Buying a new 25ft, 4 season TT - Are these high quality?

Get a Bigfoot travel trailer for what you want to do. Price won't be reasonable though.

We went to a Outdoor Timber Ridge. it's similar to Arctic Fox, made right down the street, uses frames welded at AF, and have had pretty good luck with it.
One owner lives in Alaska and camps in the winter with his. He's crazy, but my hat's off to him. He posted a pic where the thermometer read -28 degrees. He does things to keep the rig from clumping into a ball of ice, but just the fact he's out there is a statement for the brand.
For the record, we've owned both a Nash and a Arctic Fox. The Outdoor fits us nicely and has given us about 18,000 miles of use in every weather condition from Washington state, Florida, Cali, and most of all--in Idaho.

aftermath wrote:
There is no such thing as a 4 season trailer. .

I’ve been in extended sub-zero temps for weeks, no skirting, some nights down to to -10F. I also regularly use it as my ski lodge, fully equipped with hot showers. I blew out my lines the first winter then quickly realized it’s not necessary. I initially got trouble with lines freezing over night until I realized it was happening at the outside shower. A little reflectix in the door and hasn’t been an issue since.

OP, Heartland seems decent quality to me. Ours is still like new so can’t comment on longevity. Wall paneling seems thin and the converter is a cheap wfco but the camper is solid otherwise. Nice cabinets and plenty of good features.

goducks10 wrote:
Northwood has putrid colors. Countertops look like diaper poo. Very bland. No reason to not have nicer colors as all those products can be ordered in other colors and tones. At least NW got rid of the grandma style window side curtains. They're a PITA when sliding the blinds up and down. Looks like NW went to roller shades which is good.
NW's color schemes was one of the reasons we went with ORV.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.

This is hilarious! But true.
Ive not looked at new ones, but our mid 2000s AF 860s both looked like a custom home circa 1986! Nice campers otherwise.

Northwood has putrid colors. Countertops look like diaper poo. Very bland. No reason to not have nicer colors as all those products can be ordered in other colors and tones. At least NW got rid of the grandma style window side curtains. They're a PITA when sliding the blinds up and down. Looks like NW went to roller shades which is good.
NW's color schemes was one of the reasons we went with ORV.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.

We spent a week in our Arctic Fox with lows to 7 degrees with winds at 35 mph. We lost the water in the kitchen and hot water for a couple hours, and that was it. We were nice and warm inside.

I believe they are as close to four seasons as you can get. If anyone wants to disagree with it, I am willing to discuss it, but I know what we have done.

Also, I don't understand what is wrong with their interiors. I am not into fluff, I prefer function, so there is that.

spoon059 wrote:

AdvancedQs wrote:
Yes, I have an arctic fox now. Maybe I’ll just keep it. It’s so ugly inside though.

In terms of quality of build and design for colder weather, I think its pretty hard to beat a Northwoods trailer. They aren't the typical Elkhart, Indiana RV that is slapped together as quick and cheap as possible. The Nash and Arctic Fox lines are purpose built, they are built more solid and built with better insulation and windows (assuming you get a "cold weather" package). A true 4 season camper will have dual pane windows, it will have electric heating pads on your tanks and it will have additional insulation.

Most of the generic RVs don't have all those features. If you can find one that does, you will see that it is probably the same cost as the Northwoods product.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If yours is ugly, maybe you can paint the cabinets, change the floor or reupholster it to suit your needs. I think if you move away from your current trailer, you will be deeply disappointed in the Shadow Cruiser. I like that it has Azdel composite siding... but I don't see anything else that makes it close to what you are looking for, except it might be prettier in your mind.

Ok. Fair enough. Maybe I need to remodel this Arctic Fox. I have a second thread on where to work on the camper going and as you can tell, I’m trying to decide between remodeling the Arctic Fox and getting a new “disposable” trailer.

AdvancedQs wrote:
Yes, I have an arctic fox now. Maybe I’ll just keep it. It’s so ugly inside though.

In terms of quality of build and design for colder weather, I think its pretty hard to beat a Northwoods trailer. They aren't the typical Elkhart, Indiana RV that is slapped together as quick and cheap as possible. The Nash and Arctic Fox lines are purpose built, they are built more solid and built with better insulation and windows (assuming you get a "cold weather" package). A true 4 season camper will have dual pane windows, it will have electric heating pads on your tanks and it will have additional insulation.

Most of the generic RVs don't have all those features. If you can find one that does, you will see that it is probably the same cost as the Northwoods product.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If yours is ugly, maybe you can paint the cabinets, change the floor or reupholster it to suit your needs. I think if you move away from your current trailer, you will be deeply disappointed in the Shadow Cruiser. I like that it has Azdel composite siding... but I don't see anything else that makes it close to what you are looking for, except it might be prettier in your mind.

aftermath wrote:
There is no such thing as a 4 season trailer. Extended perhaps but down to 20 degrees and less, no way. I have read about people pulling their trailers up to the ski hills. If you read close enough, they talk about draining the lines, carrying water in jugs and using the facilities at the hill. I have been down to the high 20s in mine and needed to keep the heat running not to freeze up. Don't recommend this.

My cousin has an Arctic Fox. Probably the most solidly built trailer I have seen. It is heavy and expensive but very well made in my opinion.

Yes, I have an arctic fox now. Maybe I’ll just keep it. It’s so ugly inside though.