Excellent video advice. Also if you ad skirting for extended winters you'll save 50% on heating. If you don't mind adding snaps along the bottom. I ran an RV Park in Colorado above 7000 feet. Many workers and traveling nurses would spend all year round, so I had extra large tanks and various types of skirting materials, but you need a good rig. We had 25 below often.
One big vote for Outdoors RV. I did 3 Colorado winters at 8,000 feet. Mine had a few stupid things wrong with it in the beginning - but the company was amazing in getting fixes done.
I spent last winter in Boise, ID. It was one of the worst winters in many years with temps as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. My Nash 22H by Northwood Preformed brilliantly. I was snug as a bug in a rug.
That's a great testimonial for Northwood, Edward. It's nice to hear real world experiences from those who have used a true four season RV. Thanks for watching and leaving such a useful comment!
Arctic Fox was my choice. Quality that doesn't come out of Elkhart. The furnace routes hot air past the plumping and tanks to prevent freezing. Northwood makes Nash and Arctic Fox. Arctic Fox being a step up from Nash.
They are made in Alberta Canada. If anyone knows how to make a 4 season trailer it will be a manufacturing company up there. At least you know they actually deal with the weather they claim to guard against, it’s not just a theoretical.
As a full time RVer I drive south in the winter to escape the freezing cold and spend the summer in the mountains where it’s gonna stay under 90. So I am going for an Outdoors RV 24RKS
I want to get an Oliver Legacy Elite…Which from what I can tell is just a shorter version of the Legacy Elite II. I only heard you mention the Legacy Elite II though. Do you think the Legacy Elite is a good trailer also? Sorry if I missed something in the video about that. Thanks for your help.
2 questions- what’s the R value I should look for in a 4 season trailer? And what’s the BTU I should look for in a better furnace? I’m looking for a 4 season trailer for year round manager accommodation at a campground in Squamish, BC. Great help here, thanks 😊
Here is a good article on the subject of R values in RVs and insulation in general - rvblogger.com/blog/rv-and-travel-trailer-insulation-r-values-explained/ and usually a true four season RV will have a 30K BTU or higher furnace. I hope that helps.
Most likely it would hold up very well because Oliver's have a double fiberglass shell. I haven't heard anything particular about hail on fiberglass RVs but it makes sense that they would come through without much damage.
Hi Duane. We will be using an rv all 4 seasons, but our thermal extremes will basically be either an odd freeze in Arizona winter or the Colorado mountains in the shoulder seasona of April or October. It would be good ti know about more budget priced options that are still good. We just camped in 36 degrees last week, and it was the heat barely kept up. I am curious what your thought are on Grand Design's Transcend line. They have some colder weather features (like better roof and nose insulation radiant barriers, and some ducting around the tanks) but no electric tank heaters or double glazed windows. They also have 35k btu, but I am sure you are awar of all that. Aside from thermal window and vent covers, should these units be serviceable in warmer and cooler shoulder seasons?
Hi Robert. Well, the thing about 4 season RVs is that all of the things they do to make an RV a true 4 season unit costs money. So you typically see the better 4 season RVs in the higher price ranges. The GD Transcend is a very good lower priced model IMO though and is well worth serious consideration.
It depends. But you can use the list of features I outlined in this video to determine whether a Class C is truly 4 season or not. The more 4 season features it has, the better protected you are in extreme weather. Thanks for watching!
Rockwood is one of the better brands that is made by Forest River. But if you are looking for a four season RV, I would choose the ones in this video first.
@@smcjefe True. Often when I running along the interstate Highways and see a guy towing a 40' 5th wheel I have to ask my "why" and then as I pass I see his 300 lbs. ole-lady riding shot gun. So, the fater the ole-lady, the larger the camper. They can sure make it tough on some guys to enjoy the outdoors, but we do what we do to keep them happy.
I'm not really very familiar with Cortes travel trailers. But from the information they provide on their website, they feature a double hull fiberglass design, with dual pane windows and tank heaters. So from what I can see, it appears that it should be a very good 4 season RV.
Sorry Rodney, but I haven't had enough experience with Ember RVs to give you an opinion on them at this point. Hopefully, I will be able to say more about them before too long. But I can say that it takes the very best quality RV construction to keep a person comfortable in an Arizona summer. And I am not sure that most travel trailers are up to that task, even those who can be considered 4 season RVs. Even high end motorhomes are pushed to their limit by 115 degree days in the summer.
@@kirkthurman749 The only thing I can recommend is to contact the RV manufacturer and see if they have something you can use for a wiring diagram. Of course, the age of the RV is working against you on that, but I don't have any other solution.
I’m about to buy an 06 ,31 foot arctic fox for Canadian living in Edmonton area. I have a protected spot picked out on my property that’s protected from wind and catches sunshine during our short winter days. What’s your opinion?
Hi Greg. It's hard to say without looking at the RV itself. But Arctic Fox has a great reputation for winter camping. It sounds like you're sure going to put it to the test though. I hope it works for you.
Greg, how did your winter go in your Arctic Fox? Looking at a 29E Arctic Fox to get me through the winter in the Foothills nr Kananaskis. Any recommendations?
@@Madamphoebelil I moved in for a week and then I realized that I was not prepared as I started too late in the season. I don’t think my 2006 arctic fox is as prepared for winter as the newer ones. And many people say that good and proper skirting is a must and potentially a small heater underneath. Possibly run a little thermometer underneath her so you know what temperature it really is underneath there.
Not necessarily. Many Class A RVs, especially diesel pushers, can be considered four season RVs as they have the equipment and insulation needed to withstand 4 seasons of use. For instance, our Newmar Class A DP went through most of the summer in Arizona last year and did just fine in the extreme heat. But not all motorhomes are built that well. I have a new video coming out this week that will explain what "four season RV" means and will identify what you need to look for to be sure that an RV you buy is truly four season capable. Thanks for watching!
Just saw the new East to West Alta extreme models by Forrest River have 3" foam walls and 5" foam ceilings plus all the other features mentioned. Are those good options or is Forrest Rivers quality questionable?
I am not a big fan of most Forest River products in general because of quality and customer service concerns. That doesn't mean that you can't get a good RV from Forest River. I just think there are better choices out there including those mentioned in this video.
DO NOT BUY IT I have a 2021 east to west Alta 2810kik. I currently have 5 leaks. In total I’ve had 10 leaks since I bought it. I’ve replaced front Jack and awning. Total pos camper I should honestly file a lawsuit agains forest river for not deeming this pos a lemon and getting a refund. I’d be better of living out a carboard box with a space heater then this pos
I have done the research. And the whole frame flex issue has been blown way out of proportion by negativity spreaders on social media. I don't deny that it is a real issue. But the facts are that it only affected less than 1/10 of 1% of Grand Design RVs. Mainly 5th wheels over 17,000 lbs. And several of them were used on a fulltime basis by some who may not have treated their RV with the care that it deserves. Of course, there were legitimate frame issues from the factory too. But the vast majority of Grand Design owners and indeed of all RV owners have never experienced any kind of frame issues. But this is not what people want to hear so the negative drumbeat goes on.
The Keystone Montana is an RV that often comes up on lists of four season rigs to buy. It has a lot of the features that I covered in this video built into it. Thanks for asking Susan.
@@RVInspectionAndCarepretty much any keystone at least the newer ones are winter ready I believe they all come standard insulated and enclosed underbelly
Why did you not list Outdoor Explore, Pause or Kingdom Campers they are not only good from temps from 120 to - 40 degrees but they are all offroad off grid trailers
Hi Jerry. I am not aware of any motorhomes that are advertised as 4 season capable. But you want to look for the same features that this video mentions - extra insulation, double pane windows, sealed underbelly, heated holding tanks, a robust furnace, etc. Generally speaking, the more you pay in the motorhome category, the more you can expect to see these features. But keep in mind that 4 season capability does not necessarily mean that it can endure extreme weather comfortably.
I have spent the winter near Sun Peaks resort, B.C. in a 2023 Winnebago EKKO. I have a 30amp plug in. The Truma tankless water heater is rated to -20C/-4F with some folks on the FaceBook page reporting a working water system in as low as -10F. Built on a Ford Transit 350 HD AWD dual rear wheel chassis with a 3.5L twin turbo V6, the EKKO can go in the snow. MSRP is just north of $200K.
@RVInspectionAndCare , I'm learning a lot from your presentation. Your presentation has opened my eyes. I did not know all the knick knacks about RVs. I'm planning on buying an RV. I have not decided which one yet.
I am a big fan of Airstream trailers in general. But they don't have the reputation for true 4 season capability that some of the brands I mentioned in this video do. You can check out this form discussion on the subject if you like - www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20445571/print/true.cfm
Just FYI - some not so honest salesmen will try to tell you that airstream are 4 season trailers but when you start asking them about the features you quickly realize they are just trying to make a sale.
RV Salesman: it’s a 3 1/2 season trailer. Me: 3 hours in Moab for a/c to cool trailer from 100 to 82 Tank heaters=No Ducted heat in basement=No Insulation=2” foam
I don't mind listening to what an RV salesperson has to say, but I never take it as gospel truth. Sad to say, but in many cases, they won't know as much about the RV as you do.
Actually Arctic Fox is made by Northwood RV that I mentioned in the video. And they are made in Oregon, not Canada. Also, Northern Lite only makes truck campers as least as far as I can tell and not travel trailers which is what this video is about.
It's a valid point that some RV designs use a lot of glass that makes weather insulation more difficult. But there are plenty of models that do not have that as an issue too.
I always laugh when the RV industry proposes that anything they make is "4-season." For the Southern half of the US in a mild year, then sure, but not in any realistic, national sense. As a category, there is no such thing outside of the Mobile Suites-type class of construction or custom-built for those conditions, and sometimes not even then if the winter is truly "extreme." RV manufacturers like Oliver, Airstream, and especially Grand Design, claim all kinds of insulation and R-values that are laughable to any mechanical engineer who has a lot of experience and training in thermal envelope and the related materials science. An actual engineered, custom unit for extreme winter weather conditions is normally only available to commercial buyers (and is priced accordingly). My Arctic Fox freezes its rear bathroom plumbing at the wheel wells in any temperature below 15 degs. F, and that's with the interior temperature at 65+ and the cabinet doors left open. RV manufacturers are a bunch of jokers who never actually engineer anything that they aren't federally required to (roadability), with only rare and expensive exceptions.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thankfully the industry has had enough money to pay off Congress to avoid any actual regulation of their claims. Otherwise, aluminum foil, even with a thin layer of bubble wrap attached, could never be claimed as R-30+ insulation (by Grand OSB Design as well as others). In the housing market, such claims resulted in a scandal with that exact same product almost 20 years ago. But it's not a scandal so long as it is claimed by an RV manufacturer instead. Oliver uses exactly a 5mm (13/64-inch) aluminum-foil bubble-wrap sandwich between two hard shells as their insulation! That's it. Stand outside a Northwood product with a warm interior on a frosty morning and you can see the outline of the frame on the exterior wall. Why? Because the frame will melt the frost right through the wall--their frames are completely uninsulated--no thermal break of any kind. The inside and outside walls are directly bonded to one another through a piece of aluminum, which has very high thermal conductivity. Try getting that passed by an engineer at your local building department anywhere in the North. Engineered designs and actual, proven performance matters.
@@johndoez3054 As I wrote above, with just a few variables, from an engineering standpoint, no common, mass-produced brand of RV short of the very high end (and quite often not even there) is actually designed to any objective standard for 4-season or "all-weather" or "arctic" or "cold-climate" or whatever marketing term they may use to suggest otherwise. Like others, Keystone uses aluminum-foil-backed bubble wrap and a 1-inch or so thick layer of styrofoam, essentially, as the principal undercarriage / tank insulation in their best-selling models' "climate" packages (by various names). They will state things like "we replace our competitors' basic radiant foil protection with an astro-foil barrier featuring a double-layer construction." Sounds great, right? But what they mean is that they just have an additional layer of bubble wrap or aluminum, which for convective and other types of thermal transfer, is going to be virtually identical in performance. If they are lucky, it would go from being R1 to maybe being R-1.5 or R-2 in an actual insulative barrier test, not R-23 or R-45 like a modern home. So no, at best, any of these units can extend the camping season a little on both ends, or be "4-season" in the southern half of the US most of the time (not high in the mountains). In the north, all it takes is one actual arctic flow from Canada sending temperatures plummeting below zero with the wind that usually goes with it, and you're going to have problems.
Looks like you missed me say very clearly that the brands I mentioned are not the only 4 season travel trailers that I could recommend. What's sad is that you didn't pay attention to the video.
Excellent video advice. Also if you ad skirting for extended winters you'll save 50% on heating. If you don't mind adding snaps along the bottom. I ran an RV Park in Colorado above 7000 feet. Many workers and traveling nurses would spend all year round, so I had extra large tanks and various types of skirting materials, but you need a good rig. We had 25 below often.
That's a great point. Skirting is a huge help in really cold sustained temperatures. Thanks for contributing that here.
One big vote for Outdoors RV. I did 3 Colorado winters at 8,000 feet. Mine had a few stupid things wrong with it in the beginning - but the company was amazing in getting fixes done.
That's awesome! OR builds a great product!
I was happy that you mentioned the number one being Oliver! That is the one I intend to purchase!
Glad to hear it George. I think you'll be very happy with it. They build a great RV. Thanks for commenting!
I spent last winter in Boise, ID. It was one of the worst winters in many years with temps as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. My Nash 22H by Northwood Preformed brilliantly. I was snug as a bug in a rug.
That's a great testimonial for Northwood, Edward. It's nice to hear real world experiences from those who have used a true four season RV. Thanks for watching and leaving such a useful comment!
No doubt about this Duane, the more that your towable or coach is really a four seasons unit the better the whole season will be! THANKS SAFE TRAVELS
I totally agree Ron. Thanks for making that point!
Bigfoot and Arctic Fox always come to mind when I think four season.
Yes, those are good all-weather suggestions. Thanks for watching and commenting too!
Arctic Fox was my choice. Quality that doesn't come out of Elkhart. The furnace routes hot air past the plumping and tanks to prevent freezing. Northwood makes Nash and Arctic Fox. Arctic Fox being a step up from Nash.
They are made in Alberta Canada. If anyone knows how to make a 4 season trailer it will be a manufacturing company up there. At least you know they actually deal with the weather they claim to guard against, it’s not just a theoretical.
Arctic Fox = Arctic Box….. anything that’s got Arctic in its name must be good right? Wrong
I think enclosed dump valves are important, too. Our Keystone Cougar 22MLS has the dump valves up in the heated underbelly.
I think you are right. Enclosed dump valves are a great thing to have for 4 season protection. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that!
Yes! My Airstream didn’t, and when those outside valves froze it was a few weeks before I could dump. Excellent point!
Our friends bought a new Keystone with the Arctic Package but the dump valves are outside of the underbelly! Thats a freeze break waiting to happen!
As a full time RVer I drive south in the winter to escape the freezing cold and spend the summer in the mountains where it’s gonna stay under 90. So I am going for an Outdoors RV 24RKS
Good choice Steve. Have safe and happy RV travels in your Outdoors RV!
Great to hear I already chose a good brand! Had my eye on Northwood fivers for awhile now!
Northwood makes great 4 season products Celeste. I think you will be happy with it!
Thank you very much! it’s nice to run into smart people. It’s amazing how much crap is out there both in advice and poorly made RVs
I'm so glad this video was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I want to get an Oliver Legacy Elite…Which from what I can tell is just a shorter version of the Legacy Elite II.
I only heard you mention the Legacy Elite II though. Do you think the Legacy Elite is a good trailer also?
Sorry if I missed something in the video about that. Thanks for your help.
Any Oliver RV is well worth considering. They make a great product.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thanks
Love our Oliver. Everything we need nothing we don’t.
They really are amazing. Thanks for sharing your Oliver experience.
2 questions- what’s the R value I should look for in a 4 season trailer? And what’s the BTU I should look for in a better furnace?
I’m looking for a 4 season trailer for year round manager accommodation at a campground in Squamish, BC.
Great help here, thanks 😊
Here is a good article on the subject of R values in RVs and insulation in general - rvblogger.com/blog/rv-and-travel-trailer-insulation-r-values-explained/ and usually a true four season RV will have a 30K BTU or higher furnace. I hope that helps.
Both Outdoors RV and Northwood have great specs for BC winter weather. They are both built in LaGrande Oregon for western U.S. and Canada usage.
How does the Oliver hold up to hail? Would you have any info on that? Thank you
Most likely it would hold up very well because Oliver's have a double fiberglass shell. I haven't heard anything particular about hail on fiberglass RVs but it makes sense that they would come through without much damage.
Hi Duane. We will be using an rv all 4 seasons, but our thermal extremes will basically be either an odd freeze in Arizona winter or the Colorado mountains in the shoulder seasona of April or October. It would be good ti know about more budget priced options that are still good. We just camped in 36 degrees last week, and it was the heat barely kept up. I am curious what your thought are on Grand Design's Transcend line. They have some colder weather features (like better roof and nose insulation radiant barriers, and some ducting around the tanks) but no electric tank heaters or double glazed windows. They also have 35k btu, but I am sure you are awar of all that. Aside from thermal window and vent covers, should these units be serviceable in warmer and cooler shoulder seasons?
Hi Robert. Well, the thing about 4 season RVs is that all of the things they do to make an RV a true 4 season unit costs money. So you typically see the better 4 season RVs in the higher price ranges. The GD Transcend is a very good lower priced model IMO though and is well worth serious consideration.
What about class c motor homes do you think they are four season
It depends. But you can use the list of features I outlined in this video to determine whether a Class C is truly 4 season or not. The more 4 season features it has, the better protected you are in extreme weather. Thanks for watching!
Where do the Rockwood brand fall on your list?
Rockwood is one of the better brands that is made by Forest River. But if you are looking for a four season RV, I would choose the ones in this video first.
@@RVInspectionAndCare I agree but my wife is stuck on the Rockwood 2608BS.
You should do whatever makes your wife happy. Just saying 🤣
@@smcjefe True. Often when I running along the interstate Highways and see a guy towing a 40' 5th wheel I have to ask my "why" and then as I pass I see his 300 lbs. ole-lady riding shot gun. So, the fater the ole-lady, the larger the camper. They can sure make it tough on some guys to enjoy the outdoors, but we do what we do to keep them happy.
Hello, can you provide info regarding true four season of the Cortes 17? Thankyou
I'm not really very familiar with Cortes travel trailers. But from the information they provide on their website, they feature a double hull fiberglass design, with dual pane windows and tank heaters. So from what I can see, it appears that it should be a very good 4 season RV.
Any idea on the Ember?? looking for something I can stay in during summer in AZ and NM
Sorry Rodney, but I haven't had enough experience with Ember RVs to give you an opinion on them at this point. Hopefully, I will be able to say more about them before too long. But I can say that it takes the very best quality RV construction to keep a person comfortable in an Arizona summer. And I am not sure that most travel trailers are up to that task, even those who can be considered 4 season RVs. Even high end motorhomes are pushed to their limit by 115 degree days in the summer.
Great video and valuable information. Just purchased a 20 year old Nash Because of their reputation.
I'm glad the video was helpful. Safe and happy RV travels to you!
What is the best source for a wiring diagram .? We are going to add solar and an inverter ?
@@kirkthurman749 The only thing I can recommend is to contact the RV manufacturer and see if they have something you can use for a wiring diagram. Of course, the age of the RV is working against you on that, but I don't have any other solution.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thanks for your advice.
I’m about to buy an 06 ,31 foot arctic fox for Canadian living in Edmonton area. I have a protected spot picked out on my property that’s protected from wind and catches sunshine during our short winter days. What’s your opinion?
Hi Greg. It's hard to say without looking at the RV itself. But Arctic Fox has a great reputation for winter camping. It sounds like you're sure going to put it to the test though. I hope it works for you.
Greg, how did your winter go in your Arctic Fox? Looking at a 29E Arctic Fox to get me through the winter in the Foothills nr Kananaskis. Any recommendations?
@@Madamphoebelil I moved in for a week and then I realized that I was not prepared as I started too late in the season. I don’t think my 2006 arctic fox is as prepared for winter as the newer ones. And many people say that good and proper skirting is a must and potentially a small heater underneath. Possibly run a little thermometer underneath her so you know what temperature it really is underneath there.
Are the Class A motor homes you recommended in another video “4 seasons”?
Not necessarily. Many Class A RVs, especially diesel pushers, can be considered four season RVs as they have the equipment and insulation needed to withstand 4 seasons of use. For instance, our Newmar Class A DP went through most of the summer in Arizona last year and did just fine in the extreme heat. But not all motorhomes are built that well. I have a new video coming out this week that will explain what "four season RV" means and will identify what you need to look for to be sure that an RV you buy is truly four season capable. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the excellent info!
You bet Mike. I'm glad it was helpful!
Would I still need to “winterize” the trailer if left unused over the winter? Our temps get down to around 5 degrees F.
Yes, you'll need to winterize any RV that's going to be in storage while temps dip below freezing.
Great info, thank you.
Glad it was helpful Barbara. Thanks for watching!
Just saw the new East to West Alta extreme models by Forrest River have 3" foam walls and 5" foam ceilings plus all the other features mentioned. Are those good options or is Forrest Rivers quality questionable?
I am not a big fan of most Forest River products in general because of quality and customer service concerns. That doesn't mean that you can't get a good RV from Forest River. I just think there are better choices out there including those mentioned in this video.
DO NOT BUY IT I have a 2021 east to west Alta 2810kik. I currently have 5 leaks. In total I’ve had 10 leaks since I bought it. I’ve replaced front Jack and awning. Total pos camper I should honestly file a lawsuit agains forest river for not deeming this pos a lemon and getting a refund. I’d be better of living out a carboard box with a space heater then this pos
Artic fox ...😊
That's a good one for sure. Thanks for watching!
Due a LOT of research on which Grand Design units suffered from frame flex. It is a huge issue.
I have done the research. And the whole frame flex issue has been blown way out of proportion by negativity spreaders on social media. I don't deny that it is a real issue. But the facts are that it only affected less than 1/10 of 1% of Grand Design RVs. Mainly 5th wheels over 17,000 lbs. And several of them were used on a fulltime basis by some who may not have treated their RV with the care that it deserves. Of course, there were legitimate frame issues from the factory too. But the vast majority of Grand Design owners and indeed of all RV owners have never experienced any kind of frame issues. But this is not what people want to hear so the negative drumbeat goes on.
What do you think of the Montana 41ft fifth wheel. It says 4 season but is it really?
The Keystone Montana is an RV that often comes up on lists of four season rigs to buy. It has a lot of the features that I covered in this video built into it. Thanks for asking Susan.
@@RVInspectionAndCarepretty much any keystone at least the newer ones are winter ready I believe they all come standard insulated and enclosed underbelly
Great video man! Very informative. Any chance of listing a few more solid brands in the comment section? Anyways, keep up the awesome videos!
I'll see what I can do. Thanks for watching!
Why did you not list Outdoor Explore, Pause or Kingdom Campers they are not only good from temps from 120 to - 40 degrees but they are all offroad off grid trailers
This video was not meant to include off-road RVs. It's mainly about brands and models that would be usable by the vast majority of the buying public.
Does anyone build a four season motor coach?
Hi Jerry. I am not aware of any motorhomes that are advertised as 4 season capable. But you want to look for the same features that this video mentions - extra insulation, double pane windows, sealed underbelly, heated holding tanks, a robust furnace, etc. Generally speaking, the more you pay in the motorhome category, the more you can expect to see these features. But keep in mind that 4 season capability does not necessarily mean that it can endure extreme weather comfortably.
I have spent the winter near Sun Peaks resort, B.C. in a 2023 Winnebago EKKO. I have a 30amp plug in. The Truma tankless water heater is rated to -20C/-4F with some folks on the FaceBook page reporting a working water system in as low as -10F. Built on a Ford Transit 350 HD AWD dual rear wheel chassis with a 3.5L twin turbo V6, the EKKO can go in the snow. MSRP is just north of $200K.
@@danieltaylor3396 Thanks for mentioning your experience with the Ekko Daniel. It sounds like it's working very well for you in cold weather.
Great presentation.
Thanks so much. I appreciate your positive feedback.
@RVInspectionAndCare , I'm learning a lot from your presentation. Your presentation has opened my eyes. I did not know all the knick knacks about RVs. I'm planning on buying an RV. I have not decided which one yet.
I’m curious why airstream wasn’t 1#
I am a big fan of Airstream trailers in general. But they don't have the reputation for true 4 season capability that some of the brands I mentioned in this video do. You can check out this form discussion on the subject if you like - www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20445571/print/true.cfm
Airstream manufacturer plainly says Airstream is 3 seasons. If you really need a nice 4 season trailer, then Oliver is a great choice.
Just FYI - some not so honest salesmen will try to tell you that airstream are 4 season trailers but when you start asking them about the features you quickly realize they are just trying to make a sale.
RV Salesman: it’s a 3 1/2 season trailer.
Me: 3 hours in Moab for a/c to cool trailer from 100 to 82
Tank heaters=No
Ducted heat in basement=No
Insulation=2” foam
I don't mind listening to what an RV salesperson has to say, but I never take it as gospel truth. Sad to say, but in many cases, they won't know as much about the RV as you do.
Thanks for the video, I can always appreciate the information from a reasoned rv inspector... glad to be aboard, thanks again..
Welcome aboard Ty. So glad that you enjoyed the video!
Good video!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliment too!
Great info!
Glad you think so. Thanks for watching!
I would add Intech rvs
Thanks for the suggestion.
In tech has basically zero insulation
yeah~ tsunning vlog.:))
Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting!
No mention of two Canadian manufacturers that really have to prove 4 season abilities ie Arctic Fox & Northern Lite.
Actually Arctic Fox is made by Northwood RV that I mentioned in the video. And they are made in Oregon, not Canada. Also, Northern Lite only makes truck campers as least as far as I can tell and not travel trailers which is what this video is about.
most RVs have way too much glass. Double Pane doesn't help much when 60% of the total wall area is glass.
It's a valid point that some RV designs use a lot of glass that makes weather insulation more difficult. But there are plenty of models that do not have that as an issue too.
Thank you.
You're welcome. I'm glad that the video was helpful for you!
Surprised Arctic Fox didn’t make the cut.
It did make the cut. I recommended Northwood RV and they make the Arctic Fox.
I always laugh when the RV industry proposes that anything they make is "4-season." For the Southern half of the US in a mild year, then sure, but not in any realistic, national sense. As a category, there is no such thing outside of the Mobile Suites-type class of construction or custom-built for those conditions, and sometimes not even then if the winter is truly "extreme." RV manufacturers like Oliver, Airstream, and especially Grand Design, claim all kinds of insulation and R-values that are laughable to any mechanical engineer who has a lot of experience and training in thermal envelope and the related materials science. An actual engineered, custom unit for extreme winter weather conditions is normally only available to commercial buyers (and is priced accordingly). My Arctic Fox freezes its rear bathroom plumbing at the wheel wells in any temperature below 15 degs. F, and that's with the interior temperature at 65+ and the cabinet doors left open. RV manufacturers are a bunch of jokers who never actually engineer anything that they aren't federally required to (roadability), with only rare and expensive exceptions.
I don't agree with the vast majority of what you have said in this comment, but you are entitled to your opinion.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thankfully the industry has had enough money to pay off Congress to avoid any actual regulation of their claims. Otherwise, aluminum foil, even with a thin layer of bubble wrap attached, could never be claimed as R-30+ insulation (by Grand OSB Design as well as others). In the housing market, such claims resulted in a scandal with that exact same product almost 20 years ago. But it's not a scandal so long as it is claimed by an RV manufacturer instead.
Oliver uses exactly a 5mm (13/64-inch) aluminum-foil bubble-wrap sandwich between two hard shells as their insulation! That's it. Stand outside a Northwood product with a warm interior on a frosty morning and you can see the outline of the frame on the exterior wall. Why? Because the frame will melt the frost right through the wall--their frames are completely uninsulated--no thermal break of any kind. The inside and outside walls are directly bonded to one another through a piece of aluminum, which has very high thermal conductivity. Try getting that passed by an engineer at your local building department anywhere in the North. Engineered designs and actual, proven performance matters.
@@ReluctantPostkeystone okay?
@@johndoez3054 As I wrote above, with just a few variables, from an engineering standpoint, no common, mass-produced brand of RV short of the very high end (and quite often not even there) is actually designed to any objective standard for 4-season or "all-weather" or "arctic" or "cold-climate" or whatever marketing term they may use to suggest otherwise.
Like others, Keystone uses aluminum-foil-backed bubble wrap and a 1-inch or so thick layer of styrofoam, essentially, as the principal undercarriage / tank insulation in their best-selling models' "climate" packages (by various names). They will state things like "we replace our competitors' basic radiant foil protection with an astro-foil barrier featuring a double-layer construction." Sounds great, right? But what they mean is that they just have an additional layer of bubble wrap or aluminum, which for convective and other types of thermal transfer, is going to be virtually identical in performance. If they are lucky, it would go from being R1 to maybe being R-1.5 or R-2 in an actual insulative barrier test, not R-23 or R-45 like a modern home.
So no, at best, any of these units can extend the camping season a little on both ends, or be "4-season" in the southern half of the US most of the time (not high in the mountains). In the north, all it takes is one actual arctic flow from Canada sending temperatures plummeting below zero with the wind that usually goes with it, and you're going to have problems.
Totally missed Bigfoot. Sad
Looks like you missed me say very clearly that the brands I mentioned are not the only 4 season travel trailers that I could recommend. What's sad is that you didn't pay attention to the video.