Light Weight Four Wheel Camper

[RollingOm]

Hello!
I just came across this newly released Four Wheel campers project M.  It is only the shell, and you don't need to take off the tailgate. Its price is $8995. I never bought a camper before, so I'm not familiar at all with prices.  Since it is only the shell, I wonder if it is worth the price?
Sorry I couldn't get the link, but you can just type:  four wheel campers project M. It is also in youtube.  
Thanks for your input

RollingOm

P.S.
My truck is a 1500 Chevy Silverado, standard bed, and the camper only weighs 400 pounds

 

[bullfrog]

Exactly what are you going to do with it? That is a lot of money and it is simply an enclosed space. What makes worth that much to you?

 

[RollingOm]

Yeah, that is a lot of money :-(

 

[Weldman]

A lot of money for basically a convertible top camper, we have seen how that worked out for cars.

 

[swlands]

I am looking at those as well. They have a bed built into the cabover, they are prewired for solar, and they will probably hold their value for resale. https://fourwheelcampers.com/model/project-m/

I have been watching Four Wheel Campers used market and there are a few around. They even have their own facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/UsedFourWheelCampers/

My hesitation is they are not cheap and I like the idea of doing my own build so I can fix stuff and also make changes. If I knew exactly what suited me I would be more confident.

The company started in 1972 in Colorado, moved to CA in the 80's. I took a drive up to see the factory about a week ago. They have a really solid product and they back it up.

 

[maki2]

The price point seems high but I have no idea what they are spending for parts and labor. But being in California things do seem to go for a lot of money to the 4 x 4 crowd.

 

[user 22017]

Hi RollingOm,

They are made really well, from what I've read. I wouldn't buy anything new, though. Even if they retain their value well, you can find a deal ... with patience.

Does that price include the storage box, bumper & rack on the back? Those sell for 2 or 3K at Aluminess.

 

[ckelly78z]

Seems kind of pricey for an empty, popup truck camper shell. That is used Lance money right there.

 

[Firtree]

I’m not crazy about the soft sided campers. Wind and dust blows through in desert. In cool or cold areas hard to stay warm. In wet areas the cloth, canvas has difficulty drying and will mildew.

I’d suggest reading the early days of Bob and the plywood box top he made for his truck. He has plans as I recall. Not a perfect setup but inexpensive compared to many and can last a number of years.

 

[swlands]

Some used FWC
$7200 1988 https://sacramento.craigslist.org/rvs/d/elk-grove-four-wheel-pop-up-camper/6998537676.html
$13500 98 camper 2004 F250 https://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/d/gardnerville-four-wheel-camper-hawk/7000198239.html
$11500 2014 w/o truck https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/rvs/d/mill-valley-four-wheel-pop-up-truck/6997426447.html
$25000 2007 on 2002 F250 https://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/d/reno-super-duty-lariat-4x4-with-2007/7000655670.html

They are not hard to find used. These are scattered around CA. They are used a lot by serious overlander types. I am enjoying watching the YouTube adventures of GrizzlyNbear Overland https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL7OqeJnHWiJUMl3vjIN_1Q If I were younger I might try stuff like this. If I get a rig and some company I would love it... Maybe one day. Fun for me to watch.

 

[Firtree]

Here’s the link to some of the info on Bob’s build on his F-150

https://www.cheaprvliving.com/build-camper/

 

[swlands]

Yes - FWC is NOT cheap RV. But the living is the same. As for the cold they have a thermal pack for added insulation that simply velcro's over the sides - $725. The sides are made from stuff they make zodiac boats with - it is very tough. At the factory I asked what broke, thinking about the soft sides - they last for many decades. It is the fridges and stuff that break. I saw some being sold as the owners spent too much time inside - they were very comfortable.

What I like is the low profile, and you can set them up to sleep in without lifting the popup to stealth camp. Not really a stealth camp set up, however.

Back to the OP. I like the topper as it sits on the bed rails like other toppers - it isn't the width of the truck. It is lighter. It is still really solidly built to take pounding 4x4 trips months on end. If you watch the video at the project M link you will see they bolt it down. They are not yet in production, just starting up. I don't think they are seeing their market the same way I am - I think there is a DIY element like me that would take them on. And I bet they will sell used in a few years - many will want to upgrade to the larger slide ins and sell off the topper.

 

[RollingOm]

I am looking at those as well. They have a bed built into the cabover, they are prewired for solar, and they will probably hold their value for resale. https://fourwheelcampers.com/model/project-m/

Yes!  the only thing is, and like Bullfrog said, for just a shell, project M is too expensive.  I could get a regular snug top shell for a third of the price, but I wouldn't be able to stand up, and I really want to be able to stand up inside.  I thought about buying a van and put a high top, but I love trucks and what you can do with them <sigh>.  I Wish I had the money to buy an Earth roamer

 

[RollingOm]

Hi RollingOm,

They are made really well, from what I've read. I wouldn't buy anything new, though. Even if they retain their value well, you can find a deal ... with patience.

Does that price include the storage box, bumper & rack on the back? Those sell for 2 or 3K at Aluminess.

Hi!  The storage box, bumper and rack are separate.  I will continue doing research, I don't wanna hurry and regret later.  What I like about this project M is that the shell part looks strong and rugged, maybe good when you're out in grizzly bears territory?

 

[RollingOm]

I’m not crazy about the soft sided campers. Wind and dust blows through in desert. In cool or cold areas hard to stay warm. In wet areas the cloth, canvas has difficulty drying and will mildew.

Yes, I have to consider those things since I spend a lot of time in high desert Sedona.  I can just see the canvas covered in red dust ,
or when I go to Yaak, Montana when it rains for days at a time.

 

[RollingOm]

They are not hard to find used. These are scattered around CA. They are used a lot by serious overlander types. I am enjoying watching the YouTube adventures of GrizzlyNbear Overland https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL7OqeJnHWiJUMl3vjIN_1Q If I were younger I might try stuff like this. If I get a rig and some company I would love it... Maybe one day. Fun for me to watch.

swlands, I'm not a young chick either, but I've been watching the overland videos, and it really makes me want to go out there and play.  My truck is only a 2WD, but it has something on the back tires that makes it get out of sticky situations. Is that called l rear locking differential? I don't know much about cars but I like driving them, the rougher the better

 

[RollingOm]

Thank you all for your feedback and comments, I will continue checking up on what is out there, and how it accommodates to my needs. 

I think I will go to the RTR with just a good tent for now (my truck is wide enough inside the crew cab to sleep there also, in case my tent blows away).  I just want the best of both worlds, a good truck to play and explore wild and remote places, and a good and safe camper to sleep in and safeguard me against the elements

RollingOm

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I camp about 150 days a year in a 33 Y.O FWC Grandby.  Original soft sides; weather/bug/dust tight (or as dust tight as any RV will be).  I paid $500 for it 7 years ago.

Some thoughts:

• depending on physical condition climbing up and down from the bed-over-cab can be a problem and hassle.  I built my bed down.
• lifting and lowering the top is not a hassle, takes about 10-20 minutes.  Except for latching/unlatching the roof all can be done from the inside.
• the soft sides will mildew if packed away wet for a long time (as will anything left wet for a while), will stain, but it will not affect functionality.
• because of the soft sides it is noisy as a tent.
• the camper costs me ~ 1.5 MPG.
• my Grandby weighs out at ~ 1275 lbs loaded with 2 weeks water, supplies, me and a beagle.
• a grizzly will get into any RV or vehicle it wants to (ok, maybe not a tank).
• lots of used FWC and ATC (FWC clone) for sale on the pacific coast; other places you will probably have to look for a while; took me 9 months to find mine in Wisconsin.
• Quite a few will be under the $9000 price point and you can rip out the interior and build it the way you want (thats what I did).