Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

**wag** · 09-27-2014, 09:53 PM

I didn't realize it until now but that is my dream home

**Gepeto** · 09-27-2014, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by maddog

Here's a nice little "motorhome." for sale on craigslist: http://rockies.craigslist.org/rvs/4683936755.html

$30k in gas to go 27000 miles...
How big is your carbon footprint?

**DanoT** · 09-28-2014, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Gepeto

$30k in gas to go 27000 miles...
How big is your carbon footprint?

At least it gets 4 mpg, if they are not lying. I was expecting gallons per mile. Either way we know the reason it has such low miles.

**Todds** · 09-28-2014, 10:23 AM

It is 10 foot wide. Is that highway legal?

**raueda1** · 09-28-2014, 01:36 PM

I want to find something I could park and use in Jackson midwinter for weeks at a time so looking for "4 season" winterized travel trailer. Winter in southern UT, AZ or NV is one thing, WY is something else. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of Arctic Fox trailers? They're supposedly "4-seasons", but I'm not sure what that really means. Anyway, they have thermopane windows, serious wall insulation, all the plumbing stuff and tanks insulated and area under the floor is heated to prevent freezeups. Very expensive new, much more reasonable used.

**NoPostholio** · 09-28-2014, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Todds

It is 10 foot wide. Is that highway legal?

I had a Gulfstream that was 9'6" and fine - cutoff where you need placards and/or escort vehicles is prob around 10'

eta - widest width allowed on road is 8'6"

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Freight/publ...ndex.htm#width

**Fejj** · 09-29-2014, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by raueda1

I want to find something I could park and use in Jackson midwinter for weeks at a time so looking for "4 season" winterized travel trailer. Winter in southern UT, AZ or NV is one thing, WY is something else. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of Arctic Fox trailers? They're supposedly "4-seasons", but I'm not sure what that really means. Anyway, they have thermopane windows, serious wall insulation, all the plumbing stuff and tanks insulated and area under the floor is heated to prevent freezeups. Very expensive new, much more reasonable used.

Knew a welder that stayed in one through northern Alberta winters. Said it was the only way to go. No first hand experience though.

**Altaholic** · 09-29-2014, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by raueda1

I want to find something I could park and use in Jackson midwinter for weeks at a time so looking for "4 season" winterized travel trailer. Winter in southern UT, AZ or NV is one thing, WY is something else. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of Arctic Fox trailers? They're supposedly "4-seasons", but I'm not sure what that really means. Anyway, they have thermopane windows, serious wall insulation, all the plumbing stuff and tanks insulated and area under the floor is heated to prevent freezeups. Very expensive new, much more reasonable used.

Just to let you know there are VERY FEW lots IF ANY that will let you park overnight in Jackson during the winter. Cops crack down on that here, you may get away with a couple, that is pushing it.

**DanoT** · 09-29-2014, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by Altaholic

Just to let you know there are VERY FEW lots IF ANY that will let you park overnight in Jackson during the winter. Cops crack down on that here, you may get away with a couple, that is pushing it.

Because summer is the main season in Jackson due to nearby Yellowstone Park, in winter rooms are cheap and plentiful.

The motel 6 in Jackson is $50/night, dogs are free and they give a 30% discount for 7 nights or more. That is cheaper than most camp grounds and the rooms have all been remodeled with new beds, flooring, sink, shower, shelves, and HD TV.

**yardsale2** · 09-29-2014, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by raueda1

I want to find something I could park and use in Jackson midwinter for weeks at a time so looking for "4 season" winterized travel trailer. Winter in southern UT, AZ or NV is one thing, WY is something else. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of Arctic Fox trailers? They're supposedly "4-seasons", but I'm not sure what that really means. Anyway, they have thermopane windows, serious wall insulation, all the plumbing stuff and tanks insulated and area under the floor is heated to prevent freezeups. Very expensive new, much more reasonable used.

Four season usually means extra insulation, double pane windows (essential to minimize condensation), a furnace, and some strategy for keeping the fresh, gray and black water systems from freezing. If you want to park "off the grid" without external power, you need to think of how you are going to charge your batteries and what the capacities of the battery system is. Artic Fox is well thought of, but you should look at these: http://escapetrailer.com/. Look under the options list for features that will render the trailer winter capable and go the the forum mentioned on the website for additional discussion. The smaller trailers especially are available used for $20000 or less but may not have the winter related options you wish. The company can retrofit a used trailer with the insulation around the tanks. We pick ours up in January!

**raueda1** · 09-29-2014, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by Fejj

Knew a welder that stayed in one through northern Alberta winters. Said it was the only way to go. No first hand experience though.

This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to hear. Jackson is more of an idea or example at this point. I've been browsing the RV forums and there just doesn't seem to be much first (or even second) hand info on winter use in places where winter is really winter. Most of the posters seem to be in places like desert SW where it's not sub-freezing 24/7 for weeks at a stretch. And it also seems that most of the so-called "4 season" trailers are a horror of frozen tanks and interior condensation under those conditions. Apparently the Arctic Fox is an altogether different league. Used ones aren't common, but they're out there. I'll check out the escape trailers too.

**raueda1** · 09-29-2014, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by yardsale2

Four season usually means extra insulation, double pane windows (essential to minimize condensation), a furnace, and some strategy for keeping the fresh, gray and black water systems from freezing. If you want to park "off the grid" without external power, you need to think of how you are going to charge your batteries and what the capacities of the battery system is. Artic Fox is well thought of, but you should look at these: http://escapetrailer.com/. Look under the options list for features that will render the trailer winter capable and go the the forum mentioned on the website for additional discussion. The smaller trailers especially are available used for $20000 or less but may not have the winter related options you wish. The company can retrofit a used trailer with the insulation around the tanks. We pick ours up in January!

Arctic Fox has all that stuff. Add a generator and you're all set. They offer an optional LP Onan unit and most of the used units out there seem to have already it. Not sure how fast you'd burn through gas if it's 20 deg outside and furnace and generator both running much of the time. Probably pretty fast.......

**DanoT** · 09-29-2014, 07:26 AM

It seems to me that RV manufacturers in places like northern California have a different concept as to what constitutes winter use when compared to builders in Colorado or Canada and it is reflected in their products.

**Todds** · 09-29-2014, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by DanoT

The motel 6 in Jackson is $50/night, dogs are free and they give a 30% discount for 7 nights or more. That is cheaper than most camp grounds and the rooms have all been remodeled with new beds, flooring, sink, shower, shelves, and HD TV.

I just stayed in one of those remodeled rooms. They were very nice. Didn't look like any motel 6 I have ever stayed in. Comfy bed and lots of TV channels.

Originally Posted by raueda1

Arctic Fox has all that stuff. Add a generator and you're all set. They offer an optional LP Onan unit and most of the used units out there seem to have already it. Not sure how fast you'd burn through gas if it's 20 deg outside and furnace and generator both running much of the time. Probably pretty fast.......

LP generators use a lot of propane. Those little tanks will run out fast.

**AKPogue** · 09-29-2014, 08:00 AM

This should probably keep you warm during the winter!! http://www.unicat.com/pdf/UNICAT-MXX...N8x8-en-es.pdf

**raueda1** · 09-29-2014, 11:06 AM

Outstanding! Cool in the summer too, I'm sure. Those 303 gallon fuel tanks are a bit limiting though, I think I'd go 500 gal, at least. Now I know what my bug-out vehicle will be when I'm promoted to a Narco-cartel kingpin.

**bgrayvy** · 10-05-2014, 07:25 PM

Anybody around here do much winter camping in a VW? Looking like mine will be on the block come springtime and I've never slept in it in the mountains in winter. So this is the year. Mine's a Eurovan, with a propane furnace. It's kept me toasty while below freezing alongside many rivers, so I'm guessing it'll be fine. Any snocountry EV tips appreciated.

**ghosthop** · 10-05-2014, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Altaholic

Just to let you know there are VERY FEW lots IF ANY that will let you park overnight in Jackson during the winter. Cops crack down on that here, you may get away with a couple, that is pushing it.

When I was in town last winter I crashed in one of the parking lots right inside the NP. Didn't have any issues with it and it seemed like there were a couple others there doing the same thing.

**skysos** · 10-05-2014, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by raueda1

I want to find something I could park and use in Jackson midwinter for weeks at a time so looking for "4 season" winterized travel trailer. Winter in southern UT, AZ or NV is one thing, WY is something else. Anybody have any experience or knowledge of Arctic Fox trailers? They're supposedly "4-seasons", but I'm not sure what that really means. Anyway, they have thermopane windows, serious wall insulation, all the plumbing stuff and tanks insulated and area under the floor is heated to prevent freezeups. Very expensive new, much more reasonable used.

I did a lot of research into this and decided that trailers are not the best way to go for winter use. It's mostly due to the way they are constructed with lack of a substantial basement area for air circulation to keep the tanks from freezing. Electric heating pads are used, but cannot be run on batteries for long. Yes, it can work for a few days but long-term most people skirt the trailer and have 110V electricity to keep things liquid. There is also the problem of moving a travel trailer on snowy roads. How often have you seen anyone towing one in the winter? The stock tires suck and are not designed for chains.

So the best way to go is probably a truck camper on a 4WD 1-ton truck. Arctic Fox, Lance, Bigfoot, and Northern Lite are usually thought to have the best winter insulation. My opinion is that Northern Lite is the best, Bigfoot 2nd, Arctic Fox 3rd, and Lance last. They are all basically an insulated box with the tanks inside the box. My Arctic Fox 990 has a fan that comes on with the furnace that blows warm air into the basement to keep the tanks from freezing. Note that not all Arctic Fox's have double-pane windows. It's an option just like it is with the others.

Still, long-term winter use is a big challenge. You need to dump your tanks regularly and top-off with fresh water. Finding an open dump station in the winter in Wyoming could be a problem. Electricity in the winter usually means running a generator for a couple hours a day. This attracts attention. Full-hookup RV parks are the best way to go in the winter, but you may not find any open and they are expensive.

In the end, unless you have a special circumstance, in most cases it makes more sense to hotel it. The truck camper option is best for month-long tours where you will be moving a lot.

**sal the salmon** · 10-06-2014, 01:00 AM

can any1 recommend what are some good older models for half ton short beds and winter. lookin around for somethin for my 91 toyota short bed.

**Danny Noonan** · 10-06-2014, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by sal the salmon

can any1 recommend what are some good older models for half ton short beds and winter. lookin around for somethin for my 91 toyota short bed.

I would keep an eye out for an old Toyota Chinook if I were you, Those fiberglass campers are sick pop tops that you can keep latched down when it is super cold. It may not be the warmest version out there. But they are so efficient in their size and capabilities, and typically if you are on a budget of any type, can be picked up for next to nothing and swapped to a newer Toy with some effort.

**DanoT** · 10-06-2014, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by sal the salmon

can any1 recommend what are some good older models for half ton short beds and winter. lookin around for somethin for my 91 toyota short bed.

Check out popup aluminum framed campers at 4Wheel Campers or ATC or Coyote RV who make custom Phoenix campers. I have a custom Phoenix, built for staying in ski area parking lots with 2" insulation, 18k BTU furnace, 2 20lb propane tanks, Honda generator (essential for charging my 2 AGM batteries), arctic package for the soft side popup, etc. i don't run the water system in winter but heat water on the stove and use a portable primitive shower.

**sal the salmon** · 10-06-2014, 01:44 PM

just to make sure im clear here, that is a hilux with a camper from a chinook that was taken off the chinook and modded to go on a hilux?

**yabyum** · 10-06-2014, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by sal the salmon

just to make sure im clear here, that is a hilux with a camper from a chinook that was taken off the chinook and modded to go on a hilux?

I have a chinook for saleOn a '77 hilux w/20r. original down to the orange shag

been my fishing truck for several years. PM me if you want to try to put on a toyota 4x4.

**Diesel** · 10-06-2014, 06:49 PM

After several years (and winters) in my old uninsulated, yet surprisingly warm, Sun Lite pop up truck camper, I've finally upgraded.

New-to-me camper has electric jacks, insulated canvas, and, hallelujah, a bathroom! It's a 2003, one owner. Unfortunately he hasn't touched it for 4+ years, so it does have some water damage from sitting in storage, but overall it's in really good shape.

Bring it, Ullr! I'm ready!