Is there a real 4 season camper?

[David_VT]

UPDATE 9/28: Decided to 'invest' in my marriage and turned down the job. When someone finds me hauling freight around NE to make my truck payments them maybe I will regret the decision. For now it is nice to have a happy wife. ...

anyone know where to get a good freight trailer...

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Original posting:



Due to 'things' at work, it looks like I might be forced to take a job that is about 6 hrs from home one way. (Wife will not relocate)



Having been impressed by Mcrossley's 5th wheel home in California, It has made me wonder if there is any camper that could work in good old New England. Most important is the cold weather part of it.



Any suggestions? The goal would be to find something small enough to pull behind the 3/4ton and hopefully light enough to allow me to haul in both directions weekly without a major hit to the wallet.



I figure to get a 'REAL' cold weather package means some big big bucks. I already have the ESPAR in the pickup and could probably figure out how to move some of that heat to a slide in**.



Please educate me as I do not have any camper experience.



**I guess a slide in is out due to my having a shortbed quad 4x4. Is that correct?



Any inputs would be appreciated.



David

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The 35' TT that I bought is supposed to be a 4 season trailer - the entire undercarriage, walls, and ceiling is insulated. However, it does not have heated tanks - so it's not a 100% 4 season trailer. I'm considering adding heaters to the holding tanks to be able to use it throughout winter as my snowboarding cabin up north. I would definately recommend that you not get one with sliders if you're planning on using it in winter. What happens if you have a snow storm and get ice on top of the slider unit and it's time to leave? You're stuck! Not only that but the heating and cooling (and expansion/contraction because of it) will put a lot of wear on the seals of that slider. BELIEVE me leaks are NOT fun to deal with - right now there's no ceiling in the forward part of our bedroom due to a rook leak (that I've now fixed - just waiting a few weeks to make 100% sure the fix holds before putting the ceiling back in). JMHO

 

[Jeff Knight]

Yellowstone 5th wheels are 4 season plus you can get there optional artic package. They are real nice units. The web site for them is gulfstreamrv.com Jeff

 

[David_VT]

I also have a single wide mobile home across the street that I rent out. I might just kick the P. I. T. A. tenants out and have a friend haul it down to a trailer park. It is a bit too big to legally attempt to use the mighty Green monster as the tow rig...



Probably the most cost effective way to go but I hate having to be tied down to that beast. Kind of ruins the adventure...

 

[B.G. Smith]

David, some of the mfgs. are building stuff now that has extra insulation, etc for all year use in colder climes. We were at the Carriage factory last fall and saw the difference in the 4-season and regular unit, I think Newmar is also doing this and others I am sure but some are saying 4-seasons when they are really not. You can get a slide in for short bed, I don't know about the insulation though. There is a pickup camper called the Alaskan which really looks nice but don't see many of them, looks like an Airstream unit. Not to change the subject but we may be coming up that way in the next week or so, what is the outlook on the foliage this year? bg

 

[dabubba]

dave-glad to here you're thinking of making your ctd work--- ya crossly's rigs a bit big---your's will pull it most manufactures have a winter package- you saw my cardinal when you were in modesto last time it has a winter package- you might look into a used unit- check your local dealer or flea rag for some deals- if your gonna live in it check a few out and find a floor plan that works- they have floor plans like mike's in as small of rigs as 28'- as far as milage loss with towing with my 3/4 auto i lost 3-5 mpg and with my 1 ton eth I'm down 2-3 mpg not as bad as the v-10's 7 towing/7 solo good luck curt

 

[David_VT]

dabbubba I want your power system!

thx for the input



Foliage is getting real nice. I had a very heavy frost last night so it will start to speed up now.



With the drought we had this summer in our area (NE Vermont), I do not expect the leaves to stay on very long.



Regardless, it is a wonderful place to visit and the merchants are getting killed by the backlash of the 9/11 disaster.



If you are thinking of heading this way, by all means do so!!



David

 

[klenger]

Look into Arctic Fox. They make slide-campers, TT's, and 5th wheels.



http://www.nashtraveltrailers.com/

 

[C Schomer]

I had a forest river/wildwood - big POS. It ranked right down there with old renaults! After the siding and paneling were falling off, I saw there wasn't any plywood or vapor barrier under the siding - just glass insulation. Now I know why it was so cold when there was wind. Wind could blow right thru the siding joints and insulation! Better rvs have something under the siding to seal them. Watch out for that if you buy an alum side rv. I also hear that storm windows make a tremendous difference and they can be purchased for used rvs - just call the window mfgr. Craig

 

[dabubba]

dave-- when you have your rig- give crossley and me a call- we are now selling solar power systems for rv's, homes, & commercial applications- and to c schomer- forest river/wildwood is a pos--- it's built on the west coast by pedros who need peso's for tortillas and beans--- elkhart indiana built coaches have a bit more quality built into them- wildwood,coachman(*oregon) fleetwood(*ca) skyline- aljo are cheap-and built for the warm left coast-- dave ask questions like you're buying a house, cause that's what you're doing-hope you make it out this way-- call when you do-- lets do dinner--- bub

 

[OILBRNR]

Seems like you are asking for a slide in camper, but as for a TT, Airstreams are well insulated, and post '80 units have heated tanks. As long as you have power and gas, you would not have to worry about freezing pipes. ANY RV that has a failure of power or propane could face serious problems in sub zero temps!



Been there done that on an ill fated Elk hunting trip back in '78 with our '67 Airstream. Took it out right before Thanksgiving day, two day latter there was over 3 feet of snow and the coach was over 20 miles from the highway. Storms kept up for several weeks, and the only way in was via snowmobiles. Hauled in several new batteries, but too much to keep up with the low temps, and no solar support back then. Had several copper lines split at the the very back. Amazing for the extreme temps, but then again a well built trailer.



After looking at some of the new offerings out there, I'd be hard pressed to put many of them into serious cold weather use...



Remember, you get what you pay for with glue-n-screw construction.

 

[JR2]

David - I am from Alaska, the biggest baddest winter slide in camper is the Bigfoot. They are rated to -30 and I know a guy that has tested it. Be warned they are not cheap, but if you could find a used one.

There website is www.bigfootrv.com

I just went and looked and they make slideins and traliers so there you go...

 

[SlyBones]

JR2 is correct. Bigfoot has the best artic package.

 

[DocStressor]

Yep, Bigfoot has the best insulation and heating package. I should have gotten one. My Lance has the winter package but is drafty and goes through propane like crazy in the winter.