Today’s RV review is of the Northwood Arctic Fox Grande Ronde 27-5L fifth wheel. I know that name is going to generate questions all by itself, and we’ll get to the answers. But first let’s talk about this fifth wheel.
What we’re looking at is a fifth wheel that’s just shy of 30 feet in overall length with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,935 pounds. If you’ve been looking at fifth wheels about this size, you might think this seems a bit heavy. There’s a reason for that.
Northwood Manufacturing
Located in the Pacific Northwest, Northwood Manufacturing is unusual in that they’re a small, independent manufacturer of towable RVs. Another thing that sets them apart is that all the RVs they make have been independently certified as off-road capable.
Part of this is a premium suspension system that incorporates shock absorbers—you know, like whatever vehicle you drive. I know very few RV manufacturers offer this type of suspension as an option, but it’s standard in these here parts. Pardner.
The company starts with frames they make themselves, which is also unusual nowadays. Most of the frames under towable RVs come from either Lippert or BAL®. Only a handful of makers build their own frames, to my knowledge.
The company is heralded as a maker of RVs that are also well-equipped for colder weather. Something that I always see that impresses me about these is that the company puts their outdoor showers behind a thick baggage door instead of the typical cheap plastic door that most RVs use. Makes sense, right? You’re building RVs for cold weather so they should be well-insulated, but so many companies forget about this component.
Although, to be fair, they’ve put the outdoor shower in a compartment with a Nautilus water system now.
Another unusual touch is the water heaters for these, which are 16-gallon propane-electric units. I’m seeing more and more RVs now with tankless water heaters. But I like the propane-electric models simply because you have the option of utilizing park power to heat your water if you’re not boondocking.
Then, again, these rigs are also well-suited for boondocking.
Something that will also make a difference is that the wiring and electrical systems are surge-tested several times during the production process to make sure everything is working properly.
What’s inside the Northwood Arctic Fox Grande Ronde 27-5L?
While I’ve liked Northwood’s products every time I take a look at them, something I will admit to is that the interiors have looked a bit dated in the recent past. It seems that they’ve taken note of this, too. There have been significant upgrades both in style and features since I last looked at this model a few years ago.
The company has three different interior appearance packages and then several choices within that framework for components. You can get a traditional booth dinette, but they’ve now gone to a “Dream Dinette.” That is wall-mounted and easy to convert to a sleeping surface, if that’s your jam. You also have the choice of a table and chairs, and that table top extends and provides some storage beneath it. You know, for your Cards Against Humanity decks.
There is also the choice of a hide-a-bed sofa or theater seats. I don’t see mentioned the fact that this used to also have a free-standing recliner as an option. But a trip to an RV furniture store can resolve that issue.
One of the other changes I noted was a spice drawer in the kitchen, which is nice. And there’s a clever pull-out hanging closet right at the entrance that I thought was pretty slick.
Nice kitchen
A few people I know of are as obsessed with backsplashes behind stoves as I am with teeny RV ovens. I particularly remember when Josh Winters from Bish’s RV was so happy to see that Northwood puts a backsplash both behind and beside the stove. They’re still doing it!
They have significantly upgraded some of the kitchen appliances since last I saw them, with a nearly residential-size oven. The three-burner propane cooktop has an extra large center burner. Also, the microwave is now larger, and has convection functionality.
Lastly, I only saw mention of a 12-volt refrigerator, which is just how things are going.
Also nice is the large kitchen countertop space and the generous number of cabinets and drawers.
A few more things on the Arctic Fox Grande Ronde
Something I think is interesting is the inclusion of a lighted mirror on a swing arm. I’m not throwing this any shade because I use one to see if I’ve done a good job with shaving the back of my head.
See, if I had had kids, I would have eyes in the back of my head, but I didn’t so I don’t.
While I haven’t personally tested it, nor do most RV dealers want you spending the night, these do come with a mattress that is reportedly quite comfortable and the company is quick to point that out. I think the majority of RVs come with a glorified Saltine cracker. The Saltine cracker back cracker.
Funny thing. When I was selling RVs, many of our customers wanted us to just get rid of the mattress that came with the RV and I found a local women’s shelter to take them to. But it didn’t take them long to realize these mattresses were pretty terrible and they asked me not to bring them anymore.
Also, under the mattress they include a lock box, which is a nice touch.
Boondocking and travel access
You can access most of the features in this fifth wheel with the two slides closed. You won’t be able to get to the pantry, but the rest of the kitchen and upstairs bathroom are available.
Northwood has significantly upped its solar game since we last visited, with 200 watts of solar now as standard equipment.
You can get up to 600 additional watts of solar, if you’d like, along with a 3,000-watt inverter. They’re also offering 400 amp hour of lithium battery power as an option.
For traditionalists, you can also get a generator installed.
Conclusions
Now that it’s holiday party season, I am the guy they point to for anyone even remotely considering an RV. That’s what happened this past weekend. A young couple was looking at getting into the RV life and buying a new fifth wheel.
They mentioned one in particular and I immediately tried to steer them away from it, instead recommending this trailer along with a few others. But you could tell the wife had already seen the interior of the fifth wheel I didn’t like. The conversation went, “Well, how bad can it be?”
My response was, “Well, you’ll certainly be able to tell me if you go against the advice you’ve asked for.”
So now I’m the jerk. I see.
Another thing—I was wondering what in the Wide, Wide World of Sports “Grande Ronde” meant other than to differentiate these fifth wheels from Forest River’s Arctic Fox line. Probably because of the Grande Ronde River in northeast Oregon, near La Grande, where Northwood is located.
Also, Grand (without the e) Ronde is the name of a Native American community in the Pacific Northwest. From Wikipedia, the Grand Ronde Community is an Indian reservation located on several non-contiguous sections of land in southwestern Yamhill County and northwestern Polk County, Oregon, United States, about 18 miles east of Lincoln City, near the community of Grand Ronde.
One thing that might not work for some people is the carpet in the slide and bedroom. I am no fan of carpeting under where you’re going to eat. I think the marine-grade woven flooring, which I have in my own RV, is just a better product, especially regarding cleanup.
One of the things I’ve liked about Northwood, in addition to the product itself, is that they take the time to do their own walk-through videos. I’ve been watching this same guy do these videos for years and they’re pretty darned good. I honestly don’t know why more manufacturers don’t do this. But they don’t.
These aren’t that easy to find, but if you want something worth considering they’re certainly worth seeking out.
##RVT1135
I think you mean for gross weight rating (GVW) is 13,600 lbs. and unloaded weight (UVW) of 10,935 lbs. According to the chart you printed with the article. Hate to be a nitpicker but with all confusion out there this an important number to keep correct.
Not sure I follow. These are the numbers in the chart. I just verified it and that’s also what’s reflected on the manufacturer’s web page. What am I missing?
I didn’t see any mention of whether there are two dump connections since there are two grey tanks. I even watched the video and didn’t see any mention of this. Overall, this trailer could be usable, especially for us boondockers.
My 2018 had only one dump connection for 2 grey tanks, and 1 black. Doesn’t look like they have changed…..
There is only one. I usually mention it when I see more than one.
Agree with Kyle. Our ’22 has only one dump hookup, while each tank has it’s own valve.
I’ve used NW products, exclusively for 22 years and not one had separate dump connections. Not saying they couldn’t have built some that did, but none I’ve seen do
When we started shopping for our fifth wheel 9 years ago, I really wanted the quality of the Northwood Arctic Fox. We ended up with another Rockwood instead due to GVWR. Our fiver was about 3′ shorter than this Arctic Fox, but the GVWR was 5,000# less. Part of this weight difference was just tank sizes, but part was that Northwood frame, better insulation, and higher-quality components.
BTW, our Rockwood also had a table and chairs instead of a dinette. Which made it very easy to remove and, at various times, use that space for crafting, an office, a folding rocking-chair “den”, a card table with well-cushioned folding chairs, or a folding E-bike garage. Ie., “flex space”!
Northwood not only builds Arctic Fox…they have the Nash and Outdoor RV line too. Sort of a three tier system for most pocketbooks. I personally like the Outdoor RV line as I own one and had another before, I would not hesitate to buy another…anything but the run of the mill cracker boxes the bigger outfits throw out there.
Good comment and good choice in RVs, too!
Technically Outdoors is a separate company that shares ownership with NW (I’ve owned NW products, exclusively, for 22 years)
An oddity in the 27-5L “floor plan” is that NW has built three different floor plans they called “27-5L”, the oldest only had one slide-out (main living), the middle years had two, but the bedroom slide was on the passenger side. The most recent is the one you reviewed.