AT Habitat, Atlas, & Summit Pictures, ideas, aaand BS

What are people using to cut their Prinsu rack to make it fit? I don't really want to sell the rack and want to make it work somehow.

 

I used a jigsaw.

 

There are a couple of ways to make this happen.

If you have a plasma, you can build a jig to easily trace/cut the entire section off. Then you'll use a deburring tool or a sanding block to make it nice again.

The other choice would be to use a band saw. The bigger the blade the less it'll wander, and then you can use a square aluminum extrusion as a sanding block.

A jigsaw is doable, but I know I suck pretty bad and at keeping things straight, so I'd like to stick w/ whatever sure thing that's reasonable for me. I picked up a used plasma, so that's probably going to be my choice.

 

You could also use an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel, leave some excess on your cuts, file and sand until correct.

Edit: Also if you have access to a notcher, shear, nibbler, mill or iron worker.

 

Legit, I have access to any of these, just need to make a phone call, but most of them are an hour away.

 

I have a feeling I would royally mess all of this up If I tried it myself. Maybe I'll just end up selling the Prinsu and going a different route.

 

oh yea, a router bit w/ a ballbearing w/ a jig probably works better than a plasma for this since it's chipping away at the aluminum vs melting it. should be a cleaner choice. if you cut using a jig w/ things properly bolted down, it should be pretty quick and easy.

 

Abrasive cut off and grinding/sanding wheels gum up with aluminum.

Best way using a commonly owned tool is a fine-toothed jigsaw. Bolt down the sidemplates to a piece of plywood that you can sacrifice and cover in blue painters tape.

Should take no more than 2min each side.

 

If it's aluminum why not just use a chop saw with a non-ferrous metal blade.

 

Is he trimming or hacking the end off?

If just hacking, chopnsaw or metal blade on a band saw.

 

Oh, I was assuming he was going to cut the rear half off.

 

I am about to pull the trigger and order my Habitat but was wondering if there are any add ons that you wish you had gotten or wish you had not? So far this is what I am thinking: hatch door on either side, L track on roof (I will build my own rack), and paint. I will run my own electrical and put in my own carpet once that is done. Looking forward to your thoughts?

 

The awning is pretty great, but can be bought later. My buddy has it and I recently ordered it. I got windows front and rear, to each their own. I think you have a pretty solid list. Where are you out of?

 

There aren't any add-ons that I couldn't "add-on" myself. That said, getting the base model was perfect.

 

Yeah the awning look pretty cool but somethings are hard to commit to without seeing it first. I live in Durango, Colorado. Thanks for the reply.

 

Haven't seen this awning, is it the Nemo one on their sight?

 

Yup. Pretty easy to rig off of any side of the habitat, or straight out the back end of the overhang. I'll take some pictures when mine comes next week after I set up. It's hand for more basecamp stuff to get some shade. Won't use every trip, but on a rainy or high sun trip, could be worth it's weight in gold.

Edit: We'd tie his straight off the end of the roof rack when the habitat was opened.

 

Also there has been 3 iterations of side hatch doors I've seen. The older version white ones that open downward used in Expedition overland and early builds. A newer aluminum panel I have seen on more recently built habitats that looks slick and has a gas strut opens up. Lastly, there looks to be a new window that opens outward and upward for the rear I saw in a few pics that they are putting on the Summit (AT Overland's wedge style camper), not certain how this works but may have removable screen due to below article.

https://expeditionportal.com/first-impressions-at-overland-summit-camper/

What does everyone think of the summit?
(I'd still get a habitat)

 

Mario at AT and I have been exchanging emails the new hatch door it composite and is made by the same company that is making their new window. The idea of having a window sounds nice but I like the security of no window besides doesn’t the tent have a ton of windows anyway?

I had a wildernest for awhile on my 1st gen back in college before I bought the camper shell and have 4 friends that have flippacs and the habitat just looks far superior to all of those. The new summit looks nice but I can’t see giving up the internal space and external awning the habitat is going to provides.