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Re: Repair stripped screw holes in fiberglass
This stuff is great for fiberglass. It's an epoxy putty you knead together and jam in the hole - makes for a much better screw mount than the original fiberglass. In all truth, the bigger and more ragged the hole, the better this stuff works. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--marine-rx-epoxy-repair-kit-2-oz--13967443?recordNum=11 NL uses UHMW polyurethane behind the fiberglass for any kind of load bearing screw. You can get 2x2x 1/2 blocks of it at a good industrial hardware store. Screws will not strip that kind of thing out.3.9KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Northern Lite - the good the bad and the ugly.
SidecarFlip wrote: The key's to longevity in any unit, expensive or inexpensive is: Keep after the seals and caulk (especially in areas where there is driven water pressure (nose and leading edges of the roof), check ALL the seals every 90 days during use time. Keep the unit under cover or inside a building when not in use or over the winter. Nothing worse on any unit than leaving it outside in the elements, especially snow, freezing rain and pounding sun... Just because it's new don't mean it's sealed properly. My outside shower unit lacked any kind of seal from the factory. I fiexd that with Dicor. At the rate builders are cranking out new units, they miss the small but important points sometimes. Wow - amazing feedback from everybody. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experiences. Yes the camper will be stored indoors - having a shed built in part to protect the camper and truck. I'm aware that nothing is perfect, and NL won't be either, but it sounds like it's better than most. I'd have to agree that quality of lots of products have gone to **** since the recession, and TCs are no exception. I would love to find a 2005 NL that was already upgraded with all the newer bells and whistles and had been taken care of and maintained, but let's face it, that would cost more than a new one. LOL. I will stay on top of seals and maint as suggested. May even smoke test to see if there are any leaks. Some of the new 2018 features sound like they're worth waiting for. A couple of months won't kill me. Thanks for the tip about the RV shows - that will be a great place to buy. I'll get in touch with NL and find out their schedule. Thanks again to everybody who replied.817Views0likes0CommentsNorthern Lite - the good the bad and the ugly.
We're about to buy our second truck camper, and we're leaning heavily towards the Northern Lite units. The light weight and simplicity (read: no slide) appeals to us, and we're looking for a camper that will last us well into retirement - 20 years or more. Part of the reason we're looking is our first camper (Very large name brand in the TC world, purchased new 2015) was a good learning experience, but the engineering,quality, and attention to detail was SEVERELY lacking. So now we're looking for the very best unit we can buy. Any feedback on the Northern Lite units? Are they as good as everybody says? Don't hold back - anything you've got to say, I want to hear it.34KViews0likes45CommentsRe: Northern Lite 8-11 hitch extension ( ideas? )
I tow a 4k lb trailer behind my camper with a 24" extension in the factory class V Hitch. Works like a charm. https://smile.amazon.com/CURT-45048-Receiver-Hitch-Adapter/dp/B00537ESCQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501272290&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=curt+hitch+extender+for+2 The tongue weight is aobut 600 lb, and there's a light enough load that it hasn't even worn the paint off the hitch extension. When I do hit a really good G-out type bump I can feel the weight back there, but that's it.575Views0likes0CommentsRe: Riverside White Water Campers
Thanks to all for the tips and advice. You've given me more options than I could have hoped for. Looks like there are some bulletproof simple campers out there, but they are definitely not in the mainstream. Capri Campers look like a good value, but a little on the small side for me and DW. She's just 5'0", but I'm 6'4" and 265lbs. Travel Lite looks like a good option. Has more of a presence than the Riverside Whitewater campers, and holy **** - there's a dealer 1.5 hours away! I'm gonna call and see if they carry the TC line. Avions are awesome - love the classic look and I might be willing to take one on as a restoration project - looks like the Airstream of the TC world. Would be way cool to have the retro look outside with modern amenities and gadgets. Livin Lites seem like the modern equivalent of the Avion. I'm trying to find a Camplite 8.6 to go look at - for $16-18k they seem like a good deal since they don't rot and don't rust. I've started expanding the search and there's some good used ones out there, but they seem be at least a few hours away, and they go quick. Las Vegas exists in a TC vacuumn for some reason. Thanks to everyone here for the help and tips - keep em coming, and I'll keep you posted as the search progresses.449Views0likes0CommentsRe: Riverside White Water Campers
Old-Biscuit wrote: They don't even mention TCs on their website.........LINK NADA shows 3 models (800, 850, 865) but only for 2011, 2012, 2014 This is only place I could find with floorplans/info on current models....LINK Thnaks for the leads. I've sent an e-mail requesting information to the mfg. I'll let you know what I find out - I can't be the only one out there that has interest in an opening price point no frills camper.450Views0likes0CommentsRe: Riverside White Water Campers
Sorry if that's how I came across - not what I meant to convey at all. If your camper is perfect for you, that's awesome. I'm just looking for some advice to help me find the camper that's right for me. I'll be the first one to admit that I've gotten very frustrated after 8 months of looking for a TC, and I'm sure my frustration is coming across - especially since I just came from a local RV dealer who was clearly more interested in making a sale than helping me find the right camper. Water leaks, rot, sagging jacks, and delamination are the norm - even after just a couple of years - and it certainly doesn't inspire confidence. For my needs and budget, the new units I've looked at are bigger, heavier, and more expensive than what I'm looking for. It seems like the simple, lightweight, value side of the market is underserved - but I'm sure that's a function of market demand. Here to learn as well. Robert449Views0likes0CommentsRiverside White Water Campers
I've been looking for a camper for a while now. While the new AF and Lance units are nice, they sure as hell aren't $30k nice IMHO. They're also heavy as hell, and while my diesel dually can carry pretty much anything, I think like a backpacker and travel light. All we really need are a bed, a bathroom, a couple of burners, and a fridge. AC is a bonus out here in the NV desert, and I can mount a small gas genset to the truck or the trailer we pull for the toys. Used units seem to be scarce, and people are incredibly proud of units they haven't taken care of. Not paying $10k for a 15 year old camper that only sold for $15k new. The condition of the units also speaks volumes about the build quality - even the brands that are selling for $30k today the campers look to be ready for the scrap heap after 15-20 years. So I've found a "value" option - Riverside White Water campers. Brand new, the 865 looks to be around $12-13k with everything I need. Nice and light, which gets me better mileage through the mountains and leaves me more room to tow bigger and heavier toys. Plus for $12-13k, I'm not expecting perfection like I would if I dropped $30k. Has anybody heard of these? Any links or dealers out there? Information from a google search is surprisingly sparse.6.6KViews0likes17CommentsRe: How do I do it - is there a way?
Agreed - very good advice on this forum. Don't have any friends with a SRW that are set up with tie downs etc. I doubt I'd be able to find a rental truck with tie downs etc. as well. I think best bet will be either to have the owner drop it by my folks house, or leave a deposit and come back with the correct brackets. I've been looking at a few campers with swing outs, and the install looks to be pretty easy. It will just be more of a matter of finding someone with the correct brackets in stock near where I will be, open on the weekend, etc.507Views0likes0CommentsRe: How do I do it - is there a way?
Another idea - I could use screw jacks and the C-channel steel to hold up the front of the camper until it's loaded. Would supporting the camper with steel/ jacks under the cabover be advisable? Not sure if this area is designed to hold anything more than it's own weight, where the floor and jack mount area are obviously designed to carry the camper.291Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Mar 05, 202544,027 Posts
