We are making WilderNest Campers!

[WilderNest]

Hi all

That's right, you didn't read wrong. We are making WilderNest Campers.

We have looked at the WilderNest Campers, researched it, and loved it. We are familiar with the procedures that go into making the camper, and we are confident that we have the skills and resources that could bring it back to life. The new WilderNest Campers will of course be an improvement from what is already out in the market.

You can help revive this wonderful product by filling out this short survey. It will take less than 2 minutes. Click here to take survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGBDN3L).

If you are interested in the launch of the product, please provide your email address at the bottom of the survey (optional) and we'll make sure you are the firsts to know. Don't worry, it's not a scam. We're a real manufacturing company that has been around since 1987.

We are excited.

P.S: Please forward this survey link to anyone who would be interested in the WilderNest Campers: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGBDN3L

[1leglance]

Very cool to bring back a product that was/is loved...
Did you buy the name also? Not sure how all that works on something that was around.

If I could rewind the clock I would never have bought my FJ Cruiser and gotten a 4dr truck with some sort of folding/popup camper.

One of the things I like about the Flippac & Wildernest is how someone can sleep while someone else moves around...
what my wife likes is how she can stand & change clothes or get out of bed at night and pee without hassle.

Sure we currently have a Sportsmobile which is an amazing rig...but before that I dumped a ton of money into an FJ Cruiser and sold it and I think none of that would have happened if I had known more about other options at the time.

My concerns are:
wind/dust when it is open
rain/snow if it happens, yeah I am in Phx but I travel other places
Hi Profile version that is easier to get in/out and allows standing under fold out as rain shelter
low profile version for those wanting to max mpg
long term life span of something that gets stress on the hinge area

[squatch]

I have owned and lived out of both a wildernest and a flip pac. really liked the tent fabric on the nest but broke the springs on it! the cables do wear on the fabric over time. I like the flip pac system way better but the tent and rain fly just don't cut it in wet climates. my summer in AK was WET. good luck with the revival!

[Kya]

Cool! I always wanted one for my truck, but it was impossible to find. Now I'm just holding out for an Eagle or a Bobcat.

[bob91yj]

In this economy that's great news, congrats to your company!

[shahram]

Many of us who already own 'Nests will be happy to be getting replacement parts. I'd seriously consider replacing the canvas on mine!

[locrwln]

Looking forward to the product.

Jack

[WilderNest]

Thanks for the suggestions/comments! Wow I'm really surprised by the amount of support coming from everywhere regarding our effort to bring the WilderNest Campers back.

The survey responses have been excellent and this is extremely encouraging. If you haven't filled out the survey, please help us out by clicking this link (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGBDN3L). We're collecting as many responses as we can by the end of this month.

Once again, thank you very much for the support. We appreciate every suggestion you have.

[Scott Brady]

Best of luck with the new venture!

[rynosurf]

You have to make one for 5' bed trucks, a Jeep version would be sweet too.

[billith]

What would really be very cool is if you could somehow make a Wildernest that flipped open on both sides. Having a bed on both sides would be great for people who has kids. Also another sugestion would be to incorporate some kind of shelf for a small TV, or coffee maker, etc. One that could just set in place without any tools that you could simply store under the mattress. I am glad someone is finely doing this.

[kb7our]

Realizing this is very early and that you have decided to produce units, are you able to share your time horizon for putting new units in the hands of buyers?

[TACODOC]

Very cool!!! :26_7_2:

[jagular7]

This is great. You planning to have various versions of the style as well? Pop-top, flip top, side pop-outs, etc? Or how about adapting to existing toppers, ie my enclosed contractor's shell?

Reason I ask, due to parking and zone restrictions in my city, I was not allowed a flat bed design bed for my truck on my property (without being parked in a garage or behind a gate). I sold the bed and got a long bed to be acceptable to the city. The cab n chassis frame and wheelbase are longer than the long bed pickup version of the same truck (its also narrow). So there is a gap between the back of the cab and the bed. With the longer frame, I can't use a pickup bed tailgate.
The prohibiting restrictions also include campers (ie slide-ins). In researching for a topper with a rear door, I found a slide-in enclosed contractor's utility fiberglass shell. I went with one like this because they were cheap (old AT&T trucks have them) and readily available used. It also has a rear door and panel.

If you can come up with something in design to provide a pop top or flip top with a rear door/panel and fit with the aerodynamics design of the cab, I would love something like that and I won't have to mod my topper. I think a lot of communities don't like the 'look' of a slide-in camper (box over the rails) in the back of a truck and provide restrictions for such.

[will1]

This is fantastic!! Giving the FlipPac some good competition will improve both products in the long run.... Looking forward to the final product.... :wings:

[ETAV8R]

Congrats on your plans with the new Wildernest company.
It would have been in competition for my dollars when I went with the flippac. Now those who are considering a flippac/wildernest will have to weigh the pros/cons of each and which fits their needs. I do like the aerodynamics of the 'nest' better than the flippac and the cover provided by the side opening. With the flippac I don't have to worry about having a certain size footprint. When I camped just south of The Racetrack in DVNP I chose a location that I backed the truck into. There would have been no way in that location to use a Wildernest.

[homemade]

With a side flip like the wildernest you could put a roof basket on the cab of your truck. i had never really looked into one in the past but I have Yakima racks and was thinking of a MegaWarrior for my truck. Wouldn't work with a flippac.

[Pyro4God]

I have a wildernest topper and I am modifying it to increase the bed size. is this some thing you guys are looking into or are you just remaking the original design? Are there any plans for new and/or improved additions? If you can make it better, I'll sell my old one and happily shell out the money for a brand new one!

[washington taco]

One item I would like to see is a entry door like the ARE toppers have. A entry door in the center and when needed flip the whole lift gate up like an SUV. Being the company is in Washington state a rain fly that is very rain resistant and or built in. Cost wise start with a basic model and let the new owner spec it out as they wished. If you need a volunter for testing I am available and have three trips planned allready for May and July.

[washington taco]

http://www.4are.com/product/features_popup.php?img=fiberglass_walk_in_door&FDSC=Full Fiberglass Walk-in Door
Like this!

[jagular7]

This is the back of my Fibreform commercial fiberglass topper. Single rear door.

[r_w]

The A.R.E. is nice that:

1. the door is narrow enough to not interfere with slide-outs or side benches
2. the whole thing still hinges up as a single huge overhead door--makes a great cover from the rain.

[stevec]

This is great news! I've always liked the WilderNest, and I like the idea of it opening to the side vs. front to back (i.e. Flippac) better, as you can put a roof rack on more easily (i.e. for a canoe/kayak) and it makes an instant awning. I would be interested in a somewhat "custom" application, if possible.

[washington taco]

Bump! Any more info?:box:

[TACODOC]

bump! Any more info?:box:

x2

[Overland Hadley]

Bump! Any more info?:box:

x3

[JCMatthews]

x4

[washington taco]

This must have been a fishing trip for the OP?!?! Torques me off! We want info!!:violent-smiley-031:

[AeroNautiCal]

The story so far appears to be... A very basic website, here (http://www.wildernestcamper.com/), devoid of viable information!

This (http://wildernest.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wanted&action=display&thread=345) post, by the OP, is similar to the one in this thread!

[Overland Hadley]

I understand that sometimes things take a lot longer to come to fruition than is originally expected. But it would be nice if the OP remembered that he started this thread and let us know how things are going, even if they are not going at the moment.

[TACODOC]

I understand that sometimes things take a lot longer to come to fruition than is originally expected. But it would be nice if the OP remembered that he started this thread and let us know how things are going, even if they are not going at the moment.

Yep, the flag has been raised...

[RR1]

I understand that sometimes things take a lot longer to come to fruition than is originally expected. But it would be nice if the OP remembered that he started this thread and let us know how things are going, even if they are not going at the moment.


Oh probably just a feeler thread to see if it is worth their while.

[mixedgasdiver]

And here I got so excited when I started reading...

[DaveInDenver]

The story so far appears to be... A very basic website, here (http://www.wildernestcamper.com/), devoid of viable information!

This (http://wildernest.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wanted&action=display&thread=345) post, by the OP, is similar to the one in this thread!
The site wildernestcamper.com has been up for a while (since at least 2005), owned by Rob Zabrecky up in Broomfield/Boulder. I am not aware that he's started building them, but I dunno that he hasn't. The forum linked on this site is a common place (other than Craigslist) for finding WilderNest stuff.

There's also wildernestcampers.com/wildernest.org. Also not in the business of making new ones, just informational.

In the late 1980s WilderNest was very unique and filled a more untapped niche which is now competing with FlipPac/AT, FWC and the various range of RTTs.

I'll also honestly admit that there are some fundamental weaknesses with WilderNests that I think need serious improvement. Problem is that most of them were identified and patented by FlipPac... They have their own gotchas, but nothing is perfect. Honestly, if I was in the market for a new $3,500 camper in this form factor, I might go with a FlipPac and I'm a died-in-the-wool 'Nester. And I'm betting that is not an insignificant reason that WilderNest faded as FlipPac came to market. Shrug.