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Question: Bottom section strength


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#11 Bosque Bill

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 07:03 PM

I want to point out that the reason for questioning the strength is not as obvious as it would seem.  I have some other ideas for the camper shell and I wanted to get a general impression from the crew here of its need to have a roof clamp down to keep the sides from undoing themselves while in motion..  

 

I hope to visit the builders before the the end of March.

 

One of the frustrations you'll see expressed here from many FWC owners it the lack of documentation on where exactly those aluminum channels are located under the skin. FWC refuses to say where exactly they are placed, claiming there are no specific fabrication drawings and they are simply welded together by eye. (As a former engineer I could not fathom how/why they'd do it that way, but there it is.)

 

Makes it extremely difficult if you want to mount anything to the outside later, such as gas can, traction ramps, etc. I "solved" the problem by mounting my MaxTrax using homebuilt brackets attached to the aluminum skin using 3M commercial grade double-sided tape (not the consumer stuff you find at Home Depot.) I did the same when I mounted a solar panel to the roof. Haven't had any problems with either installation.

 

So, if you want to mount something later, I'd suggest getting them to install a general purpose bracket at the time of assembly (assuming they'll agree to that.)


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#12 klahanie

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 07:16 PM

Here is an interesting take on driving with the camper top in the up position.  Last October we were with a group of friends (including Tuff Guy and wife from this forum) gassing up in Torrey, Utah near Capital Reef NP when a truck with a FWC drove by with his top in the up position.  Several of us ran out to toward the road waving and shouting to get his attention, but to no avail.  A while later at the CR visitors center the same fellow came driving in with his top still popped.  Thinking that we were being good Samaritans, we flagged him down and pointed to his upright camper top.  He said, "Oh, I always travel with the top up as long as I am not exceeding 55 mph.  The factory told me that that was fine, and I've been doing it for years!"  We saw him twice more in the next few days, always with his top in the up position.  I guess that speaks to the structural soundness of these campers, but it is certainly not something that I plan to practice.  

Great story, tho I'm not sure how to process it ... either,

 

"I can. Therefore, I will. "

 

or

 

"There's nowt so queer as folk."


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#13 crumbs

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 07:20 PM

Hello DavidGraves: First off, thank you, but I do believe I'm satisfied with the strength question, and then some.   I am still open to new anecdotes.  They have been interesting so far. 

 

Thanks to all.  Crumbs

 

P.S. As to my unorthodox idea for my personalized camper shell, I doubt it's worth the space here.  I will say that I'm probably going to need to learn how to weld aluminum as I don't imagine any of the manufacturers being open to my idea, or if they would, the lock on my wallet being loose enough.  To be practical, I'll likely end up with a standard shell with maybe a small modification to the door size.

 

  

Hi Crumbs

 

And welcome to WTW.

 

I can help but get the impression you are not gonna get the answer you want unless you ask the question you have.

 

The sidewall frame construction does not depend on the roof being clamped down but overall, these lightweight aluminum campers are designed to a very specific purpose.

 

One description is that they are much like an egg shell......very strong yet very fragile.

 

The factory used to have a frame "skeleton" they took to trade shows to display...if you could see that it might help you get the info your looking for.

 

Enjoy the search.

 

David Graves

 


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2wd  Looking for a New Puma Shell 78" wide with a 60" interior closed height.


#14 DavidGraves

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 08:22 PM

Crumb

 

A barn door ! I knew it ! :) you want a barn door......!

 

Maybe not but anyway...

 

ATC have a better record of building customs than FWC which seem to have a long line of satisfied customers waiting to have their new campers completed.

 

There are a great many utility canopy bodies....with barn doors...and tall enough that are being converted for very nice campers....

particularly in Canada.....

 

Enjoy the search.

 

David Graves


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#15 crumbs

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 10:38 PM

 
My special request would be to have the camper sides tall enough to create a 57" interior height when closed.  I assume the furnace can run in that configuration without a problem?
 
Yes Barn doors could be handy, but I think better than that would be flip-up door combo similar to the attached picture; but of course that would take to much from the strength I desire.  Id easily settle for simply a wider than standard door. 
 
I have a 1,960 pound payload with a 6 cyl 4.3liter gas eng. on a 1/2 chassis. It would be on full time.
 
wood_4.137155444_std.jpg
 

wood_5.137155510_std.jpg

 

Crumb

 

A barn door ! I knew it ! :) you want a barn door......!

 

Maybe not but anyway...

 

ATC have a better record of building customs than FWC which seem to have a long line of satisfied customers waiting to have their new campers completed.

 

There are a great many utility canopy bodies....with barn doors...and tall enough that are being converted for very nice campers....

particularly in Canada.....

 

Enjoy the search.

 

David Graves

 

 

 


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2wd  Looking for a New Puma Shell 78" wide with a 60" interior closed height.


#16 klahanie

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 10:57 PM

If you are thinking new pop up slide in like a FWC but with altered dimensions then I suggest you talk to ATC.

 

As for strength with out the roof I think the integrity of the wall enclosure could be improved with a more robust door header and sill. Like increased cabin height and bigger door ATC may be able to address this, or not.

 


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