Are FWC campers worth the money?

[washington taco]

I looked hard at both campers @ EXPO 2010 (Hallmark) & (Four Wheel). I feel it will take a factory visit for me to decide. I will be at the Four Wheel factory this summer and Hallmark next. I must admit the Hallmark is much more contemperary looking and the Four Wheel has the outstanding rep! Tuff choice, but my on line build out price ran about $19,000 for ethier one. The reason for the long drawn out purchase is I have daughter that will be attending college soon and thats one years tuition. The other factor for me is the next truck full size VS mid size. The Hallmarks are heavy.

 

[NothingClever]

... In fairness Larry, I worked that show for 5 long days, in front of thousands of people, on our feet with no breaks and we spoke to as many folks as possible until all of their questions were answered and my voice was shot. While there was no way for the two of us to talk to every person who came by the booth, we tried our best and worked our butts off while practically having to yell at folks over the jumping water dogs next door...

Yes, he did.

 

[NothingClever]

I respected your conversation and let you have your time with him then I walked over to the other guy that was working the show with you, who I specifically asked if he was Stan, which he was not, and barely showed an interest in speaking with me while I looked over the other camper. Maybe I turned him off when I crawled on my exterior corrugated aluminum soapbox? LOL

That was probably Tom, the owner of the company. I'm betting you caught him at a bad moment. When I was there, he was engaging, courteous and affable. I didn't make a purchase and I'm young enough that he could have easily flicked me off his coat sleeve but he didn't...he told me he was fine with my not purchasing and that he was in the conversation for the long run.

 

[NothingClever]

The reason for the long drawn out purchase is I have daughter that will be attending college soon and thats one years tuition. The other factor for me is the next truck full size VS mid size. The Hallmarks are heavy.

And ditto....college is about 4 years out for my son but it's weighing on my mind. I'll be retiring at the same time so, yeah, I'm at that point in life where every toy purchase get scrutinized. The Ducati Multistrada is looking less and less "right now" and more and more "uhhh, next year...maybe".

 

[Regcabguy]

The campers (Grandby / Hawk / Keystone) we build for the Ford superduty trucks have 6' 7" of interior headroom when popped up ?





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I should have said elbow room. My wife and I tend to bump into each other in the Northstar as it is. What your design provides is bookoo headroom in the sleeping area. Due to the underbed storage on mine(much appreciated btw) the distance between mattress and ceiling is pretty tight. Everything's a tradeoff.:sombrero:

 

[waynemaple]

Thanks to Steve @ FWC for putting together my Finch order. After looking at an Eagle model nearby I've decided to get one. They are no doubt worth the money!!! Until August happy tent camping.:wings:

 

[davidshourd]

right on man! we must go out once you get that thing! still down for some camping in the near future?

 

[NothingClever]

I'm wiring money tomorrow morning for a 2009 Fleet which the owner (retired) slept in 2 times and decided it was too small. For two nights of slumber and for helping him get it out of his garage, he knocked off $2,500 from the factory price.

Tomorrow I'm also dropping off my truck at Armorology for some suspension work and to nail down a front and rear bumper design.

Sometime this summer I'll probably get the Supercharger. If not this summer, then next summer after I get back from Afghanistan.

Right now the purchase and truck prep are still simply the culminating acts of a long research project. I'm sure I'll be giddy the first time I pull in to a mountain state park, flip on the heater, snuggle up next to Mama, the baby and the dog and dream about espresso from our new Bacchi in the morning after a nice trail run.

Now to find a buyer for my Technitop and my Can-Back.

 

[kcowyo]

Ohh yeah! Great news, glad that worked out for both of you guys, NothingClever and waynemaple. Congrats on your purchases!


Hope you both enjoy - :smiley_drive:

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[oly884]

I've had mine since 2006 and I couldn't be happier. It's survived -10 in Montana (thanks to the furnace) and plenty of heat over in eastern WA. Heck, it may even survive my 2 week trip to Montana!

In all seriousness, it's something that I don't regret one second for purchasing.

 

[Northern Explorer]

Great news. Too bad you have to wait until August. What options did you go with?

 

[waynemaple]

So the run down on the camper is FWC Finch shell model with; ext cab over bed,mech camper jacks, furnace,Thule track system,Artic pack,roll over couch bed,aux battery sys, tan cloth interior, and all the fun that comes with customizing it. I plan on in the future adding; solar recharge kit/ extra batt, porta potty, led light kits, space for cook stove and porta sink ( unit that I build), cork flooring(for insulation and feel on those cold mornings), wind/ branch shield, exterior lighting, wild Bear security system, of course a gun rack( joking), entry/exit ramp for my senior Akita( his jumping days are over), Side awning from Thule http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/orsracksdirect_2104_57523036, some kind of 12v cooler??? and alot of other small things over time. All the FWC fans have helped alot with thier upgrade info and support, thanks. Now time to work on the truck, needs brakes and injector cleaning. Or should I say time to test the GM loaner car on the dunes, I mean trail...

 

[davidshourd]

Right on. building it out should be a good time. and since you will have all of the base stuff already installed you should be able to make a pretty sweet set up.
I like that awning, I had not seen that one before. I would like to figure a way to mount it directly to the side of the camper. maybe some quick clips that go on the side of the roof so you could just clip it onto the roof when you get set up. have a couple clips around the camper (Back, and both sides) so you could move it around depending on the site....

 

[NothingClever]

The only options my Fleet's PO didn't get were the solar panel and the Yakima track system.

What grabbed me most was the already complete dinette conversion.

I'm starting to get pretty excited to get the camper installed and....wait for it....wander the west :sombrero: .

 

[Desert Drifter]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!! I actually prefer the aluminum siding over filon. Too many filon separation horror stories!!!

I want a Hawk so bad I can taste it!!! With all the options I want it is still well under the weight rating for my F150.

I've seen used Hawks for sale but so close to the new price that I should just order a new one with all the options I want. And I can get better financing on a new unit.

Someday!!!!! :drool: