Four Wheel Camper

[cold_smoke]

Interested. PM sent.

[GeezerSteve]

PM sent back at ya

[Cayuse]

Just picked up this 2002 Grandby to go on the back of by 2008 Tundra Double Cab since the Mrs. has said she wants to start coming along on Cayusette and my adventures. It was for sale locally and is in great shape. Hoping for a trial run next weekend.



Currently debating timbrens or airbags for the backend.

And yes, I have joined up on WTW and Expedition Portal.

[GeezerSteve]

Nice. Did you check the compatibility of a 2002 on a Tundra?

Edited thread to advise that our 2000 Hawk has been sold.

[Cayuse]

Nice. Did you check the compatibility of a 2002 on a Tundra?

We're selling our 2001 Hawk, buying a new Hawk. Gonna let the 2001 go for a deal.

I did, it is narrow enough.

[cold_smoke]

I'd be worried about center of gravity being too far back if payload is not an issue... Should be ok but you'll definitely want airbags at minimum.

After months of research and then searching I scored this guy. It is an All Terrain Camper, same same but different... At first i was reluctant considering the narrower model version but that is what was available and seeing this is a daily driver in summer anyway, it is awesome to have the whole thing within the confines of the bed. I installed airbags the week before the trek to pick it up. So stoked, these things are awesome!

[cold_smoke]

Oh, and a mag should jump on big steve's offering...

[snowgeek]

PM Sent Big Steve.

[GeezerSteve]

FTR, we sold our 2000 Hawk. Ordered a new Hawk with front dinette seating and lots of options. Should be ready for pickup in September. Looking forward to having it for fall/winter.

[Bobcat Sig]

I'd be worried about center of gravity being too far back if payload is not an issue... Should be ok but you'll definitely want airbags at minimum.

After months of research and then searching I scored this guy. It is an All Terrain Camper, same same but different... At first i was reluctant considering the narrower model version but that is what was available and seeing this is a daily driver in summer anyway, it is awesome to have the whole thing within the confines of the bed. I installed airbags the week before the trek to pick it up. So stoked, these things are awesome!

Rad stuff in this thread. The misses and I have been debating flipping the SUV for a Tundra so we can camp year round in a slide-in.

Cold_smoke - how's that puppy in the winter? Have you tried it out?

Likewise for the other mags, how are the pop-up slide-ins in the winter? Doable?

[GeezerSteve]

Lots of winter use with our Hawk. Works great. Get the thermal pack, of course. Frozen condensation can be an issue in some conditions, but you'll learn to deal with it via furnace/vent use strategy and popping it up on sunny days to let it dry out.

[Bobcat Sig]

Lots of winter use with our Hawk. Works great. Get the thermal pack, of course. Frozen condensation can be an issue in some conditions, but you'll learn to deal with it via furnace/vent use strategy and popping it up on sunny days to let it dry out.

Thank you. I had this thought that for winter camping, one needed a hard side. I can't remember if I heard that in passing or on TGR. In any case, great info.

[Scrubadub]

Winter camping in MT is a lot different than in WA...How does the fabric in pop tops handle in sub zero temps?

[Cayuse]

I've got about 3 months now with my the Grandby on the back of my Tundra and have no complaints other than the gas mileage and some wind noise. The gas mileage I can't really do anything about other than watch my speed, the wind noise I took care of when I scored a wind deflector off craigslist for $30.

I did add airbags and the tires were in need of replacing so I put E rated tires on. The truck handles great. Looking forward to a 2 week trip in it this October.

[GeezerSteve]

Winter camping in MT is a lot different than in WA...How does the fabric in pop tops handle in sub zero temps?

Well, that depends whether one is W or E of the Cascade Crest in WA. The condensation issues of which I speak are most present in cold dry, i.e., MT winter, conditions. The Kettle Range, where we have camped, has winter weather much like MT. We have also camped in the Hawk in sub-0F at Schweitzer, Loup Loup and other cold dry places. FWIW, FWCs are quite popular in AK.

The fabric holds up fine in sub-0F. The issue is that in cold dry conditions condensation sometimes freezes and forms ice on the roof and walls. One means to deal with it is to strip off the thermal liner and crank the furnace to melt the ice before lowering the roof. It also helps the raise the roof on a sunny day to allow the ice to sublimate.

[Bobcat Sig]

I've got about 3 months now with my the Grandby on the back of my Tundra and have no complaints other than the gas mileage and some wind noise. The gas mileage I can't really do anything about other than watch my speed, the wind noise I took care of when I scored a wind deflector off craigslist for $30.

I did add airbags and the tires were in need of replacing so I put E rated tires on. The truck handles great. Looking forward to a 2 week trip in it this October.

Firestone bags or something else?

[Cayuse]

Firestone bags or something else?

No, LoadLifter 5000 because that was what the local suspension shop had in stock and I wanted to get them installed before a trip I had going. Install was really straightforwarward and would have been even easier had I taken the camper off first and remembered to cut the U-bolts before putting the second tire back on and lowering the truck back down 'doh.

[GeezerSteve]

I installed Firestone bags. Straightforward project. Still going strong after 10 years.

[Bobcat Sig]

I figure this is the thread to bump.

Prevailing info on this thread says that Hawks are a good buy given their aluminum build. What's the story with Grandbys? Also aluminum?

Likewise, what's the thought on Northstars? I've found a nicely equipped one but they seem to be wood framed and therefore, a bit heavier. Hold out for something else?

[El Chupacabra]

All FWC and ATC are aluminum framed. There's still wood in the box/ floor/ interior though, so it's not like you can ignore any leaks that happen.

I have a Northstar. When I started shopping, I was convinced I was going to buy a FWC. Then I went and looked in the fullsize ones (had only seen the small ones on Tacoma/ Frontier size trucks - e.g. Finch). The Hawk and Grandby were not a whole lot larger inside, and you still have to pull out the bed to make it full size (i.e. you can't leave it made up with sheets etc., and drop the top). That, plus the pricing, made me abandon FWC and look elsewhere. FWC sells a lot of the things I want in a truck camper as optional -- great, if you want a minimalist camper and don't want things like hot water, shower, fridge, furnace. Not so great if you do want all those things.

I'd buy a Northstar again. Or a Hallmark or Outfitter -- all three seem to make quality pop-up campers, with more features than you'll typically find in a FWC/ATC.

[Cayuse]

I figure this is the thread to bump.

Prevailing info on this thread says that Hawks are a good buy given their aluminum build. What's the story with Grandbys? Also aluminum?

Likewise, what's the thought on Northstars? I've found a nicely equipped one but they seem to be wood framed and therefore, a bit heavier. Hold out for something else?

I think one of the biggest questions becomes how will you use it? If you are going to be mostly on stick to paved/graded roads then wood framed campers are fine, If you are going to venture off the beaten path on a regular basis and travel 4WD roads then you will probably appreciate the aluminum frame construction as that is what it is designed for.

If you haven't already, check out wanderthewest.com you should be able to get answers to any and all pop-up camper questions there.

[GeezerSteve]

. . . . don't want things like hot water, shower, fridge, furnace

Actually, all those features are currently available in a FWC. Perhaps you are thinking of FWC's of a decade ago or current ATCs (which are like FWC's of 10 years ago). Before I bought my first FWC I looked at Northstar, etc. and went for a 2000 FWC Hawk, largely because the lighter weight and lower profile. The interior of my new 2014 Hawk w/ front dinette is completely different, huge upgrade from the FWC's of old. Apples vs. oranges. As Cayuse says, FWC frames are designed to flex for off-road and bumpy dirt roads.

Bobcat, Hawk is for 6-1/2' pickup bed, Grandby for 8' pickup bed, both for full size truck

[El Chupacabra]

Actually, all those features are currently available in a FWC. Perhaps you are thinking of FWC's of a decade ago or current ATCs (which are like FWC's of 10 years ago).

No, I said they were optional. FWC doesn't include a lot of the items that other camper manufacturers have as standard. Instead, you have to add them on as options.

[GeezerSteve]

Each FWC is custom made for the specific purchaser, so, in a sense, everything is optional. Not seeing the problem there. Also, that a shower is an option is a good thing IMO because moisture management inside a small RV is enough of an issue. I have no desire for an inside shower and certainly not for an inside toilet -- who the fuck wants to take shit in their car? I plan to rig a funnel/hose for peeing. But no fucking way anybody is gonna shit in my camper.

The Hawk and Grandby were not a whole lot larger inside [than the Finch], and you still have to pull out the bed to make it full size (i.e. you can't leave it made up with sheets etc., and drop the top).

Nah. Grandby has way bigger interior than the Finch, so much so that the Grandby has configurations not available in the Finch. And you can leave the sheet on the bed, either by taking 10 seconds to fold it back before sliding the bed extension or leaving the bed extended, which in fact is possible when dropping the top. I cannot imagine making a purchase decision based on whether it takes me an additional 10 seconds to pull a sheet after the 10 seconds it takes to extend the bed. If you're in that much of a hurry, get a hardside camper.

Glad the Northstar is working for ya. They seemed like nice rigs when I looked at them. Anyway, FWC and ATC (knockoff of old FWC design) vs. Northstar, Sun Valley, Palamino, etc. is apples vs. oranges. FWC/ATC are lighter and built to hold up to rugged use, e.g., off-road and rugged roads, so not necessary for most people. And this is a FWC thread, fer chrissake.

[Bobcat Sig]

Each FWC is custom made for the specific purchaser, so, in a sense, everything is optional. Not seeing the problem there. Also, that a shower is an option is a good thing IMO because moisture management inside a small RV is enough of an issue. I have no desire for an inside shower and certainly not for an inside toilet -- who the fuck wants to take shit in their car? I plan to rig a funnel/hose for peeing. But no fucking way anybody is gonna shit in my camper.

Glad the Northstar is working for ya. They seemed like nice rigs when I looked at them. Anyway, FWC and ATC (knockoff of old FWC design) vs. Northstar, Sun Valley, Palamino, etc. is apples vs. oranges. FWC/ATC are lighter and built to hold up to rugged use, e.g., off-road and rugged roads, so not necessary for most people. And this is a FWC thread, fer chrissake.

Your first paragraph made me laugh. And just think ...




I think I just made this an all encompassing slide-in thread since I though FWC was type of camper, not the company. DERP
I was focused on dry rot in the wood and didn't even consider intended use. I certainly want something that can be rugged and handle 4wd use.
My rig: '12 F-150 EcoBoost SuperCrew w/5/5' bed. I'll need airbags, me thinks. I already popped for E-rated tires.

In any case, great info thus far. I will comb through WTW. In the meantime, what's the prevailing thought on Palomino Broncos?