This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy.

What Is The Best RV For Winter Living?

Published on October 22nd, 2021 by Emily Lawrence

What Is The Best RV For Winter Living?

Traveling and camping during the winter can be fun, but you’ll want to make sure you have the right vehicle to do it in. Choosing the best RV for winter living isn’t easy because there are so many brands and models that are good at making cold-weather campers. But what is the best overall option?

The Northwood Arctic Fox is generally considered to be the best RV for winter living. There are several comfortable floor plans, as well as great insulation, powerful furnaces, and heated holding tanks. Other good RV options include models from Jayco, Heartland, and Bigfoot.

If you’re looking for a great cold-weather RV, you’ll definitely see Northwood Arctic Fox pop up. There are lots of factors that go into choosing the perfect winter home though, so let’s explore some of the top models and some important things to look for in a winter RV.

Sign up for the newsletter today!

Please enter a valid email address.

An error occurred. Please try again later.

× logo

Thank you for subscribing to the Camper Report newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

Best RV for Winter Living: Northwood Arctic Fox

Northwood Arctic Fox has consistently stayed at the top of the cold-weather RV rankings, even after years of competition. They had a solid design at the beginning, and have continued to refine and expand their product line ever since.

Now they have a huge catalog of offerings that includes travel trailers, fifth wheels, truck campers, toy haulers, and even some lightweight options. With a total of 38 floor plans to choose from, there’s sure to be a design for everyone.

The specific sizes and accessories will vary depending on the product line and model you choose, but there are several features that are standard across almost all Northwood Arctic Fox builds.

One important feature that they use is insulation. You can’t have a good winter RV without having a way to keep the heat in and the cold out! This company uses high-density block foam insulation in the walls and reflective foil insulation in the ceiling. There are also thermal pane windows in each model so you can enjoy natural lighting without losing much heat.

These RVs also boast heated holding tanks, which is something everyone will appreciate. Nobody wants to be stuck without water or plumbing because the tanks froze up! In addition, these campers have powerful furnaces that can effectively heat the interior for a long time. They commonly have a 25,000 BTU capacity, but some may use a bit more or less.

The comfortable designs, multitude of floor plans, and cold-weather design choices have made any RV from Northwood Arctic Fox offer the best RV for winter living.

If you’re interested in learning more about this brand or want to explore their floor plans for yourself, visit their website at northwoodmfg.com.

Honorable mentions

Almost every Northwood Arctic Fox model will be well-suited to winter living, but what about the other brands? After all, there are tons of manufacturers in the RV world and they are innovating every day. Many brands have released RVs that are also perfect for cold-weather conditions, even if it’s not their main focus as a company.

The RVs below are all fantastic offerings, and any one of them could be called the best RV for winter living.

Jayco 357MDOK Eagle Fifth Wheel

This massive fifth wheel is a great addition to Jayco’s catalog. It features two bedrooms (one master bedroom and one bunk room), a spacious kitchen/living area, and 4 slide-outs to expand the floor plan.

In terms of winter living, this is also a good choice. It comes with a fireplace, a 32,767 BTU furnace, and fantastic insulation throughout the whole unit. This is a fifth wheel you could comfortably take anywhere during any season.

Heartland Bighorn 3950FL

Heartland is another big name in the world of cold-weather RVs. They constantly release updates and remodels, so you can always expect to find new, high-quality offerings here.

The 3950FL is a large fifth wheel that is ideal for winter living. It has a heated and enclosed underbelly, complete with protected holding tanks. There is also a powerful 40,000 BTU furnace, a 12-gallon water heater, and high-quality insulation in every nook and cranny. You’ll be able to get warm and stay warm when you choose this fifth wheel!

Bigfoot 25B25RQ

Bigfoot RVs are much smaller than most others on this list, but they have made a niche for themselves. In some people’s opinions, this brand is responsible for creating some of the best small cold-weather RVs. The 25B25RQ is fairly compact and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that larger models do. But it still has everything you need to be comfortable.

In addition, it has heated and enclosed holding tanks, fantastic insulation, and a 30,000 BTU furnace (which goes a long way in a smaller space). If you’re looking for a smaller, cozier cold-weather RV, this may be the best RV for winter living for you.

What to look for in a winter RV

As you can see, there are lots of great options on the market if you’re looking for a cold-weather RV. But if you want to go off the beaten path and choose something yourself, here are a few important specifications to keep an eye on.

  • Arctic Package: Many RVs will either come with a winter package installed, or have the option to add one upon purchase. This is an essential thing for buyers to look into, because an Arctic Package will improve insulation and make it easier for the vehicle to produce and retain heat. It may also come with things like winterized tires, heated water tanks, etc.
  • Furnace BTU rating: Having a good furnace is essential for a winter RV. If you’re planning on using your camper in cold conditions, the rating should be at least 25,000 BTU, if not higher. Make sure the furnace is up to the task, and remember that the larger the RV, the higher the BTU should be.
  • Enclosed underbelly: A heated and enclosed underbelly is very useful for a winter RV. This prevents any freezing and it provides a safe place for holding tanks to be stored. An enclosed underbelly can also prevent snow, ice, dirt, and other debris from getting caught under the vehicle.
  • Good cold-weather appliances: Finally, keep your eye open for appliances and amenities you would like to see in a winter RV. Things like fireplaces and good water heaters are some of the most popular options.

RVers looking for valuable how-to information have learned to go to the experts. Forums such as iRV2.com and blog sites like RV LIFE, Do It Yourself RV, and Camper Report provide all the information you need to enjoy your RV. You’ll also find brand-specific information on additional forums like Air Forums, Forest River Forums, and Jayco Owners Forum.

Related articles:

About the Author:




11 thoughts on “What Is The Best RV For Winter Living?”

  1. I’m seeing good winter performance with our 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31K. Overall very good, except for a couple cold spots. I insulated the bed deck (under the cab-over mattress) and use winter-rated sleeping bags to create a barrier between the coach and cab. I also applied a quilted blanket to the coach door and some Reflectix and carpet to the wardrobe cabinets in the rear. This might sound like a lot, but was really easy to do. Overall, the coach is quite winter-ready, with double-pane windows and good factory-installed insulation in the floor, walls and roof. The 30,000 Btu/hr propane furnace handles -25C temperatures easily… the insulation helps save propane.

    Reply
  2. Northwood Investments is the parent company of both Northwood Mfg and ORV.
    The ORV manufacturing plant is a few miles from Northwood manufacturing in La Grande Oregon.
    Northwood Manufacturing makes the trailer frames for ORV.

    Reply
  3. Very skeptical of an article on this topic that doesn’t mention Outdoors RV. Super high quality, awesome insulation and ready for winter. We compared features in quite a few 4-season trailers and the choice was very easy.

    Reply
  4. I am surprised you did not mention Lance trailers. They have all the features you mentioned and the early models (we have a 2019 model, 1475S) are extremely well built. My girlfriend and I have been in subzero weather with no issues with our water lines or any of our tanks.

    Reply
  5. When it comes to cold weather camping, you really should review Outdoors RV. The people that started ORV used to work at Arctic Fox, and they set out to make a better product, at a more attractive price point. I think they succeeded. Their customer service is the best in the business. You should really check them out.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Welcome! Please follow these guidelines:

  • Be kind and respectful.
  • Keep comments relevant to the article.
  • Avoid insults, threats, profanity, and offensive remarks.
  • Refrain from discussing gun rights, politics, or religion.
  • Do not post misleading information, personal details, or spam.

We may hide or remove comments at our discretion.