How to find your used FWC

natjwest

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Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
312
Location
Portland Orygun
Just this past week, I bought my FWC Grandby after sorta hunting for a couple months and really hunting for about one month. Unless you're in a weird location (New England, Florida, Alaska) it's my belief that you can buy the camper you want in a couple months' search. Here's how I found mine.

Step 1: Determine your maximum driving distance.

Open google maps, center yourself and zoom out to about 600 miles. That radius was the maximum distance I wanted to travel to pick up my camper. One day out, one day back. If you are willing to drive more or less, adjust the zoom until you're within your preferred radius. Note that roads in the west are generally straight lines so do some "driving directions" from home to metro areas within that radius. For me, in Portland Oregon, I determined that I could drive from Vancouver BC, anywhere in Washington or Oregon, east into Twin Falls Idaho and south to Reno, Sacramento and SF. You need to have these locations nailed down before you start hunting because you have to immediately jump on new listings in your driving range and not hem-and-haw about it being too far.

Step 2: Determine your maximum purchase price.

Take into consideration the following factors. Do you want a big project? How much time do you realistically have for camper repairs? Can you live with some rough edges and still enjoy the camper? How much are you paying for fuel to pick up the camper at what distance? I had about $250 in fuel costs for my pickup.

Step 3: Determine the model years you can fit in your truck.

Generally speaking, 1990s and newer trucks need 1990s and newer campers, but that's not always true and depends on your truck make and model. All the details here. Nail down the exact model years of camper that can fit on your truck.

Step 4: Sign up at Craiglook.

Go to www.craiglook.com and make yourself an account. Now do a search for the following keywords in the categories:

[no category]
"four wheel" camper
slide in camper

[RVs and ATVs]
fwc
4wheel
pop-up camper
pop up camper

And if you're looking for a specific model, like a Grandby or Hawk or Eagle, do those keywords also, in the RVs and ATVs category, or the Automotive category or in no categories.

If you're looking for a Grandby, like I was, also do a search for:

Gramby
Granby

Now, for each of those searches you do above, when the results come up, click the "Save this Search" link on the upper left. A dialog will pop up, and just leave it as is, EXCEPT for the first one, "four wheel" camper. For that one, you can't let it save the search with the default name, because it doesn't like quotes in saved searches and you'll end up losing that most valuable of all searches. So when the dialog pops up, save it with some other name. See the picture below.

Screen shot 2010-10-03 at 10.35.57 AM.png

You need to have those quotes in your search or you'll get too much junk. Now you should have all these saved searches in your "My Searches" section on the left side, like in the picture below.

Screen shot 2010-10-03 at 10.37.13 AM.png

Step 5: Diligently check your saved searches, thrice daily.

This is definitely the most difficult part of the job, doing the actual search. You might be tempted to watch the RSS feed for these searches (if you know what that is) or just use Craiglook's Email Alerts feature, but you'll always be the second or third or tenth caller if you do that, not the first, and you want to be the first. FWC campers in good shape, for a good deal, go quickly. If you don't mind paying too much, or waiting six months, or buying a total fixer-upper, you might could skip this task and instead rely on Craiglook's Email Alerts. I bought my camper quickly, and paid from $1000 to $2000 below other campers in the same condition were going for.

The best way to do your search checking is to always keep the Craiglook website open in your browser, and always keep your browser open. Maybe set it as your home page. Maybe lock the tab if you use Firefox, or pin it if you use Chrome. To check your searches, expand the My Searches section and click through each Saved Search one by one. For each search, scroll down, scanning pictures, prices, names. Page ahead to find where you last looked, which in the case of "slide in camper", "pop-up camper" and "pop up camper" will be a couple pages between checking. Note that the search results show the number of hours ago that each search was posted. This is a valuable index to know when you've looked back far enough to overlap your previous checking.

Those three voluminous searches might be a big pain in the ass, but they hide a LOT of FWC campers, mostly older ones where the owners don't really know what the have, or the emblems have worn off. For the pop-up searches, you're visually sorting 100 pull-behind travel trailers for every truck camper and for the slide-in search, there are 20 big-ass Lance campers for every one pop-up truck camper. There's a lot of sorting and scanning, but I didn't say this was easy.

Step 6: Check ebay, rvtraderonline.com, usedfourwheelcampers, etc.

I didn't end up using these sites with any regularity. There are probably 1/20th the number listed on these sites as on Craigslist. Once you get a good routine with Craiglook, adding these sites to your routine should be easy.

Step 7: When you see a new camper listed, jump on it.

If it fits your criteria determined in steps 1-3 above, immediately call the seller and email at the same time. Don't just email and don't just call. Of course if there's only one communication method listed, do that, but do everything you can to get in contact. Generally speaking, craigslist operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're first in line, you have to blow it for the second in line to have a chance. I called on my camper within 20 minutes of it listing. I told the seller I was calling from 600 miles away, but I am absolutely interested and wanted to do everything in my power to buy the camper. You can tell some white lies here in order to convince the seller of your conviction to purchase his (or her) camper. If you're not really sure you want it, for chrissakes don't say that! You have to solidify your position as the number one in line. Later on, you can bow out and I'm sure the seller won't have trouble getting rid of it. So whatever you do, don't be wishy-washy about it.

If a new camper listing does not fit your pre-determined criteria, then post it to this thread: Used Four Wheel Camper Alert Thread. In the month I searched hard-core, I posted to that thread probably 70 times, maybe 100 FWC campers. I know of at least two forum members that I was able to help find campers during my own looking. Don't rely on someone else to be posting in that thread - do it yourself! There are probably two FWC campers showing up on Craiglook every day so if you don't see that thread very active, assume no one is posting to it and pick it up yourself.

Step 8: If the camper isn't close by, find someone to put eyes on it.

Like everything I've written in this post, this step is optional, but I highly recommend it. Finding someone near to the camper to check it out for you does two things.

First, it continues to convince the seller that you are serious about buying it. In the very first conversation with the seller, I said that I was having a handyman-mechanic come to take a look at it for me since I was out of town. He knew I was going to spend money to hire the guy for the job - that shows commitment. You can have a checker come look at it like right away since these guys typically have good availability, especially for an hour in the evening or during the day. They probably have more availability than you do.

Second, it gives you a chance to corroborate, via a third-party, everything you and the seller have talked about the camper. Your in-person checker should take some pictures of anything wrong and tell you what he found. I suggest you write up a list of things that he should check. See below for an example of the email I sent my checker.

I found my handyman-mechanic by finding the nearest Craigslist (not Craiglook) to the camper (not necessarily the same one the camper was listed on). I just searched for "mobile mechanic" and "handyman". I called two, talked to one, paid him $75 via paypal. He found one thing the seller hadn't disclosed and mostly made me feel good about the purchase. He didn't know anything about RVs and I didn't need him to. Without paypal, you have to find one willing to check it out with a "check in the mail" or a credit card over the phone.

Step 9: Call back the seller, commit to buying it.

After your checker reports back to you, make a final decision on buying it. Maybe you can negotiate with the seller now since you both are pretty far into the process. If you want it, commit to buying it. Go buy it, take pictures and post them on this forum and then get out camping!
 
Here is the email I sent to the handyman-mechanic I paid to check out the camper I planned to buy. The list of things I asked him to check below were specific to my camper and not a generic list. This thread is pretty handy for used camper information also.

Hi Donnie, here is the list of things to check out on the camper. For any flaws (mentioned below, or anything else you see) please take an iphone picture and send to me. I think it might take 20 minutes or less to go through the list below. Maybe you could print out this email and take notes on it.

EXTERIOR

1. This is the model: http://www.fourwh.com/grandby.htm. Take a look at that page, particularly the "Photo Gallery" link at the bottom. I want to make sure that is in fact the model I'm buying.

2. The first thing to do is measure the width of the camper. Here is a picture you can look at to determine the measurements.

klamath-grandby.jpg

The red line should be 48" or so, not more than 49". The yellow line should be 60" or so, not more than 61".

2. Measure along the long bottom of the camper, the part that sits in the bed, should be about 100" or so.

3. Measure at the front window, vertically from the bottom of the camper (the part that sits in the bed) to the underside of the cabover section. This should be 42" or more. If it's too short, it will rub on the top of my truck.

4. Crank the jacks. They should move the camper up and down and not be leaking much fluid if any.

5. Get the camper up on its jacks (if it's currently sitting on something solid underneath) and give it a shove on the side. How much does it move? It is scary movement or just some? A lot of movement indicates the jack brackets (attaching to the camper) are coming loose.

6. Look at the plywood lower section (the part painted black or gray). Check the joins and edges. Is it delaminating/peeling?

7. Check all the corners where aluminum siding meets aluminum siding. Are there any gaps or is it peeling back anywhere? John mentioned a spot on the passenger side that bows where the roof meets the side when it's lowered. Do you think any water could get in that bowed gap when the top is lowered? How wide is the gap at the widest part?

8. Open the awning and make sure it opens and closes properly and doesn't have any mildew or mold stains or holes.

9. Get a ladder or climb onto the roof when lowered and look for signs of damage/punctures to the roof.

INTERIOR

1. Go inside it when the top is popped up and smell it. Does it smell funky, mildewy? Does the canvas pop-up part have any mildew or mold stains? Does the ceiling (called headliner) have any nastiness?

2. Check out the pop-up canvas upper. Any holes?

3. Open all the cabinets and flip away the couch seat and pull up the mattresses in the cabover part. Is the wood under the mattresses sound? Do the cushions smell okay? Do you see any funk or wetness or mold or mildew stains or paint discoloration? One thing John has mentioned is that some of the cabinet fronts are delaminating. See how bad it is. I'm not too concerned about this.

4. Check for the existence and basic operation of these appliances: 2-burner propane stove, furnace, sink (electric pump and hand pump). If there is no propane available, don't worry about it. If there's no water in the tank, don't worry about it. Is there a hot water heater? Does it have a porta-potty?

6. Plug in the camper to an extension cord and make sure the lights work. Then switch it to the battery to check the same. It might be a dead battery, if so, skip it.

POP-UP

1. Get John to pop it up and down. There are wood panels on the front and and back walls in that canvas upper. Do the hinges work well on them?

-------------------------

Don't worry if you don't get to everything or miss something or can't get the pictures taken.

Feel free to call me when you're at the camper, but definitely call me when you're all done looking at it. 971-xxx-xxxx.

John has advertised the camper as in excellent shape other than the delaminating paneling, gap on the passenger side roof and some black plastic trim missing around the windows.

No matter what you see, don't tell him whether or not I'll buy it. At this point I am 100% sold if you don't have problem with any of the issues I mention above. John's being super cool about dealing with me so far away, but I want to hear from you before committing to the drive.

Thanks very much for the help on this. Is there anything I can bring you from Portland like microbrews or home-made hard cider, Stumptown coffee, delicious cupcakes? I'll be coming down on Thursday to pick up the camper.

-Nat West
 
A very well thought out & comprehensive guide for the shopper, nicely done. Should be a big help to others.

And congrats natjwest, on finding your camper!
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Another search tip.

Try using crazedlist.org. It only works in Firefox, and you will need to follow the directions to make a small change in FF settings before it will work.

Crazedlist is very simple and fast. The website allows several states to be searched at once.

You can choose preset regions such as:
  • West Coast
  • North West
  • Mountain Central,
  • or custom choose which cities you prefer.
http://www.crazedlist.org

And remember to "Save Search Settings" so it will be ready when you return.
 
Great advise but now how do I find a generator to take out to the woods with me?


May I suggest the following, a good little unit:

http://www.kohlerpower.com/industrial/category.htm?categoryNumber=28061&sectionNumber=13261

Acceptable for recreational use in my neck of the woods. Applicability at your location or rally point may vary.
 
That is neither a very exclusive club or fraternity.

Have we possibly met during happy hour at the Lodge?

Dan we have. That was me towing the big genset behind my Prius.
 
Great thread- I found my great deal as a result of this site and the efforts of those who posted up ads- especialy natjwest and IT guy. My blackberry was going off quite a bit and it also helps to have some luck every now and then. I was sure I missed the one I ended up with- but it was meant to be and it just worked out.

I also found that you need to be focused on getting exactly what you want. I looked at a lot of junk over the last year and resisted the urge to just get something to get by. By doing this, I actually found more than I was looking for- for less than I planned.
 
I also found that you need to be focused on getting exactly what you want. I looked at a lot of junk over the last year and resisted the urge to just get something to get by. By doing this, I actually found more than I was looking for- for less than I planned.


Couldn't agree more. Patience.
 
Excellent tutorial. Just want to emphasize using both phone and email. I scored my camper because I emailed on a Craigslisting and included my phone number. Seller called me back and said I was the only one who asked questions. I chatted him up and said I was very interested and would drive the 100+ miles to buy it, but asked for first right of refusal. He was a nice guy and agreed to hold the camper. I was there with cash eight hours later! I think if I hadn't included my phone number with my email, it might not have happened.
 
looks like craiglook.com got slapped by craigslist. craigslist rss feeds are no longer feeding craiglook
 
Thanks natjwest,
Your post was really helpful. I've already made a claz.org account and am searching for a FWC Fleet for our 2013 Tacoma Sport with a tow package.
Sincerely,
Cedar
 
I'm thinking about selling mine this spring. Not sure yet but it may be available then, we are thinking about downsizing


www.mulehawk.com
 
Hello, I'm new to the site here. I've been looking somewhat passively for a solid FWC Hawk for the past six months, using Craigslist alerts in a few areas in a circle from my location (Joseph, NE Oregon). This guide is great, thanks to all for the content. After reading it, I'm definitely thinking the Craigslist alerts are not cutting it. Craiglook seemed to be a great way to get a jump on the postings, but as noted in this thread, it has been down for years. A web search of Craiglook, brings up Claz.org, but I can't tell if that is searching all of Craigslist.
What is the latest/recommended Craiglook equivalent, if any?
Any help would be much appreciated! As well as any leads on Hawks for sale (and I'll keep monitoring the Gear Exchange forum as well)
Many thanks,
Kyle
 
Casa Escarlata Robles Too said:
Check out the thread on our site, "Used Pop Up truck camper alert".
Seems like every day there are new campers listed.
Frank
Thank you, yes, I'm tuned into that message board, it is super helpful. I'm just curious what the latest and greatest, all craigslist, be the first to see a new posting website/search engine is. And, as I'm looking, I'd like to contribute to the WTW "Used Pop Up truck camper alert" message board as well.
Thanks, Kyle
 
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