dmax lover
Portland,Oregon, USA
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Joined: 08/27/2005
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From your PM to me - you have a duramax - and there is a flat spot on the inside of the bed specifically for mounting the connector. You do drill out for the connector using a hole saw - no big deal... If you have the Fifth Wheel/Camper trailering option then the wires to hook to are bundled up between the bed and cab.
On GM - they do not connect the power wire feeding this wiring loom - you need to install a fuse and in newer models - a wire needs to be connected to Stud #1 in the fuse/distribution panel.
Another thing to note is that the power is not isolated when you turn off the camper - you will want to add an isolator - I chose the surepower 1314.
Someone else here pointed me to the best place to buy the surepower 1314 on-line. ASE is located in portland so shipping is overnight to your place.
http://www.ase-supply.com/product_p/sp-1314.htm
jeff
2005 Chevrolet Duramax 3500 SRW Crewcab Longbed (KYB Monomax Shocks, Michelins,Pacbrake Airbags,Hellwig Rear Swaybar)
2006 Northern Lite 9.6 Classic (Torklifts & fastguns)
Northern Lite Owners Club
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rrthor50
Camas, WA
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Joined: 07/14/2009
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Yes there are some grommets in the front but I'll have to go home and look at it tonight. I do have the camper package and the wire loom is tucked up near the front of the bed. I have to investigate. I'll let you guys know tomorrow how it turned out. Thanks
Rick
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dmax lover
Portland,Oregon, USA
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Joined: 08/27/2005
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rrthor50 wrote:Yes there are some grommets in the front but I'll have to go home and look at it tonight. I do have the camper package and the wire loom is tucked up near the front of the bed. I have to investigate. I'll let you guys know tomorrow how it turned out. Thanks
Rick
What I said about the mounting point and drilling referred to my '05 - may be different for the newer body style trucks...
jeff
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MTBob
Montana
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Joined: 07/17/2008
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Rick:
I'll second DMAX Lover's recommendations, get a PD charger/converter. Make VERY sure you have a battery isolator (ask me how I know). GM trucks don't come with them! I also installed the 1314 isolator. The wire that connects to the isolator is tie wrapped just below the fuse box. Search this forum for installation ideas, if you can't locate posts, PM me. The 1314 on my Chev Dmax 3500 fits just in front of the fuse box on the fender well. Also, Chevy uses a really cheesy #10 wire from the fuse box to the battery connector. I upgraded the wire size to #8, since that's all I could get to fit in the connector. It should be a heavier wire but that will require a separate heavier battery only connector.
If you do upgrade to a Progressive Dynamics unit, you should consider the Trimetric meter. I just installed one on my 10-2000RR
Finally, search this forum for the numerous pre-delivery checklists. They are excellent.
Congrats, you're gonna love this camper.
Bob
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Chevinator
Keizer, OR
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Joined: 02/03/2008
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You can avoid cutting any holes in your bed by running from your 7 way plug at the bumper to the camper's plug in, but it may involve making a custom extention. Torklift makes one that splits off so you can still tow but its kinda pricey and most people could make their own easily.
C
2006 Chev 2500HD X-Cab 2007 Apache Chief 10.55SS 14x7 Mirage cargo
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AidenJ
Adirondacks, NY ,USA
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Congrats on your new rig. I also have a Chevy and as other posters have said there is no isolator. The way mine sits on the truck I can easily unplug if I'm sitting overnite. Eventually I will add the isolator. The one real problem I had is with the pass through window. If you have the solid window there should be no problem, but if you have the slider/ screen have them hose it down before you load it. While they are doing that go inside and and watch the window track. If it's like mine it will overflow. I currently have a solid window on order to replace the slider. No other issues with ours. We love it.
Dick
"04" CHEV 2500HD DURAMAX DIESEL REG CAB SRW
2010 NORTHERN-LITE 10-2 SPECIAL EDITION
14 YR OLD BORDER COLLIE (LADY)
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Dewclaw
Oregon
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Joined: 10/16/2007
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Based on my experience so far.
Fill the gray water tank all the way to full as a test. Mine had a leak when filled all the way and we took a fun trip to Kelowna where the guys at NL cheerfully fixed it.
I just fixed a leak in the skylight over the bed with some silicone seal. It did not show up until the rainy season hit. It was a small leak somewhere on the rearward side. I'll re-do it next summer.
The dealer did not fill out the PDI sheet that NL includes with the camper, nor did they fill out the warranty card. Be sure that at least the warranty gets sent in.
Other than that, it's a great camper and we truly love it.
Based on other posts, I make it an absolute must to check every single window latch starting from the front and going back before we move. I don't want to replace any expensive windows.
I had to put a shim under mine to clear the rounded GMC tailgate opening. That extra height allows plenty of room to plug in the pigtail with the camper loaded. I have the same isolator as several others have posted, but have not yet installed it. I need to re-do the wiring that the dealer installed so I'm waiting to do the whole project at once. For now I just unplug and replug (only forgot to replug once so far).
I found that the rear could slide around and cause rubbing damage to the pickup and camper (minor), even though it's sitting on a rubber stall mat. So I made a guard out of 2X4 with plywood gussets and carpet on the camper side. It fits snugly right in front of the bulge in the tailgate opening. That keeps the camper from moving more than a half-inch either way, but it makes it tricky to load.
Also made a sewer hose carrier that fastens under the bumper and holds a 20' hose, minus about 1" that I had to cut off the hose. I could only get a 10' hose in the factory holder, which is not long enough. I should post pictures of that project.
This is a long post and more than you asked for. I need to go out and rake some leaves before it gets dark. 
2008 Northern Lite 9-6 Q Classic SE
2007 GMC 2500HD
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markchengr
Seattle
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Joined: 01/05/2009
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Another NL 10-2 CD SE owner here. Ours is a 2008. I agree that the PD 4600 converter is the best upgrade I have done so far. Now I can leave the shore power on full time at home and not have to worry about boiling my batteries dry. If you do this, make sure that the wires from the converter to the batteries are of adequate size if you want to increase the output from the standard 45 amp model you are replacing. I didn't want to deal with this issue so I used the 4645 model (same output as the cheapo Parallax that came with the camper). The 45 amp output has been plenty adequate for us. It would not be easy to run new wires from the converter to the batteries in a Northern Lite.
I haven't put in a battery isolator yet but I would like to if I can figure out just how. My 2007 GMC 3500 duramax has no space ahead of the fuse box. There is a battery right up against it. So far, I just unplug the camper/truck connection if boondocking the same place for more than one night. With 2 batteries we have never used as much as 50% in one night even watching a movie and running the furnace all night. The only real issue I've had with this camper is the crappy little circular tv antenna which gets lousy reception and seems to snag on every passing branch. I am now in the process of replacing it with a Winegard batwing which, of course, folds down. You will want to avoid rubbing any branches with those acrylic windows. They scratch easily if there is any dust present. The scratches are superficial and buff out fairly easily with the polish they include. Congratulations, you're gonna love your new camper, we sure do. -Mark.
* This post was
edited 11/21/09 09:02pm by markchengr *
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rrthor50
Camas, WA
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Thanks for all your responses. I picked up the camper this Saturday. They did install the electrical connector in the bed and they did a good job.
I did an inspection at the dealer but there was so much information coming at me that I missed a few things. Nothing major and I will get those items correceted. I've got so much to learn. It's going to be a blast.
We slept in the camper in the driveway Saturday night. We had a very nice wind/rain storm that night and it was very cool to listen to inside the camper.
Rick
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rhode trip
Rhode Island
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Joined: 03/21/2006
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rrthor50 wrote: We had a very nice wind/rain storm that night and it was very cool to listen to inside the camper.
Rick
I love to lay in bed and listen to the wind and the rain on the hull. I think, "I'm so glad I'm not in my tent tonight."
Congratulations on the new camper...that's a beauty.
2002 Dodge 3500 CTD/DRW/
2000 Northern Lite 10-2000cd
www.LapelPinPlanet.com
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