Intech Sol Horizon Pros and Cons
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We own a 2021 Intech Sol Horizon RV and are thrilled with it! We looked for quite a while for a small RV with great build quality and an affordable price point.
We feel that the value you get with an Intech RV is worth it! For reference, we also looked at a lot of small models such as Tabs, NuCamps, Casitas and Airstreams.
So, if you are trying to decide on whether or not you want to buy an Intech Sol Horizon (or other sister brands such as the Sol Dawn or Sol Eclipse), here are the pros and cons that we have found.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for video tours and reviews, as well as helpful tips for traveling in an Intech RV.
Pros – What We Love About Our Intech Sol Horizon
1. Small 19-Foot Size
We started RVing in a 33-foot Forest River Salem travel trailer. It was great, with a fireplace and plush lounge chairs and a kitchen island (here’s a video tour).
However, over time, we grew tired of trying to find campsites that would fit larger RVs, especially when we wanted to camp in National Parks. And driving a longer RV has its own challenges, from not being able to find places to park to needing sway control.
The 19-foot size of our Intech Sol Horizon is exactly why we chose it. The small size lets us easily find campsites in National Parks and State Parks. In fact, during our recent cross country tour, we were able to score a great Grand Canyon campsite (see our campsite review video) because we had a smaller rig.
We also have had more success getting last minute campsite reservations because we are small and the only spots left were for smaller vehicles.
We are able to more easily pull into parking lots and drive down narrow roads, too.
2. Quality Construction
The build quality of an Intech RV is impressive. It is one of the main reasons that people are flocking to Intech trailers right now. The moment you step into a trailer and start opening the doors and cabinets you can feel the solid build quality.
3. Large Window
The large picture window over the dinette is one of the main reasons we love the Intech Sol Horizon. This wrap around window lets you see great views of where you are camping. It’s a feature that is not found in many RVs.
Don’t worry about being on display with having such a large window, though. It’s tinted to where you can easily look out, but people can’t easily look inside. In fact, it’s fun to watch other campers checking out your rig while you are inside watching them and they don’t know you can see them!
We’ve tested the lighting at dusk, as well. Even with the lights on inside, it’s hard for someone outside of the camper to see clearly inside until they get very close to the window.
The picture window is made of automotive glass. And, there is a slightly padded windshield protector that is included with your base model price that covers the window to protect it when traveling.
4. Fiberglass
In our Forest River Salem, we had a problem with moisture intrusion and the closet had become a moldy mess, unbeknownst to us. We never knew that there was a water leak that soaked the wooden walls.
With fiberglass, you don’t need to worry about water intrusion ruining wood walls or floors.
Fiberglass RVs also hold their value longer with less depreciation. You can generally buy a fiberglass RV and sell it for more money on the dollar than trying to resell a stick-built RV.
5. Bathroom Size
We absolutely did NOT want an RV with a wet bath. That was one thing that I said I would never do. But as soon as I saw the Intech RV wet bath, I changed my mind.
Intech’s wet baths are 25% bigger than most standard RV wet baths. And it makes a huge difference! That was the number one thing we worried about when peeking inside a Sol Horizon. As soon as we both tried out the bathroom and made sure we could move around, lift our arms inside to shower and not be cramped, we knew that we’d be okay with this wet bath.
The space is more than enough to take a shower. My six-foot tall husband has plenty of room to shower. The shower head is ideally positioned. And I really think I like this shower more than the ones in other RVs.
If you are worried about having a wet bath in an RV, I encourage you to stand in the bathroom of a Sol Horizon and see just how spacious it is.
6. Marine Grade Flooring
RV floors get really dirty. You are constantly dragging dirt and debris from outside indoors. These marine-grade floors are easy to wash and wipe down. And they don’t show the dirt.
I didn’t know how much I’d like this flooring until we started camping more often and realized it was easier to clean these floors rather than laminated wood-look floors in most RVs.
7. Thoughtful Details
Everywhere you look inside the Sol Horizon, there are thoughtful details that you can tell the designers really listened to the needs of campers. The location of lights and USB ports, the location of hooks, bungee cords on the open shelves, etc.
These might not be huge selling points, or even noticeable things, when you are thinking about buying. However, as you are living and traveling in your Intech trailer, you will be quite thankful for the small conveniences.
8. MaxxAir Fan
We’ve often used the MaxxAir Fan for cooling instead of the air conditioning. It’s great to have.
There is a Fantastic Fan in the bathroom, too. So two vented fans in one 19-foot trailer. It really helps with keeping humidity out by opening the fans after showering.
9. Large Farmhouse Sink and Cover
The huge sink is a winner with us! Not all RVs have a sink so spacious! We actually store things in the sink while traveling, such as plants, cleaning supplies, dirty pots and pans, etc.
We really appreciate the rolling cover that fits over the sink to create a surface space. I didn’t think that I’d use the cover so much. It’s great to use the covered sink as a place to store my contact solution, contacts and a glass of water while sleeping.
10. Euro Decor
We like the clean, modern and fresh decor of Intech RVs. It might be called Euro styling by manufacturers, but we just think it’s modern-day decor that makes sense in the 21st century.
11. Spacious Dinette
RV dinettes generally aren’t comfortable, but the Sol Horizon’s is definitely roomy and comfy! There is more than enough space for three adults (or more) to sit. The cushions are deep and we actually use the dinette more of a lounger than to sit upright and eat.
We prop ourselves up in each corner, stretch out our legs on the cushions, and it’s more like a couch while watching TV.
The cushions are so deep that I have a hard time having my feet touch the floor, so I made this storage ottoman from a popcorn tin and it really works great! It’s the perfect size and stores away easily.
The table can be removed and stored in the cabinets above. When you remove the table, the camper feels really spacious. Some people remove the table and install a Lagun table instead.
12. Outdoor Kitchen
We never thought we needed an outdoor kitchen. We are completely happy using a portable grill on a portable table as our cooking set up. And honestly, that’s what we still use when cooking.
However, we are thrilled with the ability to store a Dometic Freezer/Refrigerator combo in the outdoor kitchen area. We bought our used Sol Horizon and it didn’t have this outdoor refrigerator included, so we bought it on our own (which probably saves money from paying a dealership to include it in your purchase price).
The griddle is a nice feature and a lot of people use it. We’re just not huge fans of using a griddle versus using a grill. You could leave it out and have extra storage in the area, instead.
13. Oversized Air Conditioner
The 13,500 BTU air conditioner is bigger than needed in a trailer this size. Which means it cools down fast in the RV.
14. Quieter Heater
The furnace in our Forest River Salem was so loud that I never wanted to use it. Instead, we used heat from the electric fireplace.
The heater in the Intech Sol Horizon is much quieter. Not perfect, but definitely quieter than others I’ve heard.
We did end up buying a portable electric heater to save on propane costs and reduce the noise. This is the electric heater we bought which will shut off if its knocked over, though to do it over again I’d like a heater with a timer.
15. Storage Under Sink
This might sound weird, but we really appreciate the big storage area under the sink. Often, in RVs, there is no place to put a trash can. And no one wants to look at their trash piling up in the walkway.
Think about it, if there was not a large cabinet that could house a trash can, where would it go in an RV of this size? You would have to hang it on the door or store under the table, which isn’t great.
We are able to store two plastic milk crates on top of each other on one side of the cabinet (we use those for clothing and shoe storage), and then we put a trash can (decorated with our free Trailer Trash graphic) and extra paper towels on the other side.
The space is so big that we could store this portable washing machine in there, too. (See our video review of this washing machine.)
We have seen other Sol Horizon owners install pull out drawers and even modify it to be a cat litterbox area.
16. Basement
The outdoor exterior storage is bigger than we expected. In fact, we fit a portable washing machine in its box in the basement area. And still had room for a drying rack, extra provisions, plastic storage containers and lots more stuff.
The basement is long and deep, so you might want to get some larger plastic containers that are easy to pull out to organize your supplies.
17. Blue Lights
The blue lights are cool! We thought they were gimmicky and that we wouldn’t use them. But honestly, we use them more than the clear lights that are also available on the light fixture. (You push the button once for the blue, twice to get the clear light.)
It’s nice to have a soft light in the trailer sometimes, especially when watching TV. And the blue lighting in the open shelves is a nice touch.
Related Post: 15 Best Personalities for RVing
Cons – What We Don’t Like About Our Intech Sol Horizon
1. The Bed
We wish there was a better way to get a queen size bed inside this RV. However, the bed position seems to be the only way to have a large bed in a small trailer.
The queen size bed is surrounded by 3 1/2 walls. There are three sides completely against the wall, and the open side is covered by part of the bathroom wall. This makes getting in and out of the bed really difficult. The person laying next to the window has to climb over their partner to get out.
In addition to it being a pain for the second person, it’s a HUGE pain to make the bed! And I mean HUGE! Making this bed has brought much cursing and sweating.
Zippered bedding is an option for it to be easier to make the bed. And even though zippered sheets are expensive, we have to say they are totally worth it for the Sol Horizon.
2. Window Blinds
The window blinds in the Intech Sol Horizon break very frequently. This isn’t necessarily an Intech RV issue, but more the blinds themselves, which are notorious for breaking in all RVs.
We’ve had the back window blind broken twice. What happens is that the strings fray and break, leaving the window blinds to not work. You can restring the blinds with a stronger string or even fishing line.
The blinds are covered under warranty, and when our kitchen blinds broke, too, we put in a warranty request. We were shipped new blinds to install in less than a week. It’s just that we had to do the labor.
3. Lack of Insulation
This is not a four-season RV. It just is not. However, even when the temperature dips to 50 degrees or so, it can become miserable to sleep on the bed.
The walls surrounding the bed are not well insulated. Which means that cooler temperatures – not even cold temperatures – cause the walls to suddenly become chilly. If you are the person sleeping next to the wall, you will feel the cold radiating off of the walls.
We woke up one too many times freezing in the middle of the night. My pillow would be freezing cold, except for the place where I laid my head. The sheets were freezing except where I was laying. All of the walls were frigid, even the bathroom wall which is on the interior.
After one especially bad night of no sleep because of cold weather, we went to Walmart to buy blankets to stuff against the walls. They actually worked! We bought these cheap grey flannel-like blankets and folded them to tuck in against all of the walls. The twin size is under $6 and works behind our heads on that wall. The queen size is under $10 and works perfectly on the long side of the bed.
I also tucked these pillows against the walls that I had made for the dinette. The pillows worked really great for insulation, however it means lack of space on the mattress.
These are much cheaper solutions than trying to add in more insulation, reflective layers, etc. It works if you are worried about possibly being caught in some cold weather from time to time. But we wouldn’t use these solutions for winter camping.
4. Tables Over Bed
I despise the tiny little tables stuck into the corners of the bed area. They are just about pointless. I worry about waking up in the middle of the night and hitting my head on the one by the window. Or kicking the one at the foot of the bed.
Also annoying is the one by the foot of the bed doesn’t have a power or USB plug nearby. Which means I can’t plug in a fan and set it on the table, as I want to.
5. Lack of Clothing Storage Space
Yes, there is plenty of places to store clothes. But the cabinets that make sense to store clothing – over the bed – are slanted in such a way that they barely hold anything. You can’t stack up clothing, such as t-shirts or shorts, in those cabinets because it slopes inwards so much. (Check out the exact dimensions in our Intech Sol Horizon specs guide.)
You’ll need to roll your clothing to fit in those cabinets.
Also, there is really no place to hang clothing. Some people like hanging up shirts or pants if they are working or going somewhere nice. While there is a drop down clothes hanger on the wall, it makes it impossible to sleep on that side of the bed if you were using the clothing hanger to hang clothes (you’d definitely want to use these RV-friendly clothing hangers if you were using it).
Thanks for the review. Looks like the cons can be overcome easily. This is exactly what we are looking for. We live out west and are not full time RVers. If we dry camp (tent) in 30 degree weather…can handle 50 degree cold in a camper lol!
Lambert, Yes you can!!!
Very helpful, especially about the coldness of the walls!
Thanks, Tracy! If you have enough insulation against the walls or sleep in a sleeping bag, then cold temperatures wouldn’t affect you as much. Happy camping!
I
When camping in colder temps, does it help to convert the dinette to a bed? Maybe cold walls wouldnāt be such a problem there.
We actually tried this option and it wasn’t much warmer, although sleeping on the converted dinette bed does place you closer to the heat vent inside the Horizon. With the dinette bed you actually get cool air/temps coming through the large front glass window. After trying both bed locations out in colder temperatures, we say it’s ‘six of one-half a dozen of another’.
Hi there,
Loved this blog as well as your various YouTube videos on the Horizon. Very informative.
Iām curious, have you considered the other Sol models when purchasing? The Eclipse seems much more spacious inside, but comes with the trade off of having a dinette and bed in the same place so you have to swap back and forth multiple times a day. Iām trying to decide between the two.
Thanks!
Hi! Yes, the Eclipse seems spacious. We did not seriously consider any other model because we didn’t want to have to convert the dinette every night. When we are tired, the last thing we want to do is move everything somewhere and then make a bed. But it works for many other people!
Does the shape of the Sol impact your mpg significantly due to its shape?
From our experience, the Sol Horizon is more aerodynamic than most travel trailers. However, that said we did not experience a significant increase in towing MPG versus our previous, larger travel trailer. We see an average of 10 – 12 MPG when towing the Sol Horizon under normal weather conditions.
Thank you for the detailed review! We are seriously considering buying this camper and appreciate the pros and cons. I think the pros win!
Great to hear, Lisa! There are lots of used Sol Horizons for sale right now in the Facebook group.
Do you know of a way to retrofit insulation into the walls, it seems odd that such a good trailer wouldn’t have good insulation. Closed cell spray foam is R6.5 per inch which would really help.
Thanks for your thoughtful review, it is greatly appreciated.
Hi Adlai! WE don’t know of how to put insulation into the walls. We do know that many people have done modifications of attaching insulation pieces on the walls and bed frame area. Those modifications can be found in The Official Intech Sol Group on Facebook. It would be nice to have the walls more insulated. We freeze in bed when the temperature drops, even with the heater on. Those walls are cold to the touch for the person that has to sleep by them!
hello and thank you for the informative videos š
we are still gathering info with the goal of purchasing a small travel trailer in the spring. What are your thoughts regarding the grey and black tank being one unit? We have never owned an RV but want to upgrade from the tent
Sincerely,
Cathy in FL
Cathy, we have now owned RV’s with both a combined grey/black tank like the Sol Horizon and our previous (larger) travel trailer which had separate grey and black tanks. For us, we – 95% of the time stay at campgrounds that either have partial or full hookups – have not had any major issues with the Sol Horizon’s combined grey/black tank. During the time of using our Sol, we’ve learned when we need to dump the grey/black tank since the grey/black tank sensors are never completely accurate (this is an RV industry issue, not something unique to the Sol Horizon). Since we stay at campgrounds with the means to dump our tank, we merely dump it when it’s time. That frequency is certainly more since the Sol Horizon has a combined grey/black tank than say our previous, larger travel trailer that had larger (separate) grey and black tanks. But honestly, thus far we have not found it to be a big issue to dump a day or two earlier than we would’ve had to in our previous travel trailer. Where it could be an issue is if you plan to boondock more than stay at campgrounds with hookups. That’s something to consider and factor in for your particular, preferred style of RVing.
GREAT review ……very helpful……..We are looking at the intech Sol Horizon Rover and I was wondering if this was the same as your review or just the basic Sol? Look forward to following your Blog.
Daniel,
The Sol Horizon and the Sol Horizon Rover are very similar. We own and reviewed the base Sol Horizon.
There are five major differences between the two models. The Sol Horizon Rover has the following additional features not included on the base Sol Horizon:
– an aluminum tie down rack on the front tongue area
– a different exterior graphics/decal package
– a rear aluminum tube ‘bumper’
– a 2″ lift
– off road tires
Beyond those characteristics, the base Sol Horizon is nearly identical to the Sol Horizon Rover.
Our video covers the characteristics shared between the two models (excluding the five major options previously noted).
Thank you for the question and following our website!!
Let us know if you have any additional questions we can help you with!
@daniel mcnamara, You’d be crazy to spend all the money intech want for the products they build. I got a Discover brand new. This thing is so poorly insulated its basically a scientific experiment for how much condensation can be created inside such a small space.
The price tag is high, and the outside looks like its got class, but you’re gonna sweat like an onion in Summer in it and freeze or sit in an icy soggy mess duing the Winter in it. I’m doing it right now.
It’s a pure lemon. There’s icicles of water dripping down from the ceiling from where the condensation-water has lodged-pooled between the ceiling layers. The build is Christmas toy standard. It looks like something but its not built for anything more than a day or two in optimum…optimum weather and temp conditions for it
An Intech Discover is built different than a Sol, for sure. The Sol and Terra’s have much more insulated properties. That being said, any RV is going to have condensation in it in the winter time. Doesn’t matter what brand or how much it costs, it is a problem in the winter unless you have bought a true 4-season RV (which is rare and they cost a lot more!).
Do you find that the cold walls are a problem even when the propane furnace is running?
Andrew, like most RV’s if it is cold outside and the propane furnace is running, the exterior RV walls will radiate the cold temperatures.This was the same on our previous RV though – unlike the Sol Horizon – our bed in that travel trailer was not up against the exterior walls. If the outdoor ambient temperatures are warm where you’re RVing/camping, then this is a non-issue. Thank you for the question!
@Andrew Browning, Do i find???
Read my post to the condensation problem in reply to mcnamara up there?
Its got a fundamental lack of insulation to keep the condensation (thats water forming like a film of moisture, to you and me) from forming on most of the surfaces.
Think very carefully here my guy. I have one of these, a Discover. Big mistake.
My husband and I are in the market for our first travel trailer. We have previously tent camped but are now looking to upgrade. I have been doing some reading about the Cargo Carrying Cap and the Sol Horizon seems to be about 500 lbs. Have you had any problems keeping the weight down in the stuff you bring along? We plan to weekend camp and 2 week trip per year. You have made your Horizon so nice and wondered if you had any problems keeping the CCC down. Your youtube videos have been very informative – thank you!
Tracy
Hi Tracy! Welcome to your first travel trailer!!! In our Sol Horizon, we never have had an issue with CCC. We took a four week trip out west and brought almost all our food, along with tons of supplies. Though we were weighed down, we didn’t have any problems. However, we definitely traveled easier and better MPG when there was less supplies in the trailer.
Many of the Sol Horizon owners are former tent campers, too. I haven’t heard anyone complaining about the cargo carrying capacity limitations. Unless you’re bringing rocks like in the movie the Long, Long Trailer, you probably don’t need to worry about it too much š
Thanks for the great review! We are just in the process of buying ours and picking it up later this week!
A couple of questions:
1 – what realistically (and how long roughly) can you power with battery power only? We understand most things are propane, but wondering without hookups.
2- have you had any experience with solar? I gather the standard connection is to charge the 12V, just like the car would when driving. We didn’t get the factory solar package, but thinking of a 220v solar generator with battery packs to take with us to power the A/C if needed.
Probably a few more questions to come :p
Kyle,
Thank you for the kind comments and questions! Also, congratulations on your new purchase!!
Here’s our response to your questions:
1) I would say you can get two full days of running your trailer purely off the house batteries (and propane). If you’re efficient with your power consumption, you can stretch that further. It helps in the Sol Horizon where all of the lights are LED and the components that will run off the house batteries, i.e. the ceiling fans, water pump, etc. do not draw a lot of power. You probably already know this, but I always remind everyone you cannot run the Horizon’s A/C, propane heater, microwave, TV, or 110v electrical outlets off the factory supplied house batteries.
2) We have never hooked up any external solar panels to our Horizon, but essentially yes if you did it have those, they would help keep your RV’s house batteries charged. We do have solar panels that will charge our Jackery Explorer 1000, but they will not work/connect to the RV’s exterior solar charging outlet.
Hey Couch Potato!
We love your informative site. It was instrumental in our choosing the Sol Horizon (Rover edition). And I’m proud to say we have used many of your suggestions on how to outfit it. You saved us hours and hours of research. Thank you!
We’re about to go on our maiden voyage and we’re stumped on a few things:
1) Once you’ve dumped your black/gray tank, how do you clean it and the stinky slinky out?
2) When you’re hooked up to shore water, how do you keep water from going into your fresh water tank? I think there’s some switch?
3) We don’t understand how the hot water works. Is it inline regardless of whether you use shore water or the onboard tank?
Thanks for any insight.
Andy,
Thank you!! We appreciate your kind words!
1) Each time I dump our grey/black tank I give it a good flush from the outside using a black tank flush valve such as the Hydro Flush fitting (https://amzn.to/3FbvnzX). After a few flushes of the tank with that, about every third grey/black tank dump I use a Black Tank Cleaning Wand (https://amzn.to/376Gs9r) inserted down through the toilet to rinse out the tank well. Then, after every grey/black tank dump I put a little bit of fresh water in the grey/black tank and use the Happy Camper black tank cleaner:(https://amzn.to/3J4Ltws) Here’s a video we did which will hopefully help visually see some of what I’m describing: https://youtu.be/WYYeq1nxM8k
2) So, if you’re hooked up to shore water using your RV’s exterior fresh water hose connection, fresh water will not get into your onboard fresh water tank since the two are plumbed separately. To get water into your fresh water tank you would have to remove the water hose from the RV’s exterior fresh water hose connection and place it onto/into the RV’s fresh water tank fill spout on the exterior of your trailer.
3) Yes, if you have the hot water tank turned on, it will heat your RV’s water regardless if your hooked up to shore water or using your onboard fresh water tank. The RV’s plumbing valves, pipes, and water pump is already setup from the factory for these two options.
Thank you for the questions! Keep them coming if needed!
Thanks very much for the thorough and thoughtful replies.
Also, your readers may like this suggestion for the kitchen. We wondered where to put paper towels and found this slim paper towel holder that we stuck easily on the glass partition on the right of the sink, fairly high up so it’s out of the way. Works great. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CML83KN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
I was wondering if the operational windows have a bug screen? If not, do the blinds fit snugly enough to prevent bugs from entering? Might not allow much ventilation though?
Hi Norman, yes all of the windows have screen inserts.
Just got mine. Love it! One concern I’d that at night when you have the interior lights on you can easily see right through the large front window, there’s no blind. Have you found an east work around for this?
Thx
Sean
Hi Sean, There is no easy solution. We have found that it is not as easy to see through the front window at night as you might imagine, but yes you can still see a lot! You’ll have to pull the shade down to prevent people from looking in.
I was wondering if the “Tilt forward design” had a noticeable impact on towing, such as large decrease in fuel mileage or in buffeting from on coming tractor trailers. Also if you could explain towing difference from you old RV trailer to the new Sol Horizon.
Came across your blog while narrowing my RV search down to purchasing an Airstream Basecamp or Intech Sol Horizon or Eclipse. Appreciate the info you provide.
Just a general query – where do you store your Horizon when not in use? If a RV storage facility, what is the est mos cost for such a facility?
Rgds
Brian in TX
Hi Brian, thanks! For storing, we use a storage facility since we don’t have room to park at home. Prices depend on whether you choose covered or uncovered parking. We’d estimate at least $60 a month, with covered parking going upwards to $150 or more a month.
You guys have the best review of the Intech Sol Horizon that I have found. The lack of insulation was a big concern for me in our 2021 Sol Horizon, but I have used similar means you describe to make it comfortable down to the high 20s. I have an emergency water line blowout procedure I use if Iām concerned about freezing, and I travel south in the winter.
I live and work in my River, and itās usually just me, so the bed situation is usually an issue except when my wife joins me.
My big pet peeve is the small black tank and no grey tank. I also need more battery storage, so Iām investing in a Battle Born lithium set up with a 1,200 watt inverter. Any recommendations are welcome.
Hi Couch Potatos!
We just took at a Sol Horizon and think they’re pretty slick and good value for the money.
Q) have you had any concerns with the sink being next to the bed and getting splash or spray onto the bedding ?
I would think some elegant curtain or larger partition would be nice…but you’d have to figure the TV may not be as viewable from the dinette.
Love all the great info here…thanks!
-pete
Pete,
We never really had any issues with splashier onto the bed. The times we used the sink it seemed to be deep enough to keep water from splashing out. Great question! Thank you for visiting the website!!!
Thanks for all the info.. My wife and I are considering purchasing a Sol Horizon… Thought about the cold walls… What is feasibility of apply stick on cork tiles around bed??
If the cork tiles were not too thick, 1/4″ or less in thickness it is certainly feasible. Anything thicker you potentially would have issues getting the mattress and sheets to properly fit.
We are considering buying the In Tech Sol Horizon Rover as our first RV (and hopefully our last). Your pros and cons list was very helpful. Did want to ask if condensation and mold was a problem (especially as walls are cold in temperatures in 50 degrees and lower)?
We have not had any issues with mold in our InTech though there are many factors, regardless of your geographic location, that can cause and prohibit mold in RVs. When we kept ours in storage, we cracked the roof vent, kept the refrigerator slightly ajar, removed any soft goods (pillows, sheets, towels, etc.), we also had moisture absorbing products – all things that help keep as much moisture and air flow inside the RV as possible when not in use.
The condensation on the inside of the windows is a by-product of the single pane glass in the InTech trailers – something prevalent in nearly all RVs in the industry for that matter. Some RVs are coming with double paned windows, but often that is an upgrade or only seen on higher-end RVs. Condensation will occur on the inside of RVs with single pane windows, especially if you’re using propane to cook or there are noticeable temperature differences between the exterior and interior temperatures; if you’re in a humid climate, etc. Propane (and even depending on what you cook in your microwave) when used inside for cooking has a lot of moisture that is released which can add to the moisture/humidity levels inside RVs. Just to reinforce, these are RV industry-wide issues not just InTech trailer issues.
š not happy to hear about the cold… as i am wanting to do some 4 seasons… But I like everything else… Umm sigh…
Good Review. We are looking at both Safari Condo (another aluminum trailer) and the Sol Horizon. You mentioned the cold as an issue, what about heat? When we were in the Safari Condo at the dealer we found the inside walls were very hot to the touch (it was 95F that day). Do the Sol walls get hot?
We’ve been in many RV’s – touring them for ourselves and the channel – in the heat with no a/c running. Nearly all of them get hot inside with no conditioned air running to keep them cool. The InTech RV’s are the same. This is an RV industry ‘thing’ not just an InTech issue. RV’s in general, even the real 4 season RV’s, don’t have enough insulation in them to keep them supercool or super warm without some sort of conditioned air running. All of this is due to the fact RV walls are not thick enough, like one’s house, to have enough insulation in them to keep the interior temperature stabilized during warm/cold outside temperatures. Again, it’s an industry issue, not a specific RV manufacturer issue.
We looked at the horizon today and really like it. We have a vintage casita and casitas have carpet on the walls to keep the Rv warm. Maybe could get some Rv carpet tiles and adhere to the walls with command strips
Hey couch potato,
Can I ask what you towed your sol horizon with? There are a variety of SUVās that tow around 6000, but I want more margin than that (loaded sol around 4000). Need to drag it all over the west so thinking about a pickup. Did your tow vehicle easily pull your sol?
Hey! We towed ours with a 2014 Ford F-150 FX4 with EcoBoost V6 engine and the factory installed towing package (trailer break controller, back up camera, and tow hitch.) To level out the truck when towing, I installed 1500 pound Sumo Springs on the rear, though not required for the Horizons, it was a nice to have. Power and torque were never an issue with our F-150 setup. Our average trailer weight for long trips (30 plus days) was around 3700 pounds+/- with a respective trailer hitch weight measured at approximately 560 pounds. I never installed a weight distribution hitch or sway control since my F-150 could handle the hitch weight and it’s rear end was stiff enough to counter any major sway coming off the Horizon. I always suggest people go with a pickup truck to tow travel trailers of this size or bigger since SUV’s – even ones with towing packages – can have their GVWR maxed out pretty quickly even with a lighter trailer like the Sol Horizons. Cheers!
Iād just like to thank you for all your great input on Sols. Iām so liking the design and layout of these! However each time I revisit a Tab 400 there are so many things I appreciate about them (especially for boondocking), even more with the 2023 models. Every time I decide on a ā400ā Iāll see just a picture of a Sol and be wowed by the design alone. In the meantime a visit to my pro&con list is daily and someday soon a roll of the dice is in order.
Happy trails!
Bob, Thanks so much for your kind words! Yes, we looked at the Tab 400, too. I think for us the decision came down to the bathroom size and the feeling of less storage than the Sol. However, for boon docking, the Tab 400 is pretty solid. Either way is going to be a good choice! Have fun!
Thanks for the very informative reviews! I have a few questions.
1. I have experience with DIY mattresses including cutting foam to make a mattress to fit a radius curve. What would you think of making a mattress slightly smaller than a full queen to make it easier to make up the bed as well as to place some insulation along the back wall?
2. My wife is really struggling with the idea of not having a sink or any storage in the bathroom. She’s concerned about washing hands, brushing teeth, etc, in the galley sink (for sanitary reasons) and where to keep toiletries. For this reason she’s leaning towards a T@B 400, but I’m leaning towards the Horizon for the more spacious feel and storage. Any thoughts or insight on this issue?
3. Regarding the windows, do you ever wish you had the large view out the back instead of the front and do you find that there is enough ventilation with the windows that open?
Thank you for the questions here’s our thoughts:
1. A slightly smaller mattress could help, though for us it was more about getting your body into the far corners to get the sheets on. As far as adding extra insulation, not sure it would help a great deal. These are at best three-season trailers. We actually suggest the QuickZip sheets for the Sol’s bed: check out our blog post with video on that: https://couchpotatocamping.com/best-rv-sheets-sets/
2.For us, using the kitchen sink as a bathroom sink wasn’t a big deal. Odd at first, but then it didn’t seem to matter. Being a small trailer – regardless of the brand – ample storage is always an issue. It forces you to only take what you need on trips. No reason to take the entire house’s supplies in a trailer for a weekend or even for a 30 day trip. We found ourselves getting creative and more strategic with our storage solutions, but we had to do that even when we owned our previous 33′ long travel trailer that was full of cabinets and storage.
3. For us, the smaller window in the back worked. We are not the type to lay in bed a lot, so we really enjoyed having the larger front window at the dining/living area where we spent most of our time inside the trailer. Given the Sol is a smaller trailer, with the windows open, the entry door open (with the screen door), and the ceiling fan going cross breezes were always plentiful and never an issue.
@Couch Potato Camping,
Thank you for this most informative blog. My husband and I have watched a lot of rv videos and have narrowed our choice to the tab 400 and the intech sol eclipse. The sol eclipse is edging into first choice position. We need small as we want to visit national parks and prefer to stay in the park as opposed to outside the park. My drawback to the sol is storage. I loved the way you used the under sink area. But what about shoes? A hanging jacket ( which is bulky and woukd take an entire cubby each). Like you, we want to travel with a skirt and nice pair of slacks to be ready for an intown experience. How do you pack these things?
Yes, the clothing storage could use improvement, but there’s only so much room. For shoes we put them in the above cabinets, in the storage underneath the trailer and anywhere else they would fit. You soon learn to build a wardrobe around 3 pairs of shoes. Jackets are usually hung on hooks attached to the interior walls, or inside the bathroom when not wet. We personally folded them and put them in the above cabinets. Nice clothing would need to be folded and bring a travel iron or steamer for the best results.
Dear Couch Potato, we have a Tab 320 with an Alde heater, very quiet. Now looking at a Tab 400, or a Horizon Sol. How is the Sol heater? I have researched on the Horizon Sol FB, seems like you can shut a fan off which allows heat to come out without a noisy fan, your experience?
The heater will warm the space though it is an RV propane heater so there will be a fan noise and it will utilize a fair amount of propane (like all RV propane heaters). We’re not familiar with an option to turn off the fan on the heater. The heater in our Sol Horizon did not have that option.
@Couch Potato Camping, Hello! Thanks so much for all of your advice! I think we are getting a Horizon Rover this week, but can you please tell us: can you open the driverās side bedroom window for airflow? We camp in parks without hookups, and I am worried that it could get stuffy back thereā¦
Hi Ann! Congratulations!!! In our model (2021) yes you could open the window. We did quite often! It is the emergency exit so the handle is a little bit different, but it opens wider. Enjoy!
Most of the cons you mentioned have been addressed with the new Dusk model. We just got ours and love it!
Glad you love it! Maybe Intech listened to us and added the better features! LOL!
@Rick, does the dusk model have better insulation ???
Love this camper, but worried about the window glass breaking, esp that big one in the front. That area takes a beating driving down the highways. Any worries on that?
We were concerned, as well, but the glass does come with a protective cover. Using the cover would definitely be necessary.
After 1 year in FL sun and rain front window protective cover has marked shrinkage so I get it to fully snap in place. Please advise
You will probably need to buy another one.
I have a 2024 Sol Dawn loved it got it in November so didn’t camp until late spring. Here is when the nightmare began notice Cabinet trim was coming apart wasn’t glued well basically on all cabinet then Air Condition went down major on demand water heater uses to much water to get to temp so need full hookup and goes hot to cold constantly. This camp site had no hook up so filled water in tank and for the first time used water pump was bad not only is the trailer just 6 months old and purchase a extended warranty for $5000.00 was told at Maple Grove RV they’ll see who’s going to pay. Well here we are a month out still no parts they told me they have no way of tracking parts but think air conditioner we be in soon but don’t have the water pump, hot water thermostat and i also mentioned the refrigerator has a fight to keep cold there response is to put ice in the freezer