Buying a new camper, which one?

[SideHillSoup]

I have owned a truck camper in the past, heck I have owned just about every type of RV except a class A and a toy hauler. We already have an Open Range 318 but that's for paved road camping. What I need your help with is which one to buy?
I'm looking to buy a truck camper to take to Tuktoyaktuck NWT next summer as well as bush camping / ATVing around here.
We have narrowed it down to either a Northern Lite 8-11 Classic or an Arctic Fox 811.
The obvious difference is the more room with the slide on the Arctic Fox.
What I'm looking for your opinions about craftsmanship, reliability and all round good product life, over time.
In got a 1 ton short box diesel so I not to worried about weight, and I know there are fewer models to chose from with the short box, but thats the cards I have been dealt.
Your opinions are much appreciated.
Soup.

[billyray50]

Thanks for posting the video. On my TC it takes and extra few seconds to open the slide enough for me to gain access to the bathroom which is a mid bath configuration.

[Hemi_Joel]

As promised, here is the video:
Video: Arctic Fox 1150 slide in vs. slide out



.

[Hemi_Joel]

I can do even better. I'll shoot you a video tonight.

[billyray50]

Freep wrote:
Would someone post some pictures of the interior of an Arctic Fox with the slide in?

X2

[Freep]

Would someone post some pictures of the interior of an Arctic Fox with the slide in?

[bighatnohorse]

It looks like the Arctic Fox is a contender.
We were able to use our AF 1140 with the slide in too. I should have kept that camper.
Getting caught in wind speeds of 70 mph while camped is no fun. Especially if you can't move about inside the camper.

[GeoBoy]

Hemi Joel wrote:

rider997 wrote:

billyray50 wrote:

bighatnohorse wrote:
Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

Just curious. Which brand of TC can you use with the slide in?

Not just brand, but specific model. The Arctic Fox 811 (for instance, since it's one of the topics of this thread) can be fully utilized with the slide in, with the exception of the small cabover step-up storage compartment and the long under-dinette storage area.

We don't run the slide out in heavy snow or bitter cold. Ingress/egress is a bit tight, but most average sized people can get in and out of the camper. The kitchen, bathroom, and refrigerator can all be fully accessed with the slide in.

The ability to use the camper with the slide in is also convenient in tight parking lots, for quick pit stops, and while "stealth" camping.

Same thing for arctic fox 1150. Probably all arctic foxes.

We can use our AF 990 with the slide in. I think all single slide AF's have the same space available with the slide closed.

[Hemi_Joel]

rider997 wrote:

billyray50 wrote:

bighatnohorse wrote:
Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

Just curious. Which brand of TC can you use with the slide in?

Not just brand, but specific model. The Arctic Fox 811 (for instance, since it's one of the topics of this thread) can be fully utilized with the slide in, with the exception of the small cabover step-up storage compartment and the long under-dinette storage area.

We don't run the slide out in heavy snow or bitter cold. Ingress/egress is a bit tight, but most average sized people can get in and out of the camper. The kitchen, bathroom, and refrigerator can all be fully accessed with the slide in.

The ability to use the camper with the slide in is also convenient in tight parking lots, for quick pit stops, and while "stealth" camping.

Same thing for arctic fox 1150. Probably all arctic foxes.

[billyray50]

rider997 wrote:

billyray50 wrote:

bighatnohorse wrote:
Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

Just curious. Which brand of TC can you use with the slide in?

Not just brand, but specific model. The Arctic Fox 811 (for instance, since it's one of the topics of this thread) can be fully utilized with the slide in, with the exception of the small cabover step-up storage compartment and the long under-dinette storage area.

We don't run the slide out in heavy snow or bitter cold. Ingress/egress is a bit tight, but most average sized people can get in and out of the camper. The kitchen, bathroom, and refrigerator can all be fully accessed with the slide in.

The ability to use the camper with the slide in is also convenient in tight parking lots, for quick pit stops, and while "stealth" camping.

That's nice to be able to use TC with slide in with those models but cant do wet baths anymore. Dry bath is a must for me.

[towpro]

depends on how wide the users is. I do know I can't get into my 990 if the slide is in, but I am sure some on here may be able to.

[rider997]

billyray50 wrote:

bighatnohorse wrote:
Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

Just curious. Which brand of TC can you use with the slide in?

Not just brand, but specific model. The Arctic Fox 811 (for instance, since it's one of the topics of this thread) can be fully utilized with the slide in, with the exception of the small cabover step-up storage compartment and the long under-dinette storage area.

We don't run the slide out in heavy snow or bitter cold. Ingress/egress is a bit tight, but most average sized people can get in and out of the camper. The kitchen, bathroom, and refrigerator can all be fully accessed with the slide in.

The ability to use the camper with the slide in is also convenient in tight parking lots, for quick pit stops, and while "stealth" camping.

[billyray50]

bighatnohorse wrote:
Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

Just curious. Which brand of TC can you use with the slide in?

[Mattyd]

Well we have had both.
Our first was a 2012 preowned NL 10-2 CDSE. Absolutely hated the Heki skylight. Not a fan of the Dometic windows either. Fragile. Prone to failure and causing a significant inconvenience during a trip. Nice unit and well made otherwise.
After two years we decided we would try a unit with a slide. Picked a 2016 AF 990. Like the slide but I can tell we picked up weight...for sure. I don't regret our purchase of a slide or the AF choice.
We have a dually and installed stable loads and air bags. Put air bags on after we bought the AF. It made a world of difference. It handles better now than it did with the lighter weight NL.
Would I by an AF if was not going with a slide? More than likely. We considered Adventurer, Eagle Cap, Lance, and Northstar. I would give a Northstar a serious consideration if I could get it without the Heki skylight. I could live with the dometic windows.

[bighatnohorse]

Northern Lite.
Whichever camper, make sure that you can use it with the slide-in.

[Z-Peller]

You don't mention Bigfoot as another choice?..2500 series 9.6 sb or 9.4 sb should be a good fit for your truck. I'm on my 3rd Bigfoot since 2002. Two campers and a 25.5 trailer....happy with all three. I carried a 2500 series 9.6 long box on 2009 GMC 3500 Duramax srw 4x4 stock with Timbrens and Alcoa wheels as only mods
. Fully loaded for road trips including full 50 gal water and 6 gal h/w tank and Honda 2000 and 2 people my rig was 11,000 lbs scale weight. Had no issues at all.
I bought a new BF 10.4 last year and put it on a 2016 GMC 3500 Duramax 4x4 dually. Lived in it for 3 mos. in AZ this spring and other than a couple of minor issues ( closet bottom I wanted modified and sometimes rain water leak at settee window ) I have no complaints with it. When I contacted Grant at BF in Armstrong regarding issues I had he jumped right on it and had production manager Rob call me back within 15 min. to set up a date to bring camper to factory. I was there 2 weeks ago and was treated really well by all folks I dealt with. Dropped camper off in the morning and went shopping & lunch at Vernon and they called my cell early afternoon to say camper was ready to go. ( Turned out intermittent window leak was caused from aluminum window frame drain holes being plugged with metal shavings from manufacture of window )....all in all a very positive experience with Bigfoot people.
PS..buddy went to Inuvik with his 2002 9.6 Bigfoot a few years ago and no issues. Over the years He has had it to PEI, to Florida, to Homer AK...lived in it dry camping AZ for 3 mos every spring for 10 years.....he has replaced his h/w heater, and had to service the Happijacs a few times but otherwise no other big issues. And no, I am not related to anyone at Bigfoot......just a satisfied owner!!