Are FWC campers worth the money?

[Rob in MT]

While I can see there may be a difference in product between ATC and FWC when purchasing the kitchen, couch, etc, but is there any difference when buying the shell? When puttng the list of options that I am interested in the cost difference is fairly substantial. thanks

FWC Eagle Shell ATC Bobcat Shell
Driver Side Window $525.00 $495.00
Aux Bat $395.00 $375.00
Screen Door $235.00 nc
Rear Wall Steps $195.00 $175.00
AlumBoat Racks $235.00 $210.00
Extra Cabover $575.00
Install $495.00 $395.00
Heater Box $875.00 $750.00
Camper Jacks $595.00 $580.00
Awning Light $ 45.00 $45.00
Wire For Solar nc $100.00
12v outlet $ 45.00 $55.00
Camper $6,495.00 $6,445.00
$10,710.00 $9,625.00
sales tax $830.03 $745.94
$11,540.03 $10,370.94

 

[kcowyo]

I'm not privy to what is used through-out either brand, but you could ask FWC about their new "Classic" line... Same design & frame, more basic version, better price point.

Four Wheel Camper Classic -

.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Hey Rob in MT

In the end you will need to choose what camper you like best and what camper will suit your needs best.

The ATC campers are nice, but we have a few features that cost more to build and we have a few features I like better over the ATC's (just my opinion and my personal experience).

Here are a few differences that I hope will shed some light on the difference that I know about ...

We use a marine style headliner in the camper. I really prefer this over the cloth headliner. Maybe it is just my preference. I have seen too many of the old cloth headliners fall apart, but they are probably using a better material than the older campers. I have not heard of any complaints on their new camper. Seem to be doing great.

We offer 2 different interior wall colors these days (Birch or Villa Grey Snow White) (I'm pretty sure they use the western oak interior walls). We still can use the Western Oak interior if someone wants it.

We have 4 different interior fabric colors to choose from.

We don't use the exterior storm flaps on the soft sided "pop-up" portion of the camper any longer. It took us many, many months to get it right and go back to the old original FWC pop-up window design. Some people like the exterior flaps, some people don't. We found that most of our customers were not tall enough to roll up the exterior storm flaps and found them a hassle. Sine Oct. 2004 we have not had the exterior storm flaps on the FWC "pop-up" windows.

We use the ploy foam insulation (white styrefoam boards) in the front wall, rear wall, side walls, and the roof on the FWC's.
I think they are still using the spun fiber, fiberglass batting ?

We reinforce our eye nuts in the camper base with a thick aluminum backing plate to make them stronger.

We use the Fan-Tastic roof vent" in all of our campers. The vent lid has a lifetime warranty on it.
Not sure what they are using ?

We can install a "no screw" roof now upon request on most of our campers. This is a BIG plus in my opinion.

We are using a high quality plywood for the camper base (Russian Birch).
I'm not sure what they are using ?

One the interior base of the "shell models" we are finshing off the double step design with paneling & carpet w/ small extra storage areas.

The small side cabinets one the walls are hinged (no sliders anymore).

Driver Side Window (they have us beat on the price).

Aux Battery (FWC uses the Deka sealed AGM glass mat battery).
I don't know what they are using for their aux battery ?

Screen Door (they have us beat on the screen door), but we are now installing radius rear camper doors on all of the FWC. The new camper doors w/ a screen also come standard with the clear screen door slider.

Rear Wall Steps (they have us beat on the price).

Alum/Boat Racks (they have us beat on the price).

Extra Cabover (this is now a "standard item" on an FWC if you order an Eagle Shell. There is no additional cost in your case.

Install ( what are they using for an install on a new Tacoma ?)
External tie downs ??
Inturnal tie downs ?
FWC uses a specially fabricated steel inturnal tie down system that works great.

Heater Box (they have us beat on price).

Camper Jacks (they have us beat on price).

Wire For Solar (FWC nc, $50 to pre-wire and install plug on roof) (they charge $100.00).

12v outlet (FWC now use a "dual 12v" outlet for $45) (they have a single I think for $ 55 ?).

Camper (they have us beat on price by a few bucks).

sales tax (Woodland 8.75%) (Sacramento = ?? %)


Hope this helps.

Either way you will be happy.

Both campers are built well.

Jeff & Marty will take good care of you, we will too.




Happy Camping !



.



.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Roseann and I put over 150,000 miles on our Four Wheel Camper, with no issues at all except for some loose door fittings. For much of that time we were resident naturalists on a wildlife refuge, seven miles of rough dirt from a highway. So every time we went anywhere, even just to town, the camper got 14 miles of rough-road exposure.

It's no wonder the used ones command such high prices.

 

[snorkel54]

Stan's post shows what a class guy he is.

 

[Rob in MT]

Thanks, not having to pay for the extended cab brings the Eagle more in line with the Bobcat.

While I can guess, what is the no screw roof? Does this mean the boat racks or anything else attached to the roof goes against the no screw process?

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Interestingly, a couple of weeks ago I was surfing through a forum that the owner of ATC was participating and was being baited by other participants to rip FWC. He didn't and was very complementary about the product and company but clearly stayed (as Stan has) what he viewed as ATC's advantages.

As a consumer in this industry it's nice to see competition taking place with deportment and class.

Jim

 

[bill harr]

Jim you are correct. I visited both FWC and ATC looking for my camper. Both pointed out what the advantage was to their camper. Neither bad mouthed the other. Rare in business this days. for my needs I was going to go with the ATC but found a used Hawk at a price I could not pass up.

Both FWC and ATC are worth the $$

Bill in STockton.

Jim I also like your avatar.

 

[Hilldweller]

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.

Does anybody know how much "headroom" there is in a Hawk or Granby? I'm tossing between a Hawk or Marc's XP Prototype right now :drool: .
I emailed FWC last Saturday but haven't heard back yet...

BTW, the FWC crew was very affable at Overland Expo. So much so that we had dinner with them at the closing ceremonies.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

.
.

The Hawk, Grandby, & Keystone Model have 6' 6" of interior headroom when the roof is popped up.

There is approx. 27" of space between the cabover bed mattress and the ceiling of the camper.

If you have a Ford F-250 or F-350, there will be 6' 7" of interior headroom inside the camper when the top is popped up.

Hope this helps.

Happy Camping !

.
.

 

[Hilldweller]

There is approx. 27" of space between the cabover bed mattress and the ceiling of the camper.

Wow.
Is that with the 2" or 3" mattress? Can that be stretched a bit? Is there a higher roof option?
I'm wide enough at the shoulders that I have to turn sideways in my house to go through most of the interior doors; I don't know that I could even lay in the FWC bed on my side, roll over without hitting the roof....

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Hello there

There is way more room up there than sounds like.

The 27" is more than generous.

I am 6' 4" tall and approx. 260 lbs (pretty big guy).

I took a tape measure here in my office and measured accross my shoulders, maybe like you did after seeing my post of 27", and I was surprised too.

I was thinking ... "wow, he is right, I would not be able to roll over either".

But my next thought was ... "how come ? I have been in those beds for years and had plenty of room to move around".

Ah Ha ! Let me grab the digital camera and jump in the bed.

There is tons of room to move around, roll over, get in & out of the bed.

(see pictures attached)

Sorry I could not get a better looking model for the example pictures (lol)



If you look at a tape measure, it doesn't work.

But when you are up there, there is lots of room.

I still had about 1 foot of extra room between me and the top when I was on my side.

Just thought I would better explain.

Hope this helps.

Happy Camping !


.


.

 

[Hilldweller]

The wife and I built a mock-up this morning; we took the Conqueror mattress, laid it on the floor, and built a roof over it at the 27" height. I can just barely move around on all-fours under it while she has no issues at all ---- my back hits fully if I put my elbows straight or knees together...
There's no sitting up though.

It'll do; just wish it were higher.

Camper talk is on the back-burner for the time being too. Something a bit more pressing has come up here.

 

[56farmerjohn]

Hello new member here... I bought my FWC "Hawk" model new in 04',It is on my 04 toyota 4X4 Tundra.. Got a lot of options on the camper , refrig, upgraded lights, furnace, artic-pak,screen-door,elec water pump,fantastic fan, mech. jacks, awning , aux battery system..Have had some minor glitches, nothing major.. I have camped all over the U.S.A in this rig , thru snow, wind, rain etc... It hasn't failed me yet!! Downsides , poor sofa design, outside windows too-high, poor fit on the tundra(caused by the tundras shallow bed)lack of storage, sliding doors on the cabs.. Buutt, considering the hard use I've put it thru, it is definitely a keeper...

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the camper.

Very glad to hear you are actually using it and exploring too !

Lots of customer high expectations of getting out to explore, but find themselves stuck working all the time, and not getting away to travel as much as they hoped for.





You wrote:

Downsides ...


<< poor sofa design >> We have redesigned the couch since then.


<< poor fit on the tundra (caused by the tundras shallow bed) >> We now offer a custom fit Hawk called the "Kestrel Model" so the camper fits much better on the old Tundra trucks.


<< sliding doors on the cabs >> We now have hinged doors on all of the cabinets.





We have been making many changes over the past few years.


Happy Camping !

.


.


.