New owner of 70's Alaskan (10 foot NCO)

[Land-roamer]

Hello everyone!
I'm really glad I found this forum.

Since 2 days ago, I am now the proud owner of an early 70's Alaskan 10 foot NCO camper!
I had read about and heard about Alaskans for a few years, but living in the North-East, I never thought I'd have a chance to see let alone own one. Then out of the blue, someone had one for sale locally, and I went to see it out of curiosity. I was so impressed with the quality of construction and the condition of this specimen (no rot anywhere, always been stored inside when not used, very well cared for), that I bought it on the spot. It's going to be delivered to my place on the weekend, and I plan to store it in my garage over winter (will need to make room in there for it!!).

I put some pictures of it on this site:
My Alaskan 10 foot NCO
I will take better pictures once it's in my driveway.

Anyway, I started a thread on it on rv.net, to get some pointers on what to look for when inspecting it, etc. The people there were very helpful, and seemed to think this was a very nice specimen. THe other part of the discussion there was about a suitable truck to carry it. I had decided some time ago that I wanted to buy a diesel truck and slide-in camper, to take on extended road/camping trips after I retire from work next year. I have been looking for a good Gen 1 or Gen 2 Dodge Cummins for some time, figuring I would buy the truck first, then the camper. Now I have the camper and no truck! No problem, I'll save money and hunt for a nice truck in the Spring. I saw there was a thread here on this very subject, what size of truck to get, and 1 ton seemed recommended (same as rv.net).

I was very glad to find copies of user manuals on this site, because the one I bought doesn't seem to have one. Mind you, they are pretty simple campers, but the wiring diagram and such is very useful to have.

Ok, all that to say hi, and glad to be aboard! Does this mean I can get on the draw for the propane stove giveaway?

Looking forward to chat Alaskan campers with you all over the coming months, getting tips and advice on getting mine in even better shape (replacing caulking, etc.).

I attach a couple of pics for your viewing pleasure.

Cheers!
--Robert (Ottawa, Canada)

 

[Rusty]

Robert,

Consider yourself VERY LUCKY...that's the nicest one I've seen and ours has been in the family for 40 years. The wood work is almost perfect....do not let it get wet without re-sealing the front and rear gutters with acrylic butyl window glazing 1/8 inch tape....

and have a nice cover made for it when you need to protect it from rain....the old caulking is notorious for drying out and allowing water intrusion into the interior paneling.

That is one very special camper....

A one ton single rear wheel...you'll get the strength of the 1T and the advantage of the narrow body....diesel

did the Melmac come with it??

 

[Marc]

Robert

Nice score. I have a soft spot for the old NCO's

marc

 

[banderswipe]

Hi Robert, Great looking Alaskan., It Looks like new,they are hard to find in poor condition in the east,you got lucky. No wonder you brought it on the spot. Looking forward to hearing more from you fellow Canadian.
Welcome to the WTW forum and congratulations on becoming an Alaskan owner.

Cheers,

Kevin.

 

[Land-roamer]

Robert,

Consider yourself VERY LUCKY...that's the nicest one I've seen and ours has been in the family for 40 years. The wood work is almost perfect....do not let it get wet without re-sealing the front and rear gutters with acrylic butyl window glazing 1/8 inch tape....

and have a nice cover made for it when you need to protect it from rain....the old caulking is notorious for drying out and allowing water intrusion into the interior paneling.

That is one very special camper....

A one ton single rear wheel...you'll get the strength of the 1T and the advantage of the narrow body....diesel

did the Melmac come with it??

Thanks to all for the welcoming words and positive comments on my camper. It's the first one I've ever seen so had no yardstick for comparison, but it did look in a well preserved state, so I decided to buy it because I told myself I might not see one again. The seller is the second owner, he bought it about 5 years ago from an older gentleman who was the original owner and had cared for it all these years. The seller's truck quit on him a few years ago so the camper sat in his garage since then. He decided to sell to make room in there.

Indeed, Rusty, re-sealing is one of the things I'll be doing to it this Fall/Winter/Spring, as it sits in my garage. So it's ready to tackle the elements next summer etc.

Yes, 1-ton single wheel will be on my radar. I passed on one about 5 years ago, but I wasn't decided on the truck camper route at that time. It was a Gen 1 Dodge Cummins (early 90's) that had spent its entire life in Southern US, and that the owner had recently brought back to Canada. Rust free, but it had well over 400,000 kms which scared me a bit. Not so much for the Cummins, but for the rest of the truck. Anyway, timing wasn't right, so hopefully I can score something like that again... I'd prefer 2wd, since I'll be doing mostly on-road travelling (not always paved, but still roads) and since I've heard they're also more comfortable to drive down the highway than a 4x4.

Looking forward to reading the posts here, learning from your experiences, and contributing whatever I can along the way. I've also found the yahoo group site, which seems to have great information too.

Cheers!
--Robert

p.s. oh yeah, I suppose the Melmac comes with it (also the other paraphernalia in there, pots and pans, hardware, etc.)

 

[Rusty]

Something to keep in mind....those cable jacks are dangerous...I've seen Alaskans on the ground in poor shape from experiences with cables slipping and the two bars being slightly out of balance position...I don't know what corner jacks those are but screw jacks work well....Reico Titan's are good....just be very careful....

kid gloves are definitely in order.

BTW....Welcome to the group

The yahoo site was set up by another member here...Mike Dahlager...very knowledgeable gentleman.....

This is a much better format for the information base...one location with all the goodies...

 

[Land-roamer]

Something to keep in mind....those cable jacks are dangerous...I've seen Alaskans on the ground in poor shape from experiences with cables slipping and the two bars being slightly out of balance position...I don't know what corner jacks those are but screw jacks work well....Reico Titan's are good....just be very careful....


Thanks Rusty, I'll be on my guard re: those cable jacks! The seller told me those jacks didn't bring the camper high enough to fit on the truck he had (which was evidently quite high, with large tires), so he bought 4 corner jacks and installed the hardware under each camper corner. I'll see them at work on Sunday when he delivers the camper in a u-haul trailer, hopefully in one piece! Sounds like those cable jacks will likely go to the recycler, if they are not to be trusted...

I've never lifted a truck camper using jacks before, so will let the seller handle them, to drop it onto the dollie so we can wheel it (or comealong-it!) into my garage. I assume those campers will fit inside an 8ft door with some room to spare

Ok thanks for the info on the yahoo site. I saw some interesting threads there, such as the one about a product to treat wood mold.

Gotta run, talk to you later.

 

[MikeDahlager]

Hello everyone!
I'm really glad I found this forum.

Since 2 days ago, I am now the proud owner of an early 70's Alaskan 10 foot NCO camper!
I had read about and heard about Alaskans for a few years, but living in the North-East, I never thought I'd have a chance to see let alone own one. Then out of the blue, someone had one for sale locally, and I went to see it out of curiosity. I was so impressed with the quality of construction and the condition of this specimen (no rot anywhere, always been stored inside when not used, very well cared for), that I bought it on the spot. It's going to be delivered to my place on the weekend, and I plan to store it in my garage over winter (will need to make room in there for it!!).

I put some pictures of it on this site:
My Alaskan 10 foot NCO
I will take better pictures once it's in my driveway.

Anyway, I started a thread on it on rv.net, to get some pointers on what to look for when inspecting it, etc. The people there were very helpful, and seemed to think this was a very nice specimen. THe other part of the discussion there was about a suitable truck to carry it. I had decided some time ago that I wanted to buy a diesel truck and slide-in camper, to take on extended road/camping trips after I retire from work next year. I have been looking for a good Gen 1 or Gen 2 Dodge Cummins for some time, figuring I would buy the truck first, then the camper. Now I have the camper and no truck! No problem, I'll save money and hunt for a nice truck in the Spring. I saw there was a thread here on this very subject, what size of truck to get, and 1 ton seemed recommended (same as rv.net).

I was very glad to find copies of user manuals on this site, because the one I bought doesn't seem to have one. Mind you, they are pretty simple campers, but the wiring diagram and such is very useful to have.

Ok, all that to say hi, and glad to be aboard! Does this mean I can get on the draw for the propane stove giveaway?

Looking forward to chat Alaskan campers with you all over the coming months, getting tips and advice on getting mine in even better shape (replacing caulking, etc.).

I attach a couple of pics for your viewing pleasure.

Cheers!
--Robert (Ottawa, Canada)


Wow, Robert! You have discovered a real gem. I would like to formally welcome you to the forum and look forward to reading about your camper in future posts. Sorry it took so long to welcome you officially. I have been King Salmon and Steelhead fishing for the past 3 days and turned my iPhone off.


Mike

 

[banderswipe]

Something to keep in mind....those cable jacks are dangerous...I've seen Alaskans on the ground in poor shape from experiences with cables slipping and the two bars being slightly out of balance position...I don't know what corner jacks those are but screw jacks work well....Reico Titan's are good....just be very careful....

kid gloves are definitely in order.

BTW....Welcome to the group

The yahoo site was set up by another member here...Mike Dahlager...very knowledgeable gentleman.....

This is a much better format for the information base...one location with all the goodies...


Hi Robert, I echo Rusty's advice, "Kid Gloves" when loading or unloading the camper. The number one rule always put the camper on level ground preferably concrete. Number 2 always have someone guide you back into or pulling away from the camper.If you touch any part of the camper when backing in or out you run the risk of twisting your jack plates and allowing momentum to twist your jack legs through 90 degrees and dumping your camper either on its roof or just pancaked on the ground,believe me. I loaded mine on my own and just touched the side of the camper,it started falling back wards away from my truck it twisted all three of my jack plates and ended up teetering half on half off the bed of my truck. I lifted it up at the rear with a Farm (Jack-all) jack straightened out all the jack plates with some gentle swearing and brute force,backed under it again only this time with the farm jack at the back of the camper to prevent it from going back wards again.
This time I was successful and the rest they say is History or learning the hard way.I am going to replace all of my jack plates 3 of them and add a fourth and have them on the corners. I Will put my farm jack behind and have some body to guide me as well next time.
I wish somebody had given me this advice before I loaded my camper. I was a hairs breadth away from dumping my camper on its roof,you should have seen the air around me it was blue and not from the color of the sky.
This story might be entertaining now but it wasn't at the time.

Cheers,

Kevin.

 

[John D]

Kevin,

From my first hand experience, you are giving very good advice to Robert about jacking.

John D

 

[cologuyw/oldakcamper]

Nice rig. It's so original. You have some good photos that show certain details I haven't seen before.
Hardly any leak marks
Heavy duty tie down brackets. They look fairly recent.
Shinny alu. trim. Took me a bunch of steel wool and chemicals to get mine in shape.
Looks like all shades and blinds, floor are orig.
Skid plates on bottom
Rollers for boat on top racks
Top gutter above windows. On second look, what I thought was a gutter is an awning bracket. I suspect the awning is the green item in one of pictures. Probably like new?
Underside access door?
I just bought a 65 10 ft NCO. Paid $600, a few problems but not too bad. Looks very similar to yours. Sellers sometimes don't know value. Our gain.
I've got jacks like yours. Extension plates were welded on to make the bottom of angle iron extend under further to reduce risk of slipping. When I bought mine, the seller was cranking on it, let go of crank, crank freewheeled backward and clipped his thumb. Blood but no broken bones or trailer. Very dangerous. He forgot to release spring ratchet prior to releasing tension on crank.

Have fun. Colo.

 

[Land-roamer]

Wow, Robert! You have discovered a real gem. I would like to formally welcome you to the forum and look forward to reading about your camper in future posts. Sorry it took so long to welcome you officially. I have been King Salmon and Steelhead fishing for the past 3 days and turned my iPhone off.
Mike

Thanks Mike! Glad to be aboard. Indeed, you can look forward to questions from me, and pictures of my camper. It's now sitting comfortably in my driveway (more in a separate post).
Cheers,
--Robert

 

[Land-roamer]

Hi Robert, I echo Rusty's advice, "Kid Gloves" when loading or unloading the camper. (...)
I wish somebody had given me this advice before I loaded my camper. I was a hairs breadth away from dumping my camper on its roof,you should have seen the air around me it was blue and not from the color of the sky.

Thanks Kevin!
I will indeed heed this advice, and re-read carefully, before I first attempt to put it on my yet-to-be-acquired truck!
Cheers.
--Robert

 

[Land-roamer]

Nice rig. It's so original. You have some good photos that show certain details I haven't seen before.
Hardly any leak marks
Heavy duty tie down brackets. They look fairly recent.
Shinny alu. trim. Took me a bunch of steel wool and chemicals to get mine in shape.
Looks like all shades and blinds, floor are orig.
Skid plates on bottom
Rollers for boat on top racks
Top gutter above windows. On second look, what I thought was a gutter is an awning bracket. I suspect the awning is the green item in one of pictures. Probably like new?
Underside access door?
I just bought a 65 10 ft NCO. Paid $600, a few problems but not too bad. Looks very similar to yours. Sellers sometimes don't know value. Our gain.
I've got jacks like yours. Extension plates were welded on to make the bottom of angle iron extend under further to reduce risk of slipping. When I bought mine, the seller was cranking on it, let go of crank, crank freewheeled backward and clipped his thumb. Blood but no broken bones or trailer. Very dangerous. He forgot to release spring ratchet prior to releasing tension on crank.

Have fun. Colo.View attachment 10244

Hi Colo,
You have a keen eye! Thanks for your observations and assessment.
Yeah the two side gutters accomodate the stock awning, which is under the seat (the green one). PO told me it was a PIA to install. I'll investigate next year, when I have the camper out somewhere.
Yes, I can imagine that using those jacks requires constant attention and care!!!
--Robert

 

[Land-roamer]

Hi again all,
Well, the camper got delivered today and all is well, it's resting safe and snug in my garage!
I uploaded several pictures I took today, for your viewing pleasure. On the same link in my original posting.

The seller arrived this morning with the camper on a uhaul. He raided the top, then attached the two stock jacks to each side, and proceeded to lift it off the uhaul. He said he's always had good success with those jacks, which he prefers using over the 4 other corner jacks (simpler). He showed me to be careful and ensure the lock engages before letting to of the handle, and to raise (or lower) about 4 turns then do same on the other side. Once he cleared the trailer, he pulled it out by hand, which set the camper rocking slightly on the jacks (he didn't seem to bat an eye, but my heart was beating a bit faster!). Eventually the rocking ceased, he rolled his homebuilt metal dolly stand underneath, and lowered it on. Then it was a simple matter of lowering the top, and pushing it into my garage, then nestling it against the outside wall.

The way it's sitting, I can at least raise the top enough to sit inside, which will make whatever inside work I may need to do a little more pleasant. The garage door opener and the door prevent me from lifting the top any higher. That's fine, at least it's nice and dry for the winter...

In addition to the two sets of jacks, he also gave me a custom step he had made for it, which attached to the trailer hitch on his previous truck, and extended a step beyond the dropped tailgate. I'll see if I can fit it to whatever truck I end up buying. He also gave me an extension square tube and ball for his hitch, that he had also made, so one can pull something while the camper is on. Useful to have stuff like that.

I noticed that there is some cracking in the (original?) weatherstripping at the ends of the top, behind the bolted metal border edge, so this Fall will be a great time for taking that apart and re-sealing with modern sealant. Ditto for the side mouldings, around the windows, maybe the windowframes themselves, the the fan opening on top, etc. Will make it more water-proof when I go to use it next year, and help preserve its good condition.

Anyway, thanks again for your thoughts and positive impressions on my camper, and you can look forward to seeing some more pictures (and some questions) come your way on the forum, in coming weeks and months.

One thing I'll have to investigate: when I plugged an extension cord into the AC input, it would trip the breaker. Not sure if it's because all the lights inside were probably turned on? Didn't seem to be a problem in the seller's garage.... Anyway, I'm sure it's nothing serious, just need to spend some time diagnosing.

Until soon,
--Robert

p.s. The ID tag on it has serial number "S 862 M". Maybe the company could date it with that information? Also the tag indicates "PennAcamp Inc" "Manheim Penna", which may be the manufacturing plant where it was made? (or just the dealer where it was sold...)

 

[Rusty]

Nestled...I like that

What a way to start out with an Alaskan Camper...welcome to the club

Nestled ...........

 

[banderswipe]

Hi Robert, Nestled! Huh! the only things I know of that Nestle are birds and Mice.
Mice AHHHHH! the scourge of campers and tent trailers,make sure you don't have any in your garage,or they will be in your camper. Mice don't like mothballs but unfortunately nor do I
Here is the Manufacturers name and address of your camper(long defunct would be my guess)
Pennacamp,Division of Lanheim Inc,
401 West End Avenue,
Manheim,
Penna.
17545.
I would ask the seller about the breaker's tripping, the camper looks like it has new clearance lights he might know what the problem is quicker than you can find out. He sounds like a good guy, he wont mind you asking. Thanks for the extra pics,It still looks great.
Click on the thumbnail, here is a list of Alaskan builders from the 70's.

Cheers,

Kevin.

 

[banderswipe]

Kevin,

From my first hand experience, you are giving very good advice to Robert about jacking.

John D


Thanks John, I learned the hard way and if I can prevent some one from making my mistakes so much the better.

 

[Land-roamer]

Hi Robert, Nestled! Huh! the only things I know of that Nestle are birds and Mice.
Mice AHHHHH! the scourge of campers and tent trailers,make sure you don't have any in your garage,or they will be in your camper. Mice don't like mothballs but unfortunately nor do I
Here is the Manufacturers name and address of your camper(long defunct would be my guess)
Pennacamp,Division of Lanheim Inc,
401 West End Avenue,
Manheim,
Penna.
17545.
I would ask the seller about the breaker's tripping, the camper looks like it has new clearance lights he might know what the problem is quicker than you can find out. He sounds like a good guy, he wont mind you asking. Thanks for the extra pics,It still looks great.

Thanks Kevin.
Ok, I gather that "nestled" was not a suitable descriptor for my camper's state How about "is situated"?

No mice in my garage, as far as I know! Mice presence is one reason I would likely not store the camper near my cottage, under a tarp or portable garage...

I'll ask the seller about the electrical thing. I have a bit of a flaky electrical panel (still on fuses, with the odd external breaker, such as the garage circuit), so maybe the cause is partly there... Maybe the 110v fridge tries to kick in when the cord is connected. I'll disconnect it, turn off the 110v inside lights, and see if it works better....

Thanks for the info on Pennacamp. Now HERE is a question I have: I read on the Alaskan site that at one time there were several manufacturing plants in the US/Canada. Obviously, all those plants have gone away and the new Alaskans are all made in the same place, in Washington State. I suppose that means that the annual sales of Alaskans dipped at some point, probably due to competition from cheaper or other types of truck campers. But what I wonder is: did these "satellite" plants make the Alaskans from scratch, using design documents provided by the mother-ship company, or simply assemble them using parts shipped to them by the mother-ship? If the former, did the quality of craftsmanship vary greatly from plant to plant? That kind of historical perspective interests me for some reason...

Also, I wonder how Alaskan "purists" would compare the kind of craftsmanship of the older models (60s, 70s) with the new models rolling out the assembly line now (which I assume, possibly have a greater proportion of pre-formed components, plastics, etc...)?

Just wonderin'...

Cheers,
--Robert

 

[Rusty]

Robert..."Nestled" is just perfect

as to quality....the originals were well done, some plants did a better job than others but in the 80's the quality dropped a bit....vinyl covered paneling and fronts were substituted for real wood paneling of the 60's and 70's.

The campers built by Bryan and the crew in Washington are a far cry from all of that cost cutting and cutting corners thing. Well built, wood cabinets, full electronics, better hydraulics, Bells, Whistles, and now with the advent of computers I'd imagine something to call the dog in.....maybe not.

Full solar systems and external showers are on the upgrade list also....something I'd like after a few days out fishing. I've been tempted to trade in the "Hilton"...but it just wouldn't be the same.....and besides....everyone's gotten used to seeing me coming...I'd have to re-train all the guys I fish with

If you should get the chance take a moment and visit them in Chehalis....