The folks that sell the Flip Pac

[newmexflippacker]

I must say that I am thrilled to have a Flip Pac, but if your in the market to buy one, be ready for horrendous customer service...I guess a great deal of the reason is that the Flip Pac part of business is only a small portion of what they do...when I was there...there was a huge warehouse..manufacturing other stuff. Their stock answer...No not theirs but FRP employee Diana's stock answer is "its on back order" so be ready. I lucked out and found/purchased my used flip pac from one of their dealers in Phoenix...He told us it was his personal flip pac, which was sitting in his showroom when we got there...for a very good price for a flip pac with minimal wear, he installed it wired the lights for us...it was a perfect install job I must say...we planned a trip to California around the install. So the next day, when arriving at Flip Pac in Riverside, California purpose being to meet the people that make them, was shocked to discover that the dealer had blatantly lied about the Flip Pac being his. I was in an awkward position thats for sure...I just said "hey I did a cash transaction with one of your authorized dealers (which he was)...thats all I know" The owner of FRP sales was there and laughed it off and told me not to worry about it....so..I lucked out...the story was, my Flip Pac was a demo that was used like somewhere in the midwest...it went back to the Riverside, California location for new tent, new paintjob etc...and then went to the dealer in Phoenix...no matter what, the dealer was slimey to give us this big story about having to check with his wife first to make sure he could sell it...he even said that she probably would say no!....guess he was just desperate for money. One more thing about Diana, who only works for the owner, she is not an owner in any way, shape or form...I had to go back to California one year later because my father had passed away. So I called as I left New Mexico telling her I wanted to purchase a rain fly while there...she promised me that they would have one before I left California two weeks later...so, two weeks later, I stopped by there on the way back to New Mexico...she again gave me some typical song and dance...really wasn't in the mood because of my dad dying and all....so I just said.."Diana..please call me just as soon as they come in so we can have one shipped to us"...she promised to my face that she would....never heard from them again.....just listing this so I can give an example of their extreme lack of concern...they don't "get" good customer service...but their product is awesome...so you just have to deal with the BS or find a used one elsewhere in good shape.

[1leglance]

This is a perfect example of why you are better off dealing with Adventure Trailers instead of "directly" with FlipPac.
AT will take care of you and stay on top of things. Sure you might still get the horrible wait times out of the factory but at least you will get call backs, response and know they care.

[Shruk]

We've all been there with FRP. There is another rainfly option available now, check with Martyn at AT. Anyway, welcome to the Flippac club. :victory:

[abeaudin1971]

X2 on Adventure Trailers - my first purchase from them was my Flippac - the camper was delivered when it was promised and it certainly hasn't been my last purchase from them. Engel Fridge, National Luna power pack, etc..

The service after the sale is great.

-a

[ETAV8R]

I will somewhat agree with the original poster. However I did have an issue with part of their instal and went back. They replaced the broken fiberglass spacer no questions asked. Also when I picked up my flippac they did have in-stock the rainflys. I decided I had spent enough for the time being and would pick one up at a later date. I'm guessing they have them made from another company pretty much on a basis of someone ordering one. True the customer service at AT seems to be hard to beat. For me the commute to FRP and saving some money was worth it. There are some small issues here and there with any purchase.

Welcome to the world of the flippac!

[suntinez]

Diane told me the story of your flippac some time ago, and then you showed up there! They were so surprised to see it again. I think they were very gracious about the whole thing, considering they were never paid for it. Certainly wasn't your fault either. Welcome to flipping! Post some pics when you can.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/suntinez/camper%20overview/flippers.jpg

As Shruk said we've all been there with the customer service from FRP, they do try - but are horrible about staying in touch. You just have to keep calling. When I bought mine, I'd called many many times but no response.

Finally I just showed up on their doorstep. Homer told Diane to put one on my truck for a test fit and I went ahead and placed my order that day. Took a bit longer than expected to get it, but since then they have taken care of every single issue/part needed for me without charge. This was before AT became a dealer for them, so that wasn't an option.

They do outsource the rainfly, I had to wait for mine too. Kinda wish I'd waited for the one the expo crowd came up with though, seems much sturdier. Truth is I hardly use mine though, so its ok.

[zornff]

I am proud to say that my new flip pack just made it to AT. Heading down there on Sunday to test fit and design the composite storage. Should be flipping by mid April.:wings:

Mike

[newmexflippacker]

how do I post images on here Suntinez

[newmexflippacker]

oh yeah...am I the only one with a yellow cream colored tent on my flip pac..I only have seen gray.....

[newmexflippacker]

We've all been there with FRP. There is another rainfly option available now, check with Martyn at AT. Anyway, welcome to the Flippac club. :victory:

Thanks for the welcome...I bought the prototype from SLO sail and canvas..the one in burgundy and tan..it arrives on Thursday

[newmexflippacker]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/xsocalguyinnm/tucsonaz.jpg

Tucson, Arizona

[newmexflippacker]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/xsocalguyinnm/roomwithaview.jpg

Escalante, Utah

[newmexflippacker]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/xsocalguyinnm/quartziteaz.jpg

Quartzsite, Arizona

[newmexflippacker]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/xsocalguyinnm/paumavalleysandiego.jpg

Pauma Valley, San Diego County

[newmexflippacker]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/xsocalguyinnm/atthreeriversnm.jpg

Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, New Mexico

[Martyn]

I used to have a small construction business and it did very well despite intense competition for business. What was the secret to our success? I called back everyone who left me a phone message, even if I was booked for months and couldn't do the work. The biggest complaint these potential customers had was no one called them back.

Many of them decided to wait until we were available to do the work for them rather than continue to make calls that would be unanswered.

It's my experience that people just want to be kept in the loop regardless of if the news is good or bad.

[TACODOC]

...snip... You just have to keep calling...snip

...snip... Took a bit longer than expected to get it, but since then they have taken care of every single issue/part needed for me without charge...snip...

I bought mine from AT for all the reasons voiced here, and although my dealings with FRP via phone or email are not on par with AT, FRP's (Diane's) customer service when I was actually there at FRP in Riverside was pretty good. I had some work done to mine at the factory there and she even lent me her car for the day since it was going to be a while. Each time I have been there they have treated me like a VIP :)

FRP is old school (look at their website :Wow1:) and is just not that phone or internet oriented because the bulk of their business is "Fiberglass Reinforced Products".... the FlipPac is Homer's side gig/hobby/pet project. Their customer service at the plant however, and after the sale, is great IMO but they do need office help IMO.


I used to have a small construction business and it did very well despite intense competition for business. What was the secret to our success? I called back everyone who left me a phone message, even if I was booked for months and couldn't do the work. The biggest complaint these potential customers had was no one called them back.

Many of them decided to wait until we were available to do the work for them rather than continue to make calls that would be unanswered.

It's my experience that people just want to be kept in the loop regardless of if the news is good or bad.

That's good business leadership ;)

[newmexflippacker]

omg...yes the website! and I was talking to Homer because I am a graphic designer asking if he wanted me to revamp his Flip Pac Flyer for them...that I would barter if he wanted me to...as far as Diana goes, she is very nice...and she was very helpful when I called her from New Mexico and was searching for a used flip pac...she was honest about telling me what to look out for when I checked em out...but it would be must easier to be upfront and honest and to have a sense of what the perception of the customer turns to when calls don't get returned...regardless of their business mentality...if the Flip Pac was the only business, I guarantee the level of customer service would bounce thru the roof...enuf said

[locrwln]

So Martyn,

Is AT going to try and convince FRP to use better canvas so that a rainfly is not needed? That is the one thing that I don't like (besides their customer service) about FP's. I think it is a great product that needs refinement and someone to actually take it to the next level, both in construction and service.

Jack

[Martyn]

So Martyn,

Is AT going to try and convince FRP to use better canvas so that a rainfly is not needed? That is the one thing that I don't like (besides their customer service) about FP's. I think it is a great product that needs refinement and someone to actually take it to the next level, both in construction and service.

Jack

Jack

Even if we could convince FRP to do this I don't think their choice of fabric or the quality of sewing would be up to our standards. The way we intend to moving ahead on this would be to manufacture our own tents. These would either replace existing tent structures or come as standard with the AT FlipPac.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes on this front. We want to learn more from what's happening with the Habitat tent before we move on the AT FlipPac tent.

[TACODOC]

Yes, and I will be first in line to test this new AT tent fabric on my FP ;)

[Herbie]

Even if we could convince FRP to do this I don't think their choice of fabric or the quality of sewing would be up to our standards. The way we intend to moving ahead on this would be to manufacture our own tents. These would either replace existing tent structures or come as standard with the AT FlipPac.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes on this front. We want to learn more from what's happening with the Habitat tent before we move on the AT FlipPac tent.

I hope after you sort out the Habitat and APFP tents, you'll be open to the notion of other "custom" tents. Sooner or later the tent fabric on my GTRV pop-top transplant is going to need replacing (after 15 years in the PNW, a transplant operation, and a second life in SoCal, I can't expect it to last forever), and I'd really rather tackle that project with a partner who has done a few expedition tents already. Of course having an existing tent to use as a template should help, but I still don't want to tackle this alone!

[newmexflippacker]

oooh and the sky is the limit for the new name of the product when you cross that road!

[locrwln]

Jack

Even if we could convince FRP to do this I don't think their choice of fabric or the quality of sewing would be up to our standards. The way we intend to moving ahead on this would be to manufacture our own tents. These would either replace existing tent structures or come as standard with the AT FlipPac.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes on this front. We want to learn more from what's happening with the Habitat tent before we move on the AT FlipPac tent.

Glad to hear there are other options/ideas being tried. Looking forward to any improvements AT can make to the FP.

You can only do better.

Jack

[newmexflippacker]

The rainfly prototype I purchased from SLO sail and canvas arrives today..and then tomorrow it gets the full nikwax treatment...then we are off to Moab next week

[magushi]

I am experiencing first hand every example of frustration that's been posted in this thread. I ordered a Flip Pac back in march and I'm still waiting for delivery. I liked the idea of the Flip Pac but was skeptical from the start because of the cost. 4000K seems like a lot of cash for what boils down to a glorified tent. I decided to pay a little extra by ordering mine through Adventure Trailers in Prescott, AZ because they are a lot closer to Albuquerque and also the AT units are built to their own specifications and better tailored for off road.

Anyway, my wife and I have been repeatedly calling and emailing both FRP and AT about a delivery date and have been rewarded with nothing but runaround and mis information and we still have no confidence in an actual delivery. I agree with others in this thread that the guys at AT are at least responsive and appear genuinely frustrated themselves but they are also apparently helpless and at the mercy of FRP when it comes to delivering to their customers and, frankly, I am buying the unit from AT. THEY are the ones who took my order. THEY are the ones who took my deposit. THEY are the ones who should ensuring they can deliver to their customers or at least offer a reasonable explanation and possible compensation for the repeated delays.

I apologize for the rant but we were told to expect ten weeks for delivery and I believe we have now entered week 17. We have now rescheduled our vacation trip three times in hopes of getting our camper and it still looks as if we will have to take the trip without it because we can't reschedule a fourth time and yet.... still no Flip Pac. I have since reached the point that I have serious doubts about the overall quality and workmanship of the product. If the manufacturers customer service and management/scheduling skills are any indication, then one has to question quality control as well. Again, 4000K for a camper shell with a tent...and probably poorly made. And on top of that it's going to take half a year to get it!

I'm seriously thinking i should get my money back asap.

[trump]

Just an FYI AT has stopped taking orders for the time being for this reason. I'm frustrated, but happy that AT is being honest and trying to keep customers happy. Hopefully they can work this out soon, so I can get mine on order.

[Mc Taco]

Man, I can understand that you're upset. Waiting well beyond the stated delivery for something to be delivered that you ordered AND paid a deposit on is maddening. (Ask me about my rack.) But for this to be your first post on the Forum is a bit tacky IMHO. Why not have joined back when you ordered the Flippac and been telling us about yourself and letting the community learn about you. Ranting on a company owned and staffed by fellow members as an introduction won't get you very far.

Not trying to minimize your situation, but why should we care or even give credence to your rant. We don't know you at all.

[Curmudgeon]

But for this to be your first post on the Forum is a bit tacky IMHO.
I think it's beyond tacky.

JP

[JoelCragAz]

Just found this post. I ordered my Flippac on Jan. 24, 2011 and as of today it is still not on my truck. Some good news is that it is going to be installed on Monday, July 18, 2011. Almost six months! I fell your pain.

[magushi]

So you're saying an individual with a legitimate concern shouldn't express himself on this forum if he hasn't already established himself in the "community"? Unless of course he only has good things to say.

I had no reason or motivation to join before. I was not even aware of the site. Simply placing an order for the product did not prompt me to join and contribute to a forum about it. It was not until I became really concerned about the situation that I started searching around and found this thread that I felt I could relate to. It is unfortunate that my first reason to contribute is a negative one but I don't see why that should prevent me from doing so.

Perhaps, when(if?) I actually receive the Flip Pac and have an opportunity to actually use it, I'll have only good things to say about it.
But right now, there is only frustration.

[Martyn]

Dealing with FRP is frustrating at the best of times and right now its at a low point. They continue to be unresponsive to phone calls, e mails and fax communication, but they always have been. The compounding factors are that this year they have seen a huge increase in orders and have had some difficulty procuring critical parts for their builds.

Where the frustration comes into play for us is that, had they been on the ball and used some project management skills they would have realized their target dates were unrealistic. At that point a call to their dealers would have kept us in the loop as to the delays, and we could have let our customers know what was going on. Needless to say this didn't happen.

In regard to customers buying their FlipPac through AT so that we can handle the FRP factor, this is one of the services we offer. I personally communicate with FRP sometimes on a daily basis to try and get updated information for customers. It's very frustrating and long winded. But there is a limit to what I can achieve, and apparently how far out FRP can predict.

From my many conversations with FRP my understanding is they are aware of the issues confronting them and are working to shorten delivery dates. I don't think we will ever see them as a company improve their communication skills and customer service. it's too ingrained in the company culture.

Regarding the product, I don't think you can tie together FRP's lack of communication and customer service with the quality of the product. It just doesn't work that way. I think we can all know of companies who produce great products but are a pain to deal with.

AT doesn't have any magic with FRP to procure FlipPacs. What we do is act as the intermediaries to save the customer the frustration of dealing with FRP directly. As soon as we have updated information we pass it along to our customers, but we don't have control over the information coming out of FRP. As "magushi" has found out when dealing directly with FRP, the information you receive depends on who you talk to there. This adds to the frustration level. The advantage AT has is that we know who to ask and who can give us reliable information. The information isn't always timely but it's typically accurate, there are some misunderstandings and modifications, but that's typical for production.

Finally regarding AT placing order with FRP for FlipPacs, I suspended placing orders until FRP could come to grips with their delivery schedule. At this time FRP is dealing with this issue, I have been told they are hiring more production staff and are working on reducing lead times. I can only believe what they are saying and take it on face value. They are not bad people just disorganized.

[bunduguy]

........But for this to be your first post on the Forum is a bit tacky IMHO. Why not have joined back when you ordered the Flippac and been telling us about yourself and letting the community learn about you. Ranting on a company owned and staffed by fellow members as an introduction won't get you very far.

Not trying to minimize your situation, but why should we care or even give credence to your rant. We don't know you at all.........

Hold on a minute......basically what you're saying is that nobody on this forum can say anything negative until they have earned our respect...? Did I get that right? is there some established ground rule before you can honestly state your opinion?
Take an example of your local city council meetings. You are not expected to establish your credibility first by going to countless meetings, before you can get up and make a complaint against the council! Possibly the reason you're at the meeting in the first place is to voice your concerns. Like a council meeting, this is a public forum, and i did not take his comments as blatantly disrespecting the AT team, but rather FRP who is NOT a member as AFAIK.
Th OP is clearly not a spammer or a troll. I found his complaint to be legitimate and well stated and actually pretty eloquent. And it also is not an out-of-the-blue first-time complaint towards FRP. Shouldn't that be the judge on which we base his credence? BTW, I have no idea who the OP is, but if I was called tacky after my first post, I don't think i'd be back. Let's not be so hasty to get all lofty.

Now, I know for a fact that AT has excellent customer service, which is what make them so good at what they do, and Martyn and Mario so respected. I'm sure we will have many other replies testifying to their virtue as well. But I think we are misguided for slamming a new member purely because his first post happens to be negative. I think it is tacky for a new member to have to ingratiate himself with the rest of us before he can make a genuine heartfelt statement! I know we have had an issue in the past with first-poster schmucks who just dive off the deep end at something, but the post was well written, clear, concise, and was even spelling error free! This alone should set him apart from other first-post complainers. Let's not tar everyone with the same brush.
The OP probably joined because as his frustration grew, maybe he googled to see if this was a common theme, and found our esteemed forum, in which he could contribute.

Well done guys. Way to welcome a new member who may become an interesting contributor.

Rant off....

As to the OP; as an industry insider, I ask you to give AT a chance to sort things out as we all know they usually do. We too have been at the mercy of suppliers, and have disappointed customers as a result. It is a sad reality, but sometimes things really are out of our hands and we're equally as frustrated as you are; after all, it is our business reputations and livelihood at stake when things go pear-shaped. Indeed, you did order the unit from AT, but I'm guessing you also understood through due diligence that they do not make it in-house.
Good luck and I hope you get a great unit or resolution.

[trump]

Finally regarding AT placing order with FRP for FlipPacs, I suspended placing orders until FRP could come to grips with their delivery schedule. At this time FRP is dealing with this issue, I have been told they are hiring more production staff and are working on reducing lead times. I can only believe what they are saying and take it on face value. They are not bad people just disorganized.

Thanks for the post Martyn. The honesty you guys have shown keeps customers. I for one will continue to wait it out as I know in the end it will be a fantastic product.

[ExpoMike]

maqushi, First off, welcome to ExPo. I hope you will find this a place to gather and share information. It can be a tight nit community and somewhat protective of good vendors out there.

Second, I can completely understand your frustration and concern. You likely placed your deposit and never actually saw one of these units in person. Now with the delays, you are doubting your purchase. Hang in there. In the end, you will be happy. The issues of delays with Flip Pac is a well known if you do some research. Heck, a Four Wheel Camper new build is likely to be 4-5 months for delivery, if all goes on schedule.

As for AT, the company and the Flip Pac they offer (though is made by the main company Flip Pac), I have seen a few of these in person and they are 100% high quality items. They are much stronger feeling than the normal Flip Pacs. Again, AT does not actually build these but puts out their specs to be built but they are also at the mercy of Flip Pac. Trust me when I say, Martyn and Mario are stand up guys and will do everything in their power to make things right. They are one of a handful of business I trust 100%.

Hang in there!

[Overland Hadley]

maqushi, First off, welcome to ExPo. I hope you will find this a place to gather and share information. It can be a tight nit community....

There was a time when new members would introduce themselves. It would still be nice if new people would say "hi, I am so and so, this is whats up" instead of just jumping in. There are people out there who only want to stir up trouble.



Trust me when I say, Martyn and Mario are stand up guys and will do everything in their power to make things right.

x2

[suntinez]

Perhaps, when(if?) I actually receive the Flip Pac and have an opportunity to actually use it, I'll have only good things to say about it.
But right now, there is only frustration.

Totally understand this, sounds like with repeatedly having to reschedule vacation due to FRP delays you'd be VERY frustrated. I know I would be. I'm sure AT is doing everything possible to ease your pain.

It is a good product though, guessing you'll agree after you finally get yours. Here's hoping that it's soon!

[homemade]

I'm seriously thinking i should get my money back asap.


Nothing wrong with your first post.

Just a thought, if you are having second thoughts and if a refund of your deposit isn't a possibility maybe you could post up what you ordered and see if anyone would want to take over your spot in line. Probably a long shot but if there is that much of an increase in orders of flippacs from FRP maybe someone who wants to order what you ordered would like to be 17 weeks ahead instead of where they would be if they submitted a new order.

[NotAMog]

I'm very happy with my FlipPac but it is a shame that FRP doesn't understand how modern customer service needs to work in the Internet age. I bought mine through AT and was extremely pleased with the service and support I've received from them. It took almost 6 months to get the camper which was twice as long as originally expected. I've been very happy with it since then.

The only problem I've had is that the paint doesn't match my truck despite giving them the proper paint code. I suspect that FRP's painter used some other paint he had on hand that was "close enough". If fact it looks like it may be the same color as Martyn's Ford, hummmm......??????

I stopped in at FRP on Good Friday. They were technically closed but Diane was in and took care of me. They worked with their painter and offered to dissemble the whole camper to repaint it. After thinking about it for some time I decided to live with it the way it is. I thought that dissembling and reassembling everything would open up the possibility of too many other problems. Actually, since I put the AT logo stickers on the camper I'm much less frustrated with the paint mismatch, probably because it gives me something else to look at on those tall slab sides other than the mismatched paint.

The folks at FRP seem to be reasonable to deal with in person but completely forget about dealing with them through E-mail and phone calls are at best hit and miss.

[ETAV8R]

What a bummer. I ordered my FRP Flippac last year and got it on time and in the right color. I'm curious what is going on over there. I've commented in other threads about their customer service. Long delays in production really need to be addressed if it causing an increase in customer dissatisfaction.

[magushi]

So after a weekend of intense therapy(aka fly fishing in Co.), I've chilled out a bit and decided to stick it out a while longer. I actually saw a unit while I was up there and from what I could see externally it looks well built. It was even mounted to the same vehicle as mine. It was parked and stowed away and the owner was nowhere in sight so I only saw the outside. I looked good. I want one.

There is optimistic news on the horizon. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thank you Martyn for your diligence. I understand your predicament and I wasn't trying to drag you or AT through the mud.
Perhaps in the future it would be good to give your Flip Pac customers a heads up on the probability of serious delays from the factory since that seems to be the norm.

[Martyn]

So after a weekend of intense therapy(aka fly fishing in Co.), I've chilled out a bit and decided to stick it out a while longer. I actually saw a unit while I was up there and from what I could see externally it looks well built. It was even mounted to the same vehicle as mine. It was parked and stowed away and the owner was nowhere in sight so I only saw the outside. I looked good. I want one.

There is optimistic news on the horizon. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thank you Martyn for your diligence. I understand your predicament and I wasn't trying to drag you or AT through the mud.
Perhaps in the future it would be good to give your Flip Pac customers a heads up on the probability of serious delays from the factory since that seems to be the norm.

I totally understand your frustration and I'm glad you have decided to hang in there. As of today your shell has been made and they have to hang the lid, attach the tent etc. to get it complete.

Since I found out about the delays I have been advising customers of longer delivery times. The problems have arisen with customers who ordered, and were anticipating, the normal 10 week delivery time frame. I only wish I'd know about the delays sooner so I could have communicated it to our customers.

[cc tacoma]

Hey ya'll, I'm in the same boat as some of you other folks. I placed my order for a Flip Pac with AT on April 5th., and was given a timeline of 10-12 weeks. However, here we are going on 16 weeks and no real word on delivery. However, I will say this. I strongly believe that the fellas at AT are doing everything possible to get somewhat of a timeline they can from FRP and get back to me promptly. They have been incredibly helpful. So in the meantime I try to tell myself that it will all be worth it when it finally shows up. Also for what it's worth, all the reviews I have heard from this forum and speaking to people who have flip pacs out on the road. They are more than happy with the product. So until she shows up I'll just try to focus on the fact that I am getting a great product and I will just have to sleep in the dirt a little longer. (I've been doing it for 31 years so a few more weeks won't kill me. :) I do find it interesting that AT has stopped taking orders for the time being, as crappy as that is, it sounds like it had to be done. If FRP can't (or won't) keep up with demand than why should AT keep taking orders for unknown delivery dates? I wouldn't want to either. Hopefully FRP can make some adjustments to get this all worked out. In the meantime, I'll see y'all out on the trail. (I'll be the one sleeping next to my Mag grey tacoma next to the wheel with a smile on my face none the less) :)

[zornff]

So after a weekend of intense therapy(aka fly fishing in Co.), I've chilled out a bit and decided to stick it out a while longer. I actually saw a unit while I was up there and from what I could see externally it looks well built. It was even mounted to the same vehicle as mine. It was parked and stowed away and the owner was nowhere in sight so I only saw the outside. I looked good. I want one.

There is optimistic news on the horizon. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Thank you Martyn for your diligence. I understand your predicament and I wasn't trying to drag you or AT through the mud.
Perhaps in the future it would be good to give your Flip Pac customers a heads up on the probability of serious delays from the factory since that seems to be the norm.

Where were you fly fishing in Colorado ? Could have been mine.

[TACODOC]

Be patient... It's worth the wait gents! :ylsmoke:

[Harp]

I worked with AT and not only had to order without having seen one in person, AT had to ship it cross country!! Martyn and the guys do a great job getting back to customers and post purchase service is excellent. As for the tent I would be the first to order a tent that eliminated the rain fly. I was however in the mountains of NC last weekend in a biblical thunderstorm and the factory fly did very well. High and dry. I have treated mine with just a water repellant spray once since the purchase I just wish I had covered windows to look out during a storm. All in all very pleased with the Flippac and have had many great weekends in total comfort. Thanks again AT for your service. Look forward to a tent update in the future.

Marty

[magushi]

Where were you fly fishing in Colorado ? Could have been mine.

West Fork of the San Juan outside of Pagosa.

Sorry, I haven't checked in for a while. Been out on a little road trip with MY NEW FLIP-PAC!!! Finally! I have to say I'm glad we stuck it out. It's working out great for us.

Definitely need some additional waterproofing ideas. Record drought this year in NM but it sure decided to rain on us this weekend. The storm fly can't keep up during a prolonged downpour.

Thanks Mario, Martyn, and the rest of the AT crew! My apologies for getting a bit uptight about the epic wait.

-M

[Maximus Ram]

West Fork of the San Juan outside of Pagosa.

Sorry, I haven't checked in for a while. Been out on a little road trip with MY NEW FLIP-PAC!!! Finally! I have to say I'm glad we stuck it out. It's working out great for us.

Definitely need some additional waterproofing ideas. Record drought this year in NM but it sure decided to rain on us this weekend. The storm fly can't keep up during a prolonged downpour.

Thanks Mario, Martyn, and the rest of the AT crew! My apologies for getting a bit uptight about the epic wait.

-M

Picture proof ......maybe you have been hypnotised into thinking that its here and its all a dream:sombrero::coffeedrink:

[TACODOC]

Definitely need some additional waterproofing ideas. Record drought this year in NM but it sure decided to rain on us this weekend. The storm fly can't keep up during a prolonged downpour.




Treating the tent and fly was about as easy a project as you will ever do. I used about one liter of the NikWax Solar Proof on the FlipPac itself and have another liter for the storm cover. Not only is it a good wax that soaks in nice and gets in all the seams and stitching, it also provides some UV protection for your tent fabric.

Here is what I used:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/devildoc25/102_3482.jpg


I also worked on the storm cover, replacing the bungies that FRP has on these and replaced them with something a little more serious - secure and adjustable tie downs from Nite Ize.
This ought to make it easy to secure the cover!
http://www.niteize.com/collections/figure-9/products/figure-9-tent-line-kit

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/devildoc25/102_3490.jpg

[GCecchetto]

Anyone got photos of an FP on a Tundra Crewmax?

[Martyn]

Anyone got photos of an FP on a Tundra Crewmax?

4 pictures on our website here (http://www.adventuretrailers.com/flippacspecs.html).

[GCecchetto]

those are photos of a first gen Tundra, not a crewmax.

[suntinez]

Anyone got photos of an FP on a Tundra Crewmax?

I don't have a Crewmax, I have the double cab/longbed - don't think I've seen a 2nd gen Crewmax with a flippac. If it helps, here's a couple pics of mine:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/suntinez/camper%20overview/DSC_0004.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/suntinez/camper%20overview/closed1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/suntinez/camper%20overview/openwithcrank.jpg

The Crewmax would look similar, except the hinge part on the front of the FP would extend slightly over the front of the cab instead of being behind the cab like mine. The first page of this thread has 3 flippacs together - the one on Shruk's Nissan Titan in front would be a fair approximation of that overhang for a shortbed Crewmax.

[Martyn]

those are photos of a first gen Tundra, not a crewmax.

FlipPacs are not vehicle specific so the fit is going to be very much the same.

[cc tacoma]

Hey guys,
Just a quick update here. I got my AT flip-pac for my 09' mag grey Tacoma installed on Wednesday!!!!!! I definitely took longer than I thought it was going to, but I have to say once again that the the Adventure Trailer crew did a great job staying on top of FRP and pushing for timelines and completion dates, and they also did a great job installing it ASAP. So in short, Adventure Trailers is Awesome and FRP not awesome. But at least the finished product turned out wonderful (pics to come, once I learn how). If I was to give any advice (not that anyone asked for it) I would say if you are considering a Flip Pac, definitely go through AT without a doubt. And definitely be prepared to wait probably a little longer than you prefer. So it's probably best to not count on taking a trip if you are depending on having the flip pac by a certain date. Wait until you physically see it on your truck, then plan your trip. All and all, my Flip-Pac took 21 weeks FYI. And BTW I couldn't be happier with the way it performs. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ETAV8R]

Pics?

[cc tacoma]

Pics?

I'll put up some pics soon. (I'm pretty bad at technology) Once I learn how I will. I promise.

[wheresmikeys]

Okay I have questions. I am planning a trip in March/April. I have an 08 Tacoma and it seems from this thread, that I should put an order in now. So, I will call and see how much a deposit is. Now, is there ANY difference in AT's version and the model from the factory? Quite a price difference involved. Also, I see that most set ups have the support bars mounted to the hood. Dont really want to do that. I have an ARB on the front that I would rather have the mounts on. I see that some of these trucks (like the Tundra) ahve the mounts bars kicked at a severe angle forward. i assume that would work?

[wivrrat]

Been reading many blogs about the flippac before I actually had mine rebuilt. My neighbor gave me a flippac that set in the high desert for many years. When I opened it, it was mouse infested. The tent was chewed up as well as the mattress. It had a old flippac sticker on it so I googled it and found FRP. I called and talked to Diana and found out they can replace the tent, mattress, etc. I ordered a replacement tent, mattress, and crank.
I only live about 2 hours from Riverside, so I waited about 2 weeks for the new items to come in. Finally about two weeks ago I drove to Riverside and began the adventure. Everything said in the past posts about the professionalism of FRP is correct. But in the long run, I was there approx. 6 hours (8 a.m. - 2 p.m.). They removed my flippac from my truck, installed the tent and mattress and professionally re-attached the flippac to my truck. When I received my flippac I just mounted it temporarily until I had the work done. With the new tent, mattress, and crank it came to a little over $1,000.00. They didn't charge me to install the flippac. According to Diana, my flippac is about 17 years old. Still in fairly good shape. I am going to snowcoat the roof for added protection. Also need new screens down the road.
I haven't used it yet as I'm doing the interior of the truck bed now. I mounted the flippac on a 1983 Nissan king cap 4WD. So I should be able to go lots of neat places. I gutted a travel trailer bed and cabinets and have installed them on the truck bed. The bed is like a couch and slides out to make a 3' bed on the truck bed. That way if I am cought in really bad weather or just don't want to flip the tent, I can craw in the truck and sleep on a confortable bed. I also replaced the lights with vintage 12v lights and am in the process now of addiding a converter, batteries, etc. under the bed compartment. I will provide some pictures as I complete the project.
As to FRP, they didn't have a new crank on hand and lent me one of theirs till mine came in, it was supposed to be here two weeks ago. O'well, the one they lent me is like new and works. If they don't call, no harm done.
One major question I would like to ask this forum. What happened to the new, inexpensive rain fly that was supposed to be made available. I see FRP charges $360.00 for theirs and the other two charge $350.00. Is there any difference between the three? Also, I noticed walmart carries a nikwas like spray and has seam seal. Has anyone tried the walmart brand or should I go with the Nikwax? The walmart brand was a good price.
Sorry to ramble on with this post. Thanks

[Chili]

I wish they made a Flip Pack for my Bronco. That would be absolutely perfect.

[cc tacoma]

My truck before and after the Adventure Trailer Flip Pac and All Pro Rock Sliders.
Thank you AT!

[ETAV8R]

Lookin good CC with and w/o the flippac

[TACODOC]

My truck before and after the Adventure Trailer Flip Pac and All Pro Rock Sliders.
Thank you AT!

Love the satoshi grill, where did you get that?

[cc tacoma]

Love the satoshi grill, where did you get that?

Hey Thanks Doc!
Me and my brother made it in my garage. The black mesh is a grill craft but the emblem is from an 86' land cruiser (i'm pretty sure). I got most of the write ups off of Tacoma World. Let me know if you want to get some info on it as far as lessons learned when I made it. And where to get certain materials. It's the least I could do because I've taken tons of useful information off of your threads. So thanks again.

[trailsurfer]

My truck before and after the Adventure Trailer Flip Pac and All Pro Rock Sliders.
Thank you AT!



Beautiful Tacoma!

[Wilbur]

After reading the stories of long lead times, etc (not knowing anything but what's posted here). I'm curious why someone like AT hasn't maybe tried to buy that line off of them to find a better mfg to produce them (since I know you guys are working with NEMO, and already know alot about Flippacks), or possibly come up with your own line of "flippacs" (maybe even more custom based to fit different needs).

Even with that being said, I still think overall FRP makes one of the most practical design, I'm still in amazement at just how verstile they are.

[clcoyle]

My truck before and after the Adventure Trailer Flip Pac and All Pro Rock Sliders.
Thank you AT!

Great Looking Tacoma

[WASURF63]

Good lookin' combo!
Did I notice some sort of IAFF rear plate on your rig (or a union sticker on an AZ plate)?

[homemade]

It sounds like people are FRP are decent and honest but that the flippac isn’t a priority for their business and communication with customers is lacking along with service to some degree.

To optimize any contact I have with them I wondered if those who have bought from them can help clarify some questions I have.

Do they take phone orders, or how else do they handle orders?

Do they require full payment in advance or a deposit, and how much and what payment method do they require (credit card, cashier’s check or whatever)?

Do they provide an anticipated delivery date?
How much advance notice do they provide for when unit will be available, days, weeks, months?

Will they crate and ship, if so how much $?

Are there order variables like window size or location or is it a take-as-is proposition?

Anything else a new customer should know?


Thanks for any input from those that have dealt directly with FRP. Thanks also for those who have posted in the past regarding flippac and FRP. Information from those who know is what makes web sites like this worthwhile.

[ETAV8R]

Do they take phone orders, or how else do they handle orders?
Yes

Do they require full payment in advance or a deposit, and how much and what payment method do they require (credit card, cashier’s check or whatever)?
I think I did a deposit and paid the balance upon delivery

Do they provide an anticipated delivery date?
Yes, and they met it, this was about a year ago.

How much advance notice do they provide for when unit will be available, days, weeks, months?
Usually at the time you place your order. I had a trip deadline and they met it.

Will they crate and ship, if so how much $?
No idea, ask Harp

Are there order variables like window size or location or is it a take-as-is proposition?
Windows are standard AFAIK, Windoors have to be ordered from another company and shipped to FRP. Position of both is standard.

Anything else a new customer should know?
Just be patient and continue to call for production updates.


Thanks for any input from those that have dealt directly with FRP. Thanks also for those who have posted in the past regarding flippac and FRP. Information from those who know is what makes web sites like this worthwhile.
You are welcome! You will love the Flippac

Questions answered in bold above.

[Harp]

AT shipped mine to NC, I'm not sure if they ship or not but AT does. Need a big trailer and pick up at a fedex hub.

[homemade]

Thanks ETAV8R and Harp

Thanks for the info. I wasn’t sure what to expect from FRP but Diane was very helpful and talking to her on the phone I got the impression that she is a very nice person. Order went smoothly. Hopefully the rest of my experience with FRP will be as good. Current wait time is 13 weeks and she seemed confident of that time frame. FRP will put flippacs on pallet and wrap in plastic for delivery but I would have to find a shipper. If everything goes well I will probably make a trip of it to have it installed at FRP.

Thanks again

[tacoluv]

I know it was a frustrating experience and I made many calls to Diane, who apparently controls everything there! They seem to fear computers and take all conversations, orders on note paper. I left for Riverside last March feeling about 75% sure it would be ready. They told me it was being painted the day I left from MN! I had been building out my 02 Tacoma for the past year, for a trip to Alaska in June.

This is what I came away with. The best product for light offroad camping.It's like a shell on my truck, I love this rig with Icons, and modifided Deaver leafs, CBI rear bumper and sliders, Schrockworks front with Warn, big brake upgrade, dual battery with Hellroaring control, TRD supercharger. A great riding road vehicle cabable of steam crossing, mining roads, and 9500 miles with only a broker windshield. No other camper weighs less than 500lbs.

So tough it out and don't get mad. They will get it done.

[homemade]

I’m hoping for the best as far as on time completion but we will see. I definitely agree about keeping the weight low. I have a ’04 F350 CC short bed and my current camper is well under 1000# but I still want lighter. I like how the truck rides, handles, performs unloaded or with light loads and would like to keep it that way as much as possible for recreational use. With my current camper and gear loaded up, not so much. I think it is interesting that the camper certification that came with the truck listed something like 1500# as the camper weight limit for this truck. I installed air bags because of some rear suspension weakening over the years and that helped with my current camper but it is a lot more fun driving with less weight. I wanted a truck cap anyway so the flippac seemed like the best compromise. I had started building my own flip top cap but somehow got the top of the cap out of square and I don’t have the DIY mojo anymore to grind the welds off and true it up. I am very happy to give up on that project and just buy one. Still plan to make my own rain fly with the urethane coated cordura I have, hope that works out.

[homemade]

I wanted to update this for those who might be interested in buying a flippac from FRP.

I had the pleasure of meeting Diana, Homer and some FRP employees on Saturday when they installed my flippac. They were all genuinely nice people and the product is exactly what I wanted. To my eye it looks all high quality, the fit and finish is nice, it works great. I only wish I had known about the flippac when I first bought my truck and I wouldn‘t have bothered with even looking at, let alone building, my own slide in pop up camper.


FRP bent over backwards for me. They were a couple weeks behind schedule but made a real effort to have mine done when I was able to come pick it up. They install on Saturdays for people from far out of town and although technically closed on Saturday it seems like there was a lot of activity the day I was there. It took about 4 hours to have the flippac installed and they work in the back of their building so you can’t see what they are doing. It doesn’t seem that the basic installation would take that long so maybe they do some of the final assembly at the installation. Communication with them prior to installation sometimes seemed uncertain and sometimes frustrating but in the end their often maligned customer service proved excellent.


A few observations:


The order form lists a “date promised” which for mine was 13-14 weeks, I was able to pick it up a couple days short of 16weeks from the order time. Not bad at all, my problem was that I needed a definite date for installation of at least 8 weeks prior to the install so I could take time off work to have it done. I allowed a couple extra weeks, the delay caused some difficulty but FRP came through with flying colors in the end.


Diana and/or Homer mentioned that they are manufacturers and not primarily retailers and the flippac isn‘t their only or even their main product, although they seem happy to be making and selling it. At the time of order Diana even mentioned buying from a dealer but there aren’t any in the Washington, Oregon area. They certainly don’t appear to be trying to siphon away sales from their dealers, if anything they seemed to me to prefer dealer sales. The inference was that it may not be a typical retail service experience.


There is no additional charge for installation at the factory, they used typical foam sealant tape but did a nice job of installation and in very heavy rain and winds and travel at highway speeds there were no leaks in the flippac or the attachment on the truck rails.



I didn’t ask questions about things not related to my order but I was around the office most of the time and in casual conversation the following came up or was implied:


It seemed to me that FRP charges retail customers the same amount as they charge their dealers, the dealers mark up the price and provide more of a retail experience/customer service and warranty.


If I understood what I was told correctly, FRP doesn’t make any modifications of their basic product for dealers. If you order a flippac without windows from FRP they charge the same as for a flippac with windows but apply a thicker “spray” (their term not mine, maybe it is sprayed fiberglass rather than fabric). Dealers that order the product without windows therefore get the thicker walls so if they add windows then you get a product with thicker walls than if you ordered a flippac from FRP with the windows. I didn’t know this when I ordered but I doubt if I would have ordered one without windows or even have asked to have the thicker walls and pay extra for the windows. But that might be a consideration for others.