Really helpful video, thanks for this. I have Several follow up questions: 1) the Water tank itself, I noticed you did not drain it. Would you suggest draining and pouring in some antifreeze, then opening water tank drain valve to assure it doesn't freeze either? 2) city water input system can hold water, how would you suggest flushing that? 3) P-Traps in the kitchen sink and shower - should we add antifreeze? Thank you very much.
This was an excellent video. You'd think Northstar would put something like this out. But you can't expect that much from Northstar. I rented an RV many years ago and for that rental got a much more thorough going through and instructional DVD. Picked ours up at factory and later on I realized the company owner didn't even go through the checklist to show us many of the things you need to know.
Great video! I had failed as a first time Northstar owner. Had to replace pump and kitchen sink. Now that it’s getting cold I’m going to winterize that puppy. 2005 Northstar Laredo SC. It has gas water heater. I think just draining works?
We also don't have an antifreeze pickup hose. Instead of making a hose with a fitting for the bottom of the water pump, has anyone obtained a shut off fitting with the pickup hose nipple as on the video?
own a 2015 Northstar Arrow U 8.5 there is no hose to put into gallon of anti freeze, nor anyplace to attach one. Have contacted NORTHSTAR manufacturer and 2 dealers with zero response. Love the camper, customer service is the worst!!!!!! Never again. Any help would be appreciated. I've owned 2 travel trailers and they always had the hose for winterizing.
The Northstar looks nice, but they are built with poor quality control and Willet (the guy who makes them) doesn't stand behind them. Build them fast, ship them out, and they don't want to hear constructive criticism. I bought a brand new 2014 Northstar 8.5 Arrow-u from Truck Camper Warehouse in Chichester, NH, and it was the worst decision in my life. First of all, made an appointment to pick it up first thing in the morning (8:00 am), didn't leave until 6:00 pm. The camper was bad from the factory. The "easy assist " door handle ripped off the back wall in the first month. The air conditioner breaker was installed upside down and kept tripping. The 15 amp and 30 amp breakers were reversed, the "AWESOME " Lagun table broke right off the side of the dinette. The awning legs had orange plastic clips to hold them extended. They broke. The coaxial cable from the outside to the tv location was sliced halfway through so it never worked until I discovered it and repaired it myself, as I trouble shot all the other problems and fixed them too. The aerial tv antenna started to split apart where the top half and bottom half come together from sun degradation of the plastic. The fancy remote control electric jacks started pulling away from the body of the camper where they were attached with bolts/lag screws. The cassette toilet was great but I needed two step stools in order to sit on it without my feet dangling and I'm 5'9", and that was with the shower pan insert installed. Every time I called the dealer about these issues (mind you, this was all in the first year I owned it), they said that there was nothing they could do about it because it wasn't under warranty. When I called the factory, they said the same thing as the dealer. When I offered an honest review, the factory said "You know we won't publish this negative review, right?" *****NEVER BUY A NORTHSTAR CAMPER******
This is absolutely correct what Jesse James writes. Do Not Buy a Northstar if you don't want immense disappointment. They couldn't care less what you suggest is 100% true. They removed/censored a comment on the lack of quality from a Facebook fans of Northstar group and blocked us from it. That says it all, really. Below is just some of our experiences within first 2 years which we also picked up at factory. -Electric installation incorrect. Fortunately we spent the first night near the factory and then spent a few hours in morning having the problem corrected! That must have been a sign of things to come. -Wall covering poorly put on around windows -Gray water drain poor install, it swivels around when pulling valve handle to open -Hinges to cabinets incorrectly installed. =Water pump breaks after less than one year. -Water tank pushes wrong installed electric box out -Grip on outside swing handle cracked on 2nd trip -Refrigerator door won't stay closed when driving (on rougher roads), apparently lock broken. -Hot and Cold lines inside shower attached reverse according to knobs -Window hinges break which may or may not be for lack of maintenance not mentioned at all in the Dometic window booklet. =Roof vent in cabover drips condensation and is ancient type - should not even be used anymore as company owner wrote: “Yep, you opted (we had no way of knowing what a piece of junk this vent would be) for the same vent my Grandfather put in, which is aluminum frame with a plastic injected molded top “ This ain't rocket science. When you know something is not OK you stop putting it in your product! -Large window by table blows out if windy -Even something as simple as the transmitter for the outdoor temperature stops functioning after just a few months. (everything attempted, new batteries, re-install, contact manufacturer.) -A booklet that's either 10 years old or not updated by Thetford is given to you stating there is a 3 year warranty on the Thetford toilet when Thetford says they haven't given that warranty since around 2009!!! Neither the dealer or component manufacturer will stand by their actions and right the wrong. So if you want a do it yourself project, fine. Or maybe just build a TC yourself.
Great video on winterizing! Thanks Bill for always thinking about your Truck Camper customers - especially the lucky Northstar ones! 😃
Really helpful video, thanks for this. I have Several follow up questions: 1) the Water tank itself, I noticed you did not drain it. Would you suggest draining and pouring in some antifreeze, then opening water tank drain valve to assure it doesn't freeze either? 2) city water input system can hold water, how would you suggest flushing that? 3) P-Traps in the kitchen sink and shower - should we add antifreeze? Thank you very much.
This was an excellent video. You'd think Northstar would put something like this out. But you can't expect that much from Northstar. I rented an RV many years ago and for that rental got a much more thorough going through and instructional DVD. Picked ours up at factory and later on I realized the company owner didn't even go through the checklist to show us many of the things you need to know.
Great video! I had failed as a first time Northstar owner. Had to replace pump and kitchen sink. Now that it’s getting cold I’m going to winterize that puppy. 2005 Northstar Laredo SC. It has gas water heater. I think just draining works?
Bill, thanks! Nice video. I wasn't sure how to winterize the casette toilet. Got it, thanks.
THAT IS A WONDERFOUL VIDEO IS THE FIrst Video tel Wat I Sea.THANCK YOU VERY MUTCH.ARSENE
For winter storage what about the camper batteries ? Should the camper be plugged in to maintain the batteries ?
We need a Northstar dewinterizing how-to. Have you done one of those?
Does anything at the check valve at the city water connection need to be done?
We also don't have an antifreeze pickup hose. Instead of making a hose with a fitting for the bottom of the water pump, has anyone obtained a shut off fitting with the pickup hose nipple as on the video?
own a 2015 Northstar Arrow U 8.5 there is no hose to put into gallon of anti freeze, nor anyplace to attach one. Have contacted NORTHSTAR manufacturer and 2 dealers with zero response. Love the camper, customer service is the worst!!!!!! Never again. Any help would be appreciated. I've owned 2 travel trailers and they always had the hose for winterizing.
The Northstar looks nice, but they are built with poor quality control and Willet (the guy who makes them) doesn't stand behind them. Build them fast, ship them out, and they don't want to hear constructive criticism. I bought a brand new 2014 Northstar 8.5 Arrow-u from Truck Camper Warehouse in Chichester, NH, and it was the worst decision in my life. First of all, made an appointment to pick it up first thing in the morning (8:00 am), didn't leave until 6:00 pm. The camper was bad from the factory. The "easy assist " door handle ripped off the back wall in the first month. The air conditioner breaker was installed upside down and kept tripping. The 15 amp and 30 amp breakers were reversed, the "AWESOME " Lagun table broke right off the side of the dinette. The awning legs had orange plastic clips to hold them extended. They broke. The coaxial cable from the outside to the tv location was sliced halfway through so it never worked until I discovered it and repaired it myself, as I trouble shot all the other problems and fixed them too. The aerial tv antenna started to split apart where the top half and bottom half come together from sun degradation of the plastic. The fancy remote control electric jacks started pulling away from the body of the camper where they were attached with bolts/lag screws. The cassette toilet was great but I needed two step stools in order to sit on it without my feet dangling and I'm 5'9", and that was with the shower pan insert installed. Every time I called the dealer about these issues (mind you, this was all in the first year I owned it), they said that there was nothing they could do about it because it wasn't under warranty. When I called the factory, they said the same thing as the dealer. When I offered an honest review, the factory said "You know we won't publish this negative review, right?" *****NEVER BUY A NORTHSTAR CAMPER******
This is absolutely correct what Jesse James writes. Do Not Buy a Northstar if you don't want immense disappointment. They couldn't care less what you suggest is 100% true. They removed/censored a comment on the lack of quality from a Facebook fans of Northstar group and blocked us from it. That says it all, really. Below is just some of our experiences within first 2 years which we also picked up at factory.
-Electric installation incorrect. Fortunately we spent the first night near the factory and then spent a few hours in morning having the problem corrected! That must have been a sign of things to come.
-Wall covering poorly put on around windows
-Gray water drain poor install, it swivels around when pulling valve handle to open
-Hinges to cabinets incorrectly installed.
=Water pump breaks after less than one year.
-Water tank pushes wrong installed electric box out
-Grip on outside swing handle cracked on 2nd trip
-Refrigerator door won't stay closed when driving (on rougher roads), apparently lock broken.
-Hot and Cold lines inside shower attached reverse according to knobs
-Window hinges break which may or may not be for lack of maintenance not mentioned at all in the Dometic window booklet.
=Roof vent in cabover drips condensation and is ancient type - should not even be used anymore as company owner wrote:
“Yep, you opted (we had no way of knowing what a piece of junk this vent would be) for the same vent my Grandfather put in, which is aluminum frame with a plastic injected molded top “ This ain't rocket science. When you know something is not OK you stop putting it in your product!
-Large window by table blows out if windy
-Even something as simple as the transmitter for the outdoor temperature stops functioning after just a few months. (everything attempted, new batteries, re-install, contact manufacturer.)
-A booklet that's either 10 years old or not updated by Thetford is given to you stating there is a 3 year warranty on the Thetford toilet when Thetford says they haven't given that warranty since around 2009!!! Neither the dealer or component manufacturer will stand by their actions and right the wrong.
So if you want a do it yourself project, fine. Or maybe just build a TC yourself.