New F350 owner seeks TC information
Hello everyone, I recently purchased a 2000 F350, crew cab, shortbed in order to acquire a TC so that I can avoid the hour commute to and from work. I am an ICU nurse, things have been very busy l...
Forum Discussion
Follow up and post end-
I didn’t really have the greatest experience with the dealer. I viewed the camper and was slightly underwhelmed (for my needs). I think the NL is a fantastic high quality TC but for me it was lacking in some departments, but overall my biggest complaint was the dealer. I’ve have never bought anything from a dealer because I cannot stand their tactics.
First off, this dealer contacted me when I sent an email to Northstar about purchasing a new lower cost model for 25k. I guess that Northstar simply forwards email to their distributors in order to expedite sales of existing campers. The dealer contacted me on the phone within hours of sending the email, he described the unit and I recognized what he was describing from a Craigslist post which had been removed earlier. I confirmed that it was the same camper and the listed price was $34,999. The dealer’s NL TC didn’t have a ladder and I was told that because it was made for a rental company NL didn’t install backing behind the fiberglass to install one and NL specifically told this dealer that they wouldn’t sell him a ladder because of this detail.
During my viewing I went onto the roof to inspect the possibility of installing racks and I considered using a telescoping ladder for accessing the racks (I own 14 surfboards). I found very little useable roof space on top due to the curves and large AC unit mounted central to the roof. I discovered that there was a hole in the ac unit where someone had driven into something and the vent over the shower had been degraded with a small hole as well. The interior of the camper was in like new condition. The dinette was small, the table could barely fit two plates, and the length of the area in bed mode could only accommodate a person less than 5’8”, otherwise someone up to 6’2” ish could fit diagonally. There was no other bunk option above.
Despite all this I thought the camper was pretty awesome and the following monday I went back and made a 30k offer and was told that the camper was 36k. Then the salesmen started going on about how electric jacks had been installed since the $34,999 price, which the owner had not mentioned being installed recently when I had previously viewed it. On the drive home the owner of the dealership called me and was palpably insulted by the tone of his voice on my offer but he came down to $35,500. Then he mentioned an old 2008 Lance 845 for sale for ...you get the picture.
Anyways it was a nice camper and I’m sure the market can yield the sale at that price but given my original hunt for a sub 25k TC and a bad taste in my mouth about the raising the asking price $1000 I decided I was done with dealerships.
I had been watching some campers on Craigslist and noticed one of them had been reduced $2000. I jumped to get down and view the 2013 Lance 865 and the condition was as described minus a functioning heater and the unit had racks already installed with a ladder. The dinette bed could accommodate a surf buddy at 5’10” and my daughter could sleep in the bunk above it. The unit had previously been owned by a fire fighter who parked the unit inside an aircraft hangar for half its life. This TC also came with torklift fast guns.
I set it on my lifted truck and the springs barely moved. My truck handles better than some Cadillac’s that I’ve driven with this camper mounted.
For the record my vehicle is lifted with 4” leveling kit(new information), after market shocks , #3600 lbs , 6 leaf rear springs, after market sway bar, air bags, and larger tires .
Anyway’s I’m stoked and thanks for all your feedback, I’m starting a new post on jump boxes please chime in if you have recommendations for a 7.3 liter Diesel engine.
I didn’t really have the greatest experience with the dealer. I viewed the camper and was slightly underwhelmed (for my needs). I think the NL is a fantastic high quality TC but for me it was lacking in some departments, but overall my biggest complaint was the dealer. I’ve have never bought anything from a dealer because I cannot stand their tactics.
First off, this dealer contacted me when I sent an email to Northstar about purchasing a new lower cost model for 25k. I guess that Northstar simply forwards email to their distributors in order to expedite sales of existing campers. The dealer contacted me on the phone within hours of sending the email, he described the unit and I recognized what he was describing from a Craigslist post which had been removed earlier. I confirmed that it was the same camper and the listed price was $34,999. The dealer’s NL TC didn’t have a ladder and I was told that because it was made for a rental company NL didn’t install backing behind the fiberglass to install one and NL specifically told this dealer that they wouldn’t sell him a ladder because of this detail.
During my viewing I went onto the roof to inspect the possibility of installing racks and I considered using a telescoping ladder for accessing the racks (I own 14 surfboards). I found very little useable roof space on top due to the curves and large AC unit mounted central to the roof. I discovered that there was a hole in the ac unit where someone had driven into something and the vent over the shower had been degraded with a small hole as well. The interior of the camper was in like new condition. The dinette was small, the table could barely fit two plates, and the length of the area in bed mode could only accommodate a person less than 5’8”, otherwise someone up to 6’2” ish could fit diagonally. There was no other bunk option above.
Despite all this I thought the camper was pretty awesome and the following monday I went back and made a 30k offer and was told that the camper was 36k. Then the salesmen started going on about how electric jacks had been installed since the $34,999 price, which the owner had not mentioned being installed recently when I had previously viewed it. On the drive home the owner of the dealership called me and was palpably insulted by the tone of his voice on my offer but he came down to $35,500. Then he mentioned an old 2008 Lance 845 for sale for ...you get the picture.
Anyways it was a nice camper and I’m sure the market can yield the sale at that price but given my original hunt for a sub 25k TC and a bad taste in my mouth about the raising the asking price $1000 I decided I was done with dealerships.
I had been watching some campers on Craigslist and noticed one of them had been reduced $2000. I jumped to get down and view the 2013 Lance 865 and the condition was as described minus a functioning heater and the unit had racks already installed with a ladder. The dinette bed could accommodate a surf buddy at 5’10” and my daughter could sleep in the bunk above it. The unit had previously been owned by a fire fighter who parked the unit inside an aircraft hangar for half its life. This TC also came with torklift fast guns.
I set it on my lifted truck and the springs barely moved. My truck handles better than some Cadillac’s that I’ve driven with this camper mounted.
For the record my vehicle is lifted with 4” leveling kit(new information), after market shocks , #3600 lbs , 6 leaf rear springs, after market sway bar, air bags, and larger tires .
Anyway’s I’m stoked and thanks for all your feedback, I’m starting a new post on jump boxes please chime in if you have recommendations for a 7.3 liter Diesel engine.
