Your ideal specs are just about like mine. I was really focused on the Northstar Laredo or Adventurer, largely because of no overhang and no slide (plus I like the acrylic window option and the cassette potty.) I was getting close to buying one when I found a very clean 2004 Lance 835 on Craigslist for significantly less than half the cost of a new Northstar. The Lance has 90% of the features I wanted and the price difference sold it for me. I have a 2003 F-350 SRW LWB (see sig) and the camper squats my truck to exactly level with stock suspension. Although I'm about 700 lbs overweight by Ford's reckoning, I've been pleasantly surprised with how well she handles. Compared to my 12,000 lb 5th wheel, it's like nothing's there. Oh, and no question, go for the long bed truck.
Thanks for the input so far. If I go with a stock TC the Northstar Arrow (SB or LB) or Igloo (LB only) seem to fit my needs. However, I'm very interested in the sofa and/or overhead bunk conversions you guys may have performed. Please send links to any and all. Thanks...Bob
If you are looking at hardsides then your requirement for a 12V fridge (compressor type you mean?) limits you to a Northstar since AFAIK they are the ONLY hardside that offers one.
If you are considering pop-up TC's then Outfitter offers that fridge as well. In campers that fit SB or LB trucks. Northstar offers the 12V fridge in their pop-up line as well.
A CC/LB truck is pretty long to take into the backcountry. A SC/LB is the same size as a CC/SB and gives more options as far as campers.
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold
Steve_in_29 thanks for the fridge info. The Apex 8 or 9.5 might be a good choice for us. Do you know the dimensions of the dinette bed and pull out bunk bed? Also, are they offered with cassette toilets and/or acrylic window options? I seem to remember other posts talking about these options, but can't locate them on the Outfitter website.
boblynch wrote: Steve_in_29 thanks for the fridge info. The Apex 8 or 9.5 might be a good choice for us. Do you know the dimensions of the dinette bed and pull out bunk bed? Also, are they offered with cassette toilets and/or acrylic window options? I seem to remember other posts talking about these options, but can't locate them on the Outfitter website.
The dinette is 75"x35" when made up as a bed and the pullout bed extends that same length but its sleeping area is slightly shorter, due to the supports and drawer front (approx 3") it is 28" wide and will support 150lbs.
Outfitter will install the cassette toilet. They use the model that looks like a regular toilet vice Northstar's bench model (same manufacturer though). Mine is the version that connects to the campers water supply and thus has no need to go outside to fill the flush tank the other styles use. I know they used to do the acrylic windows but they may have dropped them due to cost and low requests for them. I'm sure they can still do them as long as their supplier can get them. I didn't get the acrylics on either of my Outfitter's since I personally don't feel they are that crucial on a pop-up TC (low benefit to cost ratio), since the softwall is by far the biggest heat loss area and it is relatively simple (and much cheaper) to simply add extra insulation (reflectix for example)to the standard windows. Now on a hardside camper I would highly recommend them as the windows on those are the major heat loss areas.
Outfitter is very modification friendly and can do other options that aren't listed (I have many on my Apex that I can expound on if you like). Feel free to pm me for more details. If you have something in mind talk to Bob and see what he says.
HI Bob,
I have similar needs. I have my 5 yr old sleep in the OH bunk, my 1 yr old on the drop down table and the wife and I are in the short queen bed. I love my set-up and would recommend it to anyone with a small family. I picked up my camper 2 years old, it was used 5 weekends and I paid 40% less than a new one, plus it had all the extras I wanted. If you look around and can wait a bit, you might find exactly what you're looking for, for a nice discount.
Best of luck,
2005 Chevrolet 2500 HD Crew Cab
2004 Northern Lite 8.5 Q Classic
Firestone Air Bags
Torklift Tiedowns & Fastguns!
Rancho 9000's
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
Northstar will also do custom work such as fitting extra batteries etc. Rex Willit is a great guy to talk to and knows campers. For example, I am installing a stowable office space in place of the fold down bunk in mine to do engineering work while on the road and he has been very helpful in advising me toward my goal. It would be worth a call to talk to him if you have not. He has one of the best reputations in the industry and I have heard zero complaints about his product.
I am doing the Igloo on a longbed SRW as soon as I can and will be getting those windows myself. They are very good. They also offer a Heiki vent of the same design for over the cabover bed. The dinette is not the booth type and is 72" min in length and longer on some models. I also believe the optional bunk has the capacity you are looking for. Also the 12v refrigerator is available in an 8cuft size and while it does require an upgraded electrical system of more battery (they draw about an amp an hour or so on average)the advantages are much better cooling-more like a home fridge (compressor type), in my opinion they should be the industry standard. Imagine no propane to turn off- turn on, cooling your fridge for a day before you leave on a trip and a freezer that works all the time. Can pack them tighter too as air circulation is less important for even cooling like the propane ones are. Been used in boats for years.
Someone mentioned the cost of a new Northstar. For the quality you get and the options available that are out of the "generic" they are really worth a look. By the way there have been several strings lately about the use of poor plywood or OSB being used in campers and the associated issues with these materials. Look into what Rex uses, it is not OSB. I was also impressed with the cassete toilet as there is much more room in the bath as there is not the redundant (my opinion) sink in there as well. Why do you need 2 sinks that are 4 or 5 ft apart in a small space like a camper? Yes these campers have no slide and are narrower than most but they are lighter with improved tipping balance. Much better if you want a hardside you can take on some rougher roads/narrower tracks. I also agree that a pop-up from Outfitter and others would be better for serious 4 wheeling, but if you want a true 4 season rig a hardside might be better.
Thanks for the info regarding Outfitter (Apex 8 or 9.5) vs. Northstar (Arrow 8.5 or Igloo 9.5). Optioned the way I would order them, they are similar weights, length, and width. Northstar is taller.
What are the pros and cons of the Northstar vs. Outfitter in actual backcountry situations? Where would you feel comfortable taking one vs. the other (pics would be great)? Please don't recycle the "scary bear" or "my rig is better" threads. I'm looking for real world experiences (vibration, dust, overhangs, balance, etc). What works for you guys and why?
we was going to get a Lardo until my wife got cold feet but now i just dont know if we will ever get a camper by the time she gits reedy to travel i might have to push her in a wheelchair. northstar and nobody was ever unhappy with them. sure wish trains still rum everywhere we was born 50 years to late i worked for them could have got a free pass to go anywhere.
northriver18 wrote: ...I also agree that a pop-up from Outfitter and others would be better for serious 4 wheeling, but if you want a true 4 season rig a hardside might be better.
I agree that NS makes a nice camper for a good price and that they have a solid reputation. If we couldn't have afforded our original Outfitter we would have gone with a NS 850SC. This was actually our first choice of camper until we got a chance to examine an Outfitter owner's rig.
I disagree with your "true four season" comment though. For most winter recreational camping an Outfitter will work just fine. Its heated basement and large furnace will keep things comfortable and working well. I do agree that for extended winter use or in the more extreme winter climes (the kind where it is almost unpleasant to camp) one of the more heavily insulated models of a hardside would be a better choice.
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