55 replies to this topic

[ScottBailey]

Edit 3 September 2008:
I intend to use this thread to generally chronicle my ownership, modification, and experiences with our All Terrain Camper.

Note: we initially were going to purchase an FWC, but had difficulty (product knowledge and customer service) with the FWC sales guy. He lost our business and ATC earned it. FWC and ATC both claim ATC builds the equivalent of what FWC did 4 years ago. The difference? FWC says new is better, ATC is adamant the old is more durable and won't compromise quality for aesthetics. I say research both, and if you select FWC make sure Stan is you sales guy!
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Step one remove factory bed liner.

Huh, how am I going to dispose of that...?

Guess I'll let someone else do it...

How about Line-X? Bet they'd spray in a new liner, too...



I hated how ANYTHING in the back slid around with the factory liner. This liner has way more friction! It should have come from the factory with a spray in...

[ScottBailey]

Photos as follow:

• Marty (on the left) and Jeff install our new Panther.
• Marty backs it in...
• ATC Factory air conditioning (thanks to Mark W. Ingalls).
• Baby Jake and cousin play "upstairs" in the "car house". (NOTE: the slide out is king sized.)

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[ScottBailey]

In the tall pines of Bear Canyon Lake campground.

We still carry tents, as seen in the background of the second photo. Also seen are my oldest and youngest sons.

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[ScottBailey]

Pictures as follows:

• Wants out.
• Wants in.
• Inside! (Note oldest sons reflection in the window.)

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[Mark W. Ingalls]

Cool, Scott!

Congratulations!

[craig333]

Let me guess. Oldest son sleeps in the tent. I remember those days. Bet that'd change if it was cold though.

[ScottBailey]

Let me guess. Oldest son sleeps in the tent. I remember those days. Bet that'd change if it was cold though.

Well, maybe. My wife is very likely to want to use the toilet in the middle of the night, so probably--clearly!--no older children in the camper. We will likely purchase a tent heater for them.

That said, we don't camp anywhere colder than our bags. (Aside: the little guy won't sleep in a bag, yet...)

We have a total of 6 children between us, but only usually have 4 at any one time.

[ScottBailey]

Here is a rough image of visibility through the camper with the couch flat.

The glare picked up in my camera is much greater than what I see through polarized lenses. With the factory tow mirrors and the couch flat, I have acceptable, if not good, visibility for DD usage.


My first mod was to remove the factory table post mounting (so the little guy wouldn't hurt himself on it, or--for that matter--the big guys, either).

My second mod is likely a new way to anchor the couch cushions and store the table top for DD use.

EDIT: I purchased a more fuel efficient car for DD. Also, I currently leave the curtains closed and rely on my excellent mirrors for visibility.

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[flinchlock]

My second mod is likely a new way to anchor the couch cushions and store the table top for DD use.

FWIW, I moved the two wood keeps on the seat back about an extra 1" or 1.5" apart so that the portable table would fit between (not on) those keepers and lay flat against the seat back while the portable table is stored.

Mike

[DLN]

Scott,

Congratulations on the new camper, thanks for the pictures, enjoy.