I've had both -- formerly a FWC Eagle on a Tacoma -- and now have a Bundutec Odyssey on a Flatbed. I'd never go back to a slide in. The camper has so much more room and my flatbed has exterior boxes fore and aft of the wheels and a drawer that runs the full length. Is it higher? Yes but it has not stopped us from navigating many off-road trails. I know its limitations and design our trips accordingly.
#21
Posted 06 December 2020 - 04:13 PM
#22
Posted 06 December 2020 - 04:58 PM
I've had both -- formerly a FWC Eagle on a Tacoma -- and now have a Bundutec Odyssey on a Flatbed. I'd never go back to a slide in. The camper has so much more room and my flatbed has exterior boxes fore and aft of the wheels and a drawer that runs the full length. Is it higher? Yes but it has not stopped us from navigating many off-road trails. I know its limitations and design our trips accordingly.
I have a Raven slide and no garage. There’s no doubt that my next rig will be a flatbed Hawk.
#23
Posted 06 December 2020 - 06:10 PM
After tent camping or sometimes without a tent for over half a century, our slide in Hawk feels like the Ritz-Carlton. Geez, running water, a warm dry bed, a furnace and even a fridge! And gosh, I am 6' and can even stand up, after decades of crawling around on hands and knees. We have lights, windows and a table and handy places to store food, cutlery and clean dry clothing. I do feel like we are livin' high on the hog! So slide in versus flatbed? Seems like quibbling over minor details. But I guess it is all what a person becomes used to.
lived for several years each in Montana, Utah, Idaho, Texas, Washington, Oregon.
2019 Tundra, Hawk.
https://www.flickr.c...hotos/awg_pics/
#24
Posted 06 December 2020 - 07:29 PM
Guess it's just a matter of preference. Ask guys who work out of a truck which is better, flatbed vs regular. i have both, and prefer the flatbed, two of my best friends prefer flatbeds as well, our other brother, yep you guessed it regular bed.
Campers make this even more interesting, i like both, have had both and for now anyway prefer one over the other.
The side door and open floor space for ours was a big factor.
Am i the only one who constantly thinks of how to build a better mousetrap(camper)?
... just average for a hill-billy...
2016 F350 cc, ATC Custom Flatbed
2022 AEV/Jeep JTRD
#25
Posted 06 December 2020 - 09:39 PM
To be contrarian -
Downsides (for me) of a flatbed camper:
- Center of gravity height/roll center.
- height of floor/number of stairs.
#26
Posted 06 December 2020 - 10:54 PM
Am i the only one who constantly thinks of how to build a better mousetrap(camper)?
Oh my, that's all I can think about it on slow days.. All the ways I could improve the layout. All the many many many ways to shave off weight. A little engineering and 21st century materials could cut the weight in these things in 1/2. (well, 20th century materials, but now cheap enough for the hobbyist)
I've still got a lot of room under my flatbed. If I built my own, I think I'd mount the water tank down low, like right above the fuel tank, under the camper. Although the CG has not seemed bad to me w/ my flatbed fleet.
#27
Posted 06 December 2020 - 11:29 PM
Am i the only one who constantly thinks of how to build a better mousetrap(camper)?
Oh heck no.... 3 builds down and still pondering the next!
2012 ATC Puma Shell build - https://www.wanderth...012-puma-build/
Power considerations thread - https://www.wanderth...e-power-scotty/
Building out an electrical system - So, you want to setup a good electrical system in your camper? - Electrical, Charging, Solar, Batteries and Generators - Wander the West
#28
Posted 07 December 2020 - 01:48 AM
i have wondered/worried about cog, i had ATC put our 30 gallon (ish) tank right under the window up against the back wall. Both propane tanks(one on either side) are beside that. Balanced out both cabinets, five feet long per side. Most of the weight is low and forward.
Camper is up there though, with top down, i am about 8'6". We use the tork lift glow steps, i think we have 5 or 6 with the levelers, they are taken off when we are moving.
When we put this together i knew there would be trade offs, not as nimble as a taco but much much roomier. i know this isn't a crawler but it;s size hasn't stopped me much yet. Won't be doing black bear pass, most likely too long. There was a trail or two that i was just two wide. Even the jeeps had to stop, but man the wife loves having a nice bed, heater, place to hang out on nasty days and a big kitchen area.
Hard to say, i would like to do a cab and chasis, and try to get the bed height down. My idea is to start the walls 6 inches lower and have them go up 6 inches higher. Then i could use it pretty comfortably with the top down.
the wife says i have and addiction.
... just average for a hill-billy...
2016 F350 cc, ATC Custom Flatbed
2022 AEV/Jeep JTRD
Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: slide in, flatbed, FWC
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