Overland Hadley
on a journey
10-4 :ylsmoke:
The TARDIS - A Four Wheel Camper Build
- Thread starter Overland Hadley
- Start date
10-4 :ylsmoke:
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Interesting bikes. Maybe someday.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Thats good info. I have a hitch mounted bike rack (Thule) but I did not think it would work with the amount the Eagle hangs out the back.
Something I might consider, but... as you mention the hitch mount racks are heavy, and the bike rack would need to be installed after the camper is mounted. This would mean one more thing to do for a short weekend trip.
But thanks for the heads up.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Some details about the weekends camping.
There is some world class camping where I live. The only problem is, it is right where I live, so I never go camping here. I spend lots of time at these locations, but then at some point I head home for the night. My idea has been that the camper will be my ''cabin'' of sorts. A place to spend a long weekend away from the daily routine and ''weekend projects''.
(Don't worry, I still plan to go on six to eight week journeys out west.)
So this last weekend I loaded up the camper and we spent three nights along the lake. It was good to spend some more time in the FWC, even if it is still very much unfinished. (And by unfinished I mean unfinished. My girl sliced open her finger on some exposed aluminum, ouch.) The camper continues to get high marks, it made spending hours in a pouring rain at near freezing temps a fine experience. And just wait until I get the heater in.
A couple things I noted:
The best place to sit, if you want to look out the window, is on the floor. I like to sit with my feet up, so this works just fine for me. I might focus my interior a little less on a couch and a little more on sitting on the floor. We will see how this shakes out as I progress with the interior.
The layout of my planned countertops makes raising the front of the roof hard. I did discover that I like to travel with the bed pulled out so the sleeping bags can stay up on the bed. (This does move some of the weight aft while traveling....) So I started just raising and lowering the front of the roof while laying on the extended bed. It is a little awkward, but I think it might work best for how I have the interior layout figured.
Going to the extra work of having the red/white interior dome lights was worth it.
I can load/unload the camper in thirty minutes. Makes a quick weekend trip easy.
More photos to come. I will get a couple more up tonight, but the rest will have to wait.
There is some world class camping where I live. The only problem is, it is right where I live, so I never go camping here. I spend lots of time at these locations, but then at some point I head home for the night. My idea has been that the camper will be my ''cabin'' of sorts. A place to spend a long weekend away from the daily routine and ''weekend projects''.
(Don't worry, I still plan to go on six to eight week journeys out west.)
So this last weekend I loaded up the camper and we spent three nights along the lake. It was good to spend some more time in the FWC, even if it is still very much unfinished. (And by unfinished I mean unfinished. My girl sliced open her finger on some exposed aluminum, ouch.) The camper continues to get high marks, it made spending hours in a pouring rain at near freezing temps a fine experience. And just wait until I get the heater in.
A couple things I noted:
The best place to sit, if you want to look out the window, is on the floor. I like to sit with my feet up, so this works just fine for me. I might focus my interior a little less on a couch and a little more on sitting on the floor. We will see how this shakes out as I progress with the interior.
The layout of my planned countertops makes raising the front of the roof hard. I did discover that I like to travel with the bed pulled out so the sleeping bags can stay up on the bed. (This does move some of the weight aft while traveling....) So I started just raising and lowering the front of the roof while laying on the extended bed. It is a little awkward, but I think it might work best for how I have the interior layout figured.
Going to the extra work of having the red/white interior dome lights was worth it.
I can load/unload the camper in thirty minutes. Makes a quick weekend trip easy.
More photos to come. I will get a couple more up tonight, but the rest will have to wait.
Photos from the first weekend in the camper, still as an empty shell.
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Overland Hadley
on a journey
In the morning I watched a couple of otters swimming and catching fish. After a while they went out to the little rock island and ran about on the rocks.
exmx_racer
New member
How did you route the wire for your red/white dome lights to the battery? Sounds like you added 2 in the sleeping area?
Overland Hadley
on a journey
I just replaced the standard interior dome lights that FWC uses with some marine ones. So I wired them using the factory wires for the dome lights.
(Post about the new dome lights Here)
Thanks for the recommendation - looks like I ordered my two just after your post. Been thinking of using my REI member discount on one (20% off, $168, http://www.rei.com/product/797491/therm-a-rest-dreamtime-sleeping-pad) and my girlfriend's as well, but ended up finding the same price at http://www.backcountryedge.com/therm_a_rest-dreamtime-10.aspx and was able to signup for their newsletter and save an additional 12%! 2 dreamtime xl's for under $300 shipped! We had other needs with the REI discounts, anyways. 85 nights on the OEM pads and excited for the rest on something more comfortable!
I really appreciate your post on how these work for you with two pads - been scouring this forum and the WTW one for posts on using the dreamtime xl's as a replacement for the OEM pads. Looks like it should work fine for us, as well. Saw your post on making a storage for solo use - can you elucidate your plans for this removeable built-in storage? Do you know how much weight savings you're looking at now over the stock pads?
Will also try your idea of the use as a couch cushion on the floor, as we're generally happy enough with our Finch shell layout sitting on carpeted sides with one of the shorter 4" pads, but it just ain't that comfortable in there after a really long day hike or bike.
Again, thanks for all your posts!
Cheers,
-joe D.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Hi Joe, I remember seeing your rig in Kanab last spring.
FIrst off, I am jealous of your location at this time of year. April on the Staircase is fantastic, wish I was there now.
I am planning on using the Dreamtime as a cushion on the bench with the storage totes being used to double the width of the sitting area. But the floor is nice place to sit with a view out the windows. Not sure what the weight is on the stock bed cushions, so I am not sure what the difference is.
Still deciding on how to design the cabover storage space. Basic idea is a flat wood box with an opening top, it would be about 4'' tall. Although that could change.
Glad my info can be of help.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Yeah - work has me in Kanab from time to time now. Girlfriend had me over there more regular, but she's up here now (making the weekly escapes in the FWC so much easier!). We enjoyed the accessibility of living in Kanab and Page during the winter, but it sure is nice having Boulder Mountain lakes within 30 min. It has been really nice this late winter/early spring. Been able to get out and either camp/hike or backpack every weekend since January! The visitor numbers are pretty overwhelming now, for my taste. I guess that's the tradeoff for location.
Might look into those totes or action packers for the shell couch technique you mention - post a picture if you get a chance. I'll certainly be watching for a finished shot of your overcab storage box. Better yet, swing by the VC in Escalante and show me yourself next time you're over here!
-joe D.
Might look into those totes or action packers for the shell couch technique you mention - post a picture if you get a chance. I'll certainly be watching for a finished shot of your overcab storage box. Better yet, swing by the VC in Escalante and show me yourself next time you're over here!
-joe D.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Will do!
Overland Hadley
on a journey
One thing that I finished up over the weekend was removing the large sticker on the door. I do not mind a FWC sticker, but come on, an 800 number? It felt like a bad billboard. Still need to remove the gooey gunk left on from peeling the sticker.
Stan, if you could send me a small FWC sticker, like the ones that are on the side, I would like to put it on the back door. (Yeah, I am proud to own a Four Wheel Camper.) People are smart, if they are interested in my camper they will google Four Wheel Camper.
Stan, if you could send me a small FWC sticker, like the ones that are on the side, I would like to put it on the back door. (Yeah, I am proud to own a Four Wheel Camper.) People are smart, if they are interested in my camper they will google Four Wheel Camper.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Speaking of stickers.
Overland Hadley
on a journey
Saw a couple bald eagles while out along the lake.
I am not a wildlife photographer, so this will have to do. :ylsmoke:
I am not a wildlife photographer, so this will have to do. :ylsmoke: