Outfitter or Hallmark - help me decide!

We’ll we did it, pulled the trigger and put a deposit on a Juno 8.5. Build date should be late next spring, can’t wait! Will certainly post tons of updates as the process moves along.

 

That wait will allow you to get ready and start ordering upgrades (wiring, etc.)! :-)  Congrats.

That wait will allow you to get ready and start ordering upgrades (wiring, etc.)! :-)  Congrats.

Definitely.  I've only built it on their website configurator about 1,000 times at this point.  Right now the one custom item I'm hoping to get added is a 2in receiver on the rear for a swing away bike rack.  

 

Otherwise, going to add the microwave, hopefully get big solar wiring so I can add more later if need be, and there is an option to get the 7.5cubic ft Novacool fridge, but it has to be moved to the other side of the camper and shrinks the dinette some.  Waiting to hear how much.  Also going to add the pull out hide-a-bed, extra fan, and the scissor steps.  Been really going back and forth on the gray siding color.  I think it would look awesome, but dang its a very expensive option that is just for looks.

Man....that gray is sexy, but 2 grand? You could get a custom vinyl wrap or 2 for that price if you "knew a guy". I wonder why the price is so much.

Man....that gray is sexy, but 2 grand? You could get a custom vinyl wrap or 2 for that price if you "knew a guy". I wonder why the price is so much.

My thoughts exactly.  Kind of hard to believe there could be a cost associated.  I feel like most of their items are fairly priced except for that and adding an extra solar panel.  I'm at a point where I want to get it turn key and ready to roll off the lot, but at the same time $775 to install an extra $104 renogy panel is not a good value!

When we ordered our Hallmark Ute I requested a number of additional 12-volt accessory outlets and USB outlets in every possible place one might ever be needed by us (a few) or anyone else in future (many more), as the desire to plug in keeps increasing. Each is on its own fused circuit with a switch to each to cut power to reduce parasitic losses some USB ports consume. By build time they found a sort of duplex-looking combo outlet with a single 12-volt accessory outlet next to a round and similarly rubber capped dual USB port. One USB is the basic 5-volt, 5-watt (1-amp) type; the adjacent one is 5-volt, 10-watts (2-amps) for newer devices. I also requested coaxial pre-wiring and bracing for a TV, with one cable to outside for RV park hookup and another through A/C vent opening for any future antenna. We don't use it yet but it might make a good selling point later. And, re A/C, if you don't order it, at least get the bracing and pre-wiring, something every RV should have for future-proofing. I also requested wiring to each corner for electric camper jacks despite my ordering manual jacks. When being built and everything is open, every wire you might dream of us easily routed at little additional cost. Consider some of these, as such a basic order change won't affect your build now and might not incur much cost.

Re USB parasitic power loss, it didn't amount to much and with 300 watts solar and two 6-volt AGMs in series, we could run the Nova-Kool refrigerator indefinitely in sunny weather.

A note re solar panels:. One blocked the SiriusXM antenna on truck so we complained to Sirius and they sent a dash-mount unit that broadcasts the low-powered FM signal to truck antenna. I mounted their supplied Sirius antenna to right front corner of fender via a small bracket attached below side of hood. On a non-metallic camper that would otherwise not block SiriusXM on truck, placement of solar panels on camper roof to avoid signal blockage is an option vs the add-on receiver.

Another camper item: I ordered a Jensen AM/FM/SiriusXM-ready/weather-band stereo and had it delivered to Hallmark for their installation and hookup to the speakers they often install on many rigs, anyway. Hallmark ordered an AM/FM/SiriusXM antenna but I don't recall brand. Watch out; some are XM-only. After receiving camper, I ordered a SiriusXM compatible tuner and mounted it behind Jensen receiver.

So, lots of options for you, including confirmation of what camper manufacturer would order and what you'd order and have shipped to them.

Edited by michelle_east_county, 01 September 2022 - 06:23 PM.

When we ordered our Hallmark Ute I requested a number of additional 12-volt accessory outlets and USB outlets in every possible place one might ever be needed by us (a few) or anyone else in future (many more), as the desire to plug in keeps increasing. Each is on its own fused circuit with a switch to each to cut power to reduce parasitic losses some USB ports consume. By build time they found a sort of duplex-looking combo outlet with a single 12-volt accessory outlet next to a round and similarly rubber capped dual USB port. One USB is the basic 5-volt, 5-watt (1-amp) type; the adjacent one is 5-volt, 10-watts (2-amps) for newer devices. I also requested coaxial pre-wiring and bracing for a TV, with one cable to outside for RV park hookup and another through A/C vent opening for any future antenna. We don't use it yet but it might make a good selling point later. And, re A/C, if you don't order it, at least get the bracing and pre-wiring, something every RV should have for future-proofing. I also requested wiring to each corner for electric camper jacks despite my ordering manual jacks. When being built and everything is open, every wire you might dream of us easily routed at little additional cost. Consider some of these, as such a basic order change won't affect your build now and might not incur much cost.

That's great advice.  Having totally gutted and rebuilt our current Jayco I know just how much easier it is to add stuff when starting from scratch!  I'm not sure how much longer I have until options need to be set, but I think I've got a few months.  The ladder and Yakima tracks are one of those things.  I can't imagine what I would put on the roof, and really wouldn't want to have to jump up there on a regular basis, but I could see that being a nice selling feature down the road.  (though I really hope this is our last camper ever!).  Even when the boys are out of the house my wife and I plan on still using it just the two of us.  Though 18 years from now, who knows what would be available....

That's great advice. Having totally gutted and rebuilt our current Jayco I know just how much easier it is to add stuff when starting from scratch! I'm not sure how much longer I have until options need to be set, but I think I've got a few months. The ladder and Yakima tracks are one of those things. I can't imagine what I would put on the roof, and really wouldn't want to have to jump up there on a regular basis, but I could see that being a nice selling feature down the road. (though I really hope this is our last camper ever!). Even when the boys are out of the house my wife and I plan on still using it just the two of us. Though 18 years from now, who knows what would be available....

And don’t do what I did and order one of those asymmetrical rear ladders for campers without a full-width rear skirt like ours is. This is the kind of ladder where rungs only go down as far as top of pickup side but vertical part next to door extends down to near floor of camper. Without a cargo box mounted to a full-width truck hitch step or something to act as a big step, you need a ladder to access the camper ladder, negating any benefit of the camper ladder except for my using it to secure lightweight items like a Camco-bagged garden hose for graywater, or folding chairs. I’ll have to eventually get a telescoping ladder to access roof for snow removal, as popup camper roofs can suddenly collapse lifts and roof if lowered with a heavy snow load, or get a trucker-type long-handled and elbowed extension scraper.

Well here she is! Went with a lot of new options like the microwave, 350W of solar and two renege lithium batteries, picked it up last friday and first trip is this weekend.

And of course I can’t get a photo to upload..

Edited by kmehr, 19 May 2023 - 06:16 PM.

And of course I can’t get a photo to upload..

BOOOOOOOO!!!

 

Congrats Brother. We'll see some pics soon I'm sure. 

ok here we go: