say that you should only buy a rig from a firm that has lots of dealers nation wide, that sell the most rigs. This is the type of argument that says you should have bought from Fleetwood (before they went bankrupt) or GM (before they admitted to covering up recalls, and required a bail-out to keep from vanishing)Don't forget about Ford who weasels out of warrany work...

As for the propane to heat during the winter I recommend contacting a local propane supply company and lease from them a 100 lb propane tank...they will come out and hook it up to your TT and then come back and refill as needed

They do seem to be well insulated, i was at the factory a month ago and noticed that. You should order double glazed windows. I did not bother since I RV mainly in Mexico. They do certainly seem to be well built. Also look at their Snowriver line. They seem to be about the same quality but not quite as wide.

OP wrote:for the past 5 years, there are several time periods of 7 days or more where the high temp doesn't reach 32 degrees and the low is below 25 degrees.I would try harder to find housing.

Arctic Fox Best For Cold Weather? | Good Sam Community

radio1960
Explorer
May 31, 2014
Thanks for all the great replies and links to additional information. No there are no dealers close by. Seems the closest dealer is in Minnesota. At first glance my DW liked the Arctic Fox 31D model.

As we get closer to making a decision, one option my DW and I have talked about is going to the Northwood Plant and seeing the different models, deciding on the options we want and seeing if they can ship the unit to a dealer for pick up.

Our TV will be an older model SRW Ford F350 LWB, 4WD. TV is in excellent condition. It is not a daily drive and will be used to pick the unit up and travel to our work destination.

Thanks again for all the replies. We will keep everyone updated as we move forward.

Radio
brulaz
Explorer
May 31, 2014
I don't think you can go wrong with an Artic Fox, or other Northwoods products. Finding a dealer close to you might be a problem.

Perhaps a another choice would be Outdoors RV, also made in LaGrange, Oregon, not as heavy, different floorplans. But no dealers close by.

Get the double pane window option no matter what you do.
_DJ_1
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
lawrosa wrote:
If i was to live in an RV fulltime it would be the nash line... Its a true 4 season RV IMO.. But you can get the same all seasons package in any of northwoods units.

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=makeplans&make=nashhttp://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=makeplans&make=nash

Made to live in..

Some of the standards...

10gallon water heater.
generator ready..( Yes on the towables.)
led lighting in and out.
off road chassis
20 watt solar standard
ducted a/c heat
3 30lbs propane bottles
Oven!!!
rear receiver for bike or cargo rack
15" radials tires

Make sure you look at the options...

The 24M is the perfect floor plan for 2 people...

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=nash&id=1097http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=nash&id=1097

Here is the brochure...

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/images/rsync/brochures/Nash_Brochure.pdfhttp://www.northwoodmfg.com/images/rsync/brochures/Nash_Brochure.pdf

But of course if they are too small and you need bigger yes go with the fox..............

Where is the 3rd propane bottle? :h

Nash is a nice trailer and made by the same company as AF but it is not made as well as the AF. The AF is a heavier trailer with thicker walls with heavier insulation, R-18 vs R-14.

I don't know of a better 4 season TT than AF. No, I don't own one but I do own a Nash.
Earl_E
Explorer
May 31, 2014
Having full-timed in an AF, I would agree they are a great rig. We endured many 25* nights with no problems. Hopefully you will be hooked up to electricity, so a small electric heater will keep your trailer toasty at night. We used an electric blanket on our bed so the heater and blanket is all it took to keep us comfortable. If you are living for several months at a park, do get the large propane tank installed on site so you don't have to keep getting the on board tanks filled at a much higher price.
westend
Explorer
May 31, 2014
There's at least one Forum member over-wintering in Western ND using an Arctic Fox. They are one of the best for insulation and heating in the Winter.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
May 31, 2014
I personally think it can be done.
I am looking at upgrading my TT to something newer and better such as AF with double glazed windows and heated underbelly & tanks.

I just survived a winter in Calgary Alberta in my 3 season TT.

Yeah I had some issues, you bet I did, but I made it work with open tanks, single windows and no heated underbelly.

The mild temperatures you describe are a balmy day compared to here in winter.
I ran weeks at a time of -25 to -34C (-13 to -29F) in my old Triple E

So with a new AF with the Arctic package, I think it will be a breeze to do.
lawrosa
Explorer
May 30, 2014
If i was to live in an RV fulltime it would be the nash line... Its a true 4 season RV IMO.. But you can get the same all seasons package in any of northwoods units.

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=makeplans&make=nashhttp://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=makeplans&make=nash

Made to live in..

Some of the standards...

10gallon water heater.
generator ready..( Yes on the towables.)
led lighting in and out.
off road chassis
20 watt solar standard
ducted a/c heat
3 30lbs propane bottles
Oven!!!
rear receiver for bike or cargo rack
15" radials tires

Make sure you look at the options...

The 24M is the perfect floor plan for 2 people...

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=nash&id=1097http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=nash&id=1097

Here is the brochure...

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/images/rsync/brochures/Nash_Brochure.pdfhttp://www.northwoodmfg.com/images/rsync/brochures/Nash_Brochure.pdf

But of course if they are too small and you need bigger yes go with the fox..............
amandasgramma
Explorer
May 30, 2014
The AF are made in LaGrande....where the temps are comparable. We are planning to buy one next year. That being said.......I, too, suggest you try harder to find housing. Even if you have to pay a deposit, etc...... I live in a manuf. home that's an energy star home. We got to 37 below last winter (I should say they, because we were in AZ :))......and believe you me, it's COLD in a home.....can only believe it would be cold there..
2012Coleman
Explorer II
May 30, 2014
OP wrote:
for the past 5 years, there are several time periods of 7 days or more where the high temp doesn't reach 32 degrees and the low is below 25 degrees.
I would try harder to find housing.
Tequila
Explorer
May 30, 2014
They do seem to be well insulated, i was at the factory a month ago and noticed that. You should order double glazed windows. I did not bother since I RV mainly in Mexico. They do certainly seem to be well built. Also look at their Snowriver line. They seem to be about the same quality but not quite as wide.

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