A Ram 3500 Dually, 4x4 Laramie Package Crew Cab. Sage Green color and when the light hits it just right, the color spectrum goes from blue to green to brown. Sitting the bed is a Northstar 9.5 Igloo. Tam has done a wonderful job of making it cozy. She likes to nest and I like her nesting too.
This whole truck camper idea came about while traveling to the west on our Lewis and Clark trip. We figured that in the 30 days on that road trip we stayed in 12 different places. Some where nice, other not so much. Check out our blog on that trip too. The Syringa Lodge, http://www.syringalodge.com/ and the Sacajawea Hotel http://www.sacajaweahotel.com/ where the highlights of that trip. In the not so nice places, we really missed having "our own stuff" about and feeling comfortable. So the idea was hatch somewhere around Lamar Valley in Yellowstone watching a grizzly bear, eating a pimento cheese sandwich on Father's Day 2012.
The decision to get a Northstar didn't come to easy. I was on assignment in PA and took a weekend and drove over to NH to the Truck Camper Warehouse. Bill let me climb in and out of all the campers he had on the lot and by the end of the day I had narrowed down the choices.
We like the Northstar from the minimalist point of view. No-slide outs, lower overall height at 11'6" and a little lighter than most. It works for us. Having been in it now for just over two years there are some things we would change. But we like the whole package as it is now. The cassette toilet is a breeze to take care of and the storage in the rig is ample for the two of us.
When I get home from my current assignment, I put some pictures of our Igloo up on the Blog.
The combination of the truck and camper is very nice. The power of the truck is really unaffected by the camper sitting in the back. Except for the reduction in fuel mileage - can't really tell it's back there. The ride is stable but you do feel the imperfections in the road.
Behind the rig is our little Rag Top Wrangler. We just got this little darlin' hooked up and we took the first test drive through the neighborhood. Work great and gave us the inspiration to carry on.
With the hitch configuration completed, the wiring finished up and all manners of safety chains installed, our second test drive was on about a 40 mile stretch of Interstate 40 West Bound. Our little darlin' did just fine - no issues and the truck did great too. A few minor things to include, some additional support for the lateral stresses and we should be off and running!
On the Jeep we have a rack to carry our boats and stuff - so I think we are ready in that perspective and with a few tweaks here and there, we should be good to go!
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| The hitch height had to be adjusted once we put the camper on the back. |
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| My Son's idea for hitch height adjustment... |
Well my friends - all for now. Working on the "MODS List" Some of what you see here is on the list, so now I get to check those off too!
Jim (aka TT)
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