Yeah! That thing is going to be killer. As you know, I have a Hawk flatbed - you mentioned wanting the cassette toilet. I HIGHLY endorse that decision. I use the toilet ALL the time - yes it's weird taking a dump in the middle of your kitchen but I have to tell you - the design of that toilet makes dealing with emptying it very easy and non-gross. AND I'm the guy who has no problem dropping a deuce in there (I've heard from people who say, "ONLY use it to PEE!" my feeling is I paid for it, I'm going to USE this thing.) I don't put toilet paper into it, that goes into little plastic doggy bags that I tie up and throw in the trash. But emptying the cassette toilet into a regular toilet is easy.
I've got just about every option on my camper so if you have questions about stuff - fire away. One option I wouldn't get again is the extend to king size bed option - we never need to make the bed that big. And, you have to carry the extra cushions if you're going to make it into a king bed - they fit on the bed when the top is down but they do get in the way if you don't end up pulling the thing out to king configuration. I'd skip that option.
Oh yeah, I don't know what they're spec-ing for their solar components now but I chose to install my own choices: Victron BVM and Victron MPPT controller - 2x100 renogy panels that I mounted to the factory installed yakima racks (I would get those - let the factory drill into the roof).
Cool thing about the cab and chassis choice is the closer together frame rails allows deeper side boxes on the flatbed - and because they're perfectly level - the upfitters like them better for installing flatbeds. You will have that spare tire issue to deal with though and I do agree, those suckers are heavy so if you're putting it up high... start working out.
I got my F350 in XL trim but it came with cloth seats and upfitter switches, locking diff. etc... actually it pretty much looked like yours before I put the Wet Okole seat covers on it. I wanted XL trim because I didn't want carpet inside my cab - not having carpet is AWESOME. So much easier to clean and the best part is, if you want carpet just through some floor mats in there. Plus you don't get the enormous chrome grill - yeck. I've only used one upfitter switch for my ARB Dual Compressor - I use that compressor A LOT and I'm actually thinking about picking up another one to wire in as a redundant system- that's how valuable a compressor is for me where I go.
I picked up a gas engine for all the same reasons you described - I really like it - mine is the 6.4 (or is it 6.2?) and it's got plenty of power. I had to pull my dad out of some Baja mud and when I looked back he was wagging behind me like a rapala being trolled.
You guys DO love your gas capacity - man. I have an additional 5 gallons in a jerry can mounted on the back of my camper - I like having it. That brings me to 39 gallons I think - has seemed to be enough so far.
I also carry a full size Pro-Eagle aluminum floor jack on a mount on the back of truck opposite of my jerry can - it's the same one they have on trophy trucks. After having to balance a bottle jack on a rock to get my truck high enough to make a repair on a **************** dirt road in Baja I swore I'd get the right jack if I made it back... so it's on there, it has a flatplate on the bottom so you can slide it on sand and it won't sink in (I'm kind of manic about jacks though - I also carry an ARB inflatable jack for getting elevated when you're to the frame in sand... and a scissors jack for prying things apart... yeah I'm nuts).
Oh yeah, one more thing - I also got the inside shower option for the Hawk. Everybody usually says it's not a good option... but.... when there are clouds of mozzies out side and your ballzack is so funky it's batwinging to the inside of your thighs... you might like a nice hot shower inside. It's awkward but it works.. and my girl demanded it. I'd do it again.
Ok, looking forward to more pics and updates. Oh - are you putting airbags on that F350?
Thanks for your feedback John.
We thought about the cassette toilet, we like the ease of dumping, but we already have a smaller Thetford porta-potti with "cassette" section in the bottom of it. We're thinking we'll upgrade to the 565e "Curve" Thetford porta potti, and modify the standard storage cabinet (to right of entryway) to accept the Curve on a slide-out tray.
Thx on your inside shower thoughts. If/when we need to shower inside (foul weather, winter), we'll probably fashion a shower curtain to hang from the ceiling, and step into a plastic tub and shower in it. Both of these will allow us maximum storage in the porta potti cabinet, and under-dinette floor storage area.
Good suggestion to throw the t.p. into a doggie bag vs the toilet, to save on waste volume capacity.
No king bed option, queen'ish is big enough for us.
2 Roof Mounted Solar Panels - 160 Watt w/ 30 AMP MPPT Controller $1995
(They mean 2 160W for total of 320W, as single 160W w/ 15A MPPT is $1050)
Overland Solar, which I'm told is a lower quality division of Victron.
It doesn't sound like the FWC solar wiring is very accessible, to allow us to upgrade the wiring to higher quality in upgrading to our own solar configuration. Currently torn on purchasing FWC's $1995 setup, or rolling dice and adding our own high quality solar components for less.
Good point about chassis cab and deeper below-frame storage!
Figuring out what to do on the spare tire situation. Asking for the flatbed to have a rear 9500lb winch, so might have "the engineering dept" get creative with some way to use it to hoist the spare(s) up/down from the flatbed deck.
Agreed on XL and vinyl floor, no chrome grille.
Wow, 2 ARB dual compressors? How many water wings are you blowing up for the kids at da beach?
Yours is 6.2L as well (6.4L is the '08-10 turbo diesel that had a ton of issues).
Thanks for the suggestion on the Pro Eagle! I was expecting to get a beefy bottle jack w/ base for sand/snow. Do you have the 2ton Beast or 3ton Kratos?
https://www.proeagle.com/collections/all
Airbag in rear susp; have considered it if needed, but hoping that with the Carli/Deaver susp, and keeping the build as light as possible, I wouldn't need them. If I do any, I think I'd look to Hellwig;
#6119, last product listed on this page;
https://www.hellwigproducts.com/pro.../?Year1=2019&Make=Ford&Model=F-350 Super Duty
