2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2014 Toyota Tundra Double Cab
300W solar, MPPT controller, LED lights
Xantrex Freedom X Inverter 3000W
2 Fullriver 105AH AGM batteries
Air Lift WirelessAIR and air bags
Hankook Dynapro ATM 10-ply tires
One of the problems for some of these brands is that they'd be tough to find in the East, although I was surprised to see a NH dealer for Four Wheel. The Apex recommendation is a good one, my brother- and sister-in-law are on their second toy hauler from that company and they absolutely love those campers, I'm just not sure I'd order factory new or drive to CO to get it. If I can find a nice clean used camper from someone who is trading up, to me that's the ideal value-wise. And I suspect there are a fair number of folks who end up trading up from a small unit. If I don't find many options locally, I think a weekend trip to the NH truck camper dealer would be a great opportunity to see a wide range of options.
Very much appreciate your continued advice, keep it coming!
Jim
* This post was edited 10/20/16 06:45pm by jat4 *
2018 Ram 3500 srw crew 3.73 4x4 6.4L Hemi
2018 Northstar 850sc
2008 Jayco 26L, Reese HP DC WD hitch
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 mega 3.73 4x4 5.9L Cummins, Prodigy, MOPAR power tow mirrors (traded)
2000 F-150 V8 5.4L, Reese Brakeman (died)
Grant
Dodge 3500 CTD.
Northstar 850SC
Constant companions - Scoter and Skye - Black Labs (better than most people)
LabMan1945 wrote:
Personally I like the Northstar campers. I have traveled over 150,000 miles with my 850SC on a Dodge 2500 diesel quad cab with no problems. You just CANNOT beat Northstar customer service!!!! I don't think you would be unhappy with the 850. It has a toilet and inside shower (never used the shower)as well as everything you could need for a hunting trip. I'm on a hunt now towing a 5 X 8 trailer with gear and freezer. A great combination.
Grant
Personally I like the Northstar campers. I have traveled over 150,000 miles with my 850SC on a Dodge 2500 diesel quad cab with no problems. You just CANNOT beat Northstar customer service!!!! I don't think you would be unhappy with the 850. It has a toilet and inside shower (never used the shower)as well as everything you could need for a hunting trip. I'm on a hunt now towing a 5 X 8 trailer with gear and freezer. A great combination.
Grant
Grant, I looked into this and really like this model, hadn't actually thought a full bathroom was an option but this would be nice. Only problem is they don't seem to be very common, I'm not seeing many on rv.trader or in inventory at dealers. I have run across a number of Palomino/Forest River ones that are very similar in layout and specs (their ss-1251 model). Several of those are available in the $10,500-11,000 range for new 2017 units. I suspect Forest River isn't the build quality of Northstar, but I wonder if this might not be a decent option for the money.
I did take a run up to Syracuse this afternoon to look at a "new" 2014 Travel Lite pop-up, but when I got there it turned out that unit had been on the lot so long it was water damaged. They were sending it back to the factory, but I did get to look at it. Wasn't exactly a confidence builder.
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
Also looked at the hard side models, but for the prices they were asking for, none of them really moved me. Jim
On the subject of Palominos, mine is 16 years old. I've owned it for over 6 years now, and use it about 12 nights a year. It's holding up really well to being gently used, and is kept inside when not in use.
It was 10 years old when I bought it, and the only major factory issue I encountered was with the shower pan. The structure underneath the pan was a poor design, and the pan had cracked around the drain from flexing. The bathrooms in these are entirely different now, and are hopefully improved. In mine there was nothing supporting the OSB under the shower pan. You can see by looking in the driver's side rear storage compartment where all the plumbing is.
The other issue was the rear door leaking with the roof up in moderate to hard rains. Again, the rear door is completely different now so that issue is likely resolved.
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
op wrote:
Any suggestions of models to look at and things to watch out for/be aware of? thanks in advance.
Jim
Any suggestions of models to look at and things to watch out for/be aware of? thanks in advance.
Jim
You may already know this but the Mega has the same 6000-6010 RAWR as a quad cab or a regular cab 2500 truck with the Cummins.
Also for some reason Dodge dropped the upper aux overload spring pack on the new 3rd gen 2500 trucks ('03 and up).
My 5th wheel rv trailer adds 2200-2400 lbs on the hitch which is all on the rear axle which puts my trucks rear axle load at around 5400 lbs actual scaled weights. My trucks rear suspension is very soft so I use Supersprings to help keep the back end from sagging.
I also pull a 16k GN tri axle stock trailer. I load the trailer so the truck rear axle stays under 6000-6200 lb range. My truck has the optional tire and wheel package.
I would weigh your trucks front and rear axles separately. That way you know how much wet weight TC the truck can safely carry. And how much the trucks front axle load changes....if any.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides
mkirsch wrote:
If you're a first time RV buyer you have to keep in mind that RVs are not perfect even from the factory and do require periodic maintenance especially if left in the elements 24/7/365. Annual inspection/replacement of all caulked joints is almost mandatory if you want the camper to last. That TravelLite sat outside for probably three years and you can be darn sure the dealer never touched it.
On the subject of Palominos, mine is 16 years old. I've owned it for over 6 years now, and use it about 12 nights a year. It's holding up really well to being gently used, and is kept inside when not in use.
It was 10 years old when I bought it, and the only major factory issue I encountered was with the shower pan. The structure underneath the pan was a poor design, and the pan had cracked around the drain from flexing. The bathrooms in these are entirely different now, and are hopefully improved. In mine there was nothing supporting the OSB under the shower pan. You can see by looking in the driver's side rear storage compartment where all the plumbing is.
The other issue was the rear door leaking with the roof up in moderate to hard rains. Again, the rear door is completely different now so that issue is likely resolved.
If you're a first time RV buyer you have to keep in mind that RVs are not perfect even from the factory and do require periodic maintenance especially if left in the elements 24/7/365. Annual inspection/replacement of all caulked joints is almost mandatory if you want the camper to last. That TravelLite sat outside for probably three years and you can be darn sure the dealer never touched it.
On the subject of Palominos, mine is 16 years old. I've owned it for over 6 years now, and use it about 12 nights a year. It's holding up really well to being gently used, and is kept inside when not in use.
It was 10 years old when I bought it, and the only major factory issue I encountered was with the shower pan. The structure underneath the pan was a poor design, and the pan had cracked around the drain from flexing. The bathrooms in these are entirely different now, and are hopefully improved. In mine there was nothing supporting the OSB under the shower pan. You can see by looking in the driver's side rear storage compartment where all the plumbing is.
The other issue was the rear door leaking with the roof up in moderate to hard rains. Again, the rear door is completely different now so that issue is likely resolved.
this is good to hear re your Palomino, the price difference between them and the comparable Northstar is fairly significant. On the other hand I've got a 9-year old Jayco trailer that's starting to show some age. I understand no camper is perfect but all else being equal I wouldn't mind hedging my bets if possible, especially if I end up financing some of it. The Jayco has been a good trailer for us but after ten years it's hard not to conclude that most campers aren't really built to last.
I did read somewhere that Forest River had upped its game on the Palomino product line in response to issues several years ago.
Good news about a truck camper is that we've got a pole barn for storing it in the winter, could not do that all these years with the travel trailer.
JIMNLIN wrote:
You may already know this but the Mega has the same 6000-6010 RAWR as a quad cab or a regular cab 2500 truck with the Cummins.
Also for some reason Dodge dropped the upper aux overload spring pack on the new 3rd gen 2500 trucks ('03 and up).
My 5th wheel rv trailer adds 2200-2400 lbs on the hitch which is all on the rear axle which puts my trucks rear axle load at around 5400 lbs actual scaled weights. My trucks rear suspension is very soft so I use Supersprings to help keep the back end from sagging.
I also pull a 16k GN tri axle stock trailer. I load the trailer so the truck rear axle stays under 6000-6200 lb range. My truck has the optional tire and wheel package.
I would weigh your trucks front and rear axles separately. That way you know how much wet weight TC the truck can safely carry. And how much the trucks front axle load changes....if any.
op wrote:
Any suggestions of models to look at and things to watch out for/be aware of? thanks in advance.
Jim
Any suggestions of models to look at and things to watch out for/be aware of? thanks in advance.
Jim
You may already know this but the Mega has the same 6000-6010 RAWR as a quad cab or a regular cab 2500 truck with the Cummins.
Also for some reason Dodge dropped the upper aux overload spring pack on the new 3rd gen 2500 trucks ('03 and up).
My 5th wheel rv trailer adds 2200-2400 lbs on the hitch which is all on the rear axle which puts my trucks rear axle load at around 5400 lbs actual scaled weights. My trucks rear suspension is very soft so I use Supersprings to help keep the back end from sagging.
I also pull a 16k GN tri axle stock trailer. I load the trailer so the truck rear axle stays under 6000-6200 lb range. My truck has the optional tire and wheel package.
I would weigh your trucks front and rear axles separately. That way you know how much wet weight TC the truck can safely carry. And how much the trucks front axle load changes....if any.
good points, and you're reminding me that the Ram body builder guide lists the specs by model year and the 2500 payload is something on the order of only 1600 lbs with a base curb weight in the rear of 3000lb. I did put an email through to Truck Camper Warehouse and they suggested the super springs and Rancho shocks in the rear. This was in response to asking them about the Northstar 650sc and 850sc popups which are 1700+ lbs dry. They seemed to think the range of campers I'm looking at is fairly realistic.
We had a Northstar TC 650 on our Dodge 3500 S/B and our truck needed airbags. They are great campers but are not lite weights.
Ken & Kris + Heidi the dog
Sequim, Wa.
2003 Dodge 3500 SRW 4x4 diesel
2017 Trails West Sierra Select 2 Horse slant load trailer
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
I've had someone approach me about buying the Dodge 2500 in my sig. Now I'm thinking about what truck I would get if I were to sell the diesel.
Thinking a Ford F350 SRW with the 6.2L engine and the 8 foot bed would be a good way to go, both for continuing to pull the travel trailer but also for looking ahead to getting a TC. I'd still be looking at a low-profile TC, but having the extra payload and the extra length would take a bit of the pressure off of me trying to squeeze a TC into a 6 foot box on a 3/4 ton truck.
What do folks think about the Ford gassers as a basis for a (light) truck camper? I know the gas mileage will be less than the diesel, but the repairs for the '06 Dodge are starting to mount up and rust will continue to be an issue.
Thinking of trying to find a 2014/15 model year truck.
Would welcome all advice!!! thanks again.
Jim