Drilling in my four wheel?

Hey all,

I have a great little wall mounted cabinet that will fit perfectly right on the right side of the camper next to the window (close to the door, under the FWC factory storage already there).

But I'm looking for some advice on drilling to put in a couple screws to mount it. What's behind the paneling in the camper? Are there better spots to drill than others?

Thanks!

Will

willb122 said:

Are there better spots to drill than others?

Click to expand...

Oh yeah! You need to find where the aluminum frame members are on your unit. Easy, right? Not so fast. I'm a loyal FWC customer (two new Hawks in three years) BUT it drives me nuts they can't (won't) include a framing diagram of where the aluminum members are. (I've been told they had someone who was going to do it in AutoCAD and then they quit.)

Anyway, I'm redoing the inside of my brand new Hawk Flatbed model (yes, I know that is weird) and sometimes you can assume that where FWC's screws are there will be a "stud" in the same line. BUT not always! Sometimes it is a horizontal line! So I've been reduced to tapping with a hammer! Seriously!

OK, rant over. FWC still makes great bombproof campers. I'm already planning my next FWC build/purchase (One ton "chassis cab" with a Grandby on an aluminum flatbed with a shovel box and a bed mounted 50 gallon fresh water tank, batteries mounted down low in a composite box,etc but I digress) IF Stan will sell to me after this post!)

BUT I don't know why such a great company can't include a framing diagram since they have to know most of us delight in modifying our campers. And don't even get me started on their crappy drawers!

Steve

Durango1 said:

Anyway, I'm redoing the inside of my brand new Hawk Flatbed model (yes, I know that is weird) and sometimes you can assume that where FWC's screws are there will be a "stud" in the same line. BUT not always! Sometimes it is a horizontal line! So I've been reduced to tapping with a hammer! Seriously.

Steve

Click to expand...

I unscrewed the top of the inside panel and marked where the vertical studs were. I made a cabinet like you have for my 2002 Hawk. On my 2013 Hawk I moved the FWC cabinet forward and built the new cabinet to the same height as the FWC cabinet. You could just screw the bottom down and screw the top into the FWC cabinet.

Here's an interior shot of the rear corner of my '04 Hawk. Yours may be different, it probably doesn't include wet insulation

Here's a link to some frame pictures I turned up when building out my Hawk shell.

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/7050-stan-question-about-fwc-frame-weldment/#

Not sure what model it is or yours is but it might help. Scroll down to see the post with four pics of a frame.
Robert

Take a close look at your interior paneling. It is screwed on at the top edge, elsewhere it is usually stapled. If you can see the staples, this is an indication of the framing location.

Did you mount the cabinet? Would love to see some pictures


1990 Ford F-250
1997 fwc grandby

Hi,

I bought my Eagle (2008) as a shell. First thing I did was to remove all of the panels and take photos & measurements (for future). I built two boxes: on the window side, at each end. The one in this photo has a CD/AM/FM stereo and space for CD's, etc. I didn't worry about hitting a stud (but I did). The reason is that the new box sits on the camper ledge so there is no weight on it. If I didn't hit a stud, I would have done the same thing you do in your walls at home; use an expandable screw anchor. Good luck. Sounds like fun.

Cheers,

Chris

I have asked Stan for photos of the building of a 2016 Hawk [what we have] showing the progression of construction. Specifically I requested views of the interior of the camper from the siding to outside of the interior woodwork.

I wanted to see where the frame was located as well as the appliance wiring and plumbing.

So far after several requests nothing forthcoming; but hope springs eternal.

Seriously FWC should provide a series of diagrams or better yet photos with measurements showing the "as built" construction of each model.

Oh yes, I am uncertain if previous year models have the same internal construction. Example is the fiberglass insulation shown above; ours insulation is foam sheeting. More importantly would be frame sizing and locations which may have changed over the years.

Phil