Northstar Laredo SC
Do you have a Laredo SC? What do you like about it? What do you not like? What truck do you have it on? What cab configuration? What length truck bed?
Forum Discussion
I have a 2011 Laredo, my third TC over 30+ years, on an ’04 Dodge/Cummins long bed, standard cab with stock suspension. It was clearly the closest to my “sweet spot” that was available at the time - a light and efficient old school, but well appointed TC with the added value of being manufactured by a 3rd generation family business that makes only TC’s and has great customer relations. I was not looking for a house on wheels and the rig is also my daily driver as well as an excellent base camp for outdoor adventure and very well supported day trips. Its configured with an east/west cabover, aluminum siding, manual jacks, standard jalousie windows, Heiki vent, and no AC or microwave. The cassette toilet and no sink in the bathroom strongly influenced the decision. I’m in northern California and its entirely suitable for 3+ season use.
Being a tradesman and DIY type, I’ve heavily modded and upgraded the systems and appointments. On the electrics end I’ve added solar, a battery isolator and shutoff, installed an entertainment system and put LED’s in everything. An accumulator tank and and extension to the outside shower to rinse my kayak was added to the water system. I also have a Wave 3 cut into the LP system, an Edwin door window. and a recently added stove backsplash along with the usual personal and organizational additions. The Nothstar was quite easy to work on.
The Laredo has served me very well and I‘ve become quite fond of it. The build quality is very good both in terms of structure and the installation of plumbing, wiring and such and only a very few things have come up in the negative column. The dinette needed some immediate work to meet my needs. The table was seriously wobbly as issued and uncomfortably narrow. A classic camper table leg brace, replacing the plastic sockets with metal, and a removable drop leaf solved the issue. The cushions for some reason are all of a different size, making rotation for service sag not possible, and an additional cushion is needed to make up the bed. I’ll be redoing that when the OEM stuff begins to wear out. For now, the extra cushion lives behind the passenger seat in the truck cab. Entry to the TC was a challenge without using the usual scissor steps and an OEM step bumper was not available for the Laredo because of the grey water drain location. I have a hitch mounted nerf bar and a truck cab entry step combination that works well enough while parked where a larger footprint isn’t an option. An access door to the wheel well area at the back of the TC would be a wonderful thing. I can however get long skinny things over the truck bed rail with a little patience. The original round patio lights with the switch on top corroded to uselessness in just a few months - they have been upgraded and converted to LED. The stove hood vent that plagues many brands or RV’s has also seen several mods.
Being a tradesman and DIY type, I’ve heavily modded and upgraded the systems and appointments. On the electrics end I’ve added solar, a battery isolator and shutoff, installed an entertainment system and put LED’s in everything. An accumulator tank and and extension to the outside shower to rinse my kayak was added to the water system. I also have a Wave 3 cut into the LP system, an Edwin door window. and a recently added stove backsplash along with the usual personal and organizational additions. The Nothstar was quite easy to work on.
The Laredo has served me very well and I‘ve become quite fond of it. The build quality is very good both in terms of structure and the installation of plumbing, wiring and such and only a very few things have come up in the negative column. The dinette needed some immediate work to meet my needs. The table was seriously wobbly as issued and uncomfortably narrow. A classic camper table leg brace, replacing the plastic sockets with metal, and a removable drop leaf solved the issue. The cushions for some reason are all of a different size, making rotation for service sag not possible, and an additional cushion is needed to make up the bed. I’ll be redoing that when the OEM stuff begins to wear out. For now, the extra cushion lives behind the passenger seat in the truck cab. Entry to the TC was a challenge without using the usual scissor steps and an OEM step bumper was not available for the Laredo because of the grey water drain location. I have a hitch mounted nerf bar and a truck cab entry step combination that works well enough while parked where a larger footprint isn’t an option. An access door to the wheel well area at the back of the TC would be a wonderful thing. I can however get long skinny things over the truck bed rail with a little patience. The original round patio lights with the switch on top corroded to uselessness in just a few months - they have been upgraded and converted to LED. The stove hood vent that plagues many brands or RV’s has also seen several mods.
