Picked our hard side truck camper. I have a couple of questions.

[rrliljedahl]

For the last 6 months, my wife and I have been exploring truck camper options. We want to be able to boondock in more remote sites.

We have selected

Northstar Escape Pod 900SD
Hard side
Flatbed
Passenger side entry
North South sleeping
9 x 7 Ft floor plan
Rear dinette
2000 dry weight



[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hgdu2xbyc8o&feature=youtube_gdata_player&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dhgdu2xbyc8o%26feature%3 Dyoutube_gdata_player[/video]



We will have 40 gallons of freshwater
300 watts of solar on the roof
Roof rack for the canoe
Dual AGM batteries
Camper will be built in March.

Northstar manufacturers flatbed, passenger side entry hard side and pop ups for overseas market such as Australia.

My present plan is to put this on a yet to be purchased 1 ton, diesel, long bed truck.

FIRST QUESTION IS
Wife does not want scissor steps for camper access. Does anybody have thoughts on other options?

I found this flip up stairs on an Australia camper but have as of yet gotten no additional information. Has anyone done this here in the US.




XP Camper has a pull out stairs that stores within the flatbed.


Presently, you have to buy their flatbed to get the steps but at a cost of $12,000. The flatbed does have a 3 point suspension, lockable storage rear bumper, rear lights, 4 lockable under flatbed storage drawers and a long pull out rear drawer.


Does anyone know a source for the pull out stairs?

 

[Bayou Boy]

Three things.
Buy a cab and chassis rather than adding a flat bed to a truck with a bed.
Bump to the 450. You'll be at or more likely over GVW loaded. Why buy a new truck and start out overloaded?
Have some made by a fab shop to slide into the flat bed that you had made for that purpose. A collapsing parallelogram stair isn't that hard to design.

 

[Capt Eddie]

I agree with Bayou Boys idea. F450 flatbed build will prove it.

 

[incognito]

Hy,
i have one truck camper which has this set-up,works well. i think any trailer rv shop sells them.
or go to an aluminium welding shop they can work something out for you usually they are pretty good in fabricating custom parts.
or buy a aluminium scissor steps and welded to be fixed or fabricate some reinforcements on the sides.
i have one wood stair for another camper works well but is little bit heavy but solid. stays in the camper when not in use .

i agree with the others cab and chassis or a flat bed truck are a better idea. those sell in the used market for less because less people wants them, not so popular . for me it was a one day lost to take the useless original truck bed out. at least I've sold it good.
search
commercialtrucktrader maybe
how much wide is your truck camper?
good luck
incognito

 

[BillTex]

If steps are the issue, skip the flat bed and go with a 1 ton and any side entrance TC. Seems like you are trying to fit a square peg...

Why are you decided on the flat bed route?

Adds a LOT of height and narrows your options.
I can't imagine trying to get a canoe on a flatbed TC.

A standard 1 ton LB pick me up allows for MANY side entrance TC's...with larger tanks and more storage, etc than Northstar.
(Nothing wrong with NS...but they are kind of bare bones for the $...)

Good luck, Bill