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ATC Bobcat after one year...


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#11 imix

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Posted 28 September 2010 - 05:30 PM

Kodachrome a couple questions if you have time:

So is the reflectix in ADDITION to an artick pack or whatever ATC is calling it?
Do you feel it would work inside as well as it does out or is reflecting the direct solar gain the major benefit?
How long does it take to put it in place and gaffer tape it in?

Sub 80 in the camper when its 95 outside is very,very impressive.
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#12 Argonaut20

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Posted 04 October 2010 - 11:14 PM

Just a brief note to say that every time we use our Bobcat, we are impressed with how well it fits our needs. Marty, Jeff, and Don worked out a dinette that is a pleasure to use, built a camper that fitted our specs, and were (and are) great to deal with.
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#13 Cort

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Posted 05 October 2010 - 01:35 AM

my response......."yeah what he said....times 10"

:)
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#14 Kodachrome

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Posted 10 November 2010 - 05:08 AM

57 days since my last post, all in the camper. She is still holding up good, but New England put it to the test, seriously. Right now, the wind is out of the front left side, blowing 25-45 sustained, gusting to 60, the rain is still coming in bands, a serious blower storm on am island in Maine.

Shortly after this post was started, my aux battery died, was not holding a charge, got an optima blue. Some days I think the solar is fine, other days not so sure, but this is New England in November after all. Glad I have the artic pak insulation, it is the least you should do in these maritime climates...

Now for the not so good news......leaks, bad ones in fact. In early October, Vermont was hit with near record rain in a storm born of a hurricane remnant. During the 36 hour non-stop deluge, I bailed out over one gallon of water out of the back of the camper. It was leaking in 4 spots, the worst in an area that always saw at least a small amount of water by the door between the left lower door moulding and the bench / storage compartment. Then near the fridge at the bolts for the rear step, in a wood seam under the fridge overhang ad finally from a faulty seal job of mine from the rear roof vent.

So after a week of drying out, I took apart the gas can holder, removed the rear steps and added loads of seal to the vent. I also added silicone to every little seam and hole I could find on the rear. Now the only leak is the one under the fridge compartment seam. So I am much dryer but not totally sealed yet.

Little crap has happened as well like one of the curtain button wraps losing it's button. A turnbuckle access port slider splitting when it got sticky in very cold and wet weather. Then I stupidly forgot an object on the storage above the side window when closing the roof and split the wood on the rear lower folding roof upright, temporarily fixed it with some wood veneer and gaffer's tape.

So I have 60 more days before I am home, she is holding up ok considering I live and work in it full time.
My advice would be that if you are from a cold wet climate and camp in such, you will want ATC to make good and sure that your unit is sealed really well. Right now, the fridge compartment is getting hit hard by the wind, if I hold my hand around any of the seams, I can feel cold air coming in. So I put trimmed strips of gaffers tape on them to keep it out.

It's cold rainy and windy outside, I am warm and cozy in the camper, but it took some work on my part to get it that way in this part of the world....
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#15 Kodachrome

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Posted 10 November 2010 - 05:16 AM

To add, the split in the wood was only 3 inches long, had not grown due to my repair, again, my fault, most likely will need to replace that back lower panel though once project is done.
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#16 LuckyDan

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Posted 10 November 2010 - 05:35 AM

A year of more or less what I would call full timing! An envious adventure indeed!

While I don't have an ATC, your report based on the sheer amount of time in use says a lot for this brand. I read with interest your earlier posts from when you took delivery. Your outside shower curtain idea is/was first rate. It is good to read it is serving you well. When and if I find the need to upgrade I will certainly need to give ATC due consideration. Hopefully the big three will go back to wider tailgates thus eliminating that scenario.

In closing thank you for the link to your Kodachrome project. I admire your photographic ability!
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#17 Kodachrome

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Posted 10 January 2011 - 06:27 AM

Day number 113 on this leg, probably hit 117 before I am home. Since July 20th I have spent a total of one week at home, not in my ATC. The lab stopped taking the film from the entire world for good at noon on the 30th of December. All kinds of news agencies showed up, tons of photographers and Fedex, UPS and the USPS with get this...close to 10,000 more rolls of 35mm still, 8mm and 16mm movie film showing up in the last two days they would accept it.
Needless to say, even though the lab is no longer taking the film, they are processing it nearly 24/7 until late this week.

So I am still here, stealth camping at a rest stop on I-70 West of Hays Kansas, snowing, cold, cozy in my ATC, alarm set for 6:30 so I can shoot a truck stop by day break...

I have been interviewed several times, TV, newspaper and magazine:

http://www.newsweek....w-of-truth.html

But a little known fact....one that I am trying to keep fairly quiet but might be sort of safe here is that unlike the rest of the world, I am still shooting the film as per an agreement with the lab going back about 6 years ago.

I am the only person in the world shooting the film now and will be the very last person on Earth to do so....
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#18 Argonaut20

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Posted 10 January 2011 - 03:18 PM

Great interview and statement about your work. Thanks.
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#19 ski3pin

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Posted 10 January 2011 - 03:35 PM

Kodachrome, enjoyed the interview, photos, and information about your project. Thank you for sharing. And its great that an ATC camper is involved in the project, that's pretty cool for us wanderers here. Thanks again and best of luck with the continuing project.
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#20 DLN

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Posted 10 January 2011 - 04:25 PM

Great interview and work Daniel, glad to see you're still around here.
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