F-250 and AF 865

[Royals_Fan]

Newbie question here guys.So I own a 1997 F-250 HD reg cab 4x4 looking at a Arctic Fox 865 according to Ford specs I have a payload of 3592.Is this doable and what mods do you think I may need? thanks!

[GeoBoy]

Look at Northstar TC's for your F250.

[billtex]

T3PAIR wrote:
For what it's worth, my family of 6 just returned from a 3000 mile round trip to the Redwood Forest, and Oregon Coast. All with a F350 SW short bed with an AF 811 in the back. In preparation for the AF, I installed airbags and rear Bigwig antisway bar, 19.5 tires and wheels. Not one problem the whole trip, up and down mountains, winding roads, cross winds, etc. Had a great time!

Yeah...I don't understand all the fuss about a non-slide camper on a SRW truck.
Just check your tires...Load up and go.

[T3PAIR]

For what it's worth, my family of 6 just returned from a 3000 mile round trip to the Redwood Forest, and Oregon Coast. All with a F350 SW short bed with an AF 811 in the back. In preparation for the AF, I installed airbags and rear Bigwig antisway bar, 19.5 tires and wheels. Not one problem the whole trip, up and down mountains, winding roads, cross winds, etc. Had a great time!

[Royals_Fan]

So anybody have any experience with Pastime campers?

[805gregg]

Look at Lance their camper are typically lighter than AF

[bobndot]

Royals Fan wrote:
Thanks for the feedback!Talked with a gentleman today who had AF 811 on a f-250 short bed,he said air bags and sway bar is what he did.

IMO, if I were in your spot, I would be looking at a different lighter camper offering a lower COG. OR.....be looking for a different truck .


I think the AF is a tall camper with a higher COG , it acted like a sail, the wind pushed it around .
You are going to feel that on a 250 suspension and it did overpower the truck in my case. (AF on a 2500HD 9200# rating )
Going straight with no crosswinds was ok. When the wind kicked up (which it always does with passing trucks) or if you try to avoid a deer, you'll see exactly what most of the posters are talking about.
You will lack the control that you will need when the **** hits the fan.

I kept the truck and bought a new lower COG non slide camper. Now, i'm a little more comfy on the road and that's what this truckcamperin' thing is all about.
'You gotta get there..in order to be there' .

AF 865 / 250 thread .

[Royals_Fan]

billyray50 wrote:
The first upgrade if you were going to to this is the wheel and tires. 19.5 vision or ricksons and 19.5 tires. This will make a big difference.

Just got ran the f-250 over the Cat Scale. Full of fuel the little woman and I we were 3300 on the front axle 2400 on the rear for a total of 5700lbs……

[billyray50]

The first upgrade if you were going to to this is the wheel and tires. 19.5 vision or ricksons and 19.5 tires. This will make a big difference.

[kerry4951]

My 2010 AF TC was sealed/caulked extremely well. After 4 years the stuff is still oozing out at many of the areas. I keep a plastic scraper handy so I can keep trimming away the excess caulk that pushes out because if you dont it turns black and looks bad.

[Royals_Fan]

anutami wrote:

Royals Fan wrote:
Well went and looked at the Wolf Creek campers was not impressed,both units 840 and 850 had bathroom door issues,one wouldn't latch and one was out of square a good inch and half…Big let down after the 865..

Any other issues you were not impressed with? My 850 door latches fine, but the only time you latch it is when traveling. I forgot to latch it a few times and the door slams around while traveling. The door cannot be locked when you are inside the bathroom. The bottom plastic guide is more of a problem as it already rubbed scratches in the door. I tried to put some felt pads to help out and shoe polish. The door is definitely the weak point on the camper. The other weak point is the caulking. Northwood should fire the employee that caulked my camper. Holes everywhere. My sewer pipe was not fully caulked and while traveling in the rain my basement flooded. Also, My water line going through the floor in the bathroom was not fully caulked and while rinsing out the wet bath I flooded the basement again. My previous 2012 850 seemed to have much more attention to detail and less "mass production" flaws. It appears Northwood is selling a lot more campers and as their price is going up the quality is going down.

Still these are nit pick flaws and I still really like our WC. You can't beat the major amenities it has with the weight combination.

Im sure they are great rigs I was just a bit disappointed with the two I looked at.

[anutami]

Royals Fan wrote:
Well went and looked at the Wolf Creek campers was not impressed,both units 840 and 850 had bathroom door issues,one wouldn't latch and one was out of square a good inch and half…Big let down after the 865..

Any other issues you were not impressed with? My 850 door latches fine, but the only time you latch it is when traveling. I forgot to latch it a few times and the door slams around while traveling. The door cannot be locked when you are inside the bathroom. The bottom plastic guide is more of a problem as it already rubbed scratches in the door. I tried to put some felt pads to help out and shoe polish. The door is definitely the weak point on the camper. The other weak point is the caulking. Northwood should fire the employee that caulked my camper. Holes everywhere. My sewer pipe was not fully caulked and while traveling in the rain my basement flooded. Also, My water line going through the floor in the bathroom was not fully caulked and while rinsing out the wet bath I flooded the basement again. My previous 2012 850 seemed to have much more attention to detail and less "mass production" flaws. It appears Northwood is selling a lot more campers and as their price is going up the quality is going down.

Still these are nit pick flaws and I still really like our WC. You can't beat the major amenities it has with the weight combination.

[Royals_Fan]

Well went and looked at the Wolf Creek campers was not impressed,both units 840 and 850 had bathroom door issues,one wouldn't latch and one was out of square a good inch and half…Big let down after the 865..

[Royals_Fan]

Butch50 wrote:

Royals Fan wrote:
Anyone know why the AF 865 is not listed on the Northwood web site or in their brochure?

They have taken them out of their normal builds and Northwood is still making them on special request for some dealers. I think one of them that still wanted them was Apache sales and a few others. Northwood just wasn't selling enough to keep it in the normal cycle. From visiting Northwood for a tour a number of years back they run in batches of 10 of one model at a time. The most popular camper they build is the 990 so they run a lot more of them then any other camper.

Makes sense Apache in Portland is where I was looking.Thanks!

[Butch50]

Royals Fan wrote:
Anyone know why the AF 865 is not listed on the Northwood web site or in their brochure?

They have taken them out of their normal builds and Northwood is still making them on special request for some dealers. I think one of them that still wanted them was Apache sales and a few others. Northwood just wasn't selling enough to keep it in the normal cycle. From visiting Northwood for a tour a number of years back they run in batches of 10 of one model at a time. The most popular camper they build is the 990 so they run a lot more of them then any other camper.