Northstar quality?

[roguegaston]

Hello,

I went and looked at a new Northstar popup TC today and was disappointed 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

[roguegaston]

I've just had cheap bookshelves and desks made out of MDF that did not last past a couple of moves before falling apart or warping badly. That and it just looks cheap to me.

Thank you very much for all the feedback. I am not going to let the MDF looking cabinet doors stop me from considering the Northstar Arrow 8.5. It seems to have the features that would work for us.

-tip out tent bed in the cabover
-sturdy looking bunk bed
-option for aluminum siding instead of the filon/luan lamination
-cassette toilet
-fits on a short bed truck

Jason

[mkirsch]

I would not consider the mere presence of MDF aka "particle board" as a sign of lack of quality.

[BradW]

billtex wrote:

hedgehopper wrote:

12V Cummins wrote:
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.

If it's not particle board and it's not real wood, what is it?

Unkownstium...

Exactly, you get the weight savings of unobtanium at a much lower cost. 😉

Brad

[billtex]

hedgehopper wrote:

12V Cummins wrote:
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.

If it's not particle board and it's not real wood, what is it?

Unkownstium...

[woodhog]

Here is a video you can watch them being made and make up your mind.Northstar Construction

No problems with our cabinets, really nice workmanship and materials.

Any Northstar questions just call them and talk with the boss directly.

I have never had any question not answered within a day.

They would probably custom build your cabinets out of any material you wanted.

[hedgehopper]

12V Cummins wrote:
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.

If it's not particle board and it's not real wood, what is it?

[12V_Cummins]

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.

[Americamper]

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.

[GeoBoy]

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.

[LabMan1945]

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

[MKish]

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.

[DWeikert]

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.

[caseyhoward]

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

[roguegaston]

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