2008 Northstar MC600

[jscusmcvet]

Well, I know this is the trailer section, but there does not seem to be a place for slide in campers... so here we go.

We have been camping and off roading forever (that's what overlanding used to be called, hahaha) and have made use of just about every method you can think of, except a RTT. Just never got around to it. We tent camped for the longest time, then went to a pop up trailer, Then went to a bantam trailer with a truck tent, then went to a T@B and then moved to this slide in truck camper.

We went to Expo east 2016 and really, really liked the Four Wheel Campers. A great piece of gear, but out of our price range. So I kept an eye on all the classifieds and craigslist... and lo and behold a pop up truck camper came up in New Bern, NC, about 3 hours away from us. It would fit in Ann's Tacoma and the guy said he could not promise us it would still be there when we arrived. I told him, "We are coming and have cash". I left work early and off we went.

Turns out the guy had just moved from Asheville to the coast, was pursuing a new lifestyle and did not want the camper. It was originally his Mom's so he had not really invested at all. With some subtle influence from my then 7 year old, Joe wore his ass out and he sold it to us :-). It fit jsut barely, in the tacoma.


I have been a jeeper for my entire adult life, haveing had 3 built wranglers, a Scrambler, 3 Cherokees. I had been looking for something differnt. Maybe because I am old, mostly because I wanted more comfort and really have moved out of the rock crawling scene. We mostly camp, mountain bike and relax these days. So one day this followed me home... a 2003 Tundra Limited. I have to say the V8 power and cold AC made me a bit giddy, coming from the jeep world.


Clearly it carries the camper better.

We did minimal work on the truck... brought it up to speed from a maintenance perspective, added Timbren SES bumpstops to handle the weight and hit the road. Over the last year or so we have about 20 nights in it. It is amazing how quick it is to set up and how much we use the camper while we are out exploring, from changing clothes, to showering off after a day on the trails or at a running event, etc...

More to come...

 

[jscusmcvet]

So we have made some improvements to the camper. I rigged a way to use our Kelty carport off the back as an awning/privacy shelter. Easy set up and Ann really likes the privacy part, especially when camping in a group. We then added our well used ARB 2500 awning to the side. I used barn door brackets (made for a 2x4 to act as a lock) to mount it. I found that idea on another forum and it was super cheap, super easy and works great.

I also used an old jeep rear bumper and tire swing out to create a platform to hold our Indel B fridge. It swings out of the way when we are camped and rides happily back there when we are on the road. I wired a 12v plug from Blue Sea into the bumper so it can be plugged in. We have found that the fridge does not like the rain(!) so Ann is busy making a water proof cover for it. You can see the set up in the picture above, in the open position. Recently I changed out the platform to something bigger which should help with camp chairs, etc... and moved the bike carrier to the rear of the platform.

Only other change since we have had it is a new fan in the ceiling. The old one only pulled air out and the new one will push air in or pull air out.

What we like about the set up the best is the super easy set up, the fact that we have everything with us at all times, the outside shower and the comfort of sleeping inside. We like the big windows that this model has also.

The future holds the addition of a window AC unit (we live in the south, dagonne it) and perhaps pulling out some of the systems we don't use, such as the water heater, hot water heater and the good for nothing 3 way fridge that currently serves as our pantry. I also am considering upgrading the solar that I am currently using to something that is easier to use, takes less storage and provides me with a viable readout of what is atually going on (charging, battery status, etc...)

Last but not least... yes, I do at times miss my jeeps, especially the two rubicons I had. But the truck is doing everything I need it to. I have hit most trails at Uwharrie when dry with no issue, it is immensley helpful around our property and it is sure more comfortable for commuting and road trips than the jeeps. Maybe someday I will build another rock crawler, but not today. I would like to add some more armor to the truck and a winch, but that is going to have to wait....

 

[Captain Chaos]

We do need a section for slide in campers. And earth roamed type rigs.