When you do an update on the whole truck/camper setup ( probably have the airbags installed by then ) , it would be a good idea to have the rig loaded for a camping trip, water tank full/propane, and even some water in the grey and black water tanks to mimic what one usually is carting around, full fuel as well. Then if you have access to an accurate local scale that you can weigh each axle on its own. That will tell you where your at relative to maximum axle weight ratings as well as total weight. My guess and I could be wrong but I have a feeling you will be over on your rear axle for that single rear wheel setup or more then likely over your maximum GVW. The one example that stares me in the face is my brothers older ford dually and a camper of a different brand although no slides either but could be somewhat heavier then your camper, no way could the factory suspension on it handle that weight and he had to add two leafs per side in the main pack and then added air bags to that. So that brought it back up to the right level but it was a scary unit to drive as it had erratic handling, horrible in cross winds, not good around curves etc. Part of that problem was the air bags as they actually made the handling worse, not better because the springs were not carrying as much of the total weight as they should be but rather the air bags were when pumped up to a reasonable pressure. Fast forward quite a few years putting up with those handling struggles and about to sell the camper, he still has the bags on there but lowered the pressure right down to about 20 lb. What he did first was install the torklift stableloads on the main spring pack and the ones on the upper overload although those upper ones don't do a lot. That certainly helped as that thick bottom leaf in the main spring pack now was engaging all the time and helping hold the weight up better and the rocking effect was better but it still was not what he hoped for. I had suggested he buy larger front and rear anti sway bars and no they don't come cheap as they had to also be shipped up to Canada. He bought the largest ones that were manufactured for that year of ford dually and I helped install those and that made a HUGE difference to the overall handling. They don't help with weight carrying ability of course but the ability to handle some fairly stiff side winds and go around curves was immensely improved. Now I should add that this truck only hauls that camper around but when the camper is off the truck does not ride near as good as it did in its stock form as those two leaves added in the main pack really stiffen it up. Its pretty hard to have a truck that can carry weight properly and ride like a dream when empty. A long comment but be it yourself or someone else that is having their truck sway around with that top heavy load, thick stiff aftermarket anti sway bars will make a very noticeable difference and perhaps keep one from having an accident.
Ahhhhh come on, what did you pay "out the door?" I just paid 70 grand for a 2023, ouch! Dry bath 10.2 with U-shaped , and generator, I will be making a video soon but I won't do a walk around.
It’s on the list for sure. I’m glad I didn’t do a followup video right away, we are still learning. I think there is finally enough to share. Video coming soon.
@@MyCarGuyChris if you take care of it NL campers retain their value better than other RVs. I know of a 2004 9'6" just sold for $13,500.00 after being listed for sale for 3 days. The response to the ad was intense
For some reason, the youtube algorithmic gods have chosen one of my videos as a "suggested video" because of your video, so thanks for the extra views!
We have a lance but we're looking at a Northern lite, So let us know if you have any problems. Ok! Thanks for sharing! Are you first time campers? Why is the box in the back? I don't have a box in my bed???
No issues whatsoever. This camper is AWESOME! Yes, we are first time campers but are learning fast. Box was for cab clearance, the dealer made it for us. I think it’s a bit tall and would cut it down if I did it again. The NL is already tall, no need to increase the CG.
@@MyCarGuyChris My opinion is you made the right choice. My 2005 Lance 981 is ok, has a slide and it's not my first Lance. However after almost freezing in almost 18 degree weather we're looking for a Northern Lite. The way they use the area is unbelievable. Do not be discourage when you feel cramped. We have bigger and bigger is NOT better. Keep up informed on any problems you might have. Lance is a good camper and since we don't go much we MIGHT just use it. We're older but again, why not take the plunge and get the camper we THINK we will like best. Watch closely for any links. Sometimes factory workers get in a hurry and your camper MIGHT have some minor problems. We're in Ga. where are you?
Great setup! Any idea what your mpg was to pick up the truck and separately, what it was on the way home? I’m curious what the loss in MPG is due to the camper. Thanks!
Thanks so much! Needing to do a followup video… we’ve used it a few times already and it gets better with every use. Tons of creature comforts when you’re out in it for more than one night. Will give a download soon.
Congratulations. Beautiful rig! We also recently purchased a new truck and camper. Can't wait for our maiden voyage. Looking forward to following your adventures.
Thank you so much and congratulations!!! We are camper newbies so hopefully we can shed some light on our experiences and learning curve. Hope to see you on the road!
I ended up going with air bags. It helped a lot but also made the truck taller when inflated which caused it to be too heavy. I also think my box in the bed was too tall but that’s another story.
How is it hauling with the single rear wheel F350. I have been considering the camper but I was under the impression you needed a dually. Would really like to hear how the truck handles and preforms with the 10-2. Did you do in modifications on the suspension? Coagulation on the new truck and camper combo.
I agree! Gotta have a 1 ton dually. I put a Lance 850 on a beefed up F250 single rear wheel and the side to side movement was unnerving. Took it on 2 long trips and when we got home my wife said she wasn’t going in it ever again. Goodbye Lance. By the way Lance says the 850 is made for three-quarter ton.
You can do it with a SRW but I won’t ever consider it again; DRW or going with a smaller camper. With the extra height the air bags add, it makes the rig way too tall for SRW. I towed my LandCruiser with it once and that helped with the extra tongue weight. Otherwise, wouldn’t go with this combo again.
Nice truck and camper. We’re ordering our F-350 soon and looking to buy a truck camper too. I see that you have an extra piece of wooden plank on your truck box, I guess that it’s for your camper to sit on it, where did you buy this ? Does it come with the camper you bought? Or you made it yourself? Thanks
You won’t be disappointed in the 350! Great rig for a truck camper. The box was made by the dealership to give us enough room between the cab and the bottom of the camper overhang. Honestly, it was a bit too much. I would throw a piece of plywood down next time and use the stable mat on top. 👌
The pinnacle of campers IMO, I'm curious about your truck though, is is the Godzilla SD gasser? I'm about to order a 10-2 and have not got my truck yet. The 10-2 LE specs at 3250lbs, and I roughly calculated almost 4000lbs after LP and tanks, batteries, fresh water and generator and smaller accessories. I am definitely looking for a dually like a 3500HD with payload approx 5500, considering that the camper weight is not including passengers or gear/food etc. For me it's a piece of mind thing, but if I'm not mistaken I think tires also help payload, and the thought of losing a rear tire on the freeway with a SRW makes me shudder, just my $0.02.
Definitely! NL recommends a certain clearance above the cab. The dealer made this for us, about 6” tall. Just plywood and 2x4s. Also put a horse stall mat on top to rest the camper on.
Super cool. I have a white 2018 Ram 3500 and I drove thru Wyoming down to Salt Lake City in 2019 ... your truck and that route reminded me of that trip. Mine was via my trucking company. I'm thinking of building or buying a truck camper and I've considered the Northern Lite. Not sure yet. Have fun!
Awesome to hear about your journey. It was our first time driving across I-80. The Northern Lite came highly recommended. High build quality and low supply makes them a bit more desirable and valuable, something that was high on our list of buying considerations. Good luck with your build, I’m sure it will turnout great!
Beautiful Northern Lite, Did you have to order it to get the glass windows? Is it a dry bath and does it seem roomy enough in the shower? Thanks and safe travels!
Howdy! We actually just bought this one as it was on the ground at the dealership. I called a ton of dealers and they didn’t have anything in or everything was pre-sold. We love the windows and YES, it has a dry bath! We actually didn’t know what this meant before but after just having a chance to use it recently I couldn’t imaging another setup. I’m 6’3” and fit comfortably (believe it or not)! Looking forward to sharing our next video soon.
I'm thinking of purchasing a 10-2. How did your truck with the Single rear wheel handle with the weight of the camper? Is it OK with the single rear wheel or do you suggest a dually ?
2 months ago and no more videos? I’m hanging out watching for the adventure. I just got a 2011 Chevy 2500hd and was going to pull a 30’ camper but now I’m thinking about getting a slide in.
Videos coming. Needed to buy air bags for the truck. Like everything else, supply is short and hard to find. Should be here this week! One way or another, we are headed out for our first adventure soon. Stay tuned!
When I bought my Lance 855s and had it on my SRW F350 I thought about going with airbags. After driving a couple friends rigs with airbags, I did not like the top heavy feeling of how their trucks rode with them. I went with torklift upper and lower stable loads and was very happy with the result, corrected the rear sag of the truck and felt super stable. These were all the suspension mods I needed to carry the 4,000-lbs+ camper. I’m sure some folks out there have ran airbags for a long time and like them, just not my experience. Safe travels
@@antimatterpowerstroke1225 love the insight. Overall, I would probably would have gone with a dually if I did it again BUT the 350 is my daily driver. I really didn’t want to have to deal with that hassle every day. So yes, daily driving a crew cab long-bed F350 is much easier 😂. Will let you know how the air bags work for me, installing them on Monday.
Hi Connie, we bought ours at Darren Bideaux RV. They were great to work with and gave us a good deal considering the crazy RV market right now. Local dealers in CO wouldn’t budge on price where as these folks did!
Thank you! Yes, it was probably a silly thing to bring it on our way out to Salt Lake. Thought it may help with fuel economy. Luckily, it fit perfectly in the camper walkway! We got lucky.
Thank you! The platform was a surprise to us (camper newbies). The dealer made it before we arrived. It was fabricated to help clear the antennas on the rear of the cab and give the recommended clearance, 5 or 6 inches. They threw a horse stable mat on top of it, too. We will do a video soon with all the smaller details. Hopefully you can share some tips of riding with a single rear wheel truck! I think she will do just fine once we get the airbags installed.
@@MyCarGuyChris we added Firestone Airbags and a Hellcraft (?) sway bar system to our SRW axle. So far so good. Our tie down system is from TorkLift (like it a lot) and we are looking at some additional suspension upgrades from Super Spring International for bump stops on the over load spring or going with their overload spring kit. No one wants to be "that guy" on TH-cam that is in an RV accident.
Wishing you many happy adventures!!! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
Thank you! We are looking forward to many happy memories in our new home on wheels. Thanks for making a great product!
enjoy your money pit and your impending divorce.
When you do an update on the whole truck/camper setup ( probably have the airbags installed by then ) , it would be a good idea to have the rig loaded for a camping trip, water tank full/propane, and even some water in the grey and black water tanks to mimic what one usually is carting around, full fuel as well. Then if you have access to an accurate local scale that you can weigh each axle on its own. That will tell you where your at relative to maximum axle weight ratings as well as total weight. My guess and I could be wrong but I have a feeling you will be over on your rear axle for that single rear wheel setup or more then likely over your maximum GVW. The one example that stares me in the face is my brothers older ford dually and a camper of a different brand although no slides either but could be somewhat heavier then your camper, no way could the factory suspension on it handle that weight and he had to add two leafs per side in the main pack and then added air bags to that. So that brought it back up to the right level but it was a scary unit to drive as it had erratic handling, horrible in cross winds, not good around curves etc. Part of that problem was the air bags as they actually made the handling worse, not better because the springs were not carrying as much of the total weight as they should be but rather the air bags were when pumped up to a reasonable pressure. Fast forward quite a few years putting up with those handling struggles and about to sell the camper, he still has the bags on there but lowered the pressure right down to about 20 lb. What he did first was install the torklift stableloads on the main spring pack and the ones on the upper overload although those upper ones don't do a lot. That certainly helped as that thick bottom leaf in the main spring pack now was engaging all the time and helping hold the weight up better and the rocking effect was better but it still was not what he hoped for. I had suggested he buy larger front and rear anti sway bars and no they don't come cheap as they had to also be shipped up to Canada. He bought the largest ones that were manufactured for that year of ford dually and I helped install those and that made a HUGE difference to the overall handling. They don't help with weight carrying ability of course but the ability to handle some fairly stiff side winds and go around curves was immensely improved. Now I should add that this truck only hauls that camper around but when the camper is off the truck does not ride near as good as it did in its stock form as those two leaves added in the main pack really stiffen it up. Its pretty hard to have a truck that can carry weight properly and ride like a dream when empty. A long comment but be it yourself or someone else that is having their truck sway around with that top heavy load, thick stiff aftermarket anti sway bars will make a very noticeable difference and perhaps keep one from having an accident.
Ahhhhh come on, what did you pay "out the door?" I just paid 70 grand for a 2023, ouch! Dry bath 10.2 with U-shaped , and generator, I will be making a video soon but I won't do a walk around.
Definitely need a dually. You have to be way over payload and axle limits, especially when you add gear and especially water.
Once you get settled in you'll have to give us a tour of your camper. Looking forward to seeing what comes next. Cheers 🇨🇦
It’s on the list for sure. I’m glad I didn’t do a followup video right away, we are still learning. I think there is finally enough to share. Video coming soon.
You just bought the best there is as far as truck campers go. We have the 2017 10-2 and love it.
They came highly recommended. Quality was a big factor in our buying decision. Looking forward to seeing more Northern Lite campers on the road!
@@MyCarGuyChris if you take care of it NL campers retain their value better than other RVs. I know of a 2004 9'6" just sold for $13,500.00 after being listed for sale for 3 days. The response to the ad was intense
Excellent choice guys I've picked up mine last month (Northern Lite 8-11 Limited) Happy camping!
Already watched a couple of your videos. Awesome rig!
Sweet ride!
For some reason, the youtube algorithmic gods have chosen one of my videos as a "suggested video" because of your video, so thanks for the extra views!
We have a lance but we're looking at a Northern lite, So let us know if you have any problems. Ok! Thanks for sharing! Are you first time campers? Why is the box in the back? I don't have a box in my bed???
No issues whatsoever. This camper is AWESOME! Yes, we are first time campers but are learning fast. Box was for cab clearance, the dealer made it for us. I think it’s a bit tall and would cut it down if I did it again. The NL is already tall, no need to increase the CG.
@@MyCarGuyChris My opinion is you made the right choice. My 2005 Lance 981 is ok, has a slide and it's not my first Lance. However after almost freezing in almost 18 degree weather we're looking for a Northern Lite. The way they use the area is unbelievable. Do not be discourage when you feel cramped. We have bigger and bigger is NOT better. Keep up informed on any problems you might have. Lance is a good camper and since we don't go much we MIGHT just use it. We're older but again, why not take the plunge and get the camper we THINK we will like best. Watch closely for any links. Sometimes factory workers get in a hurry and your camper MIGHT have some minor problems. We're in Ga. where are you?
Great setup! Any idea what your mpg was to pick up the truck and separately, what it was on the way home? I’m curious what the loss in MPG is due to the camper. Thanks!
The Northern Lite is notoriously light weight. I think that model was around 3,300lbs dry. No slides. Dually is never a bad option though.
Love you're new rig, wow👍
Thank you! She shines in her element. Definitely need some airbag support now. Coming soon...
Nice Truck camper!! Northern Lite is in my future! I have a very old Lance 1030 that is time to retire.
She’s a real beaute. Welcome to the truck camper community! Look forward to more of your vids
Thanks so much! We are looking forward to sharing our journeys and learning along the way!
That thing is sweet! Nice truck too!🙌🏼
Thanks so much! Needing to do a followup video… we’ve used it a few times already and it gets better with every use. Tons of creature comforts when you’re out in it for more than one night. Will give a download soon.
Congrats and Happy Trails. Awesome choice of truck and camper.
Congratulations. Beautiful rig! We also recently purchased a new truck and camper. Can't wait for our maiden voyage. Looking forward to following your adventures.
Thank you so much and congratulations!!! We are camper newbies so hopefully we can shed some light on our experiences and learning curve. Hope to see you on the road!
Let the adventures begin !
Looking forward to many this season and for years to come!
Don’t forget about TEXAS 👍👍🍺
what have you had to do to truck for weight if anything. we're decidding now on the 811. thanks and congrats
I ended up going with air bags. It helped a lot but also made the truck taller when inflated which caused it to be too heavy. I also think my box in the bed was too tall but that’s another story.
How is it hauling with the single rear wheel F350. I have been considering the camper but I was under the impression you needed a dually. Would really like to hear how the truck handles and preforms with the 10-2. Did you do in modifications on the suspension? Coagulation on the new truck and camper combo.
I agree! Gotta have a 1 ton dually. I put a Lance 850 on a beefed up F250 single rear wheel and the side to side movement was unnerving. Took it on 2 long trips and when we got home my wife said she wasn’t going in it ever again. Goodbye Lance. By the way Lance says the 850 is made for three-quarter ton.
You can do it with a SRW but I won’t ever consider it again; DRW or going with a smaller camper. With the extra height the air bags add, it makes the rig way too tall for SRW. I towed my LandCruiser with it once and that helped with the extra tongue weight. Otherwise, wouldn’t go with this combo again.
Nice truck and camper. We’re ordering our F-350 soon and looking to buy a truck camper too. I see that you have an extra piece of wooden plank on your truck box, I guess that it’s for your camper to sit on it, where did you buy this ? Does it come with the camper you bought? Or you made it yourself? Thanks
You won’t be disappointed in the 350! Great rig for a truck camper. The box was made by the dealership to give us enough room between the cab and the bottom of the camper overhang. Honestly, it was a bit too much. I would throw a piece of plywood down next time and use the stable mat on top. 👌
The pinnacle of campers IMO, I'm curious about your truck though, is is the Godzilla SD gasser? I'm about to order a 10-2 and have not got my truck yet. The 10-2 LE specs at 3250lbs, and I roughly calculated almost 4000lbs after LP and tanks, batteries, fresh water and generator and smaller accessories. I am definitely looking for a dually like a 3500HD with payload approx 5500, considering that the camper weight is not including passengers or gear/food etc. For me it's a piece of mind thing, but if I'm not mistaken I think tires also help payload, and the thought of losing a rear tire on the freeway with a SRW makes me shudder, just my $0.02.
Go with the dually! I regret not making that my setup. Way better road feel when loaded.
@@MyCarGuyChris dually for sure, I have a 9-6 and I estimate I am at 4K lbs loaded
Can you share any details about the platform in the back to elevate the camper?
Definitely! NL recommends a certain clearance above the cab. The dealer made this for us, about 6” tall. Just plywood and 2x4s. Also put a horse stall mat on top to rest the camper on.
Super cool. I have a white 2018 Ram 3500 and I drove thru Wyoming down to Salt Lake City in 2019 ... your truck and that route reminded me of that trip. Mine was via my trucking company. I'm thinking of building or buying a truck camper and I've considered the Northern Lite. Not sure yet. Have fun!
Awesome to hear about your journey. It was our first time driving across I-80. The Northern Lite came highly recommended. High build quality and low supply makes them a bit more desirable and valuable, something that was high on our list of buying considerations. Good luck with your build, I’m sure it will turnout great!
Beautiful Northern Lite, Did you have to order it to get the glass windows? Is it a dry bath and does it seem roomy enough in the shower? Thanks and safe travels!
Howdy! We actually just bought this one as it was on the ground at the dealership. I called a ton of dealers and they didn’t have anything in or everything was pre-sold. We love the windows and YES, it has a dry bath! We actually didn’t know what this meant before but after just having a chance to use it recently I couldn’t imaging another setup. I’m 6’3” and fit comfortably (believe it or not)! Looking forward to sharing our next video soon.
The glass is an option over the acrylic double panes I believe
I'm thinking of purchasing a 10-2. How did your truck with the Single rear wheel handle with the weight of the camper? Is it OK with the single rear wheel or do you suggest a dually ?
1000% get a dually. I only went with the SRW as it was my daily driver. You may be ok with SRW if you had smaller rims and more sidewall.
@@MyCarGuyChris I see most 10-2's on Dually Trucks... Thanks so much for the advice!!!! Really appreciate it. :)
2 months ago and no more videos? I’m hanging out watching for the adventure. I just got a 2011 Chevy 2500hd and was going to pull a 30’ camper but now I’m thinking about getting a slide in.
Videos coming. Needed to buy air bags for the truck. Like everything else, supply is short and hard to find. Should be here this week! One way or another, we are headed out for our first adventure soon. Stay tuned!
When I bought my Lance 855s and had it on my SRW F350 I thought about going with airbags. After driving a couple friends rigs with airbags, I did not like the top heavy feeling of how their trucks rode with them. I went with torklift upper and lower stable loads and was very happy with the result, corrected the rear sag of the truck and felt super stable. These were all the suspension mods I needed to carry the 4,000-lbs+ camper. I’m sure some folks out there have ran airbags for a long time and like them, just not my experience. Safe travels
@@antimatterpowerstroke1225 love the insight. Overall, I would probably would have gone with a dually if I did it again BUT the 350 is my daily driver. I really didn’t want to have to deal with that hassle every day. So yes, daily driving a crew cab long-bed F350 is much easier 😂.
Will let you know how the air bags work for me, installing them on Monday.
Congratulations! I love it!
Thank you, Judy! Two SHORT trips in the books. When I have enough video to piece together, we will release another adventure story.
Bad audio!!! beautiful camper!!!
Nice setup
Very nice camper!!
Hi Connie, we bought ours at Darren Bideaux RV. They were great to work with and gave us a good deal considering the crazy RV market right now. Local dealers in CO wouldn’t budge on price where as these folks did!
Great choice on camper 👍👍🍺
Congrats on the 10-2. I'm assuming you had to put the tailgate in the camper?
Thank you! Yes, it was probably a silly thing to bring it on our way out to Salt Lake. Thought it may help with fuel economy. Luckily, it fit perfectly in the camper walkway! We got lucky.
Awesome camper. We did a video on the 10-2 it's amazing. We have short box looking at 811. Safe travels happy camping. Hit your red button
Thank you! Yes, we ordered this truck with the 10-2 in mind. Wanted the long box. Looking forward to seeing your video with the 8-11!
@@MyCarGuyChris if up in Michigan we have nice camping in the north here. Safe travels happy camping
Fantastic 👍👍🍺enjoy your new adventure be safe I will be following y’all 🙏🏻
Looking forward to sharing our adventures!
Nice rig, what's the platform in the bed of your truck?
We have a 2019 Ford F350 Lariat single rear wheel, 4x4 with a 2019 Artic Fox 811.
Safe travels
Thank you! The platform was a surprise to us (camper newbies). The dealer made it before we arrived. It was fabricated to help clear the antennas on the rear of the cab and give the recommended clearance, 5 or 6 inches. They threw a horse stable mat on top of it, too. We will do a video soon with all the smaller details.
Hopefully you can share some tips of riding with a single rear wheel truck! I think she will do just fine once we get the airbags installed.
@@MyCarGuyChris we added Firestone Airbags and a Hellcraft (?) sway bar system to our SRW axle. So far so good. Our tie down system is from TorkLift (like it a lot) and we are looking at some additional suspension upgrades from Super Spring International for bump stops on the over load spring or going with their overload spring kit. No one wants to be "that guy" on TH-cam that is in an RV accident.
What truck are you guys rolling with?
2021 F350 with the PowerStroke!
That truck just by the looks of it seems way too small to be carrying that shell!
I hope I’m wrong-
Please be careful.
Northern Lite advertises their trucks on a SRW platform. I definitely recommend a dually, no question.
Would love to see the inside
We recently posted another video with a quick walkthrough. Check it out!
Please fix the sound the music is fine but when start talking a lot of wind noise thanks
A great quality camper - enjoy! Are you planning any upgrades? Tracey & Christian Friends #200
Woohoo! Thank you so much. And after using the NL a few times, there really isn’t much else I could ask for. Even without a generator, she’s a dream.