Northstar 650SC owners

[Vic_R]

http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=59

Hi all - when I was shopping for my new camper last year I checked one of these out. Didn't work for us as we needed a 3 person camper, but I really liked the concept. Just wondered if anyone here had one and how it was working out?

[Americamper]

I have actually been behind a TC once on a exit ramp and it looked like it was going to tip over at one time. I would have probably had white knuckles driving it. I guess I was just saying if I drive a rig and it handles like I think it should and it works for me and I feel comfortable with it then I'm good with it.

[Steve_in_29]

Americamper wrote:
My son has a TC 650 on his Nissan Titan with airbags and it works great. I know the weight police will say bad things but you can tell when something works and when it don't work. If I thought it was unsafe then I wouldn't let him drive it.

This is a HIGHLY subjective thing though, as one person's "it works great" is another's "white knuckle death drive".

[Americamper]

My son has a TC 650 on his Nissan Titan with airbags and it works great. I know the weight police will say bad things but you can tell when something works and when it don't work. If I thought it was unsafe then I wouldn't let him drive it.

[Vic_R]

I think it was a new model last year. Space in the one I toured wasn't as cramped as I would have thought, but for sure a 1-2 person rig. Would be nice for weekend fishing trips or mountain bike base camp. Nice option if you don't want an overhang on a short bed, but wanted a wet bath.

Kudos to Northstar for trying something new.

[mkirsch]

You don't need to know how much it weighs. Base weight is 1610lbs, and it only goes up from there.

At 1610lbs, it's already exceeding the rated payload capacities of most F150s and other 1500-series trucks. That's before you've installed any optional equipment, put any of your stuff in it, or even gotten into the driver's seat. I would not be surprised if camper, stuff, driver, and passengers was pushing 2500lbs by the time all is said and done.

It would be okay on an F150 with the max payload package, though, as those have around 3000lbs payload.

[s1214]

Dry weight is in the 1600 pound range.

[Steve_in_29]

whizbang wrote:
What do these actually weigh? Have you guys been to a scale?

I love the bathroom in a small popup, but I don't think my half ton is up to it.

They show it on a 1500 truck but I would venture there are air-bags and other suspension mods done to it with no load capacity left over for much in the way of supplies/cargo. The bathroom equipped pop-up TCs are happier on a 2500 or up truck.

My 2007 F350 loaded with our Outfitter Apex9.5 still sits slightly tail high when fully loaded for a trip and there are no suspension mods done to carry the weight.

[whizbang]

What do these actually weigh? Have you guys been to a scale?

I love the bathroom in a small popup, but I don't think my half ton is up to it.

[richj]

We have a TC650 on a 2003 Dodge 2500 S/B with no air bags. It's level. I added a sway bar.

[campingken]

We had a TC650, not self contained, on our 2003 Dodge 3500 diesel 4x4 quad cab s/b. The camper was really nice but it was heavy. We tow a 2 horse trailer and had to add air bags to keep the truck level.

[s1214]

Very similar to the 850SC. The shorter length caused the sink to wrap around to include part of the step area but other than that just flip the fridge and shower to the opposite sides.

[mkirsch]

Is that a new model? I didn't know Northstar was making a short bed camper with toilet and shower. That's pretty neat. I would have been interested in something like that about 5 years ago.

From what I can tell, the layout is very similar to my Palomino, just smaller. Main difference is the fridge is on the passenger side due to space limitations, and it looks like there's only room for one to sit at the dinette.

Nothing wrong with the layout. It's very similar to my Palomino and pretty much every truck camper I've seen. Standard, just compressed.

The camper is definitely for someone who spends the majority of the trip outdoors.