Arctic package

[hkreck]

I've ordered a 2012 Solera and am awaiting delivery, I just noticed on the invoice that it comes with something called a Arctic package. Can someone clue me in on this? thanks

[HIDE OUT]

I believe It means you have a enclosed heated under belly So your holding tanks are heated so you can camp in colder weather

[hkreck]

Ok I can see how that makes sense. Thanks

[Poppy Bill]

It has a heatpad on your tanks My 2011 has a switch on the panel to turn this on.

[hkreck]

Thanks for the info, how do you like your 2011 Solera? Do you have the 24S or the 24MS?

[Poppy Bill]

Glad to share. My model is a SS24S

[Poppy Bill]

I forgot to say that the DW and I really enjoy it.It is easy to manuver and just right for two people. I,am hopeing the mileage goes up i,am getting 13 to 13.5 right now only have 3200 miles on it.

[hkreck]

Sounds great we can't wait to receive ours, we got the 24S expecting it in around mid May. I've heard that the milage gets better after a break in period about 5000 Miles. Thanks for sharing.

[jk31668]

does the artic pak run off of 120v or 12v?

[Poppy Bill]

I think it is 12volt i saw some info on another post saying it was 12volt. I only have used mine at home when it was on shore power.

[F and E Damp]

On our '02 Georgetown, there are heater elements on both the black and grey tanks but not on the potable water tank. According to the supplier documentation, they are 12V DC elements and draw about 7 amps for each tank.

When the Arctic Pack (spelled by GT as "Artic!) the non-adjustable, built-in thermostats turn the elements on when they sense the contents are dropping below 40F and off again when the contents get to 65F. Who the hell needs to heat up the poop in the black tank to 65 degrees?! With that level of contamination, the contents probably wouldn't freeze until about 25F anyway.

Since nothing's adjustable and the whole system looks like a riduclous waste of money on the part of the original purchasers (particularly for the Pacific Northwest climate), I don't plan to ever switch it on.

[TURBS]

I only used our once and more than likely didn't need it .

[cstover]

Frozen poo is horrible to deal with. I think the arctic package is kinda like 4 wheel drive. IMO better to have and not need, than need and not have.

[F and E Damp]

I guess if you only use it to unfreeze what froze, it might be worth the extra cash. We wouldn't consider using the RV in conditions cold enough to freeze the contents of the black tank.

I was more concerned about the effects of heating the "poo" to 65F and also the risk of the heater getting an empty tank hot enough to met through. If the "on" and "off" settings were more like the frost-stats that are used on water pipes (on at 34 and off at 38) it would make more sense.

Still, a 14 or 21 Amp drain on the house batteries isn't a good idea for any length of time.

[snwmblefreak]

I have the heater on my Cherokee 29z and it has come in handy more often than not. I have been using my trailer all winter ad at one point we had a surprise snow storm. Had about a foot of snow hit us. The water hose it's self froze because I didn't get the remaining water out after filling the holding tank but I never had a problem with the rest of the water system a single time. Aside from the snow storm we experienced several days where the hi was under 35 degrees with no snow. I would recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to camp in areas where the potential is there so that if needed, you are safe. Like the previous post about 4x4. Better safe than sorry.

[jimh]

They do work on 12v. My trailer came with them. I've put them on in the winter but don't think they came on very much. Last year, I pulled the underbelly cover. They are taped to the bottom of the tank. Sense there were no signs of anything melting, I don't believe the get hot enough to melt the tanks. I havent turned them on in the past couple years. I don't camp in extreme temps...except the first time out.

Keep that 12volts in mind if u ever do any dry camping.