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  1. M

    Removing electric jacks for off road?

    jefe here. Real off-road truck campers leave the jacks at home. My electric jacks weigh a total of just under 200 pounds, attached up there, and are just heavy outriggers waiting to snag on some rock. I leave the camper on my F-350 full time now. My jacks will be forever new as I keep them in...
  2. M

    True Trac vs Open Diff

    Update on my go-round with True Tracs. The rear D-35 Trashlok on my '99 XJ was trash after only 10K miles, so I had the driveline shop rip it out and replace it with yet another True Trac. The difference in performance even in 2 wheel drive was astounding. Our XJ is a dedicated snow/winter car...
  3. M

    Best way to raise up slide-in camper?

    jrpr, jefe4x4 is my internet name. https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/out-with-the-old-truck-and-camper-in-with-the-new/ is one of several articles about fitting truck campers to trucks. For other pieces, search for jefe4x4 jefe Here is our former truck with our current camper: no riser needed.
  4. M

    Best way to raise up slide-in camper?

    Figure how much more height you need. This is kind of tricky as different truck frames exhibit different flexibility. If you have a 3/4 to 1-1/2 inch foam backpacking pad (or whatever, a Yoga mat), slide it into the slot between the cab top and the bottom of the cabover part of your camper to...
  5. M

    Random RIG Shots

    Our newest long haul, multi season 'overland' rig: This rig is such an improvement in every respect from our legendary 2001 Dodge H.O. Cummins 6 speed manual. The Northstar Laredo is such a quantum leap over our 1998 Lance 165-s. Both have the same footprint. 2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB...
  6. M

    Jefe's article: Gas vs. Diesel: 23 Considerations is up

    https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/gas-vs-diesel-23-considerations-before-buying-another-truck/ This is the print version of a talk I presented at the Truck Camper Adventure Rally held in Quartzsite AZ in February. It was distilled from a mountain of information. jefe Our new truck sans air...
  7. M

    What slide in camper to get?

    In further research of the Alaskan camper for my bro John, i found this one discouraging fact: it only comes with an East/West bed, which automatically deletes it off the list is used by a couple. For a solo person, it still strikes a harmonious chord with me.
  8. M

    What slide in camper to get?

    If you find what you think you want in a camper that has a facebook following, go to that f.b. page and find out all about the good, the bad, and the ugly of that particular brand. Of the f.b. TC user sites I've visited, Northstar has the cleanest following as far as woes. I do like the looks of...
  9. M

    Truck Camper Adventure announces the 2021 Adventure Rally

    We arrived en caravan with my brother John and his lovely wife Krys in their '99 Ford 7.3L diesel 6 speed manual/'03 9.5 OUTFITTER; my son Matt and his fetching bride, Summer in their like new '01 Lance 845 on my '01 Cummins H.O. 6 speed manual; and Jeanie and I in our '20 Ford F-350 7.3L...
  10. M

    Advice Picking out Truck/Camper Combo

    Jax, as always, get the least amount of camper that you can live with, and the most amount of truck you will happy in the long run to live with. Why? Most people overload their 2 and 3 series pickups. You don't have to live that dangerously hoping for serendipity. We have owned a 1998 Lance Lite...
  11. M

    jefe's hardside camper hauler

    greer, I'm now seeing one of the super sway stops deform and twist out of position. We'll give it some more time, but I think I'll be falling back to the ubiquitous Torklift Stable Loads. They are a little taller which won't make a lot of difference with the MT ride quality as we plan to keep...
  12. M

    Truck camper article about "out with the old and in with the new" now up

    Peter, I'll keep my eye on it. Scott, your idea about buying a new diesel and selling it when the warranty runs out is a commonplace thread over on FTE (Ford Truck Enthusiasts). The 7.3L gasser is the big game changer here with more and more users reporting their experiences. Here is a peek at...
  13. M

    Truck camper article about "out with the old and in with the new" now up

    Scott, The 2001 Dodge H.O. Cummins is still in the mix. Actually, my son Matt has had the hots for a truck camper and now owns a perfect condition 2001 Lance 865 that now resides on the Dodge. The "something" about the Ford was the 7.3L gasser mated to the 10 speed truck transmission. 475 TQ...
  14. M

    Truck camper article about "out with the old and in with the new" now up

    Mello Mike has published a new piece about my truck camper metamorphosis. It deals specifically with moving my Northstar Laredo from a 2001 Dodge Cummins to a new Ford F-350. This should interest those of you who have a 2017 and up Ford Super Duty and want to install a truck camper...
  15. M

    Post Pics of Your Hard Side Camper!

    Our fully loaded Ford/Northstar at Badwater, Death Valley. Lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. The reflection in the windows is of the salt flats behind.
  16. M

    2003 Northstar -- 2004 f-250

    Uhauler, drop by with your TC and view the Burgess Shale boneyard of steps, stairs, and ladders for a truck camper. I've been meaning to write an article on what your options are with," Steps and Stairs, and Ladders, oh my!" (to the rhythm of The Wizard of Oz) Here's what we settled on: Little...
  17. M

    Post Pics of Your Hard Side Camper!

    jefe here. Our truck swap has gone down. From our built 2001 Dodge Cummins we moved the 2020 Northstar Laredo SC to a 2020 Ford F-350 XLT. They are both short bed, extended/super cabs with suicide doors. But that's where the similarity ends. We have 700 miles on the Ford. From this: To This...
  18. M

    2003 Northstar -- 2004 f-250

    Very nice pix of your rig. It has the ZF-6? Ultra rare version of a classic truck. Good news. It looks like an E-W bed. Is that true? Next time you have the camper off, lose the tailgate. It is unnecessary and will save some weight. What are you using for steps?
  19. M

    2003 Northstar -- 2004 f-250

    Uhauler, This is jefe. Nice find. Your setup is one rare bird. I should have read this post before now. You live right across Hwy. 20 from me and we've talked before. I have excess tie downs from my own transfer of the Northstar camper from my Dodge Cummins to our new Ford F-350 gasser. Stop by...
  20. M

    jefe's hardside camper hauler

    RIPPERJ, yes it's on a 4 inch block of blue rigid foam insulation with a 25 pound per sq. in. load rating. This will be reduced to 2 inches. A side benefit of the foam is that it insulates the floor with an R-19 value. Our N* comes with something called "Sub Zero" insulation, which beyond...
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