New FWC layout - what do you think?

[Overland Hadley]

Just a thought/question concerning the floor plan: Wouldn't it be better to have the fridge, stove, sink, etc. toward the front to keep the weight a little more centered or forward?

That is how I am going to be building out my shell. Keeps the weight forward.

I also like it because when the bed is pulled out there will still be space for changing and sitting, reading etc. Of course this means that there is no access to the hob or the sink with the bed pulled out. It is all a compromise.

 

[FairfaxFWC]

Not a fan...

I don't like this layout. Earthroamer does the same type of thing with the front dinette, but it's really impractical if someone is sleeping there and you need to get down from the upper bed. I have never liked it in the Earthroamer and I don't like it in the FWC. There is almost no way to get down from the top bed without risking stepping on the person below. Also, the person will be sleeping in a cave if you have the upper bed pulled out all the way given that the side cabinets close that person in at their head and feet. The side dinette style works much better and also, with the dinette positioned as it is shown, you loose any low windows and it feels much more claustrophobic.

A few other problems include: not being able to get to the fridge easily from outside the camper, especially if you have any gear stored in the center aisle and the top is down.

 

[Jeff Wanamog]

The return of the tan soft-sides over the drab gray is the best thing about this.

He's back!

 

[DEnd]

Just a thought/question concerning the floor plan: Wouldn't it be better to have the fridge, stove, sink, etc. toward the front to keep the weight a little more centered or forward? Where is the fresh water tank?

It depends on what you are doing with it. 50/50 weight distribution while viewed as ideal really isn't ideal. For example climbing inclines ideal is to have the weight forward, descending weight rearward. For higher-speed stability over extremely rough surfaces having the weight out at the corners of the vehicle is ideal. Do a lot of left hand turns? Offset the weight to the left.

With the relatively moderate off road situations, and speeds that an expedition will encounter, the trade off between better livability (if that is how you see the layout) of the interior versus the weight distribution is probably worth it.

 

[Northern Explorer]

I don't like this layout. Earthroamer does the same type of thing with the front dinette, but it's really impractical if someone is sleeping there and you need to get down from the upper bed. I have never liked it in the Earthroamer and I don't like it in the FWC. There is almost no way to get down from the top bed without risking stepping on the person below.

With the top bed in the sleeping (pulled out) position this isn't an issue.

Also, the person will be sleeping in a cave if you have the upper bed pulled out all the way given that the side cabinets close that person in at their head and feet. The side dinette style works much better and also, with the dinette positioned as it is shown, you loose any low windows and it feels much more claustrophobic.

I personally wouldn't have trouble sleeping in a cave but the main thing to look at here is the bottom bed is set up to sleep east - west. This means it is only 73 inches long and would be ideal for a shorter person or child. As for the windows, with the couch setup you also loose the lower window and although this is not ideal I've never had a major problem with it.

just my 2 cents

 

[mkish]

I like it. I had been wondering if I should go down there with a printout of the Alaskan 8' cabover front dinette layout and see how hard they laughed at me.

I camp with 2 children and a spouse, so I expect some climbing over people--it's a given with family camping. This layout is like half of my popup trailer.

I'd like to see this adapted for a Grandby or something with the window arrangement thought through a bit more but this could turn out to be a popular option.

 

[morrisster]

I'm a fan. I like how there is a shower and toilet in the small footprint camper. that layout of dinette saves a lot of room vs the traditional layout of the dinette on the side. you get more storage space with this layout I think. The downside is you can't get up to bed while someone is eating. Everything is a compromise and I like this one.

 

[pods8]

I don't like this layout. Earthroamer does the same type of thing with the front dinette, but it's really impractical if someone is sleeping there and you need to get down from the upper bed. I have never liked it in the Earthroamer and I don't like it in the FWC. There is almost no way to get down from the top bed without risking stepping on the person below. Also, the person will be sleeping in a cave if you have the upper bed pulled out all the way given that the side cabinets close that person in at their head and feet. The side dinette style works much better and also, with the dinette positioned as it is shown, you loose any low windows and it feels much more claustrophobic.

A few other problems include: not being able to get to the fridge easily from outside the camper, especially if you have any gear stored in the center aisle and the top is down.

Same thing I said to your post on WTW, but I'll post it again here since you felt strongly enough to double down on this statement as your first post here:

On the contrary I think it's probably the best you can do with a rear entry. You end up stepping on the bed with the current layout too so I see no difference there. In general I don't really consider these campers really usable for more than a couple realistically, maybe one smaller kid tops (in my opinion). A kid would sleep under that fine. Realistically when you're only talking a couple you'd only try sleeping down there in stealth mode when the top was down (so no biggie there) or one up and one down in which case the top bed wouldn't be pulled out.

On the cooking front I try to just get what I need once to cook to minimize the in/out on these fridges to maximize efficiency. Yeah not as easy to reach in from outside the camper but not much of a downside in my book. I think this is huge improvement over the galley/couch route. I haven't dealt with the galley/dinette route but with the couch it is a constant dance with 2+ people in it because folks legs are in the isle, etc.

But that is what is nice about options, pick what you want (or build your own).

 

[ersatzknarf]

I like the layout and that it has that nice cassette potty and an inside shower, but I am not sure where the shower is located. . .
Is the shower (drain) located between the two opposing seats ? It looks like a grating in the photos, to me. Also, the table has a base that goes on top of it.
If that is indeed the shower, is there a curtain for it ?
Having the settee/bed there would be nice for any time you don't want the top up.

 

[Scoutman]

Maybe it's the perspective but the dinette table looks unusable unless you set it up while sitting in place and don't plan on getting up. I also like the fridge closer to the door as previously mentioned.



Overall not a fan but that's why there are different layouts for different needs. Everyone is going to have their own preferences depending on what they use it for.

 

[ersatzknarf]

^^ Yeah, I think the shower is in the cave. That looks like the shower head and controls are behind the panel at the seat end of the driverside counter. photo 2

Thanks. I saw that, too, after posting. Still think the cushions would get wet without a curtain, not to metion a lot more, but am sure there is something planned

 

[NothingClever]

I don't like this layout. Earthroamer does the same type of thing with the front dinette, but it's really impractical if someone is sleeping there and you need to get down from the upper bed. I have never liked it in the Earthroamer and I don't like it in the FWC. There is almost no way to get down from the top bed without risking stepping on the person below. Also, the person will be sleeping in a cave if you have the upper bed pulled out all the way given that the side cabinets close that person in at their head and feet. The side dinette style works much better and also, with the dinette positioned as it is shown, you loose any low windows and it feels much more claustrophobic.

A few other problems include: not being able to get to the fridge easily from outside the camper, especially if you have any gear stored in the center aisle and the top is down.

[mild flame]

Dude, get real.....this is a dinky little camper with a ton of capability crammed into it and built to handle the worst roads possible....you think you can do all that AND make it, what, feel like a Class A motorhome?

I think you missed your exit on the Internet Highway.

[/mild flame]

 

[brianjwilson]

The layout is nothing new, aside from stuffing in a shower pan and cassette toilet. The small six-pac campers were setup that way for years, and many other manufacturers have done a similar layout. Im still waiting for fwc to offer a 60" cabover to get away from the obnoxious pull out bed that takes up living space.
Overall I like it though, with exception to the cassette toilet. It seems like the toilet area takes up a lot of perspective storage space.
For a person like me, wanting a 6' long (exterior max) 80" wide pop-up, this setup would provide more storage and a longer couch/dinette. The major downfall is that the center of gravity is moved back, but with a big water tank and two batteries stuffed up front it might be okay.

 

[FairfaxFWC]

[mild flame]

Dude, get real.....this is a dinky little camper with a ton of capability crammed into it and built to handle the worst roads possible....you think you can do all that AND make it, what, feel like a Class A motorhome?

I think you missed your exit on the Internet Highway.

[/mild flame]

I am very real and have extensive experience with FWC products, the purpose to their design, and their abilities.

Your reply is inapropriate and unnecessary on a usually respectful forum such as this.

Why don't you take that attitude somewhere else.

 

[pods8]

I am very real and have extensive experience with FWC products, the purpose to their design, and their abilities.

Your reply is inapropriate and unnecessary on a usually respectful forum such as this.

Why don't you take that attitude somewhere else.

This was your very first post on expo and it wasn't a very positive one and seemed like you were going out of your way to talk down this layout since you doubled up your WTW post. Strikes me as an odd reason to finally start talking on expo when you're been registered for quite some time. I can see how it comes off a little rough around the edges.

Just an outsider impression...