i regret for trading my Snowriver TC

d3500ram, thanks for your advice.
I will check it out when I see one. I do know its small, I never sat on it when I was looking at them back then. since its just me I might has well just leave the door open...
By the way its good to hear from you.

mdw60 wrote:
...I'm going get myself a Northstar 850 or a Laredo...

Hi Mark. If I recall when I met you years ago at Mueller State Park on that pseudo NATCOA outing I seem to remember (without insulting) you being a bigger guy like me. The 2 Northstars you list might be a disappointment.

The 850 is similar to the TC-1000 that I had on that trip if you remember it... just a foot and a half shorter. I had plenty of room in it. But one area where the floor length of the 850 is taken out of is the toilet/ shower compartment.

The Laredo is a narrow and shorter than the Arrow and Igloo models; it and the Adventure are too short for me to stand comfortably within- especially if there is a roof AC present.

Northstar fits a lot into a small campers but it lacks toilet and shower space regardless of model (unless it is a TC-1000 or Igloo.)

Without going into too much "TMI" be sure to see if you will "fit" when using the toilet. My first Arrow (after the TS-1000 before my current one) had the fresh water toilet. When I "tested" it upon purchasing it by only sitting on the toilet with the lid down, my knees had about 2" at the wall... I never thought that the "lid-up" position when "using" the toilet would push me forward to where I would not fit in the small space to actually use the throne.

Think closely at the Laredo and the 850 in terms of being able to use all features of the camper.

I've read this thread twice, and not sure where it is headed. I'll put in my 2 cents. I have a Laredo, and am considering something SMALLER! Pop up or whatever. I don't like climbing into the loft either, but both times recently I forgot the table so couldn't sleep on the dinette. My wife hates the TC.

Looks like when I get serious about selling it, there will be lots of ready buyers. Yipee!!

Anybody wanting to hear about my Northstar customer service, PM me.

We started with a Northstar Arrow 8.5, DW wanted a couch so we bought a AF 25R TT and then got into solo canoes. Got a TracRac on the truck, put the canoes on the truck and it worked. We retired and our truck struggled a bit in the mountains so we downsized to an AF 22G, took the canoes with us and paddled in the western NP's, it was great.
DW says, "you know we were more spontaneous with the TC", so we looked at triple slide TC's, too big. Back to Arctic Fox and she fell in love with the 990, it was just right. Back to a TC, no more ST tires to think about, no more wheel bearings to clean, pack and adjust, no brakes/brake wiring to worry about, no hitch to hook and unhook, etc., just get in and go!

I think it's more common for those of us who have owned TCs and then moved to the "dark side" to regret the move than it is for owners of other styles of RVs. I read the other forums pretty regularly and see the posts there. When an individual sells another type of RV to change types she or he is generally delighted with their decision. Not so much on this forum.

I feel like I can comment on this since I moved from my Lance to a TT. After about 18 months I had to get another Lance. Now I have both but may very well sell the TT pretty soon. Not using it a lot any more.

Guess what? the TT is still in the shop since September 1. the slowest service in the history of RV. this is my last TT ever owned.
Bad news for me is that I have to save some money to get a used Northstar 850 popup. man I'm pissed!

Deb and Ed M wrote:

Grodyman wrote:
Get a high quality truck camper with side entry and make the dinette bed super comfy. Problem solved.

Gman

I don't know how tongue-in-cheek that was meant to be, but it works for Ed and I. Our popup cabover bed is barely a double-bed size, which is WAY too "cozy" for the two of us; so Ed sleeps up there with the dogs, and I sleep on the 6' dinette which is quite comfy and I make it more so with the addition of a thick yoga mat. We both have plenty of room to sprawl.

Regarding falling off the steps: the black steps on our 5er were hard to see at night, so I took some white enamel paint and made lines along the top front edge of each step. Made a HUGE difference. If I had silver steps, I'd probably paint a black line along the front of each step. The idea is to make each step stand out.

I was serious, I use my dinettes for sleeping kids/adults and anything with less than 72" in length at the minimum is out.Using the dinette to sleep eliminates climbing in the overhead, and the side entry eliminates climbing over the hitch/bumper. Everybody happy:)

Gman

Grodyman wrote:
Get a high quality truck camper with side entry and make the dinette bed super comfy. Problem solved.

Gman

I don't know how tongue-in-cheek that was meant to be, but it works for Ed and I. Our popup cabover bed is barely a double-bed size, which is WAY too "cozy" for the two of us; so Ed sleeps up there with the dogs, and I sleep on the 6' dinette which is quite comfy and I make it more so with the addition of a thick yoga mat. We both have plenty of room to sprawl.

Regarding falling off the steps: the black steps on our 5er were hard to see at night, so I took some white enamel paint and made lines along the top front edge of each step. Made a HUGE difference. If I had silver steps, I'd probably paint a black line along the front of each step. The idea is to make each step stand out.

our TT is still in the shop. it takes about 6 weeks or more to get the parts....

I hear you about the SnowRiver.

I bought mine in Denver, as forum member ClatterTruck had it being sold there on consignment. So surely familiar with the camper from his posting here on the forum.

Two full years of using it now, and not problem one. In the meantime, ClatterTruck and I PM'd back and forth about the SnowRiver and his one comment was their new travel trailer was NOT the quality of the SnowRiver either.

Oh well. Best of luck and just keep on keeping on.