Stupid FWC Questions...

[GaryMc]

So I pick up my FWC Eagle next Monday in Reno and have been staring at FWC photos endlessly :drool: and realized that I had no idea what the little door on the left rear side of the campers is for. You know, the one just to the oeft of the rear door... Anyone?

My fridge will run off the battery while I'm driving, right?


Feel free to add you own Stupid FWC questions to this thread.:)

[mog]

20 gallon propane tank on my old one (mine was a Grandby, so maybe different on the Eagle).

[Northern Explorer]

I think I know what one you mean. It's where the furnace goes. If you don't have a furnace it's a storage space.

without furnace
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg284/NorthernExplorer/NewFeagleCamper72.jpg

with furnace
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg284/NorthernExplorer/tacomaandfwc016Medium2.jpg

Finch FWC...not mine

[GaryMc]

I think I know what one you mean. It's where the furnace goes. If you don't have a furnace it's a storage space.

without furnace
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg284/NorthernExplorer/NewFeagleCamper72.jpg

with furnace
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg284/NorthernExplorer/tacomaandfwc016Medium2.jpg

Finch FWC...not mine

Bingo, that's the one I meant. Thanks!

[kcowyo]

My fridge will run off the battery while I'm driving, right?

Depends... Did you get the auxillary battery, stored inside the camper? If not, you can run it off your truck battery if wired to do so.


Gettin' anxious?
.

[ScottBailey]

I am not especially fond of running my refer of 12v. It works, but not especially well and it draws enough juice that my house (camper) battery does not seem to charge.

I prefer to run the refer on propane. But, without this re-lighter mod (http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/showthread.php?p=15193#post15193) I found the darn thing wouldn't stay lit. Re-lighter mod installed, the refer is easier to get going and guaranteed to stay on.

I concur it is a storage door or furnace exhaust door depending on options.

[GaryMc]

Depends... Did you get the auxillary battery, stored inside the camper? If not, you can run it off your truck battery if wired to do so.


Gettin' anxious?
.

I did order it with the aux. batt.! Anxious? Me? Yes! It's a helluva lot of money to throw at a hopped up tent!
Thanks, guys, for the help and for dealing with my inevetible future querys.

So, I pick it up in Reno on the 26th and would like a nice in NV to spend the night on the way home. I am utterly unfamiliar with Nevada, any suggestions?

[kcowyo]

You taking the loneliest road home? Two things to know about Nevada -

1. Gas, gas, gas. Top off often.
2. It's going to be really cold and probably windy.


Good ideas here - (http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=608)
.

[GaryMc]

You taking the loneliest road home?

That's the plan.... I'm tired of cold. Ugh. Grassyass for the link!

[GaryMc]

Will the stupid questions ever end?
How much room is there between the roof and the cabover bed when the roof is down? Enough for a couple of rolled out sleeping bags?

What size disco ball do you think would work best in the Eagle model?

[Northern Explorer]

Will the stupid questions ever end?
How much room is there between the roof and the cabover bed when the roof is down? Enough for a couple of rolled out sleeping bags?

What size disco ball do you think would work best in the Eagle model?

There is very little room on the bed with the top down. Definitely not enough room for sleeping bags rolled up. Maybe a blanket or two layed flat. We sleep with two summer sleeping bags zipped together to make one large sleeping bag. When I break down the camper in the morning I roll the sleeping bags up (not folded in half) and I strap it to the back rest of the bench seat.

[kcowyo]

Will the stupid questions ever end?

Hope so...;)



How much room is there between the roof and the cabover bed when the roof is down?

None.



Enough for a couple of rolled out sleeping bags?

See above.



What size disco ball do you think would work best in the Eagle model?

Disco is dead. There is enough room for a decent sized mosh pit between the stovetop and the escape hatch.


*******************

The only thing I can store in the bunk when closed is a small flat blind for the rear door window (like a windshield sun blind). The raising lever leaves an impression on the mattress, it's really tight.

I keep my sleeping bags and duffles with clothes in the back seat of the truck. I use the slding glass windows to pull my stuff through, into the camper. In the morning, I stuff the bags back through the sliding window. Saves a lot of laps around the truck.


Remember these words, which I state to everyone who gets in my camper, - "Think small and move slowly."


You're gonna nail your head once, maybe twice on the door. Happens to everybody... my tip - tuck your chin and step through, not up.


Always, always, always walk an extra lap around the truck after you have closed the camper up. Check all latches to make sure you closed them tight. Double check that you have closed the propane valve as well before you get underway.


Keep the door open when dropping the top. It's all vacuum packed in there. Can be nearly impossible to lower the top with the rear door closed. And don't forget to hook up the cross-bungees prior to lowering the top.


Buy a small hand whisk brush and dustpan. Dirt & mud always get tracked in. The small brush and pan make clean up easy.


The purple Crown Royal bags make great potholders and stash away easily.


I prefer sleeping with my head over the cab, but you can turn around (head towards the door) if necessary. The drawback is that if you are a squirmer, your pillow may fall off the bed at 3am. Bummer...


I leave the sliding window slightly cracked when travelling and the roll open window at the rear. Creates a nice draft so it doesn't get stagnant in the afternoon sun.


On windy highways, check your rooftop vent cover. Mine pops open at high speeds in high winds. Another reason to crack open a couple of windows.


Check your turnbuckles often on your way home, but only turn them to the point of snug resistence. Don't over-torque them. Use a screwdriver or wrench BTW, threaded through the turnbuckle to tighten them.


I stash camp chairs, a cooler, a kitchen box, the Zodi shower and a box of firewood on the floor when travelling. On a small runner of carpet, with that no-skid mesh stuff under it, those items never slide around. So don't be afraid to pile things on the floor space.
http://s170537965.onlinehome.us/KcoWyo/gallery2/d/2995-1/Trip+062.jpg


You can see here how I'm typically packed up and the lack of room with the closed bunk.


Counting down....... :campfire:
.

[GaryMc]

Well, I'm back and I'm tired. What is it about driving that is so friggen exhausting? Spent the first night in the FWC last night and I'm pretty sure I got lung cancer from the heater burning off various manufacturing chemicals.
The first night was spent in the Wendover KOA as I was to tired to track down safe public land. Other than the heater stank for the first hour I slept like a baby, so much so I didn't wake until 8:30'ish. That's rare for me when camping.
I'll start another thread for the truck and camper, but will keep this one going for the inevetible pendejo questions.:sombrero:

[ntsqd]

The purple Crown Royal bags make great potholders and stash away easily.


Ya know, there's only one way that I know of to get those. Pure drudgery to get them too. :sombrero:

Congrats on the new camper!!

[ScottBailey]

Buy a small hand whisk brush and dustpan. Dirt & mud always get tracked in. The small brush and pan make clean up easy.


We store ours in the driver side front turnbuckle alcove.

SB