29 replies to this topic

[marc]

Looks Great !! Congrats.

marc

[masterplumber]

great camper! Love the pictures of the Swell. Spent 3 long weekend in a row in that area taking kids canyoneering. One day we did Zero Gravity - Guide book says not to go if over 185 lbs - I'm 220. Can you say tight squeeze. Anyway don't mean to highjack your thread - I just wanted to compliment your camper.
Doug

[Tomas Tierra]

Great looking new rig OS. Congrats! I to enjoy the narrow camper on a Tundra with an fwc Ranger..Wish I had that extra floor space though, nice.

is sleeping side to side really an option for you?? Mine measures something like 5'6" side to side..no way for me at 6'1"..

Cheers! thanks for the pictures of the Ocelot, very impressive.

TT

[Outerspace]

Great looking new rig OS. Congrats! I to enjoy the narrow camper on a Tundra with an fwc Ranger..Wish I had that extra floor space though, nice.

is sleeping side to side really an option for you?? Mine measures something like 5'6" side to side..no way for me at 6'1"..

Cheers! thanks for the pictures of the Ocelot, very impressive.

TT

You're welcome.

The bed tapes out at 69" side to side and 75" cab to tailgate. The Bobcat size campers are 72" wide. A little wider than the FWC Eagle.

We sleep front to back. Easier to get in and out for us. I have a friend whose wife picked up an old viking for 1k (!). He is 6'+ and made a longer slideout for the bed. Their camper is minitruck size like ours. He really likes the longer length.

And the floor space is really nice.

Thanks

S

Edited by Outerspace, 15 May 2009 - 04:54 PM.

[The Saints]

congrats OS. I have to wait until Oct for mine. but by then i will be able to afford some of the nicer features to choose from. great luck out on the trail!!

[sotter]

We are totaly thrilled with the camper. Going narrow was a great decision for us. I hardly see it in the side mirrors. Air bags are essential. I think shocks are next as there is still some rock and roll in the ride.


I can't say enough good things about Marty and the Guys. They were easy to work with and very accomadating. Some ideas he rejected and with good reason. Much easier to see now that its built. So if they advise againt a change or mod, I'd listen to the reasons why. They've seen what fails and why.


Another surprise was how cool the camper was during the day. we had high 80's one day and 90 the next. Kept the 4 windows in the bellows open and the 2 roof vents. Had to be 20+ degrees cooler inside. And the cab is cooler as well cause most of it is in the shade.


And the bed is Huge! Marty said it is the largest bed (Bobcat) of the line. Sleeping nose to tail is also nice when someone has a late nite nature call.


Side to side, as in the panther/hawk, could get old for the person on the edge getting climbed over.


Glad we kept the smaller couch. The extra storage was tempting, the floorspace wins in our case. An extra in in height would be really helpful for a few things we can't fit under there.


Gernerally, we like the old school, less moving parts design of the all terrain camper. Our Ocelot has a more rustic feel than the fourwheel's we were in at the sportsman's expo. This may not be for everyone. We like to go places people aren't so its going to get used and get dirty. Things like the couch/bed are more labor intensive. I have confidence that it will look/function the same today as it will in ten years.


We're heading to the Escalante next weekend.


See you all on the road.


S

OS,
Thanks for all of the info. re: the Ocelot. I have just sent my deposit to Marty for a very similarly equipped Ocelot for my 2002 Tundra. I am new to posting on this forum but have used it intensively in my decision making process and your posts in particular really help..so thanks. I had a couple of questions:
1. I noticed that the cabinet over the couch was not in the photo. I am leaning towards not having it in mine. Have you found that you wish you had it?
2. When the couch is made into a bed in the photo you have it appears that is is not flush with the ledge below the window. Is that the case? It seems the extra width would be nice. We will sleep 3 in our camper so was wondering about this.
3. Lastly....well that may not be entirely true as now that I have ordered it I seem to lay in bed each night coming up with new things to ask... how has the Tundra performed off road with the camper?

Again thanks for taking the time to put all this great info. up.

Steve

[Outerspace]

Well

Better late than never as they say.


Don't miss the cabinet at all. As mentioned earlier in this thread, it makes it possible to store the cushions for the bed between the couch and the window. Perfect fit. Keeps the camper much cooler in the summer as well. Just be careful to not rip anything on the fire extinguisher bracket. Someday I'll move it.

Also, it would be a headache waiting to happen anytime you sat down in range of it.


As for the bed, yes, what you see is what you get. Haven't used it yet. I think the ledge would be uncomfortable to sleep on and is more useful as a place to put stuff; glasses, water, cloths etc. while you are sleeping.


For offroad handling, no complaints. I did airlift airbags for the rear and am pleased. Had the camper off all winter for the move and it was nice to adjust for the old camper shell vs the ocelot.

I have the trd package and am eyeing some beefier shocks for this season. On some of the rougher roads(trails?) in southern utah, I felt I was getting some excessive rock and roll with the added weight of the camper. Nothing to cause any concern, just might be more comfortable and 'feel' more stable. Not having the camper hanging over the sides of the bed is a big plus for me. Less drag on the road and better for tight places in the dirt.

I noticed that the truck climbs really well in 2 wheel with the added weight.

Basically I feel I can go anyplace I would have gone without the ocelot. I'm not a rockcrawler but am up for just about anything else. Took it out toward Cleopatra's chair last year, but had to bail due to time and a nervous spouse. Truck was fine.

[sotter]

Well

Better late than never as they say.


Don't miss the cabinet at all. As mentioned earlier in this thread, it makes it possible to store the cushions for the bed between the couch and the window. Perfect fit. Keeps the camper much cooler in the summer as well. Just be careful to not rip anything on the fire extinguisher bracket. Someday I'll move it.

Also, it would be a headache waiting to happen anytime you sat down in range of it.


As for the bed, yes, what you see is what you get. Haven't used it yet. I think the ledge would be uncomfortable to sleep on and is more useful as a place to put stuff; glasses, water, cloths etc. while you are sleeping.


For offroad handling, no complaints. I did airlift airbags for the rear and am pleased. Had the camper off all winter for the move and it was nice to adjust for the old camper shell vs the ocelot.

I have the trd package and am eyeing some beefier shocks for this season. On some of the rougher roads(trails?) in southern utah, I felt I was getting some excessive rock and roll with the added weight of the camper. Nothing to cause any concern, just might be more comfortable and 'feel' more stable. Not having the camper hanging over the sides of the bed is a big plus for me. Less drag on the road and better for tight places in the dirt.

I noticed that the truck climbs really well in 2 wheel with the added weight.

Basically I feel I can go anyplace I would have gone without the ocelot. I'm not a rockcrawler but am up for just about anything else. Took it out toward Cleopatra's chair last year, but had to bail due to time and a nervous spouse. Truck was fine.

OS,
Thanks for the reply. Just got back from the maiden voyage with the Ocelot on the White Rim Trail (workin on some photos to upload). Lucked out on the weather and had very little snow and only some mud. Camper performed flawlessly and handled all the trails well. I agree with the 2 wheel drive performance I was impressed how far I could go just with the added weight. I also felt some of the rock n roll you talked about....not to bad...but I like a firm and in control ride so I will look into it.

I was curious what style of airbags you use on your Tundra? I installed the AirLift style and they worked fine for the trip but I noticed that on some of the more technical and off camber climbs the mount rubbed on the inside of my tire. Now to be fair I am running a "steel" wheel with very little offset. I am getting a set of the original tundra wheels reconditioned and mounted later this week and believe with the offset on those I will clear the airbag mount but was just curious what your setup was. Also I run Bilstein shocks all the way around and really like the ride of those.

Thanks.
Steve

[Outerspace]

Hey Sotter

Glad to hear you had a good trip with little mud.

Still skiing up here in Park City. Best snow of the year!

As for airbags, I did these:

http://shop.airliftc.../_/Ride_Control


Probably what you did too. I have a 2005 SR5 with the 5 spoke 16" alu wheels. No rubbing. Had my mechanic do the install as I was pressed for time. The bag sits on the leaf spring, just forward of the axel. I'm not crazy about this placement, or the squeak it generates. I've convinced myself it acts a bit like a traction bar so is a benefit .

I have the original TRD Bilstiens with @75k on them.

Looking at the 5100 as a replacement. Was thinking of a coilover and 1" of lift to add some plush to the ride, but cost/benefit isn't looknig good right now.

Which Bilsteins are you running?

S

[sotter]

Hey Sotter

Glad to hear you had a good trip with little mud.

Still skiing up here in Park City. Best snow of the year!

As for airbags, I did these:

http://shop.airliftcompany.cust.shopatron.com/product/291210/59530/_/Ride_Control


Probably what you did too. I have a 2005 SR5 with the 5 spoke 16" alu wheels. No rubbing. Had my mechanic do the install as I was pressed for time. The bag sits on the leaf spring, just forward of the axel. I'm not crazy about this placement, or the squeak it generates. I've convinced myself it acts a bit like a traction bar so is a benefit .

I have the original TRD Bilstiens with @75k on them.

Looking at the 5100 as a replacement. Was thinking of a coilover and 1" of lift to add some plush to the ride, but cost/benefit isn't looknig good right now.

Which Bilsteins are you running?

S

S
Yeah same air bags here. My mechanic and I looked closely at it and it seems as though the airlift mount on my passenger side is off center making the clearance more of an issue. In fact I noticed that the tire actually rubbed on the bag itself and made a thin spot. So....when I get the time I will contact airlift and see if they are interested in sending out a replacement...free of charge of course.

In the meantime I installed spydertrax spacers on the wheels and that created lots of space. Not sure if the spacers add any noticeable stability with the wider track. Also discovered that on the White Rim I broke the sway bar linkage on the passenger side, made the ride a little loose.
Now am spending a little time looking into the supersprings and leaf spring options in the back.

I put Bilsteins all the way around on the truck and really like them. The front ones reset the coil height and level the truck out. I have no complaints at all about the Bilstiens. Thanks for your info.

sotter