Cortttt
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Re: Recommend a TT (rough roads, no campgrounds)
I haven't done the Dempster but that's a pretty good recommendation... canoe on top wrote: Northwood, which makes Arctic Fox and Nash and a few other brands, builds their own frames in house. If you look at the frame on an Arctic Fox and, most other trailers, you will see why they have a reputation for being rugged.They also spec the suspension to allow for a genreous CCC which means that, with normal loading, you are well below the maximum capacities of the trailer. Ron Nash, who started the company, wanted to build a trailer that he could take elk hunting in the mountains of Oregon. The result was a four season, stout trailer that can handle some rough treatment. Some years back, I towed a Nash up the Dempster highway in the Yukon and Northwest territories. Up and back, it's about 1000 miles of unpaved road. Prior to that trip, I did quite a bit of research which lead me to choose a Northwood product. I wasn't disappointed. Strong usually means heavy. My current, 30' Arctic Fox with, two slides, weighs 10,000 lbs ready for camping.That's heavy but, it doesn't break.It handles very nicely behind my Ram 2500 CTD.848Views0likes0CommentsRe: A tale of two trailers, or prices are thru the roof.
Brandon the Traveler wrote: 1320Fastback wrote: We paid MSRP for our new Toyota Rav a few months ago. There is no haggling anymore. Maybe, maybe not. The Ford dealer where we're ordering an F350 was a pleasant surprise when we were discussing price and they offered up a substantial discount from MSRP on their own. I asked the GM what he thought about some local dealers around the area tacking on what they call market surcharges or GFY pricing. He stated that's not the way they do business, they're still turning profit on the sale. Folks are fools who go in and unrealistically haggle expecting a dealer to sell at a loss. Those types of dealers are almost impossible to find. I knew of another who was bought out by a mega dealer, which resulted in the instant elimination fair pricing as well as the elimination of a good chunk of previous customers. What I am seeing with RVs is price gouging and it's not so much the dealers as it's starting at the manufacturer level. Those guys are not your friend nor will they ever be. It's a one of a kind special industry and always has been Now its on steroids. Hopefully energy costs, runaway inflation, etc soon slams the brakes on the party. It can't happen to a nicer load of crooks. When that happens the values are going to drop 3 times as fast as they increased, and all these folks buying them like hotcakes while financing them for 120, 180, 240 months are going to be left holding the bag. Good to hear about Ford! I actually just went to a GM dealer regarding a 3500 and they were below MSRP - so not everyone is doing that.871Views0likes0CommentsRe: Recommend a TT (rough roads, no campgrounds)
downeastr wrote: Why isn't anybody recommending Arctic Fox / Nash? https://northwoodmfg.com/travel-trailers/ I've heard Arctic Fox are really strong campers. I just bumped into someone offroad in Sedona with an old one. He loved it. The only problem that I can see is that they tend to be heavy but that can be fixed with the proper truck. I imagine they do great on the right roads.847Views0likes0CommentsRe: Recommend a TT (rough roads, no campgrounds)
Steve76eb wrote: Cortttt wrote: Clicck wrote: afidel wrote: That's a Black Series trailer. They're an Aussie designed, US built trailer. . Hardly, they are a chinese designed copy of what an aussie trailer looks like. Plenty of other forums have posts about the poor quality, junk materials, and poor assembly. There are people who get duped into paying big dollars because it looks "Aussie" LOL. I wouldn't fall into the trap of assuming that because something was made in China that its low quality. (Half of our stuff including IPhones are made in China). I would be wary as well of concluding from a couple of posts that something is low quality. There is a Black Series Facebook site. I saw one guy with complaints - the rest seemed pretty happy. My question regarding these big, beautiful trailers is how well they do off road. That's actually pretty hard to tell. A guy at work just sold his Black Series after less than 2 years. Bought himself a ORV. The reason you do not hear of too many people complaining about the Black Series is the ownership has threatened litigation against people who complain about their product. Some dealers have stopped carrying them do to quality issues. Going from an BS to an ORV just doesn't compute - those are two different animals. Sounds like he wanted to do more off roading. I have heard a number of things about BS - some not good and some good. I'm keeping an open mind.847Views0likes0CommentsRe: Long Bed vs Bigger Overhang - off - roading
Grit dog wrote: Like in your other, very similar thread, a good point was made that there are alot of considerations in trying to do some real 4 wheelin with a TC. And coming from a 2wd van to a 4x4, your sense of adventure could get a little bolder! lol But, as you mentioned, a new/newer TC or any full featured TC likely is heads and tails above the van for comfort and amenities. Back to the real question, how far into the toolies do you plan to take a TC and how often? Because with a TC you also have the option of dropping it off the truck and then getting a little western on the trails. But you'll be limited in that you won't be taking the TC to that "secret" hard to get to high country campsite, you may be camped 20 miles back closer to an improved road. Unless the van is decked out with stove, fridge, ample water and tanks, full bath, etc, it's more of a luxurious tent. And you wouldn't be asking all these questions if you didn't want to upgrade. Given that RV prices (and trucks) are whoerhuose high right now, I could suggest another option. Get the truck that you want. Then find an older, lighter, hard side camper like them Lances in the pics and go use it. It will be a much lower cost (and easy to recoup your expense by selling it as long as you keep it rubber side down) intro, with similar amenities in a slightly more manageable package than a beautiful new camper. If it meets or exceeds your expectations regarding accessibility to the country you want to see with it, then you'll have a much better feeling for how you'd handle a heavier camper and where it's or your limits would be. Good luck! I like where your head is at with this. Nothing better than getting your nice comfortable camper back where noone else is in your bisniss! Thanks! I had not thought of that at all. I had thought of buying an older truck - in hopes that a hybrid version will come out in the near future - but not in checking out an older camper. Nice idea! :)974Views0likes0CommentsRe: Long Bed vs Bigger Overhang - off - roading
Just reweighed my van - 9700 lbs it is! Shocking....But it's close to the weight of a TC - which relieves my mind about being too heavy and getting stuck more often. Everything has a tradeoff - the TC provides a lot more space and amenities with more height and the rocking and rolling issues, while the van is stabler but doesn't have the necessary amenities for my partner (and some that I want) (we are tent camping) and no 4WD.974Views0likes0CommentsRe: Recommend a TT (rough roads, no campgrounds)
Clicck wrote: afidel wrote: That's a Black Series trailer. They're an Aussie designed, US built trailer. . Hardly, they are a chinese designed copy of what an aussie trailer looks like. Plenty of other forums have posts about the poor quality, junk materials, and poor assembly. There are people who get duped into paying big dollars because it looks "Aussie" LOL. I wouldn't fall into the trap of assuming that because something was made in China that its low quality. (Half of our stuff including IPhones are made in China). I would be wary as well of concluding from a couple of posts that something is low quality. There is a Black Series Facebook site. I saw one guy with complaints - the rest seemed pretty happy. My question regarding these big, beautiful trailers is how well they do off road. That's actually pretty hard to tell.848Views0likes0CommentsRe: Long Bed vs Bigger Overhang - off - roading
NRALIFR wrote: I go off-road frequently, but I can’t do any serious four-wheeling with my camper. I avoid deep gullies and steep banks because of the rear overhang, but I have scraped the rear jacks a couple times when I misjudged. Not hard enough to damage anything. It’s usually trees I’m avoiding in the places I go. As long as there’s enough clearance width and height wise and the weather’s decent, I don’t mind driving roads like this. It looks steep, but fairly smooth. At least right here :W c.traveler2 wrote: It’s when the road gets like this that I tend to not want to continue if it goes on very long. The grade isn’t the problem. Because of how top heavy I am, those big rocks poking out of the ground can make for a bouncy, rocking and rolling, miserable experience if you have to drive over many of them. Even if there’s no grade, the bouncing can get to be too much for me. I’ve been on a few that were bad enough to unload some of our cabinets unexpectedly, even though they have locking latches. That can be a mess. c.traveler2 wrote: :):) Thanks. It sounds like you're doing about what I would be doing. That steep, rocky road looks like something I would probably stay away from. Over time I've become more conservative. Sometimes there's no resisting a challenge, though. :)974Views0likes0CommentsRe: Long Bed vs Bigger Overhang - off - roading
kohldad wrote: The question is if you will have more problems dragging the rear or getting high centered. That depends on the type of trais you are doing. I have the long bed and think the 18" longer wheel base is with the compromise. I have always had more close calls with dragging the rear of my 8' 6" camper than being high centered. Thanks for your experience. I've never had to worry about dragging my rear end before....975Views0likes0Comments
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