Before You Buy ANY Truckbed Camper . . . tick the boxes on what works & what doesn't for YOU!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 жов 2023
- We LOVE our F350/truckbed camper combo, but it’s NOT for everyone. Things to think about, and think about again, before making the leap.
This is the 3rd Episode about our 2024 Arctic Fox 1140.
More to come. - Навчання та стиль
Howard... The manner in which you conduct your reviews with such high respect and courtesy is beyond admirable!🙌
Ahhh - thank you. You are very kind. I have to confess tho that sometimes it's more of a challenge than at other times because I get a little too task focussed and forget that 'we're all in this together, doing the best that we can under sometimes very challenging circumstances'.
All the very best always to you and Beth. Here's to the journey.
Life is full of compromise.
Make the best of what you have as you have done 👍
Thanks for tuning in and being part of our journey.
Man, that's so nice bro...i lived in a keystone bullet 22 tt for 5 years... i want a truck camper..but maybe used one new ones are so expensive for retired miltary sarge!! Lol
Lots of used ones out there that are in great shape. All the very best. You'll find some with double slides that will basically give you the same amount of useable storage and floorspace that your Keystone Bullet had.
All the very best - and huge thanks for tuning in and being part of the conversation!
On your shower put a piece of clear plastic over the top of the nozzles shower curtain works the best then you won't bump it
Ahhhh - great idea! Thanks for tuning in and sharing.
Wow, just watched 4 videos! Really great content. You’re a joy to watch.
Glad you like them! Thank you for tuning in.
Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any aspects that of the topic that I did not cover.
I truly appreciate your honesty about features. Whether it’s , they nailed it, or hey, this could be better if… I have an AF 865 and as we know, it’s the little details that make or break the experience. Nice video!
Ahhh - thank you - you are very kind. I'm just getting going on this YT thing and am not very polished, but the my presentation and the videos will get better. Huge thanks for tuning in and being part of the conversation.
Enjoyed the video very much! It was quite informative and your style is superb.
Cheers,
Kevin
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for tuning in and being part of my journey!
Seen a few of your videos, very positive and precise explanation on the items in the camper, pro and cons a great job. 👏👏👏👏 we are in the market on purchase of the 1140, the only draw and the price tag also am I person that has to touch and see feel the products. And we are on the eastern side of Canada and very few units here and No dealers… so we are looking now for making our contact to purchase a unit. ..we have a f450 and should have no issue’s on payloads,
Again a great job and thanks to you and wife for such details… five star rating 👍
Thank you for your kind words - and thank you for tuning in and being part of my journey.
Here's wishing you all the very best as you go in quest of an 1140. I can tell you that something like 8 or 9 RV's later (across the span of 3 decades), this one is a keeper. If I was doing it all over again, this is definitely the unit I'd purchase.
Safe travels.
Y’all are fabulous!
Excellant video, and great info !
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for tuning in and being part of my journey.
If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
I am guessing video streaming and upload would drain batteries faster than reading an article. More data in block of time would likely increase battery drain vs low data text reading.
Interesting that you mention that. Just yesterday I was on a couple of geek forums where the participants were stating that streaming and uploading definitely use more power than for example reading or working on spreadsheet or word documents.
Thanks for tuning in and being part of the conversation.
Love your pants!
hahaha - good old Lululemon - my go to for at least 12 months of the year, rain, shine or snow.
I thought the 24s went from 120vac/propane to 12v only? Great tour as usual. We too want to go to AK and Western Canada. Please make videos of your preparations for the trip. Thanks!
Yeah - lots of campers do now. Not sure what clown thinks it's a good idea to have a camper with AC/12v only. I have considerable experience with 12V and I'm NOT a fan. Not with the amount of boondocking Coral and I do.
Great idea for new video content - the one about our prep. Will do.
Really nice Camper. Is it an Artic Fox? What year?
It's a 2024 model, purchased September 2023. I could not be more happy . . .
Huge thanks for tuning in and being part of my journey.
So, no A/C?
Could you do a quick video showing inside access with slide completely in?
Thanks for tuning in and being part of my journey!
Definitely A/C. A really terrific unit. Both while on AC or while running off the generator, it performs wonderfully. Cooled the unit quickly and efficiently on some >100 degree days - in part because of the excellent insulating properties of the Arctic Fox construction.
What a great idea. Cannot believe I overlooked a short video of the unit with the slide closed.
Will do a short and will post out within the next week.
@@howardkettner awesome, thank you!
Is it a 12v unit?
great tours!! Thank you! Can you use the slide with the slide pulled in, wasn't sure if the weight would mess up the gears
As I understand it - whether the slide is Schwintek (sp?) or otherwise (and my Arctic Fox fits into the category of 'otherwise') as I understand it one should use the slide sparingly if at all when it is pulled on. The slides by nature of the mechanisms are apparently - from everything I've read, viewed and talked about with techs, are made to be occupied only when FULLY extended.
If you ever see anything that contradicts this, I'd be super interested.
Huge thanks for tuning in and being part of the conversation.
@@howardkettner @infiniteexplorers has a 2022 AF 1150 and they use the dinette with slide in with no issues
We got our 990 used but the previous owner left a 2 step set up for getting in the bed. It does take up a wee bit of floor space but it's perfect for getting in and out of bed, sitting and a mini table top too. Don't even need the counter ext. It rides on the bed when we're driving.
The only strange thing about the 1140 is the stove vent that doesn't get vented to the outside... makes it kind of pointless. I'd actually remove it and just have a light under the cab and change the ceiling vent fan to a more powerful one. I asked AF about that and they didn't have an answer at all.
In the bathroom mirror cab, I bought some 3" deep trays from the dollar store that fit right in there. Keeps the stuff from blowing out when I open the door. Door also has velcro to close shut as secondary measure while driving
Great tips! Love your idea for dealing with the behind the mirror bathroom cabinet storage issue. One of those ideas that has me going "why didn't I think of that". Huge thanks.
Thank you also for tuning in and being part of the conversation.
That 990 is a sweet unit. Everyone I've talked to that has one raves about it.
@howardkettner yeah the 990 is a good overall unit. Mine being older it doesn't have some of the storage units like the sliding tray of the current models. We'd get another one but if we buy new,, it definitely won't be one with the 12v refrigerator. Currently that's the only option and I'm not down with that si we're keeping ours for awhile and see what happens. At worse we can get up to a 2023 model with propane fridge for boonedocking
@@ToddStull yeah - I agree 100%. I will not buy a 12V only fridge. I think that is a ridiculous unit for one that enjoys off-grid
@howardkettner fyi, if you do have problems ever with your gas absorption fridge you can go to JC Refrigeration around ft wayne Indiana and they invented a full on back panel that replaces and fixes all the problems of the ammonia issues the current models have. I didn't get one yet but know a guy that got it and solved a bunch of problems
@@ToddStull oh wow! Thanks for the info! Much appreciated Todd!
What year is your camper and what’s the approximate weight of it the way you travel. I have a 2020 F450 and we are contemplating a truck camper once we sell our 5thwheel. Keep up the informative videos and safe travels
Great questions. Thanks for tuning in . . .
It's a brand new 2024 Arctic Fox Model 1140. The F350 carries slightly more payload than a stock F450, but the way mine is equipped (after market wheels and a couple other things) the payload would be nearly identical.
With all water/waste tanks empty I'm legal (
What aftermarket tire brand, model and size did you put on your truck? Do they carry the weight of the loaded TC well and do they give good traction on dirt roads when it rains? Thanks, Kevin
Great question.
The first tires I put on were Continental. Lots of grip (we've got a hobby farm and depend on the F350 in all sorts of conditions. Pulled 20' 14,000 LB trailer loaded with logs out of some ugly spots and up some adverse graded. Ran a set of fairly aggressively lugged Continentals for 0ver 50,000 miles. Lots of traction left, but I'd had them on their for 8 years and was concerned that just from sheer age the sidewalls would blow while pilotting the T & C plus a tow vehicle in six lanes of traffic - so swapped them out for Yokohama Geolander A/T. 10 Ply LT275/65R20. 126/123R. They've been a great compromise.
And while the prior tires were definitely more aggressive in both mud and snow, they were not 'snowflake' rated - which meant that I cannot run the Coquihalla pass between where I live and some of my kids live in Vancouver. I required tires that are officially snow rated between October 1 and the end of April.
Love the Yokohama's. They do the job - with about1/2 the highway noise. Never been stuck yet in the mud around farm as long as I put it into Low-4.
Hope this helps.
PS - Yes - they carry the weight of the loaded TC well. As in zero roll in the corners. A bit bumpy on those crazy california bridge approaches. While in California I drop my air pressure to 50 lbs. Jack it to 65 otherwise, but at 65 or 70 lbs, the California will destroy any truck bed camper. Worst roads we've encountered. I'd run a gravel road all day rather than california concrete with those crazy bridge transitions.
What are your thoughts about the 1140 vs 1150 ?
What a great question. Coral and I toured an 1150 and were totally taken with it - and ordered an 1150. Apparently Northwood does something like one or two production line runs of a specific unit per year. The 1150 was to be in production in May, then delayed to June, July, then August and finally September for a late September arrival. I needed something sooner and there was a 'run' of 1140's so I put my name on it.
As best as I understand it from looking at the floor plans - while the footprint is different it's comparable in terms of efficient use of space. The dealer told me that the 1140 - because of it's layout has more and better practical storage space. As I recall from my tour of the 1150 I would agree, but would be hard pressed to be more specific. Sorry.
Hope this helps.
Thank you @@howardkettner
I was seriously considering the 1140 over the 1150, because you got another counter space, the fridge wasn’t on a slide out, n the fridge wasn’t over hanging on carpet. And better utilization of space over the 1150 imo. 🍻