I'm new to the forum and enjoyed readying other posts on modifications made to other Northstar TCs. I purchased my 2007 Northstar 800TC earlier this year and wanted to make it self sufficient for hunting trips here in Colorado. It was going to sit on a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 and luckily I had the factory air ride suspension. This levels out the payload and also makes it easier when loading/unloading since I can lower the ride height. I swapped out the factory wheels with some 18" Duratracs that are E rated.
The camper was in great shape except for the countertop needing replaced due to the previous owner leaving the window open, causing rain to enter. I decided to remove the stove/oven combo and make a cabinet for storage. I made a new countertop and installed a new two burner stove.
Before:
After before I installed the cabinet door:
Next was to make a nice oak tabletop to replace the factory one. It's actually lighter too. I also swapped in a newer Pioneer radio with Bluetooth.
The mattress was tossed and a new Select Comfort memory foam was installed. I added a heated fitted mattress cover to keep the bed warm. We have one on our house bed and they are really nice. Dual controls for each side and they use very little power.
Then I installed a 240 watt solar system, two 6 volt golf cart batteries, a 300 watt Morningstar inverter with two USB 110 volt outlets and a voltage gauge. This works extremely well. All lights have been swapped to LED too.
We have used several lights for hours, played the radio, watched three movies on DVD on a 22" LED HDTV, ran the bed heater all night, furnace all evening in 37 degree outside temps and the batteries we at 74% in the morning. After an hour of sunlight, the batteries were back at 100%. I'm sold on solar!
The camper has the Arctic pack option with additional thermal panels for the tent portion and insulation in the walls. It stays pretty warm with the furnace turning in about every hour for five minutes.
Lastly, I made a rear deck to help getting in and out plus for storage of items when underway.
It has a small toilet that comes in handy. I replaced the outside shower head with one from Oxygenics. It uses less water and has more pressure. A outside canvass shower stall came with the camper too.
I've taken two trips with it. One to the Grand Canyon and another with my ATVs in tow. The Dodge handles it perfectly and I'm happy with the combo.
I leave in a couple of weeks for a 11 day elk hunt and feel I will be ready for it!
The camper was in great shape except for the countertop needing replaced due to the previous owner leaving the window open, causing rain to enter. I decided to remove the stove/oven combo and make a cabinet for storage. I made a new countertop and installed a new two burner stove.
Before:
After before I installed the cabinet door:
Next was to make a nice oak tabletop to replace the factory one. It's actually lighter too. I also swapped in a newer Pioneer radio with Bluetooth.
The mattress was tossed and a new Select Comfort memory foam was installed. I added a heated fitted mattress cover to keep the bed warm. We have one on our house bed and they are really nice. Dual controls for each side and they use very little power.
Then I installed a 240 watt solar system, two 6 volt golf cart batteries, a 300 watt Morningstar inverter with two USB 110 volt outlets and a voltage gauge. This works extremely well. All lights have been swapped to LED too.
We have used several lights for hours, played the radio, watched three movies on DVD on a 22" LED HDTV, ran the bed heater all night, furnace all evening in 37 degree outside temps and the batteries we at 74% in the morning. After an hour of sunlight, the batteries were back at 100%. I'm sold on solar!
The camper has the Arctic pack option with additional thermal panels for the tent portion and insulation in the walls. It stays pretty warm with the furnace turning in about every hour for five minutes.
Lastly, I made a rear deck to help getting in and out plus for storage of items when underway.
It has a small toilet that comes in handy. I replaced the outside shower head with one from Oxygenics. It uses less water and has more pressure. A outside canvass shower stall came with the camper too.
I've taken two trips with it. One to the Grand Canyon and another with my ATVs in tow. The Dodge handles it perfectly and I'm happy with the combo.
I leave in a couple of weeks for a 11 day elk hunt and feel I will be ready for it!
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