Four Wheel Campers Review - Member Input
#11
Posted 12 July 2010 - 01:49 AM
This is my first "RV" of any kind, so its been interesting figuring things out and finding what works or doesn't.
I like mods, but sometimes I worry i'm spending too much time mod-ing and not enough time 4-wheel-campin'.
Rob
#12
Posted 13 July 2010 - 12:38 PM
Small annoyances.... That switch by the back door that turns on the overhead floods. Dunno how many times stuff has shifted or I've bumped it loading gear and then saw the lights on on the next stop.
Ditto on the refrigerator fan button. If it were the big "Red" button we'd all be dead....
changes from stock build: Make the 6600 Fantastic Fan THE fan offered. It's not much more money but it works 10X better than the 3-speed. Folks with CONDENSATION need one of these. We never had tons of drips cus we live in beautiful Colorado w/low humidity...but any that we DID have are now gone (or barely noticable and easy to dry) because of the 6600
Kill the couch. Nobody likes it.
I hate the crappy wood and fake woodgrain but i understand it's use to make things lighter.
Between the camper and this forum it's been a great experience all around.
travel safe, kids.
mtn
#13
Posted 13 July 2010 - 01:52 PM
#14
Posted 15 July 2010 - 05:33 PM
#15
Posted 15 July 2010 - 05:40 PM
..... Not sure who really needs a couch, unless you spend lots of hours just sitting in the camper. We sure dont do that.
we fold it down and we all sit on and watch movies on the laptop. its a lot of soft sitting space folded down.
#16
Posted 15 July 2010 - 09:45 PM
After 4 years of not having the couch and the associated storage space underneath, we love our newly acquired couch. Prior to having it, we were forced to pull in 2 camp chairs to sit inside when the weather turned on us... That said, we now have the older style slide-out couch as opposed to the new rollover design. Works great when I need to 'commando camp' for a few hours of sleep without popping the top, and when I want to pull over and make a quick lunch without popping the top. The storage space holds a lot of camp-clutter that we previously piled on the floor, ie camp chairs, shower kit, toilet, awning, air compressor, etc.
What do you feel the strengths of the camper are?
Weaknesses?
What problems have you had?
Strengths -
- durable on rough trails
- airtight on dusty trails
- doesn't leak in the rain
- lightweight compared to other slide-in campers
- simple systems prevent complicated breakdowns
- allows for a variety of truck brand & size choices for a base vehicle, from a 2wd Ford Ranger to a 1 ton Dodge dually
- easy enough to store at home when off the truck
- maintains excellent resale value
- cheap to insure
- limited storage forces you to be more particular about what gear is really necessary to bring
- generic cosmetics allows for plenty of owner-customization possibilities
- easy to set-up & breakdown in a hurry
- endures high winds when open, better than expected
- newly relocated water tank & propane tank offers better COG
Weaknesses -
- storage space robbed by some options (hot water heater, dinette, etc.)
- rear doors - some issues with the glass window holders breaking, some with the locks not working properly, overall chintzy & flimsy - easily tweaked when on rough trails
- fit & finish on newer models - I wasn't overly impressed with an '08 Hawk I recently purchased & sold. lots of staples & glue... Boo!
- unnecessary (?) additional sheet of plywood on the floorpack, adding considerable weight
- not the most family friendly camping option. we make it work for 4 of us, but it is work...
- aluminum siding cracks eventually - but easily replaced, so kind of a wash
- the new front cab-access windows. the tip in or solid framed windows are too small.
- the exterior roll-up windows they made for a few years. wth?
- the rear wall not being strong enough to support much exterior weight (gas cans, etc.) without additional internal frame supports.
- rusty jack brackets & jacks
- 2" thick bed cushions are too thin and offer poor support
- outdated exterior appearance. few people can visually tell the difference between a 1983 FWC and a 2010 FWC...
Problems -
- broken brackets inside the rear door, allowing the glass window to 'drop'
- one small crack in the aluminum siding
- a few screws in the galley faceplate vibrate loose & fall out on corrugated trails
- one wall/roof supporting snap-strap broke. riveted, not screwed in, so a camp repair was a PITA
- latch on the icebox was inefficient. objects fell out while running down the trail.
- ...that's about it and I'm not exactly "easy" on our camper
As ours approaches 20 years old, with two factory refurbs in 1999 and 2010, I am overall very happy with the product. With the newer models, I feel they are trying to squeeze in too much stuff & creature comforts, sacrificing valuable storage space and adding MPG robbing weight, while putting themselves out of the budget of most buyers. By elaborating on a simple concept - an affordable, lightweight, simple truck camper - they are in effect moving away from what made them so desirable in the first place... The two best improvements they've made in recent years (in my opinion) would be the roof-lift assist option and the extended cab-over option, allowing for thicker bed cushions and preventing the bed from intruding so far into the 'living area'. Oh, and I really, really like the new satellite radio option!
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The Four Wheel Camper Review Thread
Toyota T100/FWC Eagle
#17
Posted 16 July 2010 - 02:52 AM
Craig K6JGV_________________________ 2004 2500 CTD 4X4 FWC HAWK 1960 CJ5
#18
Posted 16 July 2010 - 09:48 PM
#19
Posted 20 July 2010 - 10:11 PM
Overall the concept and execution of the camper is great. If you stick to the confines of what the camper is intended to provide it is a complete success.
I have some minor criticisms:
Siding looks dated and I hear it is $$$ - is there an alternative?
Jacks and brackets - rust ugh!
Using riveted plywood and flimsy extruded aluminum (old curtain rods?) does not a good lift hinge make
I don't like the head liner but I can't think of anything better to use
"Wood" paneling - please dispense with the photo finish and use Baltic birch - the cost wouldn't be much more
I took my dead bolt and door latch apart the other day because the door needed to be slammed to close - not one bit of lubricant - dry as a popcorn fart - quality control
White linoleum and camping - not really compatible
Positive:
How many camper manufacturers provide support that FWC (and ATC) give?
How many camper manufacturers sell a shell model to let the customer decide what they need?
It makes me happy - that's the best compliment I can give
Thanks,
Tom
#20
Posted 26 July 2010 - 03:10 PM
To each there own, but i would like to see:
1) stainless hardware for the exterior. (Painted screws rust)
2) Reinforced eye bolt hold down area. (Three of the four had plywood separating when purchased)
3) Higher level of Quality Control. (The solar panel system was never tied into the main electrical system.)
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