MidnightRider
MidnightRider
Nice rig. I made a windscreen for the fridge out of a pie tin. Works good.
Northstar Truck Campers
- Thread starter NorthstarBillyMack
- Start date
Nice rig. I made a windscreen for the fridge out of a pie tin. Works good.
I have a Northstar MC-600 on my Ford Ranger. With the top down, I can use the porta-potti, make lunch with access to the fridge and have even slept in the camper with the top down during a very strong windstorm in Montana. I've had my Northstar for over two year and made two cross-country trips and plenty of shorter trips throughout California. It's a great camper and extremely versitile.
FWIW, while NS was very accommodating and willing to do what they could with stupid build alternatives for us, we just went with a plain tc800 and a portapotty. We decided we could use the extra dinette space and save 6" off our rear by skipping the cassette toilet. We can access pretty much everything with the top down--we probably have too many sleeping bags in the cabover because I don't really have to duck when I walk around with the top down.
In a few years when we have to upgrade due to the kids being too tall to sleep wrong way on the queen bed, it would be nice to see a cassette toilet that has top-down access (without having to have a basement). The toilet situation is the only reason I'd consider a hardside.
In a few years when we have to upgrade due to the kids being too tall to sleep wrong way on the queen bed, it would be nice to see a cassette toilet that has top-down access (without having to have a basement). The toilet situation is the only reason I'd consider a hardside.
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
Yeah,I run mine on 12v while driving. My wife freezes a 1 gal Nalgene container w/herbal tea and that helps to maintain the temp for the initial drive. After that it doesn't work too well. I'm fortunate to have the old school manual controls on the Dometic. No circuit board to my knowledge. We always bring an ice chest and park it in the dinette area to supplement the fridge.
I'd love to have a 850sc with the higher roof for crawling into bed. Gonna have to wait a few yrs for a used one. I do wish Northstar would consider the insulated tent fabric that Outfitter uses.
redthies
Renaissance Redneck
I posted on this in another thread, and it did stir a few pots in Alberta, but from what I have read, it is technically illegal to drive with your valves open. This is from Transport Canada's website, but the rules are so full of legal jargon, it is hard to imagine anyone enforcing it. I personally won't drive with propane valves open. It doesn't seem smart to me, but my fridge works so well, and is so well insulated that everything stays cold even after an eight hour drive. Ice cream even stays frozen (ish) in the freezer!
And just for fun, the following is from NS's FAQ on their website (http://northstarcampers.com/ask.php) :
• does the camper battery charge automaticly when pluged into AC power? does it charge when I am driving? I have been using the 3way fridge as follows, when pluged into AC I run it on AC, when on the road I use DC when parked with out AC I run it on propane, is this the best practices?
Yes, your converter charges your battery when plugged into A/C. The truck will charge the battery when driving also.
You are using the 3-way refrigerator correctly. Remember that the 12V side of the frig does not have a thermostat and is always drawing 12V power when on that side of the power selection. I have heard of frozen milk and eggs when left on 12V for long trips and dead batteries after a long stop at a full service truck stop service area.
• does the camper battery charge automaticly when pluged into AC power? does it charge when I am driving? I have been using the 3way fridge as follows, when pluged into AC I run it on AC, when on the road I use DC when parked with out AC I run it on propane, is this the best practices?
Yes, your converter charges your battery when plugged into A/C. The truck will charge the battery when driving also.
You are using the 3-way refrigerator correctly. Remember that the 12V side of the frig does not have a thermostat and is always drawing 12V power when on that side of the power selection. I have heard of frozen milk and eggs when left on 12V for long trips and dead batteries after a long stop at a full service truck stop service area.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Billy,
I am looking into the Northstar 850sc, and have a few questions
1. as a factory option, a 12v compressor fridge can be ordered( per. http://northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=33) what brand/type any info on that option?
2. with the full wrap and rear storage bumper, can that bumper support the weight of a few jerry cans, or prob rotopax fuel packs and a spare tire? i would have to build the brackets and prob a swing out bracket.
thanks
jordan
I am looking into the Northstar 850sc, and have a few questions
1. as a factory option, a 12v compressor fridge can be ordered( per. http://northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=33) what brand/type any info on that option?
2. with the full wrap and rear storage bumper, can that bumper support the weight of a few jerry cans, or prob rotopax fuel packs and a spare tire? i would have to build the brackets and prob a swing out bracket.
thanks
jordan
knobbytracks
Observer
Jordan,
Your best bet with those questions would be to email Rex at Northstar. I don't know them personally, but the few times I've emailed, they have gone out of their way to be more than helpful.
Your best bet with those questions would be to email Rex at Northstar. I don't know them personally, but the few times I've emailed, they have gone out of their way to be more than helpful.
dizzyspots
Adventurer
@NorthstarBillyMack Well after 3-1/2 years of internet searching for a TC650EC...I find one TWO miles from my office
2003 Loaded with every option available in 03 except window air and sub zero kit ...pretty clean, minor nut and bolt "brown" stuff from its former life in southern California...love the extra space and especially the north/south bed. We made due with a 95 Starcraft Sportstar...but side by side as we moved stuff to the NS, you can really tell the difference in construction and detail...Thanks Billy for your info and encouragement back in 2011,,,couldnt afford a new one but I am now in the Northstar family YAY!
2003 Loaded with every option available in 03 except window air and sub zero kit ...pretty clean, minor nut and bolt "brown" stuff from its former life in southern California...love the extra space and especially the north/south bed. We made due with a 95 Starcraft Sportstar...but side by side as we moved stuff to the NS, you can really tell the difference in construction and detail...Thanks Billy for your info and encouragement back in 2011,,,couldnt afford a new one but I am now in the Northstar family YAY!
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
I've got the ancient 3.0 Dometic 3-way with manual controls thank God. I drove from San Diego to Bishop in the heat with the near worthless 12v setting. What's worked for us is freezing a one gallon Nalgene bottle and keeping it on the lower door. Upon arrival at our campsite in Pine Creek the temp was 48* after seven hrs of driving. Six days later the herbal tea solution had finally melted.
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
That new Northstar 850sc has the taller roof and north/south sleeping. The cassette toilet is sure looking good the older I get.
Hi there! We have a 2012 North Star TC650. We recently purchased the Fiama 6' awning through North Star and we are trying to get installed. We live in Anchorage, AK so there is not a dealer here. We are looking for a photo of the awning installed -- my installer just wants to see what it looks like properly installed before he starts drilling into the camper. Does anyone have a photo of the Fiama awning installed on the rear of the camper?
