FOUR WHEEL CAMPER (FWC) THREAD!!

Why do you want to remove them? I've attached a link from WTW how I did mine. The roof can be lifted without them but it is heavy.

https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum...nis-burden-a-four-wheel-camper-story/?p=86582

 

They aren't a huge problem but kind of in the way and just makes the space seem a bit less open. I might pop mine off and see how heavy the roof is without them helping.

 

Older discontinued model, I believed they stopped production in 2014. Its 70inches long and the same track width as the tacoma, making ideal in my opinion.

 

Alright have been trying to decide what type of heater to go with for the fwc since we picked it up and am still unsure. Does anyone have experience with diesel heaters? Toying back in forth between diesel vs propane. I do already have propane on board as the camper has a stove so install would be fairly simple. I do like how propane burns cleaner then diesel. However diesel is extremely easy to refill about anywhere in the States. Also the Chinese heaters have a lot of love and they are super cheap coming in at about 120-150 bucks. Comparing that to a propex hs2000 at 700-800. We are also looking at the dickinson marine newport 9000. Which is a pretty sweet lp heater that looks like a mini fire place. Definitely creates a nice ambiance. And looks to be pretty efficient.

 

Have heard lot of good things about the crappy $100 diesel heaters LOL. Every propane heater on the market seems to have it's quirks...I have constant issues with mine (unrelated to the fact that it's propane).

If I were you I'd probably do propane hooked into the existing house propane for the simple facts that it's already there and adding diesel storage is nasty if you're not already diesel.

I've heard one person have issues with diesel at cold and also at altitude if you are planning to be in those environments. This is of course second hand information

 

Looking at the Swift fully loaded model.
Does anyone have any experience with these on a 3rd gen? I’m afraid that our engine might be too underpowered for trails.
I plan to live in it for 3-4 months at a time. So wouldn’t all my supplies and gear be too close to max payload capacity as well to be going on the dirt path?

 

Absolutely no issues whatsoever; off road, at elevation, cruising down the highway at 85. I recommend a lift if you want to do gnarlier offroading though, the weight of the camper definitely hurts clearance.

 

Fully loaded swift will be well over max payload. @Steelhead Taco is fully loaded and lives full time in some way out there places.

 

Are you ballin in a swift in a long bed bro. We should hang out in AZ

 

In addition to suspension and lift, also good is ovtune for power, and gears.

 

Not anymore and also, it wasnt exactly a Swift. It was an 80s Fleet that I chopped a foot out of, stripped down to the frame and completely rebuilt...and then sold. Im in the market for another one probably this summer after I downsize from my house into a townhouse. Much less of a project this time around and hopefully it will be a Finch. If I cant find the right Finch Ill get a Swift.

Here is the link to the build on expedition portal if you're interested. https://www.expeditionportal.com/fo...fleet-shortening-documentation-thread.199234/

"Back in the day" Camped at Sheeps Bridge.


Gutted


Interior after

 

Sickk

Im thinking of making the switch from my vagabond drifter to a FWC Swift. I plan to live in it for longer periods of time. Drifter is a bit tight.

 

So sick! Was that hard to let go of?

 

Was living full time out of a canopy, FWC is definitely an upgrade...

 

Yes and no, it was a lot of blood, sweat, tears, time and money but I wanted something different at the time. Plus I enjoy building them as much as I love using them so Im always ready for a new project and I don’t hold a lot of sentimental value for things. That was the third camper Ive redone.

 

Sickk build!
I might have to message you for tips on living full time in a pop up. I plan to do so within a few months, I’d want to downsize as well.

from what I’m understanding, it’s much better to get the shell version in order to save on weight.

essentials would pretty much just be a heater, a fan, solar.
id just use a propane Coleman stove and an arb fridge. Then just have one of those portable toilets

Thinking if I should get the outdoor shower,

what are your thoughts on that?

 

I live full time in a swift shell. Furnace, two roof vents with fan, lithium batteries, roof and ground solar, chest cooler fridge, frontrunner 5 gallon water jugs with spigot, camp stove using 1lb propane bottles (some day will hook into house propane).

I use a nemo portable pump shower, which works perfectly for my needs but sucks hard when it's 25 and windy outside. Also end up showering a little bit less

I also have the rollover couch, which you could take or leave really. Nice to have but takes up space, also gives you behind the couch storage though. Ditch the big side window if you have the couch.

 

friendlywithbears is a much better person to ask. Ive never lived out of a camper. If I was going to I would a fully loaded camper, not a shell. Hot and cold water, outdoor shower at a minimum, furnace, solar and substantial battery bank. The difference between ~800lbs for a shell and ~1000lbs for a full camper is not very big. You should be upgrading suspension in both cases so you might as well have the comforts you want.

 

God I want hot shower. But a fully loaded swift is gonna be more like 1400+ lb before gear and water

 

Does the Swift get pretty tight for one person? Just going to be my dog and I traveling across the coast, through Canada, then Mexico.

Another question I have is how does the Swift retain heat inside the camper when you’re parked in subzero temps?

In my current wedge camper set up, after I turn off the heater, it gets pretty dam cold in about 30 minutes or less.
Was worried about the tent material keeping heat in