2020 Northstar Liberty - Expedition Truck Camper Build!

montypower

Adventure Time!
What’s the next rig for you guys? Thanks for all the good modification ideas, definitely going to steal some of them.

Been busy on the camper this past couple weeks! Getting it fully dialed before photos/video and posting for sale.

New Rig:
 

montypower

Adventure Time!

Our NorthStar Liberty Truck Camper is just over 4 years old. It has held up well and been trouble free with proven durable build quality.

But then a Bear Attacked it during the summer... We had our Truck Camper parked in Lake Tahoe for 2 nights while on the Rubicon Trail with our Yamaha RMAX 2 side by side. We returned to find the camper door folded over with bear tooth marks. Thankfully the bear couldn’t open the door (deadbolt held). There were only minor roof claw marks. No camper damage. The camper door damage was resolved with a NorthStar replacement door assembly (included frame, screen and strut). Thankfully, we were able to straighten the door and continue travels while waiting for the replacement parts.

This event did initiate the idea replacing the TPO roof which escalated into a solar replacement upgrade project. Our original 5 flexible solar panels were 160w each. 4 of the panels were functioning well after four years. One of them had been faulty since it partially blew off the roof (original installation issue). The new replacement solar panels are slightly larger physical size with 175w power output. This increased the total solar output to 875 watts! This is incredible!!! Few expedition rigs have this much solar let alone a truck camper.

This roof replacement project took several weeks with 2 people. It’s not a simple project!!! However the results are excellent.

Parts List (partial):
Dicor DiFlex II DF1185W-21 TPO Roof Material (8’6”x21’)
Dicor 501LSW-1 Self Leveling Sealant (case 12)
Dicor 351CSW-1 Non-Sag Cap Sealant (2 tubes)
Dicor BT-1824-5 Butyl Tape (5 pack)
Dicor 901BA Bonding Adhesive
Dicor CS200B-1 Seal Tite Corner Tape (50ft roll)
RecPro 1” Vinyl Trim Insert Vinyl (100ft)
Dometic 3311236 Fridge Roof Vent
NorthStar Skylight Bathroom
Renogy Flexible Solar Panel 175 watt (5 panels)
Plastic Scrapers, Cleaners, Gloves, Screws…

Cost ~ $3,000 Materials + 200+hrs Labor
 

rruff

Explorer
Wow... what a PITA. Those campground "human-acclimatized" bears are a menace.

Where I live (Ruidoso NM) there are plenty of bears, elk, deer... and mountain lions (because all their "food" is in town) roaming about. It's impossible to train the tourists to "not feed the wildlife" if you don't actually fine them...

I'm strongly in favor of a "cave man" hunting season in the town limits. If you can get a wild animal with a club or pointy stick, then it's fair game.
 
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montypower

Adventure Time!
Wow... what a PITA. Those campground "human-acclimatized" bears are a menace.

Agreed. We've traveled all over the backcountry and never have wildlife issues... Except for populated areas. Bad management for sure. These animals need to be exterminated not relocated after becoming domesticated. Trash dumpster bears are the worst. Major problem in the Lake Tahoe area.
 

IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
To be fair, there is no such thing as a menace "human-acclimatized" bear

Any bear that is a menace by any metric is one that had been created by filthy humans.
The campers that leave food and garbage out for bears to rummage thru.
Once they have a taste for it, its game on.

If people kept their camps clean of garbage and food waste, there would be no problem bears.

Just one more reason we actively avoid populated areas and stick to dispersed camping on public lands.
40+ year of backpacking, camping, and RV travel in the PNW and zero bear problems,
 

montypower

Adventure Time!
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