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Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 6:49 pm
by Black Countryman
Hi everyone,

We have become proud new owners of a Northstar 700DL which we will be putting on top of our Ford Ranger.

We are new to demountables but have had a 1982 VW T25 camper for several years. I was thinking of upgrading to a demountable for some time and when the old camper suffered a terminal illness while on the back of a big yellow taxi after I managed to burn the clutch out on the beach at Abersoch I decided to go for it.

Image

Why did I want a demountable?
  • 1. I wanted something bigger than the old camper with a built in toilet (to avoid the middle of the night trek after a few beers).
    2. I wanted a fixed bed
    3. I wanted something that would have a tow bar for my sailing dinghies
    4. I didn't want to drag our holiday home about with us while I'm away
    5. My wife wanted to be able to use the vehicle while I am sailing. The old camper was too much trouble to move once it had been leveled up, the pop top popped, the awning set up and the gas & electricity set up and she complained about being stuck on site.
    6. The vehicle needs to be my daily drive and robust enough to stand up to an active life dragging boats and transporting our dogs.
As you can see, the Northstar demountable ticks all the boxes and after a few months of research followed by search and bidding we think we have found our ideal mobile home.

Now we are just waiting for a bit of decent weather early in the new year and we will be off for our shakedown weekend. If all goes well I will hopefully convince Black Countrywoman that a trip to northern France in July to coincide with the Tour de France visiting Normandy would be a good idea.

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 7:20 pm
by zildjian
Sure Tony no problem, post me them at slowdown.Zildjian @gmail.com and for now I'll add them till you sort out picture hosting

You are treading a well worn path from VW ownership to here there are lots of people like that as members and a few of them into their boats as well so can we see pics of that too?

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 9:57 pm
by lamp-it
Welcome to the mad house Black Countryman, I like your outfit those Northstar look really good don't they

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 10:11 pm
by Big Jim
And a welcome from me , also a black country man , also with a Northstar also with an (older) Ranger.
Jim

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 10:30 pm
by keeflester
A welcome from me too. Ranger owner and ex Northstar owner. We had a 750DL on our Supercab ranger, very comfortable and a bit luxurious. Enjoy your new rig and be sure to come back here often for the craic.

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 21st, 2015, 11:43 pm
by Black Countryman
Thanks to everyone for the welcome.

For those who are interested, this is my usual boat (there are others but the less said about that when Black Countrywoman is about the better).

It's a bog standard Mirror Dinghy which, according to the class association, is over 40 years old. I've had it for about 10 years and it's probably the best £250 I've every spent for enjoyment and meeting people.

Image

This was taken at Abersoch last summer when I ticked 3 things off my bucket list in one weekend

1. Sailed a yacht thanks to a fellow sailing club member
2. Sailed my dinghy on the sea
3. Became the owner of an open topped vehicle (not as good as it sounds as it was my camper when the pop top blew away on the A5)

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 22nd, 2015, 8:05 am
by zildjian
Also you are welcome to join us next June for a weekend on South coast if yoyre both about,
Check out our 'RunAway South' thread for details

Zildjian

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 22nd, 2015, 3:09 pm
by TrueDink
Hello and Welcome from an ex Northstar owner. Hope you enjoy your New toy.

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 22nd, 2015, 6:36 pm
by rubberrat
Sorry to come late to the party, but a big welcome from me too.
Yet another from the VW route. In fact I still have one.
You seem to have made the decision to go demountable for all the right reasons.

They are not for everyone but I think ideal for you.

Quite a few yachty boaty types on here too - they go hand in hand.

Re: Members Campers

Posted: December 22nd, 2015, 6:40 pm
by Alexd
And a hello from here as well (from another newbie) 8-)