Send Us Your Question!
Ask Rex or Rory
What questions do you have about your Northstar Camper? This is your chance to ask our owners and camper experts Rory Willett and Rex Willett. We will have your answers as soon as we can.
Frequently Ask Questions
| • What size P/U bed for liberty? | |
| We have full/queen mattress, 60 x 80, in the Liberty. | |
| • do you offer a pop up slide in truck camper with a tip out bed room? | |
| The "XB" or tip out bed is available in the full size poptops. For the 850SC and the TC650, the shorter 63" bed door is used. The TC800 takes the 74" bed door. | |
| • I have a 2008 toyota tacoma prerunner trd which has the molded composite bed. I am interested in the Northstar model 600ss. Can you tell me how the camper is secured to the truck bed? Do brackets have to be drilled and installed through the bed frame? Would you happen to have photos or a web site that shows how the camper is secured? Thanks. | |
| Brett, You have 2 choices for securing your truck camper to the truck. Both options have excellent websites. www.happijac.com requires drilling through the bulkhead of the box, www.torklift.com has a no-drill setup that has brackets that extend out from under the bed. With the newer trucks having wrap around boxes now, Torklift is what we have been using here. | |
| • Can the camper be driven a short distance..like a mile at 5-10mph in the up position?SR96Y | |
| Yes, there have been no issues with driving with the top up at under 10 mph. I know of 2 customers that have driven with the top up on the interstate from fuel up to fuel up, and other than tons of bugs on the front, there were no problems. The one customer just thought everybody that passed him was so friendly, "Everyone was waving as they went around me!". Both campers were standard cabovers, though. I am not sure an extended cabover would have made the trip due to the extra leverage and wind it receives sticking over the windshield. | |
| • I see on your Australia video what appears to be a flatbed/popup camper. Is this a custom hybrid or something you guys produce in your factory. | |
| We make flat bed campers in our factory, we can make any pop top camper into a flatbed by adding extra storage. | |
| • wiring diagram for a TC1000. | |
| Wiring code for the Northstars are Red - Left turn Brown - Right turn Green - Clearance lights White - 12V(-) ground Black - 12V(+) hot Yellow - Back up Blue - not used, brake feed | |
| • manual for tc-800-how to lite furnace | |
| http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/furnaces/MPD%2032072%20SP%201.08.pdf This link, found on our web site, will get you the owners manual for the furnace. | |
| • Best lube for Camper jacksymnn2 | |
| http://happijac.com/prod-jacks/jack-maint.php Try this link to get all the info for lubing and maintaining your jacks | |
| • 2006 TC650. We live in a wet climate. To prep for use this spring I want to put a fresh coat of black paint on underbelly. What kind of paint/stain do you use and recommend? | |
| We use a non-fibered asphalt undercoating to protect the underbelly. You can use the spray undercoating found at automotive stores and it will work well. | |
| • I recently bought a 1993 TC700 and the previous owner was using a vertical propane tank in a horizontal position! I took it out but before I spend a couple of hundred dollars on a horizontal tank I would like to know if there is a modification available to put a vertical tank in a TC700. I sure would like to get my propane at a Wal Mart store which are everywhere and often open 24 hours. Thank you | |
| The horizontal LP tank gave us the capabilty of giving more room and storage inside the camper. While a horizontal tank can be used in the vertical position, a vertical tank cannot be used in the horizontal position. It has to do with the location of the pick up tube inside the tank. A vertical tank's pickup tube is bent in a "J" shape to get the pickup opening into the top 20% of the cylinder where there is only gas. A horizontal tank has its pickup tube in a "L" shape and it is specially placed to have the opening in the top 20% of the cylinder when it is either laid down on its feet or standing up vertically. Having a standup tank in the horizontal position is never safe! If it worked for the previous owner, it was only by chance. The chance that he positioned the tank that the "J" shaped pickup was out of the liquid. There is no way to know where that tube is inside the steel cylinder so it is not recommended at all! Having liquid LP go to your stove will produce a very dangerous situation. The flame can be 10X higher. Other than the LP explosion regulators can freeze up and the valves to the appliances can be damaged. With the self-serve LP outlets available today, it makes it very convenient to switch out the stand up bottles. Finding an LP dealer to fill the horizontal tanks can be an issue when traveling. But leaving on your trip with a tank filled by your local dealer is the best way to go. If you plan to use a standup bottle, you would need to change out the LP container and door to a stand up version, which would affect the interior dinette seating. If you don't want to modify the container and still use a standup bottle, buy a longer rubber gas hose and manually remove the standup bottle to the outside on the ground. This would be the only safe way to use a vertical bottle when camping. We stock the new style horizontal tanks with a site gauge and the Acme threaded outlet valve if you would like to purchase a replacement | |
| • Just purchased a used 2001 Northstar that I need to do some renovations and cleaning on. I believe the model is a Laredo sc. Can I work in this unit cleaning and making sure everything is in working condition when off loaded from the p/u. I had a lance 1161 in a previous life and could live in it off loaded. | |
| The Northstars are built to be used off the truck. You will have no problems camping in it on the jacks. | |
| • hello, we have a 1998 Peak Frontier 9ft. camper we bought brand new and have never used it as we live by a lake. We have decided to sell it could you please tell us what it is worth. It is winterized . | |
| www.nadaguides.com would be a good start to figuring out a price for your camper. You can also list your camper at www.truckcampermagazine.com or www.natcoa.com and discuss in their forums the worth of the camper. | |
| • Thanks for the answer! Here's another question bout our Texson pick-up camper 94 model that we're renovating. Is the external covering of the camper (thin aluminium plates that are horizontally connected with the tongue and groove-method) a good enough solution in connection with the Norwegian climate when it's very rainy and windy? Will the water soak in the seams of these plates and penetrate into the inside? Is it necessary to seal these seams? | |
| The aluminum skin is hung with what is called a Pittsburg seam or "K"-Lok. It allows the metal to be fastened with the lower tab and the next sheet to be tucked into the raised slot. They shouldn't allow water to seep in. It has been used on RV's for years without any issues. If there is any moisture that is in the sidewall due to extreme weather or condensation, it allows air in to dry it out. Some people do seal the 12" or so leading into the molded points to stop water from getting into the corners under the moldings. I feel it is too much as a good putty tape under the moldings usually is enough to prevent leaks. | |
| • Does it affect the canvas sides of your pop-up campers to leave the camper in the up position outside in the sun for long periods of time, say the entire summer and fall? | |
| Leaving the roof raised will effect the vinyl sidewalls a little. We cannot get away from the damaging effects of the sun's UV rays. I have seen the stiching around the screens and windows shrink and fail faster on the units that are left up all year compared to the campers that are cranked down for storage. But it takes years to see the difference The sides can survive storms with wind and rain without damage as I have had units in our lot up in storms with over 90 mph winds without any damage. There are a couple different spray-on vinyl protectors available to help with the UV rays that can be purchased for those who need to leave the roofs up. | |
| • We purchased a second-hand Texson pick-up camper (± 1994 model) that we are currently renovating. While working with the front of the cabover (alcove) we were wondering about the specific round shape of the isolation in the corners. Can anyone tell us what the point of this shape is? http://www.mijnbestand.nl/Bestand-8COGUPOURDM4.jpg | |
The picture shows the radius corners for the optional front windows. If the camper needed windows facing forward, the holes where ready to be routed out. You can remove the radius blocks and fill the open area with insulation if you do not need the windows facing forward. | |
| • I have a prewired TC650 for an AC unit. Can any unit fit, or should I buy yours. Could you tell me the model/make I can purchase on the internet or at Home Depot. | |
| Most 5,000-5,200 BTU window air units will fit into your prewire hole. I try to look for the airs with the top discharge vents. They tend to have less compressor protruding out the back of the camper and balance better. We can provide the trim kit to help seal the air on the outside and finish off the interior. It consists of painted aluminum molding and a rain sheild for the outside and vinyl wrapped stiles that match the wood trim for the inside. Call us at 319-233-3461 for more info. | |
| • If I want to mount a latch hook on the door of a Tc800, do I need to to mount it in a special place or is any place on the back door and camper wall OK? | |
| If your camper has the fiberglass exterior, you should be good placing it anywhere. There is a board that comes across to the door frame level with the "out" of the sidewall. That would be a good place to hit good wood. | |
| • We purchased a Northstar pop-up truck camper this summer as well as a storage cover. We will be storing the truck camper at the driveway which is not covered. Do you recommend storing the camper with the top poped up or down? In either case, it will have the storage cover over it. Thank you for your time. | |
| You should store your Northstar Poptop with the roof in the closed position. Be sure the tent is dry before you crank it closed. If the roof vent is cracked open an inch, it will help circulate air inside during the winter | |
| • What is the external width of the floor of a TC800. Going into Ford f150 with bed liner. | |
| Tha base of the TC800 is 48" and will slide into a full size truck with a liner | |
| • im looking at the tc650 ihave f-150 shortbed but maybe bying f-350 will this camper fit both trucks. thanks | |
| The TC650 will go on either truck. Most 3500's are dually so you will need to get swingout extensions with 5" extensions to back under the camper. We stock them here if you decide to get the 3500 | |
| • when touring the factory can you look at the finished campers on the back lot? | |
| If you plan to visit the factory for a tour, all the units in our inventory are available for you to view. We look forward to seeing you | |
| • Can a "weatherized" camper top be removed from a 2007 Toyota Tundra without compromising the weatherization (if that is a word...)? The hubby and I disagree on the matter and need an expert to confirm. | |
| It doesn't matter if the unit is on the truck or not once the camper is winterized for the winter. To use the camper in winter weather, it takes some preparations and thought before you take off. I leave the water heater on to protect its tank and I bypass the outside shower so it is not exposed to the extreme cold. Other than that, I leave the furnace on at a low setting and open a few cabinet doors to allow air to circulate as I travel. | |
| • Where do you guys mount the camper jack logic box in the Laredo's? thanks | |
| Look behind the drawers in the kitchen area, The "brain" should be on the wall under the range. Removing the drawers will allow better access if you are checking the fuse links. | |
| • i have a north star 600ss and need a new operations manual. can you help regards jeff | |
| Our owner's manual is now available on our web site along with several other manuals from the applianace manufacturers. Just click on the box in the upper left hand corner to download the Northstar manual. | |
| • Wile driving, is it ok to use the propane fridge as opposed to 12 v | |
| Driving with the frig on gas is not a problem. Remember to shut the gas off when fueling | |
| • I purchased a TC650 with the added frame on the bottom. I assume it to be a factory addition. How is it attached to the bottom and will there be a problem if I remove it. I am sure I have clearance and would like the unit to have a lower profile on the truck. 2006 Toyota Tundra. | |
| The lift frame is attached with#2 square drive screws into the runners as it leaves the production line. Removing them will not pose any problems for the camper. | |
| • We bought a 2000 Northstar slide-in, pop up recently and it did not any type of user manual. Do you know where we can get one? We've figured most everything out, but it sure would be helpful if we run into any problems along the way. We couldn't find any model number or any info on the camper. Thanks! | |
| The owner's manual is now on our website to download along with several manufacturer's manuals that are used in the camper. | |
| • Will a TC650 6.5 Northstar camper fit my 2002 s10 extended cab p/u? | |
| The TC650 is made for the full size trucks with 48" between the wheel wells. Your S-10 has 40". You will need to look for a TC700 or a MC600 to fit your truck. | |
| • have a laredo 2005 that has developed a water leak coming fron the AC.Is there a gasket to change or just a matter of caulking.THKS | |
| The roof A/C units sit on a gasket that is replaceable. Most RV dealers stock them and you can buy them on line. Sometimes you can tighten the bolts holding the A/C in place from the interior and it will help if you are on the road. Be sure you do not over tighten the bolts. | |
| • Do you guy's make campers for flat bed trucks? | |
| Yes we do. The American Hero is for the full size trucks and the Escape Pod fits the smaller trucks | |
| • You may have answered this below but can you use the TC650 as base camp and sleep in the upper bed? I am 6'5" 230 lbs. | |
| As long as the jack feet are on a solid base, there is no problem with sleeping in the bed when it is on the jacks. Here at the plant, we have hung 2 - employees from the very front lip of the camper weighing 200 lbs+ and the rear jacks did not come off the ground. If they both bounced at the same time, the back feet would come off the ground an inch or two. There has been a couple customers that have purchased the HappiJac dual swing out brackets to get the jacks moved ahead to help with the balance. It is an expensive but convienient way to help. I know of one customer that he sleeps with his wife that is about the same weight as you. He uses a 5th wheel tripod support under the camper cabover when he sleeps. He says it helps with the stability of the jacks that can sway when one person is walking in the camper. I always carry 3/4" plywood 12" squares with me that I place under the jack feet to make sure they have firm, stable ground when I remove the camper. | |
| • Will a 2000 Northstar 700 fit on a 2008 Dodge 2500 long bed? | |
| The TC700 is designed for the smaller trucks with 40" wheel well width, a 20" cab height and 16 box rail height. The TC700 will fit in the rear of a full size truck but it will need to be placed on a pallet or riser to clear the cab and side rails. Securing the camper to the truck is also an issue because the caper is only 80" wide, compared to the 84" of the full size camper. The 7 foot floor length is another issue in a truck with a 8' bed. I know of one customer that sold his Toyota and purchased a Ram. He had his TC700 mounted in the back but had to install jack extenders on the camper, a 3-1/2" riser kit screwed to the bottom of the camper and special tiedowns to hold it in place. | |
| • Do you have a wiring diagram for the round 4 plug in on the left front face of the camper, just behind the driver. I need to know how to wire the male half coming off my truck. Thank you. | |
| We have not used the 4 prong round 12V connector on our campers since the late 70's. If your camper is not 35 years old, someone may have changed the connection at some time. It should be simple to figure out if you have a battery charger to see which prong powers what circuit. You will need only 3 wires. 12V (-) ground - 12V (+) Hot - clearance lights. The 4th prong is either an extra hot or just left open. Ground the black lead of the battery charger to the copper gas line or other grounding point and touch each prong to see what it powers. If it sparks a little when you connect it, the power is going through the connection. If the spark is large and constant, you found the 12V(-) ground and you are shorting out the battery charger. | |
| • I have a Toyota Tundra 6.5 boxand bought a TC650. Can I leave the plastic bed liner in? | |
| The bedliner can stay in place with your camper on. Please note that some liners can cause the camper to shift side to side because of their slippery surface, others have a non-slip surface. | |
| • Looking for a replacement set of A brackets for my racks. Can I purchase through you? | |
| Those "A" brackets that hold the bars for that Yakima style rack where made for the Fleetwood folding tent trailers. They worked for our campers so well, we purchased them for a few years for our customers. With the problems they have had with production and staying open, I am not sure if I can get them anymore. I do have a couple of complete racks left in stock but cannot break them up. I suggest contacting a Fleetwood/Coleman folding tent trailer dealer and asking if they have any left in inventory. | |
| • Can the rear a/c units be powered by the truck engine if it's running? | |
| The air conditioners units run on 110V AC current. If you had an inverter installed that was large enough to push the 5,000 BTU air conditioner it could be powered by the truck's alternator. An inverter takes 12V DC current and steps it up to 110V AC. | |
| • Hi, I own a 2008 Northstar 650 pop-up. I'd like to carry on the roof a 14' canoe that weighs 58#. What type of roof rack do you recommend? thanks | |
| We carry the Pro Rac roof rack. You can check the racks out at www.prorac.com or call here with any questions. 319-233-3461 | |
| • i have an older northstar that has the three leg setup. is it possible to change them out for automatic lift | |
| Yes, you can either add a 4th tri-pod lack leg to your camper or remove all 3 and add the 4 corner HappiJac legs to it. Feel free to contact Rex at 319-233-3461 or email rory@northstarcampers.com for more info. | |
| • what are the name of your truck campers prior to the name northstar? | |
| The campers we built in the early years were Texson Campers. Tex was my grandfather and my father was the son part of the name. They started building campers in 1961 here in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. We purchased the Northstar line of campers in 1988 and, for a short time, built both brand names on the same line until switching all campers to the Northstar name | |
| • How do I find a wiring guide for the plug on a 2002 TS 1000? | |
| We use the standard RV 7-way plug from Bargman. Pullock makes the same thing. They both have the same wiring code. Black - 12V (+) White - 12V(-) Red - Left turn Brown - Right turn Green - Clearance lights Yellow - Back up Blue - Trailer Brakes used as 12V (+) to refrigerator in some models | |
| • I love my camper, but wish I had the electric jacks. I am prewired for them. How hard are they to add? Will I be able to hit a button and all 4 raise and lower together? | |
| If you have your camper pre-wired for the electric jacks, it is easy to add the electric motors and control brain to your camper. The cordless remote allows you to raise and lower all 4 jacks at once or individually to level the camper. | |
| • I removed the battery a long time ago and can't remember how to hook in up again. | |
| The white leads go to 12V(-) and the red and black connect to the 12V(+) | |
| • Will the TC650 fit in my Dakota quad cab? | |
The Dakota has only 45" between the wheel wells so if you order a TC650, it can be modified to fit the Dakota but a used unit would most likely have a 48" foot print and bot slide in | |
| • I have a couple questions 1. Can people ride in a truck camper going down the road? We are planning on driving to a next spring and are thinking of purchasing a truck camper if the answer is yes. If it is alright we have a 3/4 ton 4 door diesel pick up truck with a short box, what size camper would we be looking at? | |
| Most states have provisions for riding in the back. The only restrctions I have seen is, in a few states, the need to have communication with the front. The sliding rear truck window and lower front window does the job but walkie talkies will work also. Check with your state's web site to see if they have a link. Other sites to check out ...... www.natcoa.com www.truckcampermagazine.com www.rvia.org | |
| • Where do I get a fitted sheet for the mattress in my Laredo SC, extended bed (we sleep front to back)? | |
| That bed is 60x80 which should take a standard qeen size. If the sheets are for the new pillow top style matresses, it would need more "tucking" on the camper mattress, but would still work fine. | |
| • Which camper can fit a 2001 F150 Supercrew? | |
| The TC650 would be the correct camper for this application. Let your endgate down and it will protrude about an inch further back then the floor of the camper. | |
| • Hi Guys, I have a 650 Northstar camper and having a hard time finding the right size camper cover for it for storing. It seems that 12' is the longest size they make??? My camper aqs you know measures 13' long deom top to rear and 7' wide...what would you recomend and do you have a camper cover for this unit? thanks very much! karen Haskell... PS, I absolutley LOVE my camper bought it brand new and want to have kep in great shape for many more years to come! | |
| Karen, Try www.covercraft.com They have the pattern to fit the TC650 on file with a few different choices of fabrics and access | |
| • value of 2003 northstar camper | |
| Try www.nadaguides.com for a value on your used camper There are several RV web sites that can help you also like www.natcoa.com and www.truckcampermagazine.com that can help you | |
| • I have an 07 850SC. Can I raise the top with a 70lb. canoe on the roof? | |
| Yes, you can carry a 70# canoe on the roof. The lifting mechanism is designed to raise the roof with up to 110# | |
| • does the camper battery charge automaticly when pluged into AC power? does it charge when I am driving? I have been using the 3way fridge as follows, when pluged into AC I run it on AC, when on the road I use DC when parked with out AC I run it on propane, is this the best practices? | |
| Yes, your converter charges your battery when plugged into A/C. The truck will charge the battery when driving also. You are using the 3-way refrigerator correctly. Remember that the 12V side of the frig does not have a thermostat and is always drawing 12V power when on that side of the power selection. I have heard of frozen milk and eggs when left on 12V for long trips and dead batteries after a long stop at a full service truck stop service area. | |
| • I have a TS1000. Is there a ladder (approx. 4 foot) that can be fastened to the back of the camper? | |
| Yes, we stock a rear ladder to fit your TS1000. Contact Jen at 319-233-3461 for more info | |
| • Can a buyer ask for a few custom features? | |
| We are always open to your requests. That is the one nice thing about being a smaller manufacturer, it allows us to be open to change. Contact your dealer or us directly to see if we can add a few features for your Northstar. rory@northstarcampers.com or 319-233-3461 | |
| • Hi, I found a site that sells sink inserts called kosher kitchen warehouse.com and I have a 2011 freedom with a single sink I am due to pick up in a couple of weeks. I would like to get a sink insert for brushing teeth in the single sink for sanitary reasons. Do you know or can you tell me the measurements of the sink in the camper? Thanks, sincerely, Diane Spina | |
| The single sink measures from the inside....11" X 13" x 5 " deep | |
| • Can the TC650 Dakota Fit Have a toilet installed like the option on the 800? | |
| The Dakota has a narrower tailgate opening that does not allow for the toilet to fit like the larger fullsize trucks. | |
| • I have what looks like turbidity in the fresh water tank. This may have resulted from anti-freeze not adequately flushed. Whatever the cause, flushing the tank has not worked because the level of the drain valve is above the base of the tank. Should I continue to try flushing, or might there be some sort of chemical additive to take care of the turbid matter in the tank? Thanks. | |
| Having the fresh water tank clean is always a good thing. Tilting the camper with the jacks helps gets more water out of the tank but it is hard to get wll the flakes out. Then main thing is to make sure the water is pure. Many county parks have nonchlorinated well water that tastes great when fresh but can grow mold and bacteria quickly when stored in warm weather. I try to drain my tank after each trip, carrying just enough water to flush a toilet or rinse my hands until I get to the campground. One thing to use to disinfect the tank is liquid chlorine bleach but it requires a few flushes to get rid of that smell and taste. One chemical that may work for you is sodium dichlor, a crystal chemical containing 65% chlorine. It is highly concentrated and would require only a teaspoon to treat a 30 gallon tank. Fill the tank after the sodium dichlor is in and wait 3-4 hours. Driving around to swish the mixture helps, if you can. Run the pump and take the solution through the lines to each faucet, then drain the system. I use the pump and the tank drain at the same time to speed up the process. If you carry a small amount of sodium dichlor with you, you can add just a 1/4 teaspoon to well water to have it treated without any troubles. The crystals are highly corrosive so follow the instructions and carry the product in correct containers in the camper. I had my lines black with mold thorughout my coach and used chlorine bleach at a 50% mixture to clean the lines and it took forever to get the bleach taste out of the system. I bet I flushed the entire system 6 times before I got it all out. Adding baking soda helps freshen the tank and lines once everything is back to normal. Just a tablespoon per 30 gallons works to freshen the water. I like to use my fresh water to wash dishes and face and hands. I carry my own "sweet" water to use for cooking and drinking in either the bottled water form or one gallon jugs from my faucet. The also sell filters you can screw onto the end of the hose before you fill the tank to purify, if you wish. | |
| • how are the pop up campers framed? | |
| The Northstars use 1x4 and 18mm lightply framing in the sidewalls | |
| • How do I carry a 16' canoe atop the 600 model? | |
| We sell 2 different styles of boat racks for the MC600. View the ProRac style at www.prorac.com The other uses yakima crossbars that mount with custom triangle shaped support towers. | |
| • How do I hook up the battery. I have four wires... a red, a black, and two white. I have a 1999 Northstar Camper with remote hydralic lift package. But, I don't know how to hook the battery up correctly. I would love a picture and directions. Please help. | |
| The black and red wires hook the the 12V(+) and the 2 white wires hook to the 12V(-). The black wire powers the interior lights and appliances and the red wire powers the electric jacks. | |
| • I have a 1998 northstar. It seems that the paint on top is chalking and when it rains I get white streaks down my truck where the water runs off the top of the camper. What do you suggest to remidy this problem. Thanks...Chuck | |
| Streaking down the sides of RV's in a common issue. Normal dust and pollution plus the paint oxidizing is the culprit. There are many products offered to clean the streaks and keep them from continuing. I found RV Streak Away works good. I believe they had a web site but may not be available anymore. I found more cleaning products at my local Walmart also that works well also. | |
| • Can the 850sc be lowered onto heavy duty furniture dollys and then pushed into a standard garage? Ever see this done? y HOA is a pain... | |
| You can use furniture carts or any other platform cart that will support the weight of the camper to roll the rig into your garage. I have used pneumatic swivel casters from Home Depot and bolted them to a 2 x 4 frame and it worked also. | |
| • My Northstar camper is equipped with a Northern Premium Marine deep cycle battery. The label includes the words "24 EV." What does that mean? The battery isn't 24 volts, is it? I assume it's 12 volts but it doesn't say that anywhere on the battery and I can't find the info on the Northern Battery website. My ultimate question is whether I can recharge this battery with a standard 12V charger. The instructions on the charger say not to use it on a 24 volt battery. Thanks, Don | |
| That designation tells you the battery size. Group 24. Some people like the larger batteries, group 27 or 31, for longer power draw. It is a 12V battery and any 12V charger should work for you. It is a deep cycle battery and some chargers do have that switch on them to help charge the battery to its fullest capacity | |
| • I have a F350 4x4, SRW, 8ft, what camper would work best on this truck? I want to keep the dry weight under 2500#. | |
| I would suggest a 8.5 Adventurer, Laredo SC, or any of the pop ups for your truck. I like the 8.5 Adventurer because it is narrower and lower in profile. Easy to see around and manuever. | |
| • I have a 2009 Toyota Pre-Runner, 4-door crew cab, 6' bed with tow package. Which model(s) of Northstar would work with that truck? I now carry two 12-ft kayaks on Thule racks mounted on a shell camper. Could "the right model" Northstar be modified to carry these boats too? Thanks. | |
| The MC600, 600SS, TC700, 700SS will all work on your 75" bed length, and all can accomodate racking to haul two kayaks, or canoes. | |
| • I have a 2500 SLT 4X4 Regular Cab Dodge Diesel with a 8 foot box, which pop up camper would be the best suited for my truck (my concern is with the bed being north south would it pose a problem with a Regular Cab | |
| You can fit easily any full size pop up camper that we produce. The 850 SC is the only unit in the full size that is standard with the extended cabover. It still looks good on that truck as there is only a six foot projection, as 10" of the bed is built back over the floor for strength. If sleeping two people, the extended cab option is so much easier and safer to get in and out of bed without disturbing the other person. | |
| • how do I winterize my tc650 | |
| Make sure all the water lines, fresh tank and gray tanks are empty. Water heater, if applicable, should be drained and bypassed.If you disconnect the water tank side line from the water pump, you can suck RV antifreeze from a gallon jug till the pink fluid comes out both sides of your faucet and outside shower. Or you can pour the antifreeze into the fresh water tank and pump it from there. The fresh water tank would need to be flushed several times in the spring to remove the antifreeze if that way is used. Some people use compressed air to blow the lines out. The pressure side of the water pump ine would be removed to blow the lines clear. The air method requires both line to be removed from the pump and the pump run for a few seconds to be sure there isn't any water left in the pump head itself. Be sure to release the pressure on the water heater before you take out the plug to drain it! | |
| • Will TC800XB fit on a 2006 Ford F150 Supercrew, short bed? If not, what will? | |
| The best fit is the TC650. With your endgate laid down, there will be about one inch of endgate protruding beyond the TC650 floor. Because of the shorter bed length of the Supercrew, it is not advisable to go longer than the TC650 so the truck handles and controls as it should. | |
| • Do you make units longer than 7.5 feet for the flatbed? | |
| Yes, we make the full sized units for the flat bed trucks. Currently, there are 9 ft models on line now | |
| • would like know if it is ok to use a Northstar product as a camper off the truck? | |
| Yes, the Northstar is designed to use as a "base camp" off the truck while you camp. Be sure the jack feet are all on solid firm ground and lowered to prevent any tilting. I carry 1 foot square plywood pads to set under the jack feet when I am off grid. | |
| • What model would you reccomend for my Toyota Hilux Kingcab 2008 | |
| The Toyota Hilux would carry a MC600 or TC700 model, 600SS, 700SS | |
| • We have a Nissan Frontier with a 5'8" bed. We were wanting a 700SS with the extended bed over the cab and 3.7 cu ft fridge. Is this possible with the TC650? | |
| The 700SS will have the 3.8 cubic foot refrigerator standard, and can be ordered with the optional extended cabover option. That would be the correct application for your truck. | |
| • What models of hard side truck campers are available as a flatbed build? Can those also be ordered with a side door entry? Really like your product, possibly other questions... Thanks. | |
| We can build any of our models with side storage to fit on a flat-bed truck. To obtain a side door, you can see the 750 or 900 flatbed floorplans. We also have one pop up side door flatbed that will be ready soon. | |
| • What size batteries will fit in the Igloo's battery tray? Can I atill get the 8 foot fridge option? | |
| The slide-out battery tray will hold two Group 27 batteries, and you can still have the larger 8 cubic foot refrigerator in the 9.5 Igloo U. To have these two features it will eliminate the availability of an oven. | |
| • Reinforced rubber roof on an Arrow - what are the advantages/disadvantages? | |
| The reinforced rubber roof is a bit thicker with strands of thread running thru it both ways. If you could see the back side of it, the threads create 1/8"x1/8" little squares allowing it to be stronger and very difficult to rip or tear. Because it is thicker it will not lay completely flat on the sides where it is pulled over the sidewalls. The standard rubber roof does not have the thread reinforcement, but will lay flatter on the edges. If a person is going to be on their roof to access gear, or be in the backwoods, the reinforced rubber roof may be something for you to consider. | |
| • Is EVERYTHING "absolute", as in lighting. Can a person order a camper and specify LED lightening, for conservation reasons, instead of whatever "comes" with a camper now? | |
| Of course. We have the second generation of LED interior lighting which is really good. Throws a lot of light and more than an incandescent bulb. The singles draw .3 amps and the doubles .7 amps. | |
| • I am looking at a used 1997 northstar m700, was this camper designed for a pickup like a tacoma or ranger? | |
| Yes, that camper is designed for those trucks | |
| • we have a 2011 NS Freedom and are going to install a rack sytem on the roof. What is the thickness of the plywood on the roof please so we can determine how best to secure the rack. Thank you. | |
| The Northstar roofs are constructed of 2x2 at 16" centers with 9mm plywood decking. The 12V wires run 12" in from the edge on both sides. | |
| • 1993 tc800- I understand the for wire harness plugs color code wiring is brown - clearance lights two 12 v and covered-ground. Since this a typical wiring harness for hauling a trailer, if I just plug this into my trucks harness(which for turn signals, tai lights ) I don't see how this will work. It seems that I must wire a female plug green and yellow wires into hot from the truck and the white to ground. Correct? | |
| The 4 way flat of the camper will need to be separate from the truck's 4 way as the wiring is different. The trailer plug is set up for the taillights LT,RT and Clearance. With the plug on the front, we ran a hot wire back from under the hood, with an in-line fuse, to come up through the stake hole pocket. Tapped into the brown wire in the wire loom that runs inside the truck's frame and grounded to the frame with a bolt through an existing hole. This gave the camper the required circuits to operate. | |
| • Will the 600SS fit into a 2006 Dodge Dakota 4-0door? | |
| The 600 is made to fit the smaller trucks with a 16" box heigh, 19" cab height and a 40" wheel well spacing. The Dakota has 45" between the wheel wells. While I have seen the 600 installed on larger trucks, they are sitting on pallets, or blocked up framing, to allow the outs to clear the box rails and top of the cab. | |
| • I have 8' pop up Northstar. What kind of white paint /substance to use on the top for a couple of spots that got worn off (color) showing silver. Thanks | |
| Any good dexterior enamal paint will work. I cannot get my supplier to give us a specific paint code for that white so you may need to try a couple. I found a spray can at Walmart that was a truck paint in white that matched well. Performance white is another white that blends well. | |
| • can you mail a broucher to my house? | |
| Yes we can, if you supply your address The online catalog section has fields for that and we have the full brochure on pdf on the website that you can click on to download and view. | |
| • I`d like to use flexible uni-solar panels (http://www.uni-solar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/PB_PVL-68_Technical_Data_Sheet_EN_AA4-3698-05.pdf) to the roof of my TC650 instead of rigid - non penetrative and a lot lighter. Do you see any downsides or than ensuring good adhesion? | |
| The roof of the poptop is painted aluminum and holds silicone adhesive very well. Just make sure the roof is clean before you place the adhesive down to install the panel. We bring the wires through the roof over the fridge cabinet to utilize the wire pocket in the enclosure. | |
| • I have a 2009 Nissan Frontier LE with the roof rack. Is there a popup camper top that will fit this vehicle? | |
| The MC600 will fit your Frontier but the roof rack will need to be removed. | |
| • If I put the 850 p/u on a long bed truck will I be able to add options 19 and 21 (bumper with step and wrap around storage? | |
| No, those options are available only with the short box trucks | |
| • Hi, I have a tc650 that recently purchased. Ive noticed that the outlets do not work when off the grid. I am curious if this is the standard (DC not being converted to AC) and if so it there an inverter option that can be purchased and installed in order to work outlets when just on battery power. | |
| The 110v outlets in your camper will only work when plugged into shore power. Your power converter converts the 110v to 12v, and also feeds your 110v outlets. You could buy an aftermarket inverter which will take the 12v and convert it to 110v power. It depends on what you are trying to run on 110v to how large an inverter you should consider. | |
| • Hello, I just picked up a used 1999 TC800 in great shape. I have an 80W solar panel on the way, and I was wondering what the best place and fasteners would be to mount it to the roof. Thanks! -Matt | |
| The top perimeter of the pop top roof has a 2 1/4" wide, one inch thick plywood frame. Best to keep the solar panel up near the front with the wiring facing the back. Bring the wiring through the roof above the sewn canvas loop your other wiring comes through on the drivers side. | |
| • What model would you reccomend for my Land Rover Defender 130 crew cab? I need plece for four people. | |
| Look at our England dealers website and you will see the model called a 750SC that will sleep four people. We do some slight alterations for the cab height of the Defender. | |
| • will you make a custom 800 for an F150 6.5' bed that has a toilet closet? | |
| We currently offer the TC800 with the toilet option. The cabinet is 24" wide and shortens the dinette that much also. | |
| • Will aTC800 fit a '05 2500 Silverroodo Crewcab short bed? Thanks, Jim | |
| Yes, that is a pretty good fit on that year of Chevrolet without doing any adjustments to the camper. | |
| • Is there a noticeable difference in handling with a pop up vs. hard wall camper? Do you offer larger refrig. for the 850 SC? | |
| Yes, there is a noticeable difference, and it will depend on what you plan to use for a truck. The rear end ratio and engine will also play a part in mpg and handling. The 850SC is standard with a 3.8 cubic foot refrigerator which is the largest it can accommodate. The 8501 Doemtic also has an industry first remeovable freezer, which pops out quickly in case you want to stand up taller items inside the fridge. The arched door of the fridge does store half gallon milk and juice cartons. | |
| • Is Northstar Campers the same as R.C. Willett Company, Inc? | |
| Yes, it is. The Willett family has been manufacturing truck campers since 1955 and has been selling them to dealers since 1961. | |
| • The passenger rear side of my 2009 TC650 roof sullport brack is now touching the roof and the bracket hole visible from the outside is elongating. Can I use a lexan style spacer similar to the ones used in the middle of the support or is there another way to fix the problem? I can provide pictures if that would assist. | |
If you see the rear brackets twisting up, it is a sign that there is water getting into the corners and allowing the 1” plywood to decay. The torsion bar lift of the roof system has that rear bracket under extreme pressure when in the down position. The wet plywood is allowing the rear set bracket to twist back to a neutral position. I have seen the bolts snap and the bracket tear through the top of the roof.
90% of the time, the roof latches are over tightened over time and this pulls the lower roof extrusion silicone seal away from the roof. With the extrusion being an upside down “h”, it holds the water and the plywood wicks the moisture to cause the plywood to get soft.
It is repairable but the repairs are tricky. It is best to get the repairs done before you need to replace the entire roof.
(The pressure of the torsion bar needs to be relieved before the repair can begin!)
We can do the work here if you would like to visit the production facility. Call 319-233-3461 to schedule an appointment here or your local Northstar dealer. | |
| • I have a 2006 Dodge 2500 HD short bed diesel. I am looking at buying a 1997 Northstar overhead camper that is 10'-6" long body mass excluding the overhead sleeping compartment. I am looking at laying the gate flat and laying 2-3"x3"x 1/4" angles in the bed for full camper floor support. This camper is 11" longer than my camper currently on my truck. Do you see any issues? | |
| It is not recommended to load a 10.5 camper on to a short bed truck. Even is your truck has the cargo capacity, the center of gravity is a major concern. If it is not in the recommended zone found in the owner's manual, it can cause serious handling issues. | |
| • We have just purchases a use Northstar hardside, we were looking to see if we can get some kind of manual. It is an older model. | |
| Just give Jen a call at 319 233-3461, or you can download it right off the website now. | |
| • I have a 2005 Loredo SC. There are three valves under the wardrobe that I assume are related to the hot water heater water tank. I can't find any information in my literature about setting these valves (e.g. bypassing the hot water heater tank). Could you advise? Thanks. | |
| The valves have kind of a point shape to them. If the point is facing the rear of the camper, they are in the bypassed mode. If you are looking at the water heater and they both are pointing directly at you, they are both open. | |
| • How do I order winter instalation kit | |
| You can call Jen here at 319-233-3461 or your closest dealer to purchase an Arctic Pac | |
| • Tailgate of 2010 Toyota Tacoma double cab should be removed for MC600? | |
Most people leave the endgate on for the overhang. Some tailgates are not level with the box floor and sometimes the support cables interfere with the taillight "wrap" which requires it to be removed. The floor of the camper is designed such that it isn't required to sit on the tailgate but it is much easier to load the camper without the hassle of removing it first. | |
| • Do you have a rear awning for a 850 SC? I can not locate one that fits. | |
| The Fiamma F35 comes in a 6 foot length that works well for the rear of a 850SC | |
| • what exactly is is a "cassette" water tank | |
| The cassette part of the toilet refers to the holding tank. It pulls out and can be carried or rolled to any restroom or dump station to be emptied. http://www.thetford.com/HOME/Products/PermanentToilets/C402CCassette/tabid/113/Default.aspx | |
| • I own a 1997 TC700 pop-up camper. I was wondering is it okay to drive the truck when the top is up, and what max. speed is safe if I decide to do that? I'm thinking of just moving from one spot to an other spot when I'm in the woods | |
| The roof is not made to drive in the up position but if you were to move from one camping spot to another, it should be fine. We have had the roofs up in summer storms with winds up to 65 miles an hour and they do fine and I know of one older gentleman that drove across Minnesota on I-90 with the roof up and his only problem was the bugs splattered on the front of the tent. Definitely not recommended! Remember the roof is up and the clearance under tree limbs! | |
| • where can I buy & trade my 5th wheel near Waterloo ?. | |
| Try any aera RV trailer dealer. A-1 Vacationland, Fogdal RV adn Paines RV are several that come to mind. | |
| • On my 2007 Laredo SC what does the pre-wired for solar panel mean? | |
| There are wires run to the refrigerator's roof vent and into the wall so a solar panel can be installed without the need to rout the wires through the cabinets. If you remove the top vetn cover, you will see the leads tied to the vent holes | |
| • I have a 650. On the side of the refrigerator there is a fan switch. What is its purpose and when should it be used? | |
| The switch you find on the frig cabinet controls the 12v power to the fan on the back side of the refrigerator. It has a thermostat but we found that the compartment would get warm enough to activate the fan when the camper was in storage, draining the on-board battery. The refrigerator will cool 40-45 below the ambiant (outside) temperature. So on a 95 degree day with 60% humidity, the inside of the frig may only cool to 50 degrees without help. The fan is there to help move the hot air from behind the unit,. In cooler weather, driving or in storage, the fan can be turned off. | |
| • the three prong plug under the over hang on the driver side is that the plug to charge the battery while driving? | |
| On our older units, there was a 4 prong plug to power the camper. 3 exposed and one covered. The 3 exposed hook ups powered the 12V side of the camper. Brown is for the roof's clearance lights the other two are 12V positive. The 4th covered plug is the 12v ground Hooked up, the truck will charge the camper battery if it has one. | |
| • Is it normal for a steady stream of water from a/c to run off the side of my 84 coachman royal | |
| Perfectly normal. The condenser removes moisture from the air it cools. | |
| • What do I clean the windows with in my 2010 8.5 adventurer. I there anything I shouldn't clean them with? | |
| If you have the insulated windows, Dometic has a special cleaner and polish that you can get frmo us to remove small scratches and make them shine. I use a liquid car wash soultution on my windows and then go over them with glass cleaner and a soft cotton cloth to take the water spots off. Being acrylic, you don't want to rub anything onto the window that has solvent or abrasives in it as it can damage the finish. | |
| • Whick model Thetford Cassette toilet do you use in the Igloo U? | |
The 402C is the model # | |
| • can i purchase a camper from northstar directly | |
| While you are invited to visit the factory to see how they are built, Northstars are sold through dealers, not factory direct. There is a list of stocking dealers on our web site. | |
| • For clarification, is the only difference between the 800 and the 850 the standard extended cab? In addition, what is the lead time for a custom ordered pop up? | |
| Besides the extended cabover there are many differences between the two. The 850 SC has a two inch shorter screen door, is standard with the cassette toilet/shower and water heater, and also has the high lift on the lifting system to gain 6'10" interior height which is a couple inches higher than the 800. You can always call our Western State Sales Representative Billy Mackaill or us at the factory for further clarification. Give us a call at the factory to get Billy's number at 319 233-3461. We normally run 8-10 weeks on production times year round. There are times when we are a bit quicker depending on the model you order to what is planned in production, but it is best to plan on the 8-10 week time period year round. | |
| • Which popups would fit in an toyota Tacoma double cab with a 5ft bed? | |
| The MC600 or the 600SS will work on your Tacoma double cab. | |
| • WE HAVE A USED POPUP NORTHSTAR, que: does onboard battery charge from the truck harness wiring? this one is not. thanks dbr | |
| The battery should charge from the truck. Make sure your truck feed going into the camper is hot. If it is good, there is an in-line fuse located just outside the battery box that may be blown. | |
| • Hello - love this ask section! I have a 2005 850SC with a sliding table that sits in a single pole which is inserted in the floor. Last year during a tour, your tourguide showed me how easy it would be to install the new style table which is on a bracket that hugs the window seat and swings out. I didn't see it listed in the options or features lists but am hoping this is something I can order. If so I'd like to get the name and part # so I can order one through my dealer. Thank you. | |
| If you ask for the swing away table leg, they would know what you are talking about. That set-up was designed for our Australian account and it quickly got accepted here in the states | |
| • How are the pop ups camping in the winter? | |
| They do a real nice job winter. The 16,000 BTU furnace keeps you nice and toasty in temperatures to below freezing. If you camp in extreme cold and wind, the Arctic Pac option is available anytime to add another layer of insulating warmth to the camper | |
| • Do you have a higher bracket for the roof rack. The rock in my canoe leaves 4 ft hanging of the back end. | |
| Both Prorac and Yakima have websites to buy accessories for your roof rack. www.yakima.com or www.prorac.com will have the different fittings for canoes | |
| • I have a 2001 Northstar TC800. After several years of troublefree operations, the battery has stopped charging when plugged into AC or when plugged into the truck, which is running. I bought a new new deep cycle group 27 marine battery on Northstar's recommendation. Now I have a new deaad battery. The fuses and circuit breakers in the converter panel all appear to be fine. Any suggestions on what to check next? Thanks, John | |
| There is an in-line 30 amp, ATC fuse (blade tyep) directly outside the battery box. Codes do not allow the fuse to be in the battery compartment. Check to see if the fuse there is not blown. | |
| • Just picked up our TC800. It doesn't seem that the fan to pull down the pop up top operates if it is cold outside. Is this correct? Had to turn on furnace to get it to turn on. Would be nice if there was a fan on mode independent of the thermostat. | |
| The Fantastic Fan in the roof is what helps when it comes to lowering the roof. It does not pull the roof down, it provides a negative static pressure to pull the vinyl enclosure in as you slowly crank the roof down. This prevents the tent from ballooning out and being trapped by the roof. It only works with the door closed and the ceiling fan on as the roof crank is turned. | |
| • I have a 2011 850SC and plan to add a sissor step to the back. Any restrictions on where to screw in the bracket below the door? There is about 6 inches of space. | |
| There is solid structure the entire distance below the door to instal the step bracket. I like to install mine just a little off center to accommodate the door swing as it opens. | |
| • where can i find info on tie downs & tie down procedures | |
| You can look at the websites www.torklift.com or www.happijac.com to see the two ways to tie down a camper. We also have some photos in our pdf brochure on our home page | |
| • will a 600 work on a ford ranger 4x4 6 ft bed | |
| Yes, the MC600 is designed for the trucks in the Ranger size class | |
| • Do you have any plans for a pop-up unit with a full height door? I stand 6-4 and don't want to crawl in and out. | |
| We were one of the first manufacturers to have a full walk through door in our poptops. It was dropped from our line up in the mid 80's. We found that the short door had too many advantages over the full height door to keep it as an option. The shorter 53" high door offers much more strength to the camper. All our campers are made to use off the truck. We wouldn't be able to say that with the full door. The shorter door comes with a screen door not available on the full door. The air and water infiltration the full door gets through the horizontal hinges and vinyl enclosure contacts is a concern plus and the added maintence for the full door over the shorter door is the reasons we no longer offer it. I have found that 95% of the time you are either stepping up into the unit or down out of it making the ducking part much easier. Thanks for your interest in Northstar! | |
| • Could you advise: looking for a hardside camper for a heavy duty long bed truck that does not extend past the back bumper, so that a horse trailer can be towed without a hitch extender. The side door on the Escape Pod would be great, but it appears this model is not for normal pickup trucks? Your advice much appreciated, as it is difficult to determine which shorter dimesion models can be put on a long bed. Thank you. | |
| You have four choices of hard side campers that will fit the long bed truck without having to extend your hitch to pull your horse trailer. The long bed Freedom, Laredo SC, 8.5 Adventurer, or the 8.5 Arrow. All these models will leave your hitch totally exposed keeping your tow capacity at the highest limit. | |
| • I just purchased a 2003 850 SC. What is the best way to connect the wiring harness to my Ford F-250 Super Cab long bed truck to ensure proper battery charging from the truck's alternator? Do the 5th wheel/gooseneck wiring harnesses do the trick? | |
| Yes, Tom, a 5th wheel wiring setup will work for your 2003 Northstar 850SC. Some people like to run an extension back to the trailer plug near the hitch. The 12V (+) hot lead wire needs to be heavy enough to carry the load. 10 ga is enough but some trucks are wired with a light 16-18 guage wire as the 12V power feed. Be sure to check that. If you run your own 12V power feed wire back, be sure to install an in-line fuse near the front to protect the circuit. | |
| • I am looking at a Texson popup used. The guy says he thinks it is a 1996. How can I tell? | |
| There should be a VIN # stamped in the back rear corner of the unit on the passenger "up" that slides into the truck if the certification tag has been removed on the back of the camper. Call Jen here with the VIN # to check the date of manufacture. | |
| • Will any of your models fit a 2005 Nissan Frontier with a 6' x 4'10" bed and 43" between the wheel wells? | |
The MC600 is designed to fit the Frontier. I own a 2001 Frontier and have installed one on my truck and it worked great! | |
| • which truck is best for toyota tundra short bed, 2004 truck? I like bed that sleeps parallel to truck, e.g. almost square. can the tundra model do this? how long is the floor length? I want to go off road and don't want camper sticking out. | |
The TC650 is the right coach and the bed can go either way, with the extended cabover as an optional cost. | |
| • Hi, I just want to clarify the weight of my TC 700 poptop (Flatbed) with extended bed over. This was purchased in Aug 2009 in Australia. | |
| If you can give us the last four of your VIN number, we will be able to give you the weight to the certified pound dry, as we weigh each unit before it rolls off our assembly line. Granted, there are some additions that are added in Australia by our distributor after the campers arrive. Write to Jen@northstarcampers.com with your VIN and she can give you the weight we recorded. | |
| • I purchased a TC800 without the graywater storage tank. Can that be added now? | |
| Yes, but the gas line to the frig and furnace needs to be moved further out to allow the holding tank to mount against the knee wall. | |
| • Do you make a pop-up camper for a full size 4-door truck with the 6 foot bed? | |
| Yes, we have the TC650, TC800 and the 850SC available for vehicles with a short bed. | |
| • Does the TC800 fit a 2006 Toyota Tundra Doublecab? Any weight issues? | |
| The better choice would be the TC650. It is 14 inches shorter than the TC800, and will give you much better ride and control. All half ton trucks are overloaded with a pop up camper. If you add Firestone ride-rite air bags to your Toyota, and then check the ratings of your tires to make sure they are adequate, you should have a safe and enjoyable ride, with control. We have many happy Tundra owners with TC650's. We would be happy to guide you thru the process. | |
