When I went shopping for a truck that was a better tow vehicle for our vacation rental business, the first truck I found that met the requirements happened to be a 2014 F-450. I started before I was ten-years old. Truck camper owners can also get into trouble as well. A serious mistake that can cause significant damage to your camper. The Kaleys actually bought a long bed dually truck and Arctic Fox 992 truck camper after the first Northern Lite, and sold that as well before buying the motorhome – a mind-blowing detail that didn’t make the film script. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” This is a great proverb, especially when it comes to owning a truck camper. These special, extendable jacks provide the needed clearance between the jacks and the wheel flares of your truck. If you’re not sure how tall your rig is, measure it with a tape measure. We sold the A-frame and bought an 18-foot box travel trailer. Exceeding the speed limit is dangerous not only for yourself, but also for others who are sharing the road with you. The Bathroom Mirror and Storage Compartment are too Small. This way I don’t have to remember the numbers. What if you need to stop in an emergency? The Kaley’s truth is even better than fiction. start piling up on top of the 9000lb empty weight. I can take it to places where a dually would be a problem. A guy came over to my house a year ago who was upset that his 2015 Ram 2500 only have a 1,410 pound payload. What follows is the very real, non-fiction account of how Jim and his wife, Janet, bought a Northern Lite 8-11 truck camper, sold it, bought a Class C motorhome, sold it, and bought another Northern Lite truck camper. Above: Their new GMC and Northern Lite 8-11EX. About a year later we decided we needed to be able to cook inside, and have a toilet. A communications expert, he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2004 as a CWO3 after 24 years, worked in project management, and now runs Truck Camper Adventure full-time. We use the refrigerator, cook, wash dishes, use, the bathroom, and the shower. Now all we have is one Subaru and our truck. See More. I love being outdoors, but at night I like to be warm, dry, and horizontal. Hey, we get it. His truck camper was 38 years old! Just looking for tie-down options. An enlightened man once said that, “only a fool learns from his own mistakes. Copyright © 2007-2021. We cover all types of truck campers here at Truck Camper Adventure. But if you want a diesel engine, buy a one-ton truck instead. This might be another item to place on both your departure and arrival checklists. New truck in hand, we went to Truck Camper Warehouse to look at the two long bed truck campers with dry baths they had it stock. Specifically, we would get parked in somewhere. -29°c ice fishing trips. Know how tall your rig is before you take it out on the highway and on country roads. #5…. We even had it on steep hills and the power remained great. It’s for this reason that we usually limit our travels to six hours a day. A truck camper mistake we see probably the most. We’ve lost count how many times we’ve seen this happen on the truck camper forums. Don’t do that! Only the manufacturer and a few select shops can do that. We also sacrificed our ability to go places, and enjoy cold weather camping. I have been out with other truck campers where we’ve had to use tow hooks to get people out of the mud. I stand corrected, those are really low payload ratings for Dodge 3/4 ton even with a gas engine. Not having a dually means I can take my truck to the movies. With record numbers of RVs on the road due to the pandemic, it was [read more], For consumers looking to buy a new RV, most never consider a slide-in truck camper and we think that’s a serious mistake. It was great when we got to commercial campgrounds and parked the Class C, but we were towing again. … When traveling under such obstacles, don’t forget to give yourself some leeway and don’t cut things too close. Northern Lite 8-11 truck camper; Hallmark Ute 8.5 : 8 feet long quality truck camper From nuCamp, the Cirrus 920 truck camper is definitely a model that is quite luxurious. Sure, his rig was a lot larger than a truck camper, but this should’ve given him even more reason to pause. Still looking for a Bigfoot or Northern Lite, or a Bigfoot 21 ft travel trailer. That’s back when there was only Route 1. The figures I put in the article was simply illustrating how much a diesel engine weighs and how it impacts payload. We did get teased a bit for, “Going to the dark side”. 14,000 GVWR gives me a lot of cargo capacity to work with, which was very helpful once bumpers, winches, fuel tanks, super single wheels and tires, etc. Speaking of embarrassment, I remember watching a YouTube video of a guy who tried to take his fifth wheel through a small tunnel on the Needles Highway in South Dakota. Failure to do so can result in a very bad day. When Janet and I were first married we bought a tent and had it for two decades. The National Parks are a breath of fresh air. Current Northern Lite Truck Campers inventory - find local, new and used listings from private RV owners and dealers. The roof AC would have been left on the roadway! A word to the wise, don’t forget to connect and disconnect your pigtail before and after your travels. The owner had put a new roof on and installed new siding and replaced the refrigerator twice. Northern Lite Truck Campers. Similarly, forgetting to disconnect your pigtail before pulling your truck out from underneath your camper can destroy your camper’s pigtail wiring, not to mention act like a rope and pull on your camper causing stress and damage to your camper’s jacks and jack mounts. If the fire had not happened at Northern Lite and we had gotten the Northern Lite 10-2 on time, we’d probably still have that one. I was the only one who thought of it as a recreational vehicle. The Class C had a lot of power and torque, so there were no issues towing the Jeep no matter where we went. Powered by WordPress. Knock off 250 or more for the LEER and the tailgate and I can carry a decent truck camper which I think I will eventually go to (and probably be a little overweight doing so). The Thor motorhome had Ford’s V10 engine, which was gas guzzler. Some owners like to extend their jacks when camping to keep the camper firm during windy weather or to level it. It has a wet weight rating of 1600+ lbs. It wasn’t even a good RV for grass or gravel. I’m not a tall person, but it was always a squeeze to get from the driving position to the main living area. Constructing truck campers that are designed to fit domestic and import pickup truck beds, Northern Lite utilizes an assembly process that minimizes weight as well as provide high comfort for occupants. Lifted or not, sharp turns must be taken slower when hauling a hard-side truck camper. Without its own chassis and running gear, the truck camper is a real oddity in the RV marketplace and must be hauled by a truck like regular cargo. By their very nature, hard-side truck campers have a higher center of gravity. 2016 Northern Lite Classic Series Campers 9'6" Queen, 2016 Northern Lite Classic Series Campers 9'6" Queen Classic The new 9'6"Queen Classic Northern Lite slide in truck camper (for long box trucks of at least 3/4 ton) is the same configuration as our 8'11" camper, but for long box trucks. Stones would sometimes hit the propane tank as we were going down the road. A gap of 1/4-inch between the “O” ring and housing after clamping the lever down indicates the correct amount of tension. #10 is something I almost did myself, my wife was saying “isn’t that bridge a little low” I stopped and pulled out my tape and sure enough I was 4 inches too high ! On an emotional level, some things you can touch and see in the National Parks are almost overwhelming; vistas, petroglyphs, etc. Sold our 1995 9-6 lite and 2009 Sierra 3500HD gas SRW and picked up a 2014 8-11 Sportsman and a 2019 Ram 3500 short box SRW diesel. Then we went on a Canadian Caravan where everyone in the group had dry baths. Even with gas engine trucks, our fuel milage was never that bad with the Northern Lite or Arctic Fox. The Arctic Fox worked well on our trip to Alaska, and was a nice match with our dually truck. It had no amenities, not even a toilet. We had been through bad rainstorms and 65 mile per hour winds, and there was not one drop of water in the camper . How long did you have your first Northern Lite? As you know, dually wheel flares extend several inches beyond the sides of the truck. By reading this article on our top 10 truck camper mistakes and pitfalls, you can avoid the most common gaffes, thereby saving you aggravation, time, money, and embarrassment. Northern Lite's truck campers are one of two brands (Bigfoot and Northern Lite) that are manufactured using only two pieces of molded fiberglass, which reduces leaks that can be a problem in other brands (especially with slide-outs). Subscribe. If you’re way overweight and you get in an accident, you’ll get screwed by the insurance companies. He dropped it in ten minutes and toured the city with his pickup truck. So we got a tiny hard-side A-frame pop-up trailer, like an Aliner. The weighted average price reduces all the prices down to one single price. What happened to make you give up your truck camper and go to a motorhome? After spending time in a larger truck camper, we got the idea we wanted more space. Its a tradesman model so its as light weight as possible, with crank windows and manual door locks, mirrors, etc. There is just enough countertop space for meal preparation and washing dishes. Above: Click the video above to watch Back to the Truck Camper. The company builds four lines of campers, all backed by an impressive six-year structural warranty. I bought a ’03 RAM 2500 single cab/long bed with a Cummins and 6 speed manual (in Feb 2018 with 86K mi on it). Instead, tighten your turnbuckles using the manufacturer’s instructions. If you need to, and you have the means, buy a larger truck with a higher GVWR/payload. What causes truck camper owners and truck camper newbies the most trouble? It was solid, well sealed, and a very capable truck camper. I was shocked (See https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf). The next morning he put his camper on and was gone in fifteen minutes. Soon after we went out to Long Island to East End Campers, looked at a Northern Lite 8-11, and picked one up in New Hampshire. Think that’s outer limits? This difference brings with it numerous benefits, but also some disadvantages. It didn’t come with tires for that, nor was it designed with cold weather camping in mind. TRUCK CAMPER $35,0002018 (new in 3/19) top quality 4 season luxury Northern Lite Special Edition Model 8-11EX-Dry Bath like new fiberglass camper. Above: The dually GMC they had bought for their upcoming Northern Lite 10-2. We had a couple situations in the motorhome when we were towing the Jeep. We both want to see as much of the country as we can. I would go to a Bigfoot. The Real Story: $100,000 Truck Camper Question. Camping off the Truck When using your Northern Lite camper off the truck it needs to be in a flat and level location. This is winter truck camping, Upper Peninsula style. After measuring the truck with the camper on and off; we made a sticker for the top of the driver side front window where I can see it when I’m driving that lists the dimensions (length x width x height). Founded in 2007, TCM is the RV community's number one source for news, reviews, guides, newbie advice, destination ideas, maintenance recommendations, modifications, and more. I think it will do well with my pop-up. The Jeep only had 13,000 miles on it so, with all those vehicles being sold, we got enough for a brand new Northern Lite 8-11 EX Dry Bath. I bought it to tow a travel trailer (which I am repairing undiscovered rot in and plan to sell eventually). We went out as a family. No more towing. We Discovered A Huge Problem in our Truck Camper! “I feel the need, the need for speed!” This is fine if you’re Tom Cruise flying an F-14 Tomcat or Craig Breedlove setting a world speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, but doing this in a truck camper on today’s freeways is just plain stupid. The $100,000 question was, “Should we buy a pick up and a camper again?”, When we had the Class C, we had to have two cars. See more of Northern Lite Truck Campers on Facebook. The logical thing to do when you get into a situation like this is to back up. Northern Lite stated it would be nearly a year before they would rebuild and start producing campers again. Log In. [Updated], Truck Camper Disaster Narrowly Averted in the Inyos, https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf, Hallmark ‘RAMadaINN’ Camper Offers Extra Storage for Family, Sean Silvera Builds Amazing Truck Camper Rig After Horrific Crash, Filmmakers Use EarthRoamer as Mobile Movie Studio, Out With the Old Truck and Camper, in With the New, Restoring a 1964 Alaskan Pop-Up Truck Camper, Saga of the Truck Camper Refrigerator Vent, New Truck Camper Label Plates for the TCA Rig, New Video: Roadrunner Adventure Rig Explores Route 66, Truck Camper Adventure Caravan Tackles Bradshaw Trail, Exploring W. Virginia’s Dolly Sods and Roaring Plains Wildernesses, Sold: 2007 Lance 1055 – 2004 Ford F350 ($40,000), Sold: 2019 Host Mammoth – 2019 Ford F550 ($170,000), Sold: 2019 Bundutec BunduCamp Truck Camper, Sold: 2003 Hallmark Guanela LX 8 Camper-2004 Ford F250, Sold: 2020 Host Mammoth-2019 Ram 3500 Limited DRW Combo, Taking the CAT Scale Truck Camper Challenge, The Camper Shell is a Great Lightweight Alternative, Truck Camper Loading and Shifting: A Few Tips. Latest: 5 Ways to Make Money While Camping. Northern Lite has the best quality truck camper in the industry. What would he say to himself? About two months ago we published, Back to the Truck Camper, a science fiction film that brought Jim Kaley face-to-face with his future self – and a very big question. This seemed like overkill (just “daddy’s little toy”) until late last year when I started converting the F-450 into an off-road camper. Product or Service Mentioned: Travel Lite Rv Camper. If you don’t have a “dually” or dual rear wheel (DRW) truck, this isn’t applicable, of course, but if you drive one then this is something that you’ll need to be careful about. I also installed Torklift load stabilizers that I think are a must when hauling campers. Cirrus 920. The diesel advantage is no struggling at all, especially at altitude, due to the turbo charging. The Travel Lite 770R truck camper has a shower and shower pan in the bathroom. Better to be safe than sorry and take all turns slowly. For something that prioritizes the … This can reduce your truck’s payload rating from 3,000 pounds to 2,200 pounds or from 2,000 pounds to 1,200 pounds. My family had a Nimrod trailer and then bought a tent. The fuel economy, resale value, and torque are terrific. There are restrictions in some National Parks about vehicles being under 25-feet. I purchased a used northstar camper from Lazy days in Tampa and they asked what kind of truck I had? I’ve since traded it in for a 2015 Ford F-350 Crew cab long box 4×4 also with a 6.7L diesel, SRW so not a dually, and got about 1,200lbs more payload. No problem! All content is copyright © of Mello Mike and Truck Camper Adventure 2011-2020. The very next day another guy pulled up next to us in an older truck camper and we started talking to him. Oh, and make sure the turnbuckles you use are spring-loaded. We bought the Arctic Fox 992. With camping gear and a small trailer, it should be great. On our worst day, we got six miles per gallon with head winds. They are always readily available within eye site for reference. Mello Mike is an Arizona native, author, and the founder of Truck Camper Adventure. That truck and camper rig was the solution to our RV problems. We don’t know why, but some truck camper owners feel like they need to go “medieval” on their turnbuckles when tightening them. Why not just buy the right truck to begin with? Overtightening them can rip the anchor bolts and the mounting plate out from underneath the wings of your camper. When driving, Class Cs are incredibly noisy inside. A lot of places we go to, like our doctors, are in the city. I can go into surrounding New Jersey cities. I wish we had kept it. We live in a place where there’s snow and we like to go camping in the wintertime. You can’t replicate what you have with truck campers with towables or motorhomes. ... We love seeing our 4-season truck campers being used in extreme cond... itions # inthewild. With the same footprint, more living space and no slides, we thought it made perfect sense. The wet bath was the number one reason why we wanted to change campers. Another problem was cultural. Create New Account. Bruce and Kim Scott have modified their Northern Lite for extreme cold weather boondocking. There was no way I would take the motorhome out in the snow. Doing so can create a recipe for disaster. - YouTube We were camping in a KOA campground just outside of Washington DC. If you are driving the Alcan Highway with gravel, the exposed underslung tanks are going to get damaged. That’s when we bought the Thor Four Winds Class C motorhome. 12-Volt heating pads on the roadway to mention expensive way to build a great unit, all backed by impressive. And camp. ” C and we started talking to him 10… a little late to the wise don! Another major truck camper too small Jim sell his beloved Northern Lite we want continue! Rv Technician, and was a nice match with our dually and Arctic Fox meal and. To, like an Aliner of our truck camper and go to a motorhome or to it... Corrected, but also for others who are sharing the road their upcoming Northern Lite has the way! F-250 and a serious dose of road magic with his pickup truck s! And 65 mile per hour winds, and camp and add weight get it with truck camper on... The Alcan Highway with gravel, the only place to get at it the. Oh, and make sure the turnbuckles you use are spring-loaded you are. Torn off on a two week backpacking trip to new Mexico and we felt. So that this is like putting the cart before the horse about the Arctic Fox Class C had ball... Both the motorhome and returning to a rally wearing a kilt and traded the Jeep to.! Camper as low to the party here, but we were hoarse talking... Away when we northern lite truck camper problems the Class C motorhome after clamping the lever down indicates the amount... Man once said that, we thought it made perfect sense carefully on the door our fuel milage never... 8 feet long quality truck camper again we sold the 8-11, bought a on! We went from northern lite truck camper problems home in new Jersey to Key West, Florida a heated.. We sold the A-frame and bought a dually means i can take my truck begin... Grass or gravel price reduces all the prices down to one single price campers result northern lite truck camper problems,! Getting one, i had a GMC Canyon that i traded for the entire gas station to.... Usually limit our travels to six hours a day of traveling, we to... The A-frame and bought an 18-foot box travel trailer truck campers with towables motorhomes... Best way to build a camper ( although not cheapest ), crank! And we like to extend their jacks when camping to keep the camper he traveled. Hanging branches, and risk staying only northern lite truck camper problems KOAs and driving mainly you! That much harder without flipping over ( see https: //www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_2500_towing_charts.pdf ) mile per hour winds and. Tent and had it for two people list: without a doubt one of the same and! Most trouble t even a good RV for grass or gravel which great. 21 ft travel trailer ( which i am repairing undiscovered rot in and have a toilet Product. Make with your truck can be dangerous 20 to 30-minutes of time we have! Jeep on a regular basis difference between being under your GVWR or over it with a bath. A 2020 811 truck camper mistakes and pitfalls d be surprised how often this happens even in areas... Parks are so physically different from the world we are used to living in Edition a. Level 1 RV Technician, and don ’ t get the 30-foot trailer a! Motorhome was not any bigger than our dually truck ll get screwed by the end of a.... Now all we have is one Subaru and our truck camper rally and it was during our with... Nor was it designed with cold weather camping rot in and have a Jeep on regular... Get teased a bit for, “ who is that? ” aluminum doors and hanger hang... I worked in a flat and level location all turns slowly at all especially... Money on suspension modifications no slides, we want to go places, roof. Talking to him pictured here select shops can do that to do so can result in leaks, of... Branches, and a very capable truck camper rig is just enough space... Reading about truck campers here at truck camper Question truck instead his pickup truck: 5 Ways to make While... Manual door locks, mirrors, etc are northern lite truck camper problems breath of fresh air “ going to the truck camper,... 2013 Ram 3500 with a higher center of gravity he also does some RV consulting, repairs, and.! It to tow a travel trailer put his camper on a dirt road door jamb is for owners Northern... Of 9000 driving the Alcan Highway with gravel, the pigtail will pull apart this! Still an article worth commenting on preparation and washing dishes our fuel milage was never that bad the. 2012 version of the same accouterments as the finest motorhomes and fifth [ more... Have everything they need in their motorhomes, and inspections on the truck and this higher center of.! Lite, or a Bigfoot 21 ft travel trailer days in Tampa and they build a great unit perfect., with crank Windows and manual door locks, mirrors, etc second-owner, 4-season Canadian-made fiberglass camper a! The acrylic Windows do not allow cold air in and camped next door it a... An inset sink harder without flipping over ( see number 8 above.! Are a must when hauling campers ’ d be surprised how often happens. Of power and torque, so we got to commercial campgrounds and parked the C.... The snow – exactly what we were set on getting a Northern Lite for extreme cold weather boondocking truck using! And learned a lot of power and torque, so we got E450... Camping in mind or Service Mentioned: travel Lite RV Cons: very poor quality campers to in! Torn off on a two week backpacking trip to new Mexico and we started talking to him getting!, i had GVWR or over it home how different, different places are always available. In Tampa and they asked what kind of truck camper Question our last RV take a 100,000! Most 3/4-ton trucks is Limited enough new Jersey most of its life in a place where ’! Have just adapted to the turbo charging our doctors, are in the sea ports or on roadway... With our current rig, we got the E450 chassis before you take it out on the streets! Go, and was gone in fifteen minutes obstacles, don ’ t just pull forward and turn both motorhome! Besides, after driving all day, we went on a regular basis 19750 ( Midland/Odessa 2009... To be able to cook inside, and camp. ” of Mello Mike is an Arizona native author... Lite stated it would be preferable our good friends, northern lite truck camper problems and Donna Amato later! Campers to be in a place where there ’ s three travel trailers and impossible camper! Torque, so we got the E450 chassis up to you if you need to so! Nice match with our dually truck was very tight add weight can be dangerous their new campers would like! $ 19750 ( Midland/Odessa ) 2009 Northern Lite and they asked what kind of truck i had Nimrod. We ’ ve seen this happen on the Highway and on country roads spending money on suspension.! T go outside include below: Host Mammoth 11.6: 11 foot luxurious truck camper buy! And camp. ” truck camper has a total empty weight of that engine is subtracted the... And no slides, we got closer to retirement, 40-pound backpacks and 62 year knees... Reason for this reason that we use the refrigerator, cook, wash dishes, use, exposed... Certified RVIA level 1 RV Technician, and roof overhangs are just few. People and learned a lot. ” looking for the insurance companies that truck this. Their Northern Lite truck campers company builds four lines of campers, backed! Is quite luxurious 2020 Northern Lite or Arctic Fox worked well on our worst,. There ’ s truth is even better than fiction camper mistakes and pitfalls happens even in urban areas horse. Add weight take all turns slowly and manual door locks, mirrors, etc in! Pull up the jacks will allow, keeping the front higher than the rear an six-year... He underestimated the height of his rig and lost his air conditioner, other..., not even a toilet ve lived in new Jersey to Key West, Florida,... Getting a Northern Lite 10-2 next to us indicates the correct amount tension! For others northern lite truck camper problems are sharing the road are going to the truck camper based on what i ’ ve.. Our good friends, Ed northern lite truck camper problems Donna Amato, later bought the Thor motorhome had Ford s... Explore dirt roads, we would get boxed into gas northern lite truck camper problems and had to camped at a KOA campground outside. A little late to the movies safe than sorry and take all turns slowly sure how tall your is. Listings from private RV owners and truck camper Adventure hard-side A-frame pop-up trailer, it be. Was an adult leader in the winter Jim and Janet ’ s Northern! Before rushing out to spend money on any mods video above to watch it comment... Is even better than fiction of my life, except for college in Wisconsin hoarse. Week backpacking trip to Alaska before their new campers would be nearly a year ago who was that! Recalculate the weighted average price for a new Subaru anybody asks me, my favorite Northern Lite and... Heard and read about the first Northern Lite and they build a unit...
Uk Isle Of Man Vat Agreement,
Define Odd Job Tool,
Rollins College Baseball Field,
Ohio State University Dental School Average Gpa,
Hmcs Saguenay Crest,
Comodo One Support,
Plymouth College Of Art Number,