Arctic Fox Axles?

[Tommie]

I did call them back and talked to a service tech. He said that the 25p could very well have Lippert axles. The dealer will not replace them, but offered to knock off $650 from the price so i could replace them myself.

I might be wrong, but isn't the 25R a wide body as well ? That is the other trailer I am considering. 2006 year model.

 

[HBarlow]

Call that dealer back again and ask him what he would charge to install a pair of new Dexter axle assemblies complete from brake drum to brake drum, can he do it, and how long would it take?

That would be the amount of discount I would expect or walk away. The country is full of good late model new or used travel trailers at attractive prices.

 

[Grizzly]

I did call them back and talked to a service tech. He said that the 25p could very well have Lippert axles. The dealer will not replace them, but offered to knock off $650 from the price so i could replace them myself.



I might be wrong, but isn't the 25R a wide body as well ? That is the other trailer I am considering. 2006 year model.

Yes, the 25R is also a wide-body.



Strange, AF does not make a 5th wheel in wide-body, but they make five TT in wide-body, which are between 22' and 26'.



george

 

[timroberts]

Tommie I bought a 2006 25R about one year ago . Has dexter axles and I have had no problem going any where with it (wide body) you will love it. Found camper in tocoma wa. on craigs list. I live in north west fl. 6400 mile road trip .

 

[Tommie]

Thanks timroberts! I am leaning pretty heavily toward the 2006 25R. Less $$$, Dexter axles and should serve our needs for weekends and a few vacation trips thrown in.
Heck..... I thought driving 900 miles was a long trip to buy an RV. You got to try that 25R out real good on the return trip to FL.

 

[HBarlow]

Tommie,

Now you're using your head. Clean, lightly used late model trailers can be a bargain if you buy smart.

Travel trailers have wheels under them and are completely mobile. That fact opens up your shopping prospects to include the entire US.

I bought a 1 1/2 year old Airstream in El Paso back in 1993 and required the dealer to deliver it to Lubbock after the purchase price was established. I bought a beautiful used Avion trailer in northern Illinois from the original owner in the late '90s and a Travel Supreme fifth wheel in Florida in 2003. I traveled to La Grande, OR in early 2008 to pick up a clean used HitchHiker fifth wheel for my son-in-law.

I went to pick them up with cash in hand and inspected them before handing over the cash. Take vacation time and take your family along to pick up the trailer. Make it an Rving vacation.

 

[RCorbeil]

My Dexter Axles, (6000#) say Dexter cast right on the face of the drum. Pull a wheel and have a look see.



Ron

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks timroberts! I am leaning pretty heavily toward the 2006 25R. Less $$$, Dexter axles and should serve our needs for weekends and a few vacation trips thrown in.

Heck..... I thought driving 900 miles was a long trip to buy an RV. You got to try that 25R out real good on the return trip to FL.

Very wise choice Tommie.



george

 

[Tommie]

Shucks Grizz! I consider that a compliment coming from an expert like yourself. Thanks for all your common since suggestions.

 

[Grizzly]

Shucks Grizz! I consider that a compliment coming from an expert like yourself. Thanks for all your common since suggestions.

Thank you Tommie, but I'm really not an expert.



I had a nice long talk on the phone with the CEO, the #2 man, from Northwood Mfg. today. I told him that I was really shocked and disappointed that a 4 star rated quality trailer like Arctic Fox would stoop down so low as to use an inferior quality axle like Lippert on some of their units. He admitted that Dexter is a better axle but had no problem with Lippert axles on the lighter units. I told him that they had a reputation to uphold and that they would lose their 4 star rating if they cheapen the quality. I told him that people think very highly of Arctic Fox. He said that they have had a lot of negative feedback on using Lippert axles and they we consider using Dexter axles on all their Arctic Fox trailer in the future.



Another thing I told him was about the use of the Chinese ST tires on all their trailers. He said that he agreed, but there are no American made ST tires. I told him, then use American made LT tires, which is what I did as soon as I got my 5er home. He said many people do that and felt that LT are a better tire. He made no promises on switching to LT tires as he felt that ST tires were better for a trailer.



Well at least I got my two cents in.



george

 

[blizzard]

I don't want to miss lead but I have had lippert axles on my r vision trail sport. I have had no problems here in Alaska for the past four years. I just keep them greased. I have put thousands of miles on them with no wear and tear.

 

[HBarlow]

It is hard to believe that any RV manufacturer truly believes that ST tires are better for anything other than rope swings tied in a tall tree to swing out over an old slow moving river. Almost all of them use ST tires but they are aware of all the tire failures reported by their buyers.

I think there are only two reasons: 1) Cheaper price, and 2) the bogus higher weight rating printed on the sidewall that allows them to pretend the tires can carry the weight on heavier tandem axle trailers that should really have triple axles or 17" wheels and tires.

 

[Tommie]

Well..... hopefully you planted a seed that will sprout and grow! If they aren't going to put LT tires on their trailers, at least leave enough room in the fender wells so the buyer can at least have the option to upgrade to 16" wheels and LT tires.



We need at least one good RV manufacture to remain diligent on quality control and using the best parts available. After looking at several brands of trailer the last few months, there aren't very many out there that the common working man can afford.



That's why I am looking for a nice used unit like the Arctic Fox. After looking at how most of the units are put together, I would really hate to be an RV salesman and have to try and sell some of the junk that is out there.



Thanks again for all the help folks. Hopefully my adventure will be over in a few more weeks.

 

[HBarlow]

... ... ... ... ... I would really hate to be an RV salesman and have to try and sell some of the junk that is out there. ... ... ... ... ... QUOTE]

I personally would not sell most of the brands offered in the RV market if I were a salesman, I would try to move my prospects to something better if it was available at the dealership that employed me but it is obviously not very difficult. The junk brands are sold by the thousands every year to the unsuspecting who make their buying decisions based on surface glitz and glitter, the fabric colors their wives like, and price.

I have said it here for years, a clean used unit made by a good manufacturer is a far better choice than a shiny new pos that will depreciate like a yesterdays kitchen garbage and begin falling apart on the first trip.

 

[RVTRKN]

Thank you Tommie, but I'm really not an expert.



I had a nice long talk on the phone with the CEO, the #2 man, from Northwood Mfg. today. I told him that I was really shocked and disappointed that a 4 star rated quality trailer like Arctic Fox would stoop down so low as to use an inferior quality axle like Lippert on some of their units. He admitted that Dexter is a better axle but had no problem with Lippert axles on the lighter units. I told him that they had a reputation to uphold and that they would lose their 4 star rating if they cheapen the quality. I told him that people think very highly of Arctic Fox. He said that they have had a lot of negative feedback on using Lippert axles and they we consider using Dexter axles on all their Arctic Fox trailer in the future.



Another thing I told him was about the use of the Chinese ST tires on all their trailers. He said that he agreed, but there are no American made ST tires. I told him, then use American made LT tires, which is what I did as soon as I got my 5er home. He said many people do that and felt that LT are a better tire. He made no promises on switching to LT tires as he felt that ST tires were better for a trailer.



Well at least I got my two cents in.



george

Tell him, that it was the main reason that influenced my decision to purchase the Arctic Fox the other was their reputation to take care issue's related to their workmanship. When I saw the massive frame and Dexter axles under that huge Coach, I knew I could trust the two axle setup for the GVWR. The only issue I had was the Cheap Chi-Comm tires, and I had to pull it back to SoCal from Oregon with them on, because I paid cash for it and had no reserve for the extra cost for Michelin tires.



I kept a watchful eye on them, the funny part was that the Cheap General tires that came with my 3500 C&C, one of the inner dual's went flat on the last leg of the trip. I had a vibration I couldn't find thinking it was the Chi-Comm tires, turned out to be the cheap General tire that failed.

 

[Grizzly]

It is hard to believe that any RV manufacturer truly believes that ST tires are better for anything other than rope swings tied in a tall tree to swing out over an old slow moving river. Almost all of them use ST tires but they are aware of all the tire failures reported by their buyers.



I think there are only two reasons: 1) Cheaper price, and 2) the bogus higher weight rating printed on the sidewall that allows them to pretend the tires can carry the weight on heavier tandem axle trailers that should really have triple axles or 17" wheels and tires.

Exactly true. I do believe that all RV manufactures are trying to save a few bucks where ever they can in this tough economic time. Same goes true for auto and truck manufactures. I believe most of us would pay a little extra for quality tires and parts.

 

[Tommie]

Well I ended up going to New Mexico and purchased the Arctic Fox 25R. Pulled it 1025 miles home. The only issue was a little plastic button popped off the shower wall. A little silicone and been good ever since.

We really like the AF. Not happy with the hitch setup. Towed in 20 to 40 mph cross winds all the way back. A little too much trailer sway for my liking.

The dealer installed an Eza-Lift hitch. He tried to talk me out of a sway bar, but I insisted on it. Sure glad I did. There was several times I wished for the second one.

Any recommendations? Looking at Hensley and ProPride hitches.

 

[HBarlow]

Reese Dual Cam.

 

[JLandry]

We really like the AF. Not happy with the hitch setup. Towed in 20 to 40 mph cross winds all the way back. A little too much trailer sway for my liking.

The dealer installed an Eza-Lift hitch. He tried to talk me out of a sway bar, but I insisted on it. Sure glad I did. There was several times I wished for the second one.

Any recommendations? Looking at Hensley and ProPride hitches.

Tommie,

The hitch weight on the 25R (as it comes from the factory) is a bit on the light side for best towing stability. If you weigh the trailer at a truck scale and then weigh the hitch using a bathroom scale or dedicated tongue scale, you'll likely find the hitch to total weight ratio is under 10%. Ideally you want a 12-15% ratio for the best towing behavior. When you get in that ideal range, you don't need a fancy hitch... just a standard equalizer hitch is fine with this trailer.

Some ways to correct the light hitch weight on a 25R are:

1. Remove the spare tire from the rear bumper, and if possible, relocate it to somewhere at the front of the trailer. I relocated my spare up under the front of the trailer using spare tire hoist parts from a 2nd gen Dodge truck.

2. Never tow with anything heavy in the rear wardrobe closet... only clothing items can go in there.

3. Put all heavy items such as soda, canned goods, bottled water, tools, guns, ammo, etc. under the bed or in the front pass-through storage compartment.

4. Never tow with a full black water tank (which is located at the rear of the trailer).

5. DO tow with some water in the fresh water tank, which is located forward of the axles. I usually tow with ours 1/3 to half full. It not only helps increase the hitch weight, you'll have plenty of water for "pit stops. "

6. Tow with your propane tanks full.

Now go enjoy that wonderful trailer!

Happy camping,

John L.

 

[jeepit]

John L-Guns and Ammo-? I like this this guy already!!