Look at Excel by Peterson Ind, the current ones are guarantee to 10 below if the trailer has duel pane Windows and and operational furnace, they are heavy but well built.
I like the Titanium. I don't know if they are made anymore but was impressed when we saw some new ones a few years back. I believe they were made in Canada. I also like our Open Range but they are a new enough company, you might not find a used one quite yet. We are starting our 5th year with it and ours was the 162nd one built. Good Luck and Happy Camping
dan218b@tds.net
Dan and Lori Branson
Anna 1 (the rescue) Sarah (the rescue)
and Beau (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)
2005 Dodge QuadCab 2500 4x4 Hemi
2009 Open Range 337RLS
RV.Net Ohio Rally Member
We did some research on this a while ago.. Be forewarned that some brands will artificially pump up the "R-value" of their insulation, going by the saying if "one inch of insulation is good, then two inches is twice as good". Not necessarily.
Doubling the insulation helps, but foil mylar barriers, bubble mylar film and other tricks also work. "Four Season" is a nebulous term, sought after by serious full timer RVers. But some units that claim to be so are often not. "Arctic" packages and "Polar" packages are just marketing words.
Only a few brands are actually certified and tested down to freezing. "Three Season" RV's are more common, less expensive, and serve the need of most full time RVers. 4 season RV's the holding tanks and valves need to be enclosed and heated...either by the furnace bleed air or better yet 12 volt electric pads. The cargo doors and cargo holds should also be insulated.
The Recreational Vehicle Industry standards for RV's is a minimum of R-7 insulation. Since most RV's have walls that are around 1" thick, thats about all the insulation that will fit, usually rigid foam. The roofs on RV's are often a larger space to work with, sometimes with domed rafters so more insulation will fit up there.
Some of the Keystone 5ers for example...claim "Zero Degree Tested with the Polar Package". In their case this equates to R9 sidewall, R14 ceiling, R30 Floors. The Keystone Montana has R-21 floors, R-9 walls and R-38 roof. The Keystone Laredo has R-9 in the walls, and a great R-28 roof, R-30 floor. Open Range RV doesn't boast or brag, but most of their RV's have standard up to R-38 Roof, R-38 Floor, R-9 Sidewalls.
Crossroads RV has Crossroads has a "4 season insulation package" of R27 roof, R28 floors and R15 sides. The Jayco Eagle has R-21 insulation value in roof, R-8 in sidewalls, R-24 in floor and underbelly, R-15 in slideout floors. Redwood RV 5th wheels from THOR has R-28 roof, R-9 walls, R-42 floors.
By comparison, the often mentioned Arctic Fox RV's are touted by some as 4 season and highly insulated...and in fact are terrific RV's from a great company...but they only have R-18 ceiling insulation, R-7 walls and floors. Their tanks are well insulated too.
NuWa RV's are very high end, (Expensive!!)and NuWa's claims that the use of Blue Dow Foam in sidewalls "creates 25%+ greater insulation than most RV's". However...NuWa RV's floors are a rather slim R-25, Walls R-9 and roof R-14! Not that good for a $100,000.00 plus RV, huh?
Also, single pane glass windows...which RV's mostly have as standard, have an insulation R-Value of a pathetic R-1!
Dual pane windows which are optional at extra cost are only about double that. Going to real thermal insulated dual pane windows is a costly option and Low E insulated thermal pane glass insulated with inert gas is R-3.1.
Good luck on your search!
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
I agree-If you're not draggin it around a DRV/Doubletree, Teton, Newmar(any of the Aires), Carriage(carriage/royals international), or King of the Road, is probably the right direction to look...there are lots of options and a ton of information on this site about many of them.
I'll add: Spacecraft, New Horizons, Snowbird, even Alfa Gold.
Biggest question is whether you're looking newer or more used-you may like a ten year old really high line 5th wheel or want something that's only 2 or 3 year old medium quality unit that still has pretty good insulation and double pane windows...
I'd probably suggest focusin on:
Double pane windows
Large Fridge
A bathroom that works for you
Stacked washer dryer
Lotd of knowledge and advide on this board. To some degree what we get will depend on how what our insurance company considers replacement for our motorhome. If they will go a fiver and something to pull it with we will have a unit, if not we are stuck and may have to go with a fiver with nothing to pull it or go with another motorhome. For the next year or so it will just be housing for us anyway. Thanks for all the advice. We will be out looking next week. We would certainly get more housing in a fiver and that would be very welcome. I would like high end even close to 10 years old if it has some slides and is light and clean. Guess we will see what is available. Am doing my research now.
Just a word of caution. I purchased a 2012 Cameo just before they went out of business and I don't regret it. It is made well and is perfect for full timing which I hope to do some day as soon as my house sells. It is also 4 season.
Now for my point. I was looking to get double pane window option, but Carriage advised against it. The reason is due to the insulation factor and also weeping on the inside. Through research and there advise, I learned that although double pane do work they do tend to develop leaks more readily than single pane and they have to be replaced about every 7 years. No experience here, but information via forums like the Cameo and this one led me to the single pane. Unless, you are camping in very cold climates, the dual pane would not be necessary. With the single pane, I was told just to leave a vent open slightly to get rid of the extra indoor humidity.
I'll second the vote for Excel. Take a look at their website for additional info on cold weather trailers. I have stayed in an Excel at 10 deg. F with no problems. Just take the usual cold weather precautions like disconnecting water hoses, etc. Google "RVing in cold weather" - lots of great info available.
Excels are usually a little cheaper than New Horizon and Mobile Suites but probably just about as good in the cold.
Dandy Dan wrote: I like the Titanium. I don't know if they are made anymore ...
Nope, but they were great rigs
2008 F350SD V10 with an 2012 Arctic Fox 29-5E When someone tells you to buy the same rig they own, listen, they might be right. When they tell you to buy a different rig then they own, really pay attention, they probably know something you don't.
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