ATO AterraXL composite flatbed camper (pagoda roof)

[Victorian]

Proof in pudding, right?

LOL
Just today I had two new customers selling their Northern L as the amount of condensation is killing them. It’s especially hard for them as they trusted the marketing and spend A LOT of money just to be let down.

 

[mk216v]

LOL
Just today I had two new customers selling their Northern L as the amount of condensation is killing them. It’s especially hard for them as they trusted the marketing and spend A LOT of money just to be let down.

Well duh...


PS--I just realized that I hadn't updated this thread with a few new pics. Here ya go;

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Oh oh a rough family member LOL. Just kidding

It's actually funny that you mention that. It's one of the things that drive me crazy. We designed the campers to fit certain truck very well. Then there are others that are simply just odd. For example: It happened several times time that customer buy the camper first, put it on their existing truck till the "proper" one is available. Of course I only have pictures of the odd ones

Hahahahaha.. yeah…

With all the new dimensions and such and so many options, the future is flatbeds im thinking

My buddy had a new ram and a FWC and it looks goofy as hell because the ram bed has an obvious slant to it so the lines are all wonky

 

[sn_85]

The HBE really needs a rethink on the interior setup me thinks.

OEV builds great quality campers but for some reason I feel very cramped inside them. They just don't feel all that spacious inside, even the flatbed models. I've toured the HBE, FX and X at the expo's and always got a tight feeling inside. Compared the Camp-X to the Supertramp and it's amazing how bright and spacious the Supertramp feels. The HBE vs the Aterra XL was a big difference too despite similar overall dimensions. The tough thing with campers is the interior storage and the more compartments, cabinets and cubbies you build into the them the less spacious you feel inside and I think that's where OEV struggles. The HBE has this huge storage closet (used to be a toilet box) right as you go into the camper from the side. It takes up a huge amount of space and really makes it a squeeze to get into the bed area. Again great to have extra storage but it adds to the claustrophobic feeling. It's definitely a fine balance between features, storage and interior space when it comes to these campers.

 

[mk216v]

OEV builds great quality campers but for some reason I feel very cramped inside them. They just don't feel all that spacious inside, even the flatbed models. I've toured the HBE, FX and X at the expo's and always got a tight feeling inside. Compared the Camp-X to the Supertramp and it's amazing how bright and spacious the Supertramp feels. The HBE vs the Aterra XL was a big difference too despite similar overall dimensions. The tough thing with campers is the interior storage and the more compartments, cabinets and cubbies you build into the them the less spacious you feel inside and I think that's where OEV struggles. The HBE has this huge storage closet (used to be a toilet box) right as you go into the camper from the side. It takes up a huge amount of space and really makes it a squeeze to get into the bed area. Again great to have extra storage but it adds to the claustrophobic feeling. It's definitely a fine balance between features, storage and interior space when it comes to these campers.

Yep; why I waited for the AterraXL vs going with OEV. OEV interior feels like a 4WC to me; no thanks, it's an ancient design at this point and not space/user friendly. Why OEV hasn't innovated here is beyond me.

 

[rruff]

What's special about the Aterra?

 

[Ninelitetrip]

What's special about the Aterra?

The internal space for one. It really feels roomy, not confined.

 

[mk216v]

Yup and yup.
For some reason all of the other players have followed 4WC designs for some reason, even OEV, and that has resulted in a severe lack of storage and space to move around. ATO/Tern definitely changed the game on the interior spaciousness with the Aterra.

 

[rruff]

The internal space for one. It really feels roomy, not confined.

Yup and yup.
For some reason all of the other players have followed 4WC designs for some reason, even OEV, and that has resulted in a severe lack of storage and space to move around. ATO/Tern definitely changed the game on the interior spaciousness with the Aterra.

Could you give more specifics regarding the layout? If there is both more storage and more space to move around in a similarly sized and equipped camper, then that's some real magic.

 

[mk216v]

So hows about that fresh air heat exchanger ? What are your thoughts, yea or nay ?

My #001 doesn't have it, as this option was just coming out while my camper was in production. I wouldn't have sprung for it anyways; seems unnecessarily complicated for my needs, even when/if I have dogs in the camper.

Could you give more specifics regarding the layout? If there is both more storage and more space to move around in a similarly sized and equipped camper, then that's some real magic.

2nd pic here; https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...osite-camper-carli-king-37s-4-88s-etc.230131/

Entire upper bed slides out to make a king.
3 HUGE drawers under the bed slide out(note their length), and then there are 3 hidden cubbies fore of those 3 big drawers.

Many videos here; https://atoverland.com/pages/aterra-xl-flatbed-camper

 

[mk216v]

Ok gotcha, thx.

I always thought it would be a good idea, just never seen one in a camper.

Nothing wrong with it, although I'd push back that millions have been tent camping without such for a very long time.

 

[sg1]

The Aterra certainly has a roomier feel. Two features I don´t like. First the toilet in the bench. The slide out solution in the HBE is much better. Second the confined space in the bed . Because of the pagoda roof it is very confined at the head if you sleep east/west and if you sleep north/south you have to sleep feet forward if you want headroom. I agree that the HBE and the basecamp layout is awkward.

 

[Chadx]

A heat-exchanging air-exchanger is typically an advantage only at temperature extremes; very hot and also running a 12v air conditioner. Or cold while also running the heat. That will allow one to still have air exchanged (what you typically do by having a window open) without "letting the bought air out" meaning the heated or cooled air. The air exchanger has a heat exchanger in it that will transfer some of the heated or cooled interior temp to the inbound cold or hot air as it's drawn in. That means less conditioned-air-temperature-loss (heated or cooled) and the heating and A/C systems don't have to work as hard compared to an open window air exchange, saving battery (for A/C) or fuel (for heat). If you are not running the heater or A/C at the time, then their isn't much of an advantage. Perhaps a small advantage, over a slightly-opened-window, is a bit more security and a bit less noise from outside.
That being said, something in me wants one. Ha. But not something needed.
It sits well in the "optional" category. Like the 12v A/C option, glad they offer it for those that use their campers in conditions where there is value in it.

 

[Victorian]

I'm putting this in my camper: https://lunoscanada.com/products/lunos-ego
No need to crack a window for airflow (needed in our campers as they are air tight). The ceramic insert allows for minimal heat loss in cold temperatures.

 

[rruff]

Because of the pagoda roof it is very confined at the head if you sleep east/west and if you sleep north/south you have to sleep feet forward if you want headroom.

That was one thing that struck me. The drawers under the bed make that area pretty tight. If I was sharing that space it might be a deal breaker, but it would be fine on my own.

The main difference I see in the layout vs FWC or OEV is the toilet. In the those two the toilet is a separate and rather large box that takes up a lot of space. In the Aterra it's under the passenger side dinette seat. At first I thought it might slide out to the entryway, but it does not. You'd need to remove the table, which is not very convenient if you are using that table. A Lagun style might allow you to leave it attached though. And I agree it's way better than that big box the others have... at least if you are alone.

In small campers you have to make compromises; layout and packaging are very important.

EDIT: Just noticed in this HBE video that OEV now puts the toilet under the passenger side dinette seat also, but it slides out into the entryway, which I think is a better arrangement... and the box where the toilet used to be is just storage.