Northstar quality?

roguegaston wrote:
Hello,

I went and looked at a new Northwood popup TC today and was disapointed by the quality of the cabinets and such. They seemed to be made of particle board with wood grain stickers on them. I was really hoping to see better quality, as I am thinking about an Arrow 8.5. Does anyone know if the Arrow would be the same as the new popup I saw? How do you feel about the quality of the cabinets in real use, do they seem to be ok or fail quickly?

Thanks!

Jason

Northwood popup? Don't you mean Northstar?

they are the best pop tops on the market. you can't except full wood cabinets on a light pop top. Never had any problems with my cabinets rotting i wouldn't even consider them particle board.

as long as you mean northstar*

Sorry, yes I mean Northstar. It's good to hear that you have not had any problem with the cabinets. Thanks for the feedback!

Jason

I have a northwood and don't ever remember them making a popup truck camper...

While the cabinets are faced with paneling and the cabinet doors may be veneer covered particle board, the cabinet framing is marine grade plywood, as is the rest of the camper.

Yep. Tacky wood stickers on particle board for doors but good ply where it's relevant. There's not much hope for nice RV cabinetry these days unless you get an Airstream (although other TC manufacturers do have a better eye than NS for making things look nice). :(

You just learn to ignore it.

My NorthStar 850SC has been a GREAT camper for my uses. I have been through all continental 49 states and many of them more than once since 2008. The roads in Death Valley (to the Racetrack and from Teakettle Junction to 190) and some in Alaska and the Northwest Territories) are really rough but the camper has held up very well which tells me that the construction is first rate.
I have been back to the factory twice, once for installation of the Arctic Pac and again for some minor repairs and have been treated very well. The cabinets may not be as fancy as some would like but as far as I am concerned are fine.
The camper is fast and easy to set up and take down.
Any questions PM me.
Grant

The Northstar's are well built campers. We had a 2006 Arrow 8.5 and if I ever go back to a hardside TC it would definitly be a Northstar.

I have an 04 Laredo and have had no problems with the cabinets. I guess they just don't look as expensive as some but they seem to hold up well.

There is no particle board in northstars AT ALL. The cabinetry is not particle board. Having solid real wood cabinetry is not practical for light campers like northstars.