FAQs

2023 Northstar Pop Up Truck Camper / Truck Compatibility Guide.

Jan 1^st 2023                                                                                                                    

Note: Different Brand/Model/Year Trucks have varying bed lengths & bed rail heights.  

 

600SS Exterior Dimensions: Floor Length 6’ 3”. Floor Width 40”. Body Width 6’ 5”. Dry Weight Std. Build 1258 LBS                                                                                                                         

For most "Smaller Trucks" Tacoma, Frontier, Canyon, Colorado, Ranger, Raider etc.  with approx. 5’ to 6’3” beds.

Will fit all truck cab configurations . Std. build is no wrap at all.

All approx. 5’ truck beds should have the ½ wrap option.

AVAILABLE TO ORDER

 

TC650 Exterior Dimensions: Floor Length 6’ 8”. Floor Width 48”.            Body Width 7’.     Dry Weight Std. Build 1405 LBS.

TC650XB (Extra bed length is 60”) Dry Weight Std. Build 1445 LBS.

For full size ½ ton or larger trucks with ultra short (5’ 6” to 5’ 10”) or standard short bed. (Approx. 6’ 4" to 6’ 10”)

Will fit all truck cab configurations. Std. build is no wrap at all which will correctly fit the F250/350 w/ 6’ 10” bed and 2020 GMC/Chevy 2500/3500 w/ 6’10” bed.

All others require the ½ wrap option.

AVAILABLE TO ORDER

 

650SC Exterior Dimensions: Floor Length 6’ 8”. Floor Width 48”. Body width 7’   

Dry Weight Std. Build 1650 LBS.

For full size ½ ton or larger trucks with ultra short  (5’ 6” to 5’ 10”) or standard short bed. (Approx. 6’4” to 6’ 10”)

Will fit all truck cab configurations. Std. build is no wrap at all which will fit the

F250/350 w/ 6’ 10” bed and 2020 GMC/Chevy 2500/3500 w/ 6’10” bed.

All others require the ½ wrap option.

NEW FLOORPLAN AVAILABLE TO ORDER 

 

850SC Exterior Dimensions: Floor Length 8’6”. Floor Width 48”. Body Width 7’

Dry Weight Std. Build 1785 LBS.

850SCXB (Extra bed length is 60”) Dry Weight Std. Build 1825 LBS.

For full size ½ ton or larger trucks with short (6’ 4” to 6’ 10”) or long bed  (8’)

Will fit all truck cab configurations.  Std. build is with the longer side wings (no storage) which will then allow the camper to fit a short or long bed truck as is.

For short beds only the camper can be ordered with Option #21 Permanent Wrap-Around Rear End or Option #22 Detachable Wrap-Around Rear End.

Both of those options have the lockable storage compartments                                                                          Option #23 Rear Storage Bumper w/ Swing Down Step only available with Option # 21.

AVAILABLE TO ORDER

 

                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

We post all of our pricing on the web site, just click on the desired camper to see the base retail price, then scroll down below the photos to click on “SPECS” for dry base weights etc. or “FEATURES” to see what standard equipment is included in the base price and weight or “ACCESSORIES”  for additional options & accessories which also have their weight shown.

Your dealer can provide you with a final price including freight, any truck work, batteries and other accessories you may need or desire.

 

There are only 2 brand name tiedown systems available: Torklift or HappiJac, both are great products, they are just different. 

Tiedowns (4) are already mounted on the camper during manufacture. Either Torklift or HappiJac tiedowns will need to be installed on the truck, either by the customer or dealer before taking delivery.

Turnbuckles (4) are what connect the camper tiedowns to the truck tiedowns. Northstar truck wiring comes out the rear of the camper and plugs directly into the 7 pin Bargman in the bumper area. If you need to tow then a “Y” or “Splitter” will be needed.

 

 

 

Please copy and paste into your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cMdgp5M7Q8#t=145.277

 

TC      Truck Camper.
SS      Super Size.            600SS & Laredo SS
SC      Self Contained       Interior toilet and shower.
XB       Extra Bed               Option # 29 Tip -Out Extra Bed (Pop ups only)

DSI      Direct Spark Ignition       Auto ignition on the water heater, fridge and furnace

LED     Light Emitting Diode        The latest bulb technology

 

Yes we do, included in the standard equipment list is the SUB ZERO PACKAGE consisting of an insulated R-9 tent, insulated dinette window with screen/shade and foil faced block foam wall insulation.

The Sub-Zero package consists of multiple upgrades featuring an insulated canvas with reflective insulation sewn in between two panels. The softwall material is not canvas, but rather three layers of modern material called Tri-Lam. The Tri-Lam vinyl is joined together so there’s weather resistant vinyl on the inside and outside. With Tri-Lam you don’t need to worry about putting the top down after a rainstorm. If mildew forms, the Tri-Lam wipes right off and looks brand new again. The reflective foil on the inside of the Tri-Lam has an insulation factor of R-9. The foil faces into the camper interior to retain the heat in the winter, and the cool in the summer. The reflective foil also gives a slight improvement to the sound insulation inside the camper and a great improvement in darkening the interior for when an afternoon nap is on the after-lunch agenda. The second part of the Sub-Zero insulation package is the Celotex foil faced insulation inside of the camper walls; . In Sub-Zero equipped campers, we hand fit Celotex in the floor, ups, sides walls, front and back of the camper. The acrylic, gas-filled thermal pane windows complete the Sub-Zero Package. These windows are incredibly lightweight, are recessed into the body of the camper, and include built in shades and screens. The ultimate in warmth, visibility, ventilation, and privacy.

 

 

 

Yes, Northstar campers are designed to be used as a "base camp" off the truck. Be sure the jack feet are all on firm ground, that the camper is lowered as close as possible to the ground and level. We recommend you carry 12” square plywood pads (or something similar) to set under the jack feet when you’re off the grid.  All Northstar campers are meant to be used or stored without the need for saw horses, cinder blocks etc.

While you are cordially invited to visit the factory to see how they are built (tours are available by appointment) Northstars are sold and serviced through our dealers, not factory direct. There is a list of stocking dealers on our web site under "Dealers". Please contact our Sales Manager, Billy Mackaill 602-524-7629 or [email protected], to arrange a factory tour, locate your closest dealer or even a particular model.

To find a local dealer on our web site, click on “Resources” then “Dealers” and insert your zip code or click on a yellow star in your area.

The cassette part of the toilet refers to the holding tank. It pulls out and can be carried or rolled to any rest room or dump station to be emptied. The reservoir can be refilled with lake, stream or gray water to continue camping, you do not need to use your fresh water.

The cassette toilet is not connected to your fresh water system.

The function of the solar panel is to charge the on board 12v battery/batteries which in turn will then supply DC (Direct Current) 12v power to various items in the camper, interior lights, furnace blower, 12v outlet, Maxxfan, water pump etc. The solar panel does not actually power anything, the batteries do that.

Please remember, the battery/batteries are also charged through the trickle charger in the power converter when the camper is plugged into 110 v or a portable generator or whenever the truck engine is running and the camper is plugged into the truck 7 pin Bargman hookup.

All of our pop up campers that do not have the interior toilet have a enclosed storage space for a portable toilet (Thetford 260 B) which is slid out to be used. 

In some instances the porta pottie has to be turned to get in and out.

To carry a truck camper and tow at the same time you will need to purchase the “Y” splitter. 

All of our campers are wired for AGM/Lithium battery/batteries and have Auto Deterct converters for correct charging.

Batteries are supplied by either the consumer or the dealer.

The 600SS has an interior compartment for a single, up to group 31 AGM battery (Absorbed Glass Mat)

The TC650, 650SC & 850SC models all have a dedicated location near the fresh water tank for up to 2  AGM/Lithium.

The Liberty and Wind Bandit have room for up to 2 Group 27 AGM/Lithium batteries, the Laredo SC and Night Hawk  models have room for up to 2 Group 31s. 

The tip out dinette bed ( XB-extra bed) is available in the TC650, TC800 and 850SC. The bed size is 60" x 32” in all models and rated at 500 lbs capacity.

No we do not.

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. If the camper is stored without the battery but plugged into 110 v the electric jacks will not work, the camper has to have a battery in place.

IMPORTANT:

Anytime the jacks are to be used for levelling the camper, the turnbuckles MUST be undone !!

The white leads go to 12V(-) and the red and black connect to the 12V(+)

No, Northstar has to submit floor plans and be in code compliance with various federal agencies and numerous states allowing us to ship our product anywhere in the U.S. 

When comparing a pop-up to a hardwall of similar floor length, such as the 650SC versus the Liberty or the 850SC versus the Laredo SC the first thing that comes to mind is the difference in weight, with the Liberty being 175 lbs heavier than the 650SC and the Laredo SC being 305 lbs heavier than the 850SC.

The extra weight of the hardwall combined with it’s higher center of gravity and more wind resistance, front and sides, will result in a noticeable difference in handling between the two types of truck campers, more so, when using a lighter duty ½ ton vehicle. However, the difference is not like night and day.

Both types of campers have their pros and cons, a consumer should consider what time of year they go camping, where, for how long, the type of truck they own etc. in determining which would be best for them.

All of our camper models (Excluding the Night Hawk which has a double door, 10 cubic foot 12v only compressor Fridge) have a 3.5 cubic foot 12v only compressor fridge which is the largest that can be installed as we are restricted by the camper side wall height. 12v only Compressor fridges can be run off level unlike absorption fridges.

RV fridge manufacturers have recently discontinued the production of absorption type systems where cold was obtained through heat, propane flame, 110 and 12v coil. They are no longer available.  

Northstar has been offering 12v compressor fridges as an option for over 15 years and they have been used in the Marine industry for 20 years before that.

 

Yes, it is. The Willett family has been manufacturing truck campers since 1955 and has been selling them to dealers since 1961.

Same Family, same factory for 61 years.

The roof on either a manual crank lift system or the new electric lift system can carry up to 200 lbs in the down position evenly distributed. 

The manual crank lift system will raise the roof plus up to 100 lbs., the electric lift system will raise the roof plus up to the 200 lbs.

There should be nothing installed on the roof more than 6” forward of the 2 front electric roof lift motors.

We were one of the first manufacturers to have a full walk through door in our poptops. It was dropped from our lineup in the mid 1980s.  We found that the short door had too many advantages over the full height door. 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, insects and water infiltration the full door lets through the horizontal hinges and vinyl enclosure attachments is a concern along with the added maintenance for the full door over the shorter door.The full height door has no header holding one side of the camper to the other, this allows the door frame to narrow when pressure is put on the back jacks when using the camper off the truck. When the camper is back on the truck and no pressure is applied the door frame opening becomes wider. Basically, the rear entrance door never fits properly and this becomes a bigger problem as time goes by.

Currently, Oct. 2017, nobody building pop up truck campers offers the full height door for all of the above reasons.

Yes, the tailgate has to be removed.

We do not need the tailgate in the down position to support any portion of the camper that hangs past the end of the truck bed.

When installing the camper, the cables that support the tailgate in the down position would be in the way. 

If you have a back up camera located in the tailgate you can either reposition that camera (or better still, purchase another OEM camera)  in the hitch/receiver area.

Laws vary from state to state but apart from the legality side of the question, it is not recommended as there are no seat belts in the campers. 

The COG (Center of Gravity) is the balance point of a camper measured from the camper lower front wall going backwards towards the rear of the camper. The COG is measured on our standard build campers with no water, propane, battery, options or accessories. All of our fresh water tanks are forward of the COG so as soon as you put any water on board the COG is moved further forward.

No. The 600/700 models are 7” narrower than the remainder of our pop up camper line, which means you cannot back the truck between the jacks when trying to load the camper.  Also, a large pallett or similar would be needed to get the camper up high enough to clear the truck bed rails and truck cab. Lastly, because of the narrower body width the turnbuckles will not fit correctly between the tiedowns on the truck and the tiedowns on the camper.

This is the maxium weight the manufacturer rates the truck to carry, including the weight of the truck and all people, cargo, fuel etc.

This is the maximum weight  the manufacturer rates the axle to carry.

To determine your axle weights when the camper is on board and fully loaded, weigh the front and rear axles separately on the scales and then compare to your truck axles ratings which are normally found in the truck door jamb.

This is the small print on the sidewall of your tire, usually just behind the inflation number, this rating will usually be a direct correlation to the axle ratings and GVWR of your new truck.

If in doubt, always discuss with your tire store what you are planning to carry weight wise.