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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Happy Canada Day
Thanks and happy 4th to all our American friends and Family in a couple of days.
Soup.
https://i.imgur.com/NXlCaEUl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qfvZnNXl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M3yRCkSl.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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07/01/19 11:48am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Do you unload when you camp? Really?
Never have taken the camper off the truck while on a camping trip, haven’t found a need too.
Even when we spent 2 months on BLM land ( Yuma Proving Ground Area) 2 winters ago we left the camper on the truck. We did have a grey / black water tote with us, however I never used it. Only took 25 minutes every 5 days to go up and dump the tanks and fill the water. We went shopping / touring / exploring on the 5 th day so that we only moved once per week usually.
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SideHillSoup
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06/09/19 08:48am |
Truck Campers
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RE: MICHELIN AGILIS CROSS CLIMATE ( 18”)
Ya... I can’t find anything outstanding about these tires. Not interested in winter aspects of these as I change out summers rims and tires for the winter rims and tires.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/19/19 05:16pm |
Truck Campers
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MICHELIN AGILIS CROSS CLIMATE ( 18”)
Anyone tried the new MICHELIN AGILIS CROSS CLIMATE for an 18 inch wheel. They are new and look to be something that may work for trucks with 18 inch wheels and carrying loads.
Thoughts?
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/17/19 11:48am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 2020 Northern Lite 10-2 Limited Edition
The Northern Lite Facebook page is very lively with a lot of great info, pictures etc from other owners all over North America and even Australia. I’m on it daily
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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05/16/19 11:15am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Vancouver to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?
We booked a sailing on the New Ferry from Port Hardy to Bella Coola ( The Northern Sea Wolf) for the end of June.
We now have a truck and camper ( sold the 35’ 5th Wheel) and that Truck / Camper total length is 24’. That sailing from Port Hardy to Bella Coola cost us $827.00, one way.
Last year we did Prince Rupert / Hadia Gwaii ( round trip) with the same truck and camper and that ferry ride (s) cost us $800 total for both rides, plus an extra $110 for the cabin on the return night sailing, ferry travel is not cheap, but the scenery is to die for.
Also longer rigs including trucks with longer trailers / 5th wheels have to be backed on the ferry going between Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert, not sure about the ferry from Port Hardy to Rupert.
Saying all that it is still worth the cost in my way of thinking.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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04/30/19 07:59am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?
There are a lot of links for locating “stuff” on Hwy 37 & 37-A, this is one of them.
A good link for Hwy 37
Soup
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SideHillSoup
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04/27/19 08:52am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?
I never had any issues finding fuel on any of our trips up north. However like I said, I always fill the top 1/2 of my fuel tank and stop every 3 hrs no matter what for fuel. Fuel is available everywhere and Propane is easier to find up here than in the States ( my experience)
Fuel stops on Hwy 37 north would be Kitwanga, The Meziadin Junction General Store, Stewart, Bell II, Dease Lake, the Jct of Hwy 37 and Yukon 1 just west of Watson Lake.
On my first trip up to Whitehorse pulling my 35 ft 5th wheel I did take a 5 gal fuel jug. Lucky I had it as I gave a guy the 5 gals of diesel I had because he drove by every fuel stop on the Hwy... I only have carry two 1 gal cans now, one for the generator and one for my chainsaw.
A couple of campgrounds to checkout and that we liked were.
BC Provincial Campground ( B.C. Parks ):
Lakelse near Terrace huge sites and lots of trees cover.
Meziadin Lake
Close to the jct of Hwy 37 & Hwy 37-A that leads into Stewart / Hyder Alaska. Wife camped here way before it was a Provincial Park, just after the road was punched through from Stewart to Meziadin.
When you travel back out from Stewart, and you Bear Glacier is infront and to the right of the vehicle look way up the mountain on the left hand side of the Hwy. You can still see what’s left of the original road that connected Stewart to the outside world. That’s the road my wife and her family used to get to Meziadin Lake or anywhere else back then. The reason the road was why up there, is because Bear Glacier went right across the valley and was that high up the mountain.
Kinaskan Lake
100 kms south of Dease Lake
Boya Lake , 150 kms north of Dease Lake
I highly recommend bug spray and a fishing license for yourself, anyone under 16 years of age doesn’t require one. You can get that license on line.
BC Fresh water finishing licence the regs are can be found on that page as well.
Carry a few rods and some light tackle, fresh water Fishing up north is spectacular. Your little guys will love it.
Enjoy your trip.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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04/27/19 08:48am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?
Love your truck/camper combo. I'd be all over that if we didn't have triplet 7 yr olds in tow lol.
Thanks for the tip about contacting BC Ferries. Excellent idea.
Have you done the run from Prince Rupert on up to Whitehorse? How are the roads during the summer?
Hmmm.....Haida Gwaii is also on my bucket list.
You should check into reservations with BC Ferries ( phone them) about the Port Hardy run up to Prince Rupert. Before you call BC Ferries get the exact measurement of you rigs total length when hooked together, you will need that. You are also over height, not to worry, as they don’t charge you for over height, they just need to know so that when you arrive there is a spot of the ferry where you will fit in height as well as length.
If you don’t have a reservation you will be on standby. At with your rig length you may miss a couple of sailings, or days.
I did Hadia Gwaii last summer from Rupert with reservations so we had no issue, however there were rigs waiting on standby who didn’t get on. Most people want the day time sailing however I think during the summer the South to North sailings are all during the day. However on the ferry run I was on they have night and day sailings, and the night time are not as full as the day time ( on the route I was on anyways) summer time is prime time so don’t waste time call BC Ferries quick like.
Enjoy the ride.
My truck and camper are on the right of the picture
https://i.imgur.com/uJDkU66l.jpg
Soup.
PM me is you would like more info
My wife was raised in Stewart BC ( next door to Hyder Alaska) plus Uncle lived in Whitehorse after he help build the Alaska Hwy during WWII ( he was a Canuck)
Yes I have driven both routes north to Whitehorse other than. With Alaska Marine Hwy. The last trip to Whitehorse was with my 35 ft 5th Wheel, no issues what so ever, besides Bison Caribou, Moose and bears on the hwy. However, watch for pot holes and frost heaves, take your time if you see uneven pavement in front of you. Also if you see vehicles lined up behind you, and it is safe roads I front of you, slow down and put on your right signal light showing faster drivers it is safe to pass you.
Traveling up north is a whole different life than anything down south.
Make sure you have food, drink and supplies for a couple days dry camping. Always fill the top 1/2 of your fuel tank. Meaning when you get close to 1/2 tank of fuel, fill up. As a rule in the mountains I never travel more than 3 hrs with out stopping for fuel etc... Hwy 37 fuel stops are farther apart that down south, so if you see one fill up and ask what’s there to see around here. It’s amazing the info that you can get while talking with the people in theses small out of the way fuel stops.
Lots of great stops long Hwy 37/ 37-A .... you need at least a 4 days if not a week for that section of Hwy... unless your in a hurry.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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04/25/19 08:04pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?
You should check into reservations with BC Ferries ( phone them) about the Port Hardy run up to Prince Rupert. Before you call BC Ferries get the exact measurement of you rigs total length when hooked together, you will need that. You are also over height, not to worry, as they don’t charge you for over height, they just need to know so that when you arrive there is a spot of the ferry where you will fit in height as well as length.
If you don’t have a reservation you will be on standby. At with your rig length you may miss a couple of sailings, or days.
I did Hadia Gwaii last summer from Rupert with reservations so we had no issue, however there were rigs waiting on standby who didn’t get on. Most people want the day time sailing however I think during the summer the South to North sailings are all during the day. However on the ferry run I was on they have night and day sailings, and the night time are not as full as the day time ( on the route I was on anyways) summer time is prime time so don’t waste time call BC Ferries quick like.
Enjoy the ride.
My truck and camper are on the right of the picture
https://i.imgur.com/uJDkU66l.jpg
Soup.
PM me is you would like more info
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SideHillSoup
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04/25/19 04:28pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Flat tire on SW Truck while carrying a TC?
Yes.
Of course, my TC doesn't have three slide-outs, a master bedroom with walk-in closet and shower for two, or a hot tub. ;)
:B :B :W :B
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SideHillSoup
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04/24/19 03:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Alt Route to Edmonton
Head west on I-90 all the way to Coeur d'Alene Idaho following 95 / 2 / 95 / 1, north to where you cross into B.C. just below Creston BC.
Then follow Hwy 21 to where you join up with Hwy 3-A, at Creston BC, there follow Hwy 3-A along Kootenay Lake northwest to where you cross Kootenay Lake on the Kootenay Lake Ferry ( longest free ferry ride in the world)
Once off the ferry take a right and follow Hwy 32 west to Kaslo passing Ainsworth Hot Springs.
Once in Kaslo stop in and tour the dry-docked Paddle Wheeler Moyie.
From Kaslo take Hwy 32-A up and over the hump to New Denver on the shores of Slocan Lake. Just before New Denver you can take a short side trip ( 8kms) into the Ghost town of Sandon BC, also you can take a short hike to Idaho Peak ( YouTube Idaho Peak BC) There is a passenger van for a fee that will drive you to the parking out 12kms up the mountain from Sandon if you don’t want to take your rig up the gravel mountain road.
From New Denver take Hwy 6 north towards Nakusp where you will join up with Hwy 23 north towards Revelstoke.
At Nakusp there is the Nakusp Hot Springs 20 minutes up a paved road. ( with a small creekside campground)
From Nakusp follow Hwy 23 north past Halcyon Hot Springs ( $$$) who also have a small campground to another free ferry across the Upper Arrow Lakes ( Columbia River) at Galena Bay/ Shelter Bay and then 40 minutes once off the ferry to Revelstoke.
From Revelstoke take Hwy 1 west to Kamloops then take Hwy 5 north to the jct with Hwy 24 just past Little Fort. Then follow Hwy 24 west to just south of 100 mile House and Hwy 97 north.
Once on Hwy 97 follow that road through Prince George then north east on Hwy 97 all the way to Dawson Creek.
Now that’s a route, not fast, but beautiful...
Enjoy your trip which ever why you decide to go.
Soup.
Summit Lake, between New Denver and Nakusp.
https://i.imgur.com/gpkViI8l.jpg
Road side mountain lake between Kaslo and New Denver
https://i.imgur.com/f4w5yJwl.jpgm
Fly fishing on Summit Lake
https://i.imgur.com/kam4bLml.jpg
Old shed in the mining Ghost town of Sandon
https://i.imgur.com/1BgL8iul.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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04/01/19 10:06pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Popup truck camper with soft sides
I think it is more of an issue that people either don’t know how to, or just “don’t” keep a clean camp, hence the varmit issue.
Today I have a nice camper to sleep in, but not many years back me and my buddies slept in tents while fishing and hunting. We never had an issue ever with any varmint beside a porky coming in and looking around.
Keep a Clean camp.... learn where to cook and where to store your garbage and your food...etc.....
My wife was raised in Stewart BC ( Hyder Alaska) and we just had a little mini “ Stewart Reunion with some of her school chums. One of the guys ( now a grandfather) talked about how they camped in tents along Fish Creek with bears everywhere...and he said they never lost a camping buddy ever...( he did grin, not sure why....)
Do some research on being bear aware... it’s pretty simple stuff.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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03/31/19 05:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: What do you put in the flat storage next to the bed?
Clothes
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SideHillSoup
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03/21/19 09:38am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Super Basic Questions
I have a 3500 short box 4x4 duramax with a Northern Lite 8-11 on the back. I put 42,000 kms on the truck and camper the first year ( Sept 2017 - Sept 2018 ) we owned both. I have also owned many different types of rigs over the years.
We spent over two months at BLM land in Southern Arizona during the winter of 2018, no issue at all in a short box type camper.
We also spend 90% of our time outside the camper so inside comfort is great, however not something that we based our buying this camper on. Don’t get me wrong, the camper came with TV / DVD / stereo, a stove and oven for cooking a huge fridge and a dry bath, built in solar, so all that stuff is nice and is found in most rigs you can buy now. ( different manufacturers have different options)
I have no issues with handeling or ride in all those Kms, I did add Timbren rubber overload springs.
We dont have a slide, never wanted one as more weight and more things to break.
The basement on the Northern Light where the Gray and Black tanks are located in the floor and you can’t accees them unless you remove the floor inside the camper.
The basement in our Northern Light has a 12” x 36” x 6” high storage area, as well as a 14” x 84” x 5” high plastic slide tray right beside the other storage area. It also has a storage space for a 2000 watt Honda or Yamaha generator ( we have a Yami)
As for resale value... I worked with contractors all my life in the profession I was in, and they use both short bed and long bed trucks equally, unless they are fleet trucks then they aren’t buying from a single seller anyways.
The one thing I would make sure when I bought my truck was a crew cab truck. As we use that extra space in the back seat as storage ( lawnchairs, water jugs, tables, Tools..etc..)
As there is only my DW and myself that travel in our rig, and Gertty the cat rides in the camper... ( grin) that backseats is a perfect storage area.
So a long box truck and camper would be nice to have but not necessary.
My twobits
Soup
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SideHillSoup
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03/20/19 09:14am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Dawson City to Watson Lake
Thanks sue... was a very interesting conversation with that Fella..
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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03/12/19 05:52pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Dawson City to Watson Lake
Hey Sue....
Do the RCMP know if the Dawson City detachment still use the Truck and camper to patrol the Dempster Hwy in the summer?
When we were in Dawson City in 2004 ( I think) I was out for a walk at 04:00 and chatted up with a RCMP officer who was washing the truck and camper ( I think it was a Bigfoot camper) from the last trip to Inuvik.
We must have talked and drank coffee for over an hour. That year was his second trip with his family in tow, he also had some great stories of being an RCMP up north.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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03/11/19 04:52pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Dawson City to Watson Lake
Look up posts from Sue.t exlporenorth on RVnet both of them live in the Yukon.
As well check this and other official Yukon sites for the latest info.
Yukon info
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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03/01/19 08:25am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver Island....Victoria
2 days is not near enough time to visit Vancouver Island. We live in BC and we are going back again this summer for our at least 10th trip ( lost count) to the island, Vancouver island
Things to do on Van Island
There are site seeing tours out of the north end of the island where you can hope to view bears, there is whale watching tours all over the Island, as well as, Long Beach at Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island.... and on and on...
As well the cost to travel back and forth to Vancouver island is not cheap and after spending all the money on Ferries no matter which ferry you take, two days just is not enough time in my mind. Vancouver Island is bigger than some USA States.
We have for this trip planed 15 days on Vancouver island before we catch the new ferry ( The Sea Wolf) from Port Hardy to Bella Coola.
Like someone has said, two days you won’t even see all of Victoria.
Soup.
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SideHillSoup
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02/19/19 08:23am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Rear Camera
I installed two cameras, one plug and play from Camera-source.com which is for when the truck is put into reverse. The second camera I got from Amazon ( $60) which is a review camera and can be watched all the time if wanted. I installed the second camera so I could see my Side X Side when I’m towing it behind the camper ( easer to see) This second camera has a small screen that I place on the Center console, and is hard wired into the cab of the truck.
https://i.imgur.com/nUbccVZl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1h3mkyLl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iG0Z4A5l.jpg
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SideHillSoup
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02/15/19 09:27pm |
Truck Campers
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