comments solicited about Hallmark Guanella

[aschiele]

I imported a Hallmark Guanella from Chile because I have plans to trip by southamerica with my wife. After extensive research I decided to order a Hallmark because to me is the best construction. So far I am very happy with the camper. Hallmark make a good job in customizing my camper. I can take shower inside and also is possible to sleep 2 persons with the top down and very confortable. It is a pleasure to drive with this camper in every kind of roads. No problem at all with my 3/4 ton truck. The quality of the composite panels is really good and solid and make the camper very strong and looks really nice. Inside is really roomy still when the top is down. Me and my wife usually sleep with the top down very confortable.
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[clikrf8]

Thanks for all the comments. Hubby and I are going to be looking at a local Hallmark Cuchara tomorrow just to see build, quality and layout. It appears to be more than what we want (no porcelain toilet, inside shower for us). It is a 2005 with new roof and they added an outside shower (?) maybe for rinsing off? Anyway, too much for us. I would like a cassette toilet and I think most ladies would as it is a hassle going to a restroom in the middle of the night or off road and the port a potty is a pain to dump. It seems that Hallmark is willing to work with you on many options such as having flat panel doors on cabinets rather than the molding which adds more weight and more area to clean. I also like the push buttons on the doors/drawers. I like things plain and simple, easy to keep clean.

We will be looking at the Ford F250 7.3 liter and will check out the 6.0 link. One thing someone told us at a campground who had a 2000 Ford F250 (I can't remember whether it was 6.0, 7.3 diesel or gas; I am a right brainer) was that the transmissions weren't that strong in early 2000 Fords. Is this true? I don't remember if it was a stick or auto. Boy, am I confused! We have a budget of $20k, maybe a bit more. Ouch!

I will look again at Coyote but we are still hooked on Hallmark. I am just not that impressed at this point. Is aluminum skin better than fiberglas? Does Phoenix make both? Why do you think they are better? We don't want to customize so much that we blow that budget. e want the basic version of the Guanella, add jacks, the lift that you use a drill on to lift (motorized one too $$$), solar panel, dual batteries, cassette toilet, and whatever they use to attach camper to truck (Tork something?). No radio, no outside shower, no overhead cabinets, etc. Mark said to compile a list of options and he would work with us on which works best for us either to add to basic Guanella or subtract from next one up. I mean if we add options we want to basic model the cost exceeds the next one up if I did the math right. The next one up has some things we want, others we don't.

Pretty exciting for us but kinda scary spending that kind of money. We just had a septic system installed (county mandate as we are too close to a creek that empties into Chuckanut Bay) and it seems we are spending right and left and in between. But, this is our last chance to have some adventures so wth.

Btw, Terry at 4WC is working on the battery issue and says that we will probably be sent a new one. Nice guy.

Happy trails.

[clikrf8]

Looks very nice aschiele. You have a short bed with outside storage panels. Hubby insists on long bed (8') so no short bed. I think a long bed adds too much length to wheelbase but he wants the long bed for later resale to contractors who prefer long bed. Does the camper overhang get caught up on backroads with steep grades or big ruts like when you cross a stream in a depression? I am glad that you are happy with your camper. Chile has some amazing places to see, more off roads that you can explore in comfort. Is that a Dodge truck? It handles the weight well, you say? What options did you include on which model? You can both sleep when top is down? On the bed where the dinette is? Can you send more pictures? Did you add airbags, suspension additions, springs? Thanks for sharing.

[SLO_F-250]

We will be looking at the Ford F250 7.3 liter and will check out the 6.0 link. One thing someone told us at a campground who had a 2000 Ford F250 (I can't remember whether it was 6.0, 7.3 diesel or gas; I am a right brainer) was that the transmissions weren't that strong in early 2000 Fords. Is this true? I don't remember if it was a stick or auto. Boy, am I confused! We have a budget of $20k, maybe a bit more. Ouch!

Careful of the 6.0's. Tons of documented problems and huge lawsuits regarding that motor. They can be built bulletproof, but plan on spending some money with Mods the day after you buy it. I drive a 1999 7.3L Quad Cab short bed 4x4 Auto Trans. I have 211,000miles and no major problems. Just typical maintenance stuff, water pump, a few small seals, etc. Original tranny still is solid and I take it all over the place with my current camper setup. From everything I have read, if you are planning on getting an older (early 2000's) diesel, get a Ford 7.3 or a Dodge Cummins. Both great trucks. Personally I like the Ford Superduty look.

Good Luck!

[aschiele]

Looks very nice aschiele. You have a short bed with outside storage panels. Hubby insists on long bed (8') so no short bed. I think a long bed adds too much length to wheelbase but he wants the long bed for later resale to contractors who prefer long bed. Does the camper overhang get caught up on backroads with steep grades or big ruts like when you cross a stream in a depression? I am glad that you are happy with your camper. Chile has some amazing places to see, more off roads that you can explore in comfort. Is that a Dodge truck? It handles the weight well, you say? What options did you include on which model? You can both sleep when top is down? On the bed where the dinette is? Can you send more pictures? Did you add airbags, suspension additions, springs? Thanks for sharing.

The overhang is minimal in Guanella, so the only care is with the rear jacks but no worries to me. The camper is strong like a boat.
As you say Chile and Argentina has amazing places to see from the desert in the north to the Patagonia at south. Highly recommended for tourists and expeditions.
Yes, is a 2008 Dodge 2500 Cummins 5.9 4x4 auto Big horn. The truck is standar. So far the only modifications are MT tires and airbags. It handle the weight very well if you drive to the right and prudent speed depending of the road. The camper is a mixture of the Raton, Guanella and K2 model because is very customized to me. Hallmark did all the modifications that I needed. Very good customer service. I mean: small windows in the dinette, queen bed at the dinette place (in order to sleep with the top down), inside shower, etc. I ordered the electric roof option, solar panels, water heater, removable refrigerator.
The most important thing to me is the fact that we can sleep with the top down. It make me feel very secure and warm (in Patagonia there are very strong winds). It takes me 3 minutes to convert the dinette in a queen size bed (60x80) for me an my wife. Really we enjoy sleeping with the top down more than top up. I have inside shower that I used to take shower in the morning (when I am parked in a city) and then convert this place in closet where I put a lot of things and clothes.
In Chile I installed a lot of things like: rear camera, parking sensors, 4 stage water filtration, stereo and TV, electric oven, inverter, gray water tank, Webasto airtop 3900 (diesel heater) with automatic altitude compensation. Here there are border crossings at 16,000 feet when crossing the andes mountains range. Still I have to install jerrycans, light bars and some recovery gear equipment. 90% is boondocking here and 10% camping, at least for me .
I hope this can help you in your decision.

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[NothingClever]

Yo ví el interior de este camper antes de ser mandado a Chile cuando visité la fábrica el noviembre pasado. Me impresionó mucho el diseño y el servicio al cliente que Hallmark aportó al proyecto a pesar de la distancia. Durante esa misma visita, ví otro proyecto para un cliente en Rusia. Después de ver los métodos de construcción, la investigación detrás de la opciones que ofrecen y la actitud de los empleos, estoy convencido que el producto vale el costo.

[aschiele]

Yo ví el interior de este camper antes de ser mandado a Chile cuando visité la fábrica el noviembre pasado. Me impresionó mucho el diseño y el servicio al cliente que Hallmark aportó al proyecto a pesar de la distancia. Durante esa misma visita, ví otro proyecto para un cliente en Rusia. Después de ver los métodos de construcción, la investigación detrás de la opciones que ofrecen y la actitud de los empleos, estoy convencido que el producto vale el costo.

Hola NothingClever. Yo no tuve la suerte de estar en la fábrica y sólo podía ver las fotos que me enviaban para ver como avanzaba la construcción.

I had never seen a Hallmark camper until I got mine. I just trusted in the way Hallmark make campers. Composite sandwich pannel was the key to put the order. When the camper arrived to Chile I realized that my choice was right. The camper is solid and robust all around and the roof is bulletprof. This camper worth every penny. Winter season here.

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[rotti]

Denver seems to be the hot bed of pop up camper manufacturing. I suggest you come out and check them all out. Hallmark, Outfitter, Phoenix and now FWC has a dealer here in town.

I recently went through the same decision process as you. Having previously owned a FWC Grandby for 20 some years a new Hawk was an easy choice. For the truck choice I went with a new Chevy 2500HD with the gas engine. New diesel engines scare me with not only their cost but potential problems, especially any Ford diesel that doesn't start with the number 7.

[jcb99]

I'm sorta in the same boat and am looking closely at the Hallmark's since they are one of the mfg's here in Colorado. Toured their facility a few weeks back. Nice bunch of people.

As for trucks, I just traded in our 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 for a 2012 Ford F-150 4x4 ... but this one with the Ecoboost V6 and the HD Payload and Max Tow Package (8200 GVWR / 2390 payload). Its not an easy package to find and we had to wait until the dealer's next shipment to get one. This is the only stock 1/2 ton configuration I could find that would easily accomodate a slide-in popup camper with bath w/o modifcations or worries. And the Ecoboost ... 420 lb ft of torque and 365 hp. The truck will also be my commuter vehicle so the EB mileage was a big factor as I really did not want to be feeding a big V8 every week.

Will probably drive back to Ft Lupton to order a Hallmark in the next week or two.

[clikrf8]

jcb99:
Let us know how your hall mark experience goes. I am contacting Coyote tomorrow to see what they can do for me. They seem to be less money but customize more? You You Coyote owners sell me on why you think we should buy a Coyote Pulse rather than a Hallmark. Best luck with your new truck. I wish we could afford a newer model but will have to settle for a mid 2000 era. We did check out a local Hallmark Cuchara the other day. It was a 2005 with new roof with everything on it that he asked $17k for. He sold it but not at asking price. It was well built, with quality materials. The owner was very happy with it but was selling to put kids through college. Nothing broke he said as his family went on back roads all throughout the west since they bought it new.