Northstar tray-top for Fuso, Isuzu

[haven]

Bob Lynch recently discovered that Northstar has plans to sell tray-top versions of its campers in North America. Northstar has sent tray-top versions of its campers to Australia for several years.

Here's a Northstar TS1000 model, built for tray-top use

It would be an easy fit on a Fuso FG. Let's hope that Northstar is willing to sell this version in North America, too!

Read more about the Australian TS1000 here
http://www.freedomoffroad.com.au/TS1000.php

And here's the Northstar page on the TS1000 in USA
http://www.northstarcampers.com/TS1000.asp

Chip Haven

 

[boblynch]

Northstar will sell any US slide-in model as a flatbed camper. The area under the sides would be filled with external storage.

What appears new from their press release is the availability of new floorplans (or at least the Aussie floor plans). These true flatbed designs allow for more options and floor plan layouts.

As Chip points out, these would look great on a Fuso.

 

[kerry]

I have what amounts to a Northstar TS1000 in the service body on my FG. (It's a 1995 Texson TS1000 which evolved into the Northstar TS1000). I just mounted it last week and I still can't upload pictures, so you'll have to use your imagination.
Anyone know what kind of tie down mechanisms are use when installed on a tray top? Currently mine is fastened at the back to eye bolts in the jack mounts and in the front to square tubing which I slid into and bolted to the two metal U channels that run along the bottom of the camper. The standard tie down eye bolts are not useful on a service body.

 

[haven]

I think fastening the camper through the flatbed to the frame
makes sense (assuming that the camper can be directly attached to
the frame, rather than connected to a flexible "torque-free"
mount).

Joaquin Suave's U-bolt with spring-loaded bolts is one time-tested
approach.

 

[kerry]

I do like that kind of system. For me, the problem is determining what points on the camper are strong enough to serve as anchor points. The OE anchor points are eyebolts protruding down for the outside lower edge of the camper. I don't know if these are just bolted through 2x4's or if there is a piece of metal at that point of the camper.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Kerry

How many mounts do you have on your camper body on each side of the chassis and roughly where are they?

John

 

[whatcharterboat]

Sorry

Not the camper body . Meant to say the work tray? How many and where is it mounted to the chassis?

 

[kerry]

Can't say for sure off the top of my head but I think there are about 6 or 8 U bolts going from the service body and down under the frame rails. (3 or 4 on each side). At the moment I have the camper attached to eyebolts attached in the front to the 3/16"(?) diamond plate floor and to the 1/4" diamond plate steel bumper in the back. (still can't upload pictures). The bumper is also attached to the service body and bolted to the back of the frame rails. The bumper is also welded to the frame rails at a few points in addition to the bolts.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Cant upload pics? Sending you an email now.

 

[cruzinwyo]

If they welded a U channel on to the frame and then a smaller U channel on to the camper (both in a vertical fashion) they could mate the channels and then have the U bolts hold it down. The U channels would limit movement on the frame both side to side and front ot back.

my .02