New FWC Hawk Options - Now vs Later?

[Bwht4x4]

My wife and I are going to pull the trigger on a new FWC Hawk. We've been going through the option list over and over again trying to figure out what we want vs cost vs getting it at a later date.

Are there any options that really need/should be done when the camper is originally built vs adding the option later on?

For example, is it better to do things like the solar plug or rear wall steps now due to the difficulty with adding them later?

If anyone has insight or even a list of the items that we should really consider getting done at the factory during the construction I'd really appreciate it.

Also, if anyone knows of any other cool additions/changes the factory can do (that aren't normally advertised) during the build I'd love to know about them too.

Thanks
Dwayne

 

[Beach]

I bought mine used so it is what it is. I would like to add the roof rack, but the factory solar panel will have to moved. If the rack had been installed when new I believe the solar panel would have been in the middle straddling the rack strips. So its not just what will be added later, but also what is installed new at the factory build out and how it will impact any option added later. Be sure to advise the factory what you might add later. I think you will have to remove the fridge/ice box if you add the steps later.

 

[Bwht4x4]

Thanks Beach. The info on the rear steps is exactly what I'm looking for. I'd rather not have to remove the fridge in the future, so maybe the rear wall steps should be added now.

 

[Ramblinman]

Fun!

Me thinks just about everyone will concur about the screen door. I use mine all the time. I use my camper in the cold frequently so a furnace for me is a must.

I ended up buying my Hawk used. It came with AC which I thought I would never use. I use it all the time!!!! its great. This said the Fantastic Fan works well at generating a breeze. I would get two installed its nice to keep air moving.

If I was ordering - I would go with the compressor fridge with two batteries. The propane fridge does not use much power but has trouble keeping up in the heat and when camped on a slant. Solar is personal preference but that compressor fridge w/solar sure adds to the expense of the camper. I love my outside shower.

Awning is a must for me ... and my dogs. The Girl friend just told me to say that WE like the hot water.

I would not get the stereo - I bought an I pod dock that I can use in and out of the camper. So far I have had no need for the roof racks but that is just me.

I really like the roof lifter thingies.

A friend said it best - Get the options that will make you think will make you the most comfortable. This way you will enjoy you new camper the most and hopefully use it more.

If you can afford it ... I like the idea of getting the options you think you will use from the factory and start using them. They do nice work.

For what it is worth ... I do not use the table or the rear flood lights. I like the couch with the back rest removed - It makes for more room. I sat in the dinette at the factory and determined that it did not have enough room for me to warrant the install.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Ramblinman]

Oh ya!!!! When I was planning my order - I seem to remember having talked them in to installing the AT Jerry can holder. The did not want to but I recall having them convinced. I good idea (if they will do it) if you think you will need extra fuel for you travels.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

My wife and I are going to pull the trigger on a new FWC Hawk. We've been going through the option list over and over again trying to figure out what we want vs cost vs getting it at a later date.

Are there any options that really need/should be done when the camper is originally built vs adding the option later on?

For example, is it better to do things like the solar plug or rear wall steps now due to the difficulty with adding them later?

If anyone has insight or even a list of the items that we should really consider getting done at the factory during the construction I'd really appreciate it.

Also, if anyone knows of any other cool additions/changes the factory can do (that aren't normally advertised) during the build I'd love to know about them too.

Thanks
Dwayne

One of the most useful options,that would be a pain to add later are the roof steps.I like them as they come in handy not for just getting closer to or up on the roof,but they come in handy for hanging things to.I use them to hold my wet wading sandals.
They are held in place even while driving so they can dry out.
There is a thread I think under FWC campers not to long ago a new camper owner compared his options after using the camper as to which ones were worth the expense.
His info is very helpful and interesting.
Frank

It's FWC hawk first year impressions. Page 3 under FWC campers.

 

[rotti]

Your needs and cash available may differ but MY must have list that would be difficult or impossible to add later:
screen door
furnace
frig, 2 way electric only!
dual batteries
second roof vent over bed

Must have but could be added later:
cold/hot weather liner
Fantastic Fan

You should post your tentative option list, location, intended use and truck and we might be of more help.
You'll be spending a lot of money in any case.....might as well get it the way you want it.

 

[Bwht4x4]

I'll work on the options we're interested in and post later, but here are my location, my intended use and vehicle info.

Location:

• I live in the central coast area of CA
• Plan to use in all of the western states year round (cold doesn't scare us!)

Intended Use:

• Camping with family at both developed and undeveloped campsites (more often at undeveloped campsites)
• Long hunting trips (7-21 days) with 1-3 guys

Current Truck:

• 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab short bed diesel

 

[Ramblinman]

• Long hunting trips (7-21 days) with 1-3 guys

Outside shower!!!!! Lol!

 

[ckent323]

[SIZE=10.5pt]You should talk to FWC and let them tell you what is easy/expensive to add later (by you or them). [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]We are on our second FWC Keystone (1984 and 2009). [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]The 1984 had two manual vents, manual water pump no hot water, 3-burner range top (no longer available), double bed, no lift assist, cable jacks, no house battery, no screen door, no awning or passenger side light, no furnace, no alarms, it did have the aluminum cargo carrier (not the Yakima roof rack rails), optional rear and driver side windows, standard interior lights, one rear passenger side light and front sliding window as well as the fold down couch and largest 3-way refrigerator. No solar panel.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]The 2009 has screen door, Queen size bed, lift struts (inside front only), two vents(one reversible fantastic fan over the galley and one manual vent over the bed), 2-burner standard range top, propane and CO2 alarms, hot water system with electric pump and outdoor shower, fixed front window, optional front driver side cabinet, no toilet (we use a porta potti), house batteries (two 6 v golf cart batteries), full length Yakima roof rack, rear halogen floods (I am converting to LED), Standard interior lights (I am converting to LED), Fiamma side awning, side awning light, largest 3-Way refrigerator, Thermal pack, four mechanical corner jacks, electric drill adapter for Jacks and Atwood furnace. I am also adding a solar panel.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Options I recommend:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=10.5pt]Screen door - nice to have and hard to add later[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Full length Roof Racks (you can mount solar panel to them and whatever else - nice to have and hard to add later[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]House battery - I recommend Sears Die-Hard Platinum Group 31 - This may not be hard to add[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Wiring for solar panel - This might be hard to add later if you want it on the roof[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Second ceiling vent but you at least want wiring in place for a fantastic fan over the galley if you can get it (you can upgrade to fantastic fan later)[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Furnace - nice to have[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Passenger side amber light (put in aftermarket LED bulbs)[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Wiring for rear spot lights - may not be able to get without the Halogen lights - (convert or add LED floods later - aftermarket)[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Hot water heater - not necessary but nice to have and hard to add later[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Front opening window [/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Rear wall steps (these are useful as grab handles and tie points as well).[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Gas strut roof assists - nice to have but can be added later either inside or out[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Personal Choices/Decisions:[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=10.5pt]Cassette toilet vs Porta Potti vs whatever[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Ice box vs 3-Way Refrigerator vs 12v Fridge freezer[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Fixed (closed) or opening front window[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Manual pump water or electric pump (electric part of hot water package)[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]On board hot water or ??[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Outdoor shower (part of hot water package)[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=10.5pt]Gas strut lifts and location vs crank up speaker stand - We have both. Our struts are inside and they are not too hard to get past getting in and out of the bed. The do it yourself removable type that folks have discussed here on WTW look to be a superior approach. We only have two inside next to the bed pullout. So far I have not needed any in the rear. If I do I will use the crank up speaker stand that I used with my old camper that did not have the lift assists. The crank up stand works great![/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Regards,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]Craig[/SIZE]

 

[KILR0Y]

Good feedback so far. I recommend reading WTW posts all night long, for several nights in a row. It's not only a good cure for insomnia but rather informative as well. My advice to you would be to get everything you can afford now, then add later as needed.

Rear wall steps and solar plug are a must, not too easy to install later... Lastly, as one rather smart WTW member posted some time ago, leave much of the crap at home. Pack smart, don't just throw everything you see in the garage into the Hawk when you travel! Over time, you'll learn what is important to you on trips. Many of my friends still don't understand why I have such a small camper, but they are the ones with the 40' motor-homes that can't go where I can go. Many of us on here like the access to the back-country and outdoor settings while having the basic necessities of home (like a bed, shower, running water). Really, what more do you need other than your FWC, family, some supplies, and a camera?

I hope this helps, let us know when you pull the trigger. I hope you find some of the threads on here informative like I did when buying.

Kilroy

 

[craig333]

Fridge is easy to add later. Pretty sure they do the solar wiring on all rigs now. Get the heater and the screen door now.

 

[alano]

We took delivery of our Hawk just before Labor Day and then hit the road for two weeks. We put in a change order to extend the roof tracks from 6 feet to the full length of the camper after reading about someone who added solar to the top of their rig using the tracks. In addition to the tracks, we got the rear steps and solar plug (top) for future use because I determined they were difficult to add later.

We used every other option we got on our trip except the Porta-Potty which is absolutely the easiest option to add later. We used the screen door, furnace, side awning (rain and sun), hot water heater / shower (almost didn't get but so glad we did), compressor fridge, two batteries, Fantastic fan (blowing in and out), LED light package, and jacks (OK we didn't use them on the trip), Sometimes, late at night, I think maybe we should have gone for the extra roof vent (not something easily added later).

The Arctic Pak is an easy add-on I believe. We discussed these things with our salesman, Mike, and he was very helpful and not at all pushy about option decisions.

Pull that trigger and congratulations!

Alan

 

[Kispiox]

I purchased my Hawk pretty much loaded. LED everything with one solar panel and two batteries. I find it hard even with heat in cold conditions and exterior lights on all night to draw batteries down 80% which is the bottom end of AGM duty cycle. If weight is an issue, you probably could get by with one battery? You can always add another later. If 3/4-T may as well get two

Of all the stuff I question the need for roof steps. They are rear access and you can't walk on the roof, so to clean the solar or secure anything on the rack forward a ladder is either needed or a walk on your truck. What am I missing here. Do others find them useful. So far I just hang towels from them????

 

[KILR0Y]

... Do others find them useful. So far I just hang towels from them????

I do step on them regularly when loading-unloading items from the roof rack, but rear wall steps are a great towel hanger, most of all!

 

[ckent323]

My Keystone camper is on a full size dodge 4wd truck.

I have the tailgate on the truck (folded down) and the Keystone extands part way across it. That leaves a small ledge to stand on the full width of the back of the camper (makes a narrow entry porch as well). I can stand on the ledge and access the top hold down clips, push in the canvas etc. The steps make nice grab handles. I also use them to tie my wind blocking tarp (as needed) and rear awning tarps to.

Finally when putting stuff on the Yak racks they are quite helpful. We only carry a Home Depot purchased tubular steel frame folding three step stool (stronger than the rectangular aluminum units). It is not tall enough to access the top of the camper. Soon I will add folding steps to a riser from the hitch and ditch the stool (one less thing to carry inside the camper).

The runing boards on the sides of the truck passenger cab allow us to reach the front clips.
Regards,
Craig

 

[Kispiox]

Yea, the cam clips are not a problem from the runners and my back bumper. Out of all the stuff, I don't think that I'd pay for the steps if doing it over again. There is plenty of stuff to hang a towel on to dry. When at an on-the-grid campground all you need to do is borrow a ladder from a motor home camper to clean the solar.

My advice is get two roof vents. I regulate night time ventilation from the forward one without disturbing my sleep very much. The only other thing I did not get is air conditioner. Arctic Pack is a must. Most of my travels are high latitude.

On loading. Everything that you buy try and get the lightest possible design. If I don't use it,... it gets tossed.

 

[billharr]

Screen door top of list. I purchased a used 2002 Hawk not screen door, I had to buy a whole door to get the screen. Worth the $$ I use it all the time.

 

[craig333]

I don't have the screen door. So far I've been lucky and camp in relatively bug free areas. I'm sure thats going to change before long. I don't quite agree with the keep it light philosophy. I have a big heavy truck, one of the perks is the ability to carry and dang thing I want no matter what it weighs. Come to think of it I've been meaning to get some nice cast iron cookware

 

[Bwht4x4]

Awesome info guys. I really appreciate it.

I've been looking and reading all I can on WTW about all makes and models of pop-up campers. We visited both the FWC and ATC factories a couple of weeks ago and decided to go with FWC over ATC simply because ATC didn't have anything for us to look at. It's hard to buys something that you can't see and touch. In the end it's probably a better choice due to available options for us.

The comments on the list of items to get now vs later are interesting and quite consistent. I didn't think the second vent was needed, but many of you have recommended it.

Here's a couple of questions I need to have answered:

• Is the arctic package held in place with velcro? If it is, is the one side of velcro installed on the camper even if we don't order the arctic package right now or does the velcro have to be installed later with the arctic package?
• Are the Yakima roof tracks installed just through the roofing material or do they get installed into the aluminum frame? If they go into the frame how hard is it to find the aluminum tubing to install the tracks at a later date?
• What is included in the exterior LED lighting package? Do I need these?
• Can I do the camper install myself? I'm pretty handy and have the tools for the job. How hard is it? It'd save me almost $400.

Attached is the list of options that we are currently wanting. We are thinking of not getting a refrig right now and wait to get something in the future after we save a bit of money and do a bit more research into them. I called FWC and they said the space would be wired and plumbed for a future refrig install. They actually said it would most areas are pre-wired (i.e. solar, lights, etc).