Who Makes Northstar Truck Campers?

Today we’ll learn who makes the Northstar truck camper. When contemplating businesses to support, family-owned businesses with customer service and quality are top priorities. We’re often even willing to pay more to support those in their hometown. 

So when it comes to purchasing a truck camper, what company stands out as a hometown, family-owned business? Meet Northstar. Four generations of Willets have worked to make the best truck campers on the market. Let’s learn more.

Who Makes Northstar Truck Campers?

No giant company has bought out Northstar. They remain a family-owned and operated business in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

In fact, Trucker Magazine returned to the factory in 2010 after having visited just two years prior and mentioned how little had changed. The magazine celebrated that Northstar was going strong and keeping its focus to continue making quality truck campers.

About Northstar

In 1955 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Willett family began making truck campers. At first, the father and son duo ran the operation under the name Texson Campers. When the son (Rex) took over in the 1980s, the company began manufacturing under the name Northstar. 

They have been available through dealers since 1961. And they’ve remained a family-operated business with Ryan, Rex’s oldest son, as the fourth-generation family member to work at Northstar.

Where Are Northstar Truck Campers Made?

Northstar truck campers are manufactured in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Willet family has stayed loyal to that area since the company’s beginnings in 1955. The factory is located at the corner of Leversee Road and Airline Highway.

Pro Tip: Make sure your Northstar Camper has everything you need with these 9 Truck Camper Accessories You Can’t Travel Without.

What Kind of Campers Does Northstar Make?

Northstar has focused its attention on one style: truck campers. This focus has led the company to produce quality, dependable rigs that last for decades.

And with a family-owned business like Northstar, the customer service is top-notch. You can get pop-up and hard-sided ones. Let’s take a closer look at both.

Pop-Up Truck Campers

The Northstar pop-up truck campers feature a Happijac (4220) four corner jacks system over the truck bed. Four of the five offer a 30-gallon freshwater tank, while the smallest option, the 600SS, only has a 17-gallon tank. 

The company has two self-contained pop-up truck campers, meaning it has an interior shower and toilet. The 600SS model has a dry weight of 1,258 lbs, a 6’11” height when open, and an overall length of 12’2”. The 850SC model has a dry weight of 1,785 lbs, a 6’8” height when open, and an overall length of 15’.

Hard-sided Truck Campers

You can also get hard-sided Northstar truck campers. They feature fiberglass siding, a walk-on rubber roof, and a Happijac (4220) four corner jacks system. 

Obviously, the hard-sided campers weigh more than the pop-up ones, so you want to check your truck’s payload capacity. The cheapest option, the Liberty, starts around $30,600 with a 6’4” interior height, an overall length of 14’5”, and a dry weight of 1,775 lbs.

Are Northstar Campers 4-Season?

These campers are considered 4-season, so you can use these campers in any weather condition. The pop-up truck campers can come with a “Sub Zero” package add-on, further protecting against rough winter weather.

The hard-sided ones come standard with insulated windows. A Northstar truck camper can handle all seasons.

➡ Looking specifically for that all-year camping capability? Check out the Best 4-Season Truck Campers.

Why Choose a Northstar Truck Camper?

If you tour the facility, you may see a husband and wife or father and son working together on the production line. This family atmosphere permeates throughout the factory and behind-the-scenes in business decisions. 

Because Northstar only focuses on building truck campers, you also know you will get quality construction. They listen to their customers to improve their designs and craftsmanship. And they don’t compete for the attention of all travelers. Northstar creates home-away-from-home truck campers and nothing else.

Quality Construction

Every camper has quality construction materials. Every joint is glued and then reinforced with steel screws. The wiring, gas, and plumbing systems go through strict quality assessments to meet code requirements. 

Variety of Sizes and Floorplans

Currently, you can choose from five 2022 Northstar pop-up camper options. You can find the perfect fit for your truck because they have a short, standard, and long bed option.

The cheapest model, the 600SS for smaller trucks starts around $23,000. It features a 6’3” length floor with a north/south extended cabover bed, a 3.7 cubic foot three-way fridge, and a glass top two-burner stove, all under 1,300 lbs empty.

The most expensive option in the pop-up line is the 850SC for a full-size truck with either a standard short bed (6′ 4″ to 6’10”) or a long bed (8′). This unit features a north/south RV queen bed and a 3.7 cubic foot three-way fridge. It also has an exterior and interior shower/cassette toilet combination for under 1,800 lbs empty. This model starts at around $28,000.

You get seven hard-sided options ranging from $36,500 to $46,900. Again, designed for all bed sizes, you’ll find one that fits your truck no matter what the size. The 9.5 Igloo U and 12 STC only work for long beds. These are the two most expensive options. 

The 12 STC (Stay The Course) has the longest floor plan ever built by Northstar at 12 ft. It features an 8 cubic foot double-door fridge, a three-burner stove with an oven and microwave, a double sink, a dry shower with cassette toilet, and an extended cabover bed.

With so many different sizes and weights, whether you have a heavy-duty Dodge Ram or a smaller Toyota Tacoma, you’ll find an option that fits your bed length. And when you do, you’ll have everything you need for an enjoyable camping trip.

Pro Tip: If you’re learning how to set up your truck camper you may be wondering Can I Leave My Tailgate on with a Truck Camper? Find out!

Is a Northstar Truck Camper Right for You?

If you travel solo and want a camper with easy set-up and convenience, consider the Northstar truck campers. Even couples taking weekend trips or longer getaways to primitive locations will find that Northstar offers quality and variety. 

Campers who want to get off-road and into those hard-to-reach locations may consider a Northstar truck camper.

Have you started browsing the floor plans yet? Which one catches your eye? Drop a comment below!

Sharing is caring!