Hi Chip
Will this design be the basis for the "Scout" model on your web site?
http://www.allterrainwarriors.com.au...19&Itemi d=25
Chip. Yes, although we have a lot more improvements/options in mind now that we have actually put one together out of the new molds.
The camper body looks to be molded from one piece of fiberglass, with holes for windows and doors cut later. The mold is a big investment, but the result has fewer joints and seams.
Absolutely. We actually built the short body plug/mold first then stretched it by about 600mm to give us the long body plug and mold. The 600mm extension is basically the section between the front and the windows. The short body will fit neatly on a SWB FG or will fit to a normal wheelbase FG or NPS with plenty of room for something such as a double trailbike (or quad) rack on the back.
Also we tried to recess everything to protect it when traveling through the scrub so all of the lights, hinges and catches/locks and even the windows are sunken into the body. BTW the recess on the right hand side looks like it has 2 water fillers in it . They are actually a Flickmixer and a hand shower hidden under S/S flaps.
The client did not want side skirts and bins below the floors as we do on all our biggerr motorhomes but I think they will be on most of the pop tops in the future.
Chip we are also planning a permanent hard-sided version (like our Recon) and possibly even optional hard sides but retaining the pop top. Perfect for a RTW truck. So I guess you might see some concept drawings in the new year. We're learning a lot about "copyright" at the moment as you can imagine. Don't want any repeats so I can't give away any more at this point.
The camper body looks to be molded from one piece of fiberglass
We tried to do this with the interior too only we ended up with 5 molds but this gives us more options and at the end of the day you end up with the interior being very light, strong and easy clean.
2 of the molds are for the "Granite" look benchtops.
Does All Terrain Warriors have any plans to sell the camper body separate from the truck chassis? Or do we have to ship our North American chassis to Australia for installation? The latter might be a cool way to start a couple of months of vacation Down Under!
Chip, As you know, I have to walk a bit of a fine line here as someone who works for a manufacturer but who also must observe the proper etiquette of the forum. So the short answer is to maybe direct any formal sales inquiries to my boss at our website.
However, I can say that since our dollar has dropped further against the greenback we have been drawing an abnormal amount of overseas interest in our 4x4 buses >> mining companies in Russia, tour operators in the Pacific, even US Government agencies. Although unfortunately, maybe the latter is due in part to the uncertainty in your own domestic auto industry.
So without speaking on my boss's behalf I could see any number of "offshore" possibilities. Shipping kits, shipping kits and staff and renting a temporary facility, a joint venture with a low volume manufacturer or similar with the suitable facilities probably in California.
Or do we have to ship our North American chassis to Australia for installation? The latter might be a cool way to start a couple of months of vacation Down Under!
Chip, This would always be on the table but I'm sure it would only appeal to a very small percentage of the market. Would be fantastic but. Sounds like a plan for you.
If I had the bucks (and I don't) I'd ship a kit to the US, drop it on a North American FG, travel around in it with the family for 12 months and sell it to cover some of the costs. Unfortunately I still have 6 months of uni to go so I'm still tied up for awhile. I can still dream but.
Does anyone want more pics showing all the "stuff"? Let me know? Bob, maybe I'll paste a couple more tomorrow.
Lastly for the surfers, this locker going across will hold a 7'2" no worries.