I am looking into my first TC - weighing several options - I will be using the camper on several long runs - 900+ miles one way -
What kind of mileage gains for soft side vs hard side ? I am looking at a Northstar 850SC soft side or Laredo hard side. The hard side is a few extra pounds, and some added features, but if I can get a noticeable mileage gain over my long hauls, that would be enough to convince me to go soft side.
(I drive a 3/4 ton Chev D/A and pull a trailer.)
Having had both, the big thing for us was the stealth factor. With the hard side, no one even knew we were in there. With the pop-up everyones knows.
As far as gas mileage goes, I think maybe one MPG is all we saved.
Take a look at our signature. Have had the 850SC for about 9 months now. It is about as small as you can get and still have a toilet and indoor shower.
In the down position, the roof of the 850SC is about 20" lower than the Laredo. As far as fuel economy, I cannot speak for the hardside. With our pop-up I can get around 15 if I keep the speed down to 60mph or below. Get to 70-75mph and we are down to about 11-12mpg.
Maybe someone can give you some figures with a Laredo (remember that these two units are 7' wide, so taking figures from a "normal" 8' wide camper might not useful), but two different people can get substantially different fuel mileage with the exact same combo.
One thing to keep in mind is that when the roof is down for traveling, there is very limited storage space in our Northstar- nothing other than your bedding and pillows can be on the bed and if you pile bags on the floor and dinette seat you will need to put all that on the bed with the roof raised when you want to use the dinette. At times I feel that we are constantly moving stuff when we are traveling (generator, clothing bags, extra food supplies, etc..).
Good luck,
John
BTW, if you go to the additional photos page for the Northstar 850SC, 850SC, scroll down and the 2 red Dodge pictures without any captions below them is our actual unit!
I do agree with Zig about the fact that a "popped-up" pop-up is a give away that you are using the unit, especially in parking lots- like at lunch time.
John & Cathy
'12 Chevy 2500HD CC 4x4 sb
'12 Lance 855S
B4 that a few other TCs and a TT
I know it sounds odd, but when I switched from a pop-up TC to a hardside 8.5 ft Northstar the fuel mileage increased by 1.5 mpg (long term comparison).
Clattertruck
2008 SD F450 Pickup PSD 6.4L CC 4X4 DRW, Lariat Auto trans 4.30 LS, 2008 Snowriver 108 truck camper. 2013 Lance TT 1885, Toyota 4Runner 2011.
Ok new mexico and north 900 miles or west put s you in bear country.haed side or sott harder for bear to get in but maybe you like company for dinner . t is all about safty also I can like the other guys said witha hard side nobody knowes your there .harder to break into than cutting canvas . what you looses in gas you will make up in peice of mind!
Quote: I would think that there are so many down sides to the soft side that a little more gas would be worth the upgrade but that's JMHO
Quote: like the other guys said witha hard side nobody knowes your there .harder to break into than cutting canvas
First of all, exactly what downsides would you be referring to? The lower center of gravity? Or perhaps you meant the reduced wind drag? Could it be the lower profile which lets you go places most hardsides can't?
And as to being easier to break into, if you know anything about pop-ups, the fabric portion of the unit is so high off the ground as to be be almost impossible to reach. Any determined thief is going to break out a window, a weakness shared by all campers, before climbing up on a ladder to get in through the fabric.
I have owned both types of unit, and I quite honestly prefer the lower profile I have now with my pop-up. My gas mileage has not changed appreciably, as the weights are comparable, but not being blown around by high winds on the highway is..... priceless
rlj19 wrote: Ok new mexico and north 900 miles or west put s you in bear country.haed side or sott harder for bear to get in but maybe you like company for dinner . t is all about safty also I can like the other guys said witha hard side nobody knowes your there .harder to break into than cutting canvas . what you looses in gas you will make up in peice of mind!
The whole "bear" thing is a bunch of crap. Do you really think an animal that can rip a car door off is going to be stopped by some wood or aluminum framing covered in filon? If a bear really wants in, he is going to get in. He also won't be climbing over 7' in the air to do it through my softwall either, he will do it through the wall or a window same as on a hardwall unit.
As for someone breaking in through the softwall, like I said when mine is loaded on the truck the softwall is over 7' off the ground. MUCH simpler (and less attention grabbing) for a crook to simply pop the door lock (and that applies to a hardside as well).
As for the "stealth" benefit, with an Outfitter at least, there is no need to raise the roof to use the camper. Everything except the shower and cabover underbed storage is useable with the top down.
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