Another Non-Cabover Choice...Northstar Vista

[CptnBG]

Here's another non-cabover choice. Not for me but I can see where there might be a market for this. Now if it was made in a pop-up style, maybe.....



Truck Camper Magazine Article

[Less_Stuff]

RobertRyan wrote:
if only you could get away with a 500lb Camper.

Lots of people do but mostly backpackers, though a 500 lb. tent would be a big one.

Looked into roof top tents but they seemed kind of expensive for what you get and night time nature calls seemed a little dangerous.

[RobertRyan]

mkirsch wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:
Unconventional TC's or Slideons are what people like here.

Yeah, and it probably weighs about 500lbs fully decked out and ready to travel.

In the United States, a unit like that would weigh 3400lbs and they'd still advertise it as "half ton ready."

No weigh more than that closer to 2,200lb when fully packed. if only you could get away with a 500lb Camper:)
Here it is on its legs fully extended

[Less_Stuff]

coolmom42 wrote:
The 2016 F-150 Super Crew 3.5 L Ecoboost V6 4X2 156.8" wheelbase lists cargo capacity of 2660 lb when equipped with the heavy-duty payload package & 17" wheels. Swap the wheels to 18" and the cargo capacity goes to 2890 lb, presumably because of the tire size/load rating.

2016 F150 payload specs

Very true so called 1/2 ton trucks have lots of different cargo ratings.

My new Ram is only rated to handle a 930 lb camper. Yet it's cheap price and great fuel economy have me willing to accept its low cargo ratings. At this point all I have is a canopy.

[mkirsch]

RobertRyan wrote:
Unconventional TC's or Slideons are what people like here.

Yeah, and it probably weighs about 500lbs fully decked out and ready to travel.

In the United States, a unit like that would weigh 3400lbs and they'd still advertise it as "half ton ready."

[Scott16]

Less Stuff wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

The base weight of the 2016 Northstar Vista is 1,260 pounds.

HALF TON READY? Really?

Once again, the mark is missed. Still too heavy. A camper like this needs to come in under 1000lbs fully equipped.

At 1290lbs, before water, before propane, before options, before provisions... You're looking at 1600lbs or more. Ever put a dozen bags of Sakrete in the back of your F150 and drove home from the local big box? Would you really want to travel 100 miles like that, let alone 500 or 1000? That's what this would be, times two.

I have to agree it is too heavy and too expensive.
They used to make the Right one.


I have a cooker like this:


Add a good bed, a cooler, a portapoty and IF under 800 lbs total it would be just right.

The new ones front cargo rack is interesting might work well.

I remember those type TC's in the 70's.
Scott

[Desertboy]

coolmom42 wrote:
The 2016 F-150 Super Crew 3.5 L Ecoboost V6 4X2 156.8" wheelbase lists cargo capacity of 2660 lb when equipped with the heavy-duty payload package & 17" wheels. Swap the wheels to 18" and the cargo capacity goes to 2890 lb, presumably because of the tire size/load rating.

2016 F150 payload specs

I agree, f150 would carry this no problem. I hauled a full sized camper on mine , and 4 people, water, propane, everything, from Oklahoma to California and up and down the coast, through mountains, all around Arizona and back home. All I added were Timbrens.I guarantee you I was hauling close to 4000 pounds. 1260 pounds is nothing. Edit / Knowing what I know now I wouldn't do it again lol. But I would haul this tiny camper in a heartbeat.

[RobertRyan]

CptnBG wrote:
Here's another non-cabover choice. Not for me but I can see where there might be a market for this. Now if it was made in a pop-up style, maybe.....



Truck Camper Magazine Article

Unconventional TC's or Slideons are what people like here.

[Driftwood132]

I kinda like the idea, seems like it would work well for a single camper or maybe 2 people. I like the cabover just because I'm 6'6" tall and I need extra space.

[coolmom42]

The 2016 F-150 Super Crew 3.5 L Ecoboost V6 4X2 156.8" wheelbase lists cargo capacity of 2660 lb when equipped with the heavy-duty payload package & 17" wheels. Swap the wheels to 18" and the cargo capacity goes to 2890 lb, presumably because of the tire size/load rating.

2016 F150 payload specs

[Less_Stuff]

mkirsch wrote:

The base weight of the 2016 Northstar Vista is 1,260 pounds.

HALF TON READY? Really?

Once again, the mark is missed. Still too heavy. A camper like this needs to come in under 1000lbs fully equipped.

At 1290lbs, before water, before propane, before options, before provisions... You're looking at 1600lbs or more. Ever put a dozen bags of Sakrete in the back of your F150 and drove home from the local big box? Would you really want to travel 100 miles like that, let alone 500 or 1000? That's what this would be, times two.

I have to agree it is too heavy and too expensive.
They used to make the Right one.


I have a cooker like this:


Add a good bed, a cooler, a portapoty and IF under 800 lbs total it would be just right.

The new ones front cargo rack is interesting might work well.

[d3500ram]

Another modern version of the old Mitchel Fishing Hut.

[mkirsch]

The base weight of the 2016 Northstar Vista is 1,260 pounds.

HALF TON READY? Really?

Once again, the mark is missed. Still too heavy. A camper like this needs to come in under 1000lbs fully equipped.

At 1290lbs, before water, before propane, before options, before provisions... You're looking at 1600lbs or more. Ever put a dozen bags of Sakrete in the back of your F150 and drove home from the local big box? Would you really want to travel 100 miles like that, let alone 500 or 1000? That's what this would be, times two.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

CptnBG wrote:
Here's another non-cabover choice. Not for me but I can see where there might be a market for this. Now if it was made in a pop-up style, maybe.....

I agree! Part of the penalty in MPG is the "hole" we punch through the air - this probably doesn't have as small a "punch" as a popup? And it still has a higher center-of-gravity (and it's not as far forward as the P/U). And my (granted, older) Bronco 1200 probably weighed less, too.

I'll grant that it uses its small space well.

[DWeikert]

I like it. Perfect for the single person looking to boondock. If I didn't have my Adventurer I'd give it serious consideration, although at 6'2" the 6' interior height would be a problem, but I've become very used to ducking over the years. Maybe a padded ceiling for safety? 🙂

[CptnBG]

trailgranny50 wrote:
What was old is new.......again. Maybe manufacturers have realized they've reached the threshold for weight and funding of a good sized portion of consumers. The interior height will be a continuing issue I'm afraid. Like the cargo tray on the front and small air conditioner.

Yep, the cargo tray looks cool but if were mine, I would mount a Yakima rack with a cargo tray and wind deflector.