Choosing between trailers

[RobtFisher]

Hoping for some insights from RV owners.

I'm in the process of researching small(ish) travel trailers for the possibility of a year-long trek around Canada. Coast to coast to coast.

Given that I'd be experiencing weather extremes, particularly cold, I'm looking at so-called 4-season trailers.

Tow vehicle would most likely be a Dodge Durango; v6, or v8 depending on the trailer.

I live in Ontario and neither the Arctic Fox, nor ORV are sold here, so choosing one of those would be sight unseen.

I'd not be staying in campgrounds much; especially in winter, obviously.

I've pretty much narrowed my search to the following:
ORV 18/21RBS, 20SK
Arctic Fox 22G
Lance 1995

Upside of the ORV models is price. They seem to ring in several thousand less than the others. I like the ability to include a decent generator, the higher propane tank capacity, the larger water tank capacity, the option to have 4 batteries and the floorplan. Downside is that they only will install a heat pad on the fresh water tank, although I know I could get other tank/pipe heaters installed aftermarket.

WRT the Arctic Fox, it's a bit larger than the others. It can come with tank/pipe heaters on all. It too can be had with a generator, although a bit lower powered one than the ORV. I don't know that the Azdel makes much difference. You're limited to 2 batteries & a smaller propane volume, as well as smaller water/waste tanks.

I think I've pretty much excluded the Lance; however, input is appreciated. The Lance doesn't seem to be as solidly 4-season as the others. You can add a 3rd propane tank, for a total of 60 lbs which matches the ORV. It only accommodates a single battery as far as I can determine. It's also the most expensive of the three.

I'm aware of the Oliver trailers. They are very expensive and there are no Canadian dealers.

I'd appreciate thoughts from owners of any of these trailers, or others in the same model family.

Thanks.

[Lynnmor]

Trailers with 3500 lb axles are something I will never buy again. I don't like the design of #84 spindles because there is virtually no shoulder to locate the bearing. I've had bent axles, broken springs and failed bearings, so enough is enough. The trailers you are looking at all have these marginal axles which, in my opinion, are not up to long distance traveling. If you were to move up one size to the Arctic Fox 25R, then you would have a real trailer, but you might need to also move up in tow vehicle.

[downtheroad]

I think you took SoundGuy's post the wrong way. What he posted was good, experienced advice.

I was going to post pretty much the say thing, he just beat me to it.

But, to answer your question...I'm partial to Arctic Fox but we don't full time in it and we don't come close to camping in the conditions that you will encounter in Canadian winters. Keep in mind that AF's are heavy and I would never recommend buying a unit unseen.

Anyway - Good luck with your choice..

[RobtFisher]

Thanks for that warm welcome @soundguy. Really makes me feel like I want to participate and be a part of this community.

[2edgesword]

I share the concerns mentioned by soundguy. If it was a typical southern NY winter I think it could be done pretty conveniently. But based on what I know or imagine about Canada is a whole other breed of cold, wind and snow you'd be dealing with meaning a LOT more propane and electric to keep the inside and pumping warm.

That said I'm sure there have been some that attempted the same thing that can give some real world advise on whether it really can be done and how to do it.

[SoundGuy]

You said it yourself - so-called 4 season trailers ... so the sooner you get this idea out of your head the better, especially for use here in Canada where winter temps can be quite extreme. Regardless of manufacturer claims these are all recreational vehicles designed for intermittent recreational use, not full time living. Sure, some may be somewhat better equipped for cooler weather use but full time traveling in the dead of winter? - hardly. At best you'd want to park it once temps really fall and at the very least skirt it, adding an underfloor heat source as well.