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New Custom Panther Shell


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#1 Tuff Guy 62

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Posted 24 August 2015 - 03:35 AM

Well, Ms. Tuff Chick & myself sat down with Jeff & Marty yesterday and signed the paperwork for a new custom ATC Panther shell. We were on the fence between a Panther or Ocelot, pro & cons for each. Ultimately we opted for the Panther. For us, the extra 6-inches of width in such a small space to begin with made the difference for practical comfort, especially when we are chased indoors by the weather.

 

The guys at ATC are great and really listened to what we wanted in our build. Jeff & Marty really got into it and made some great suggestions for improvements to our design concept. They took a lot of time with us and they were both there working on a Saturday!

 

Being that Tuff Chick & myself have been in a tent or the back of a pickup, dry camping throughout the southwest for the last 30 years, we pretty much have all the gear we need. Therefore we did not see the need for a sink, stove or frig in our new rig.

 

Our new custom Panther will include:

Fantastic Fan over the bed

Auxiliary battery

Small rear window

Clear slider for screen door

Cold weather pack

12 volt accessory plug

LED flood lights

Pre-wire for solar (just in case we change our minds on a refrigerator in the future)

Roof lifting gas struts

12,000 BTU furnace

28" extended bed slide out

2-inch taller roof panels

Counter top on drivers side (with room to stow two large Action Packers below)

28-inch wide shelf on passenger side (serves as inside seating and a place to sleep when in stealth mode)

Lower shelf storage on drivers side

Utensil drawer at top of furnace tower

Extra solar plug on drivers side

Ocelot rear door (narrower than std. Panther door)

Thermostat relocated to drivers side at top of bed extension

AT can holder on drivers side back wall

 

After spending about two hours with the guys we pretty much had things wrapped thing up. But it was the next thing that they told us that really blew our minds. They said our new camper would be ready the first week of October!!!

 

Five to six weeks to complete a custom build?? Say whaaat?

 

I looked at Jeff & Marty and asked them if I heard them correctly. They confirmed, and said that our new camper will be ready the first week of October. This is sweet since I already have a trip planned for the southern Mother Lode and Yosemite on October 16-20. Can't wait to show off the new rig to my friends.

 

I'll make sure to pass on pics as the build progresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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#2 billharr

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Posted 24 August 2015 - 03:54 AM

Congrats, looking forward to your trip report.


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#3 Casa Escarlata Robles Too

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Posted 24 August 2015 - 06:07 PM

WOW Brian,sounds great. Looking forward to some pictures.

Glad all went well.Marty and Jeff are great to work with.

Frank


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#4 craig333

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Posted 24 August 2015 - 10:46 PM

Nice. Get it in time for your trip even better. Enjoy.


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#5 GroovyDad

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 12:58 AM

The guys at ATC will snap some "in progress" photos of your camper being built if you ask them to.  If you do, share the pics with us.  I love seeing them all come together to a finished product.


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#6 Tuff Guy 62

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:19 PM



Congrats, looking forward to your trip report.

 



WOW Brian,sounds great. Looking forward to some pictures.

Glad all went well.Marty and Jeff are great to work with.

Frank

 



Nice. Get it in time for your trip even better. Enjoy.

 



The guys at ATC will snap some "in progress" photos of your camper being built if you ask them to.  If you do, share the pics with us.  I love seeing them all come together to a finished product.

Thanks guys for all your well wishes. ATC does it again!

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  • ATC does it again!.jpg

Edited by Tuff Guy 62, 25 August 2015 - 08:21 PM.

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2000 2WD Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 liter V8

2019 Ram 2500 6.4 liter Hemi

2015 ATC Custom Panther Shell

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. Yogi Berra


#7 Smokecreek1

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Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:56 PM

In time for the Fall colors-can't beat that-enjoy. I can't live w/o my frig, so leaving that option open for later trips and thoughts is a good idea!

 

Smoke


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#8 longhorn1

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Posted 26 August 2015 - 08:59 PM

Congrats


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#9 Tuff Guy 62

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Posted 02 September 2015 - 12:38 AM

Got a set of Firestone airbags installed today.

 

Four to five weeks to go!

 

I asked Jeff to snap some progress pics as the build progresses.

 

Made some minor revisions to the build.

 

I deleted the rear window and added a second AT can holder.

 

Also extending the PS bench from the fender well to the end of the camper.


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2000 2WD Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 liter V8

2019 Ram 2500 6.4 liter Hemi

2015 ATC Custom Panther Shell

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. Yogi Berra


#10 GroovyDad

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Posted 02 September 2015 - 05:07 PM

You'll love the Firestone air bags!


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"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." —John Muir. http://aimlessroamer.blogspot.com/

 





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