SLO's FWC Hawk Refurb/Build...

[SLO_F-250]

So much work... I don't have the patience.

What a sweet rebuilt camper you will have!

HAHA Well Im running out of it! Its one thing to fix up and dial in one camper, but to do it again! Yikes! There just isn't enough time to implement all my ideas! haha

Rebuilt and ready for another 20 years Im hoping!

____________

Well, I snuck in about an hour tonight to keep prepping the camper for the first trip. I have a propane fire pit, which is GREAT, and needed to tap into the line in order to run it. I took my valve and fitting on the old camper and dug around my parts/ random stuff drawer and amazingly enough found what I needed!

In this pict, extra gas line & fitting, my line and valve from the old camper, and regulator line from the FWC.

PS, Table saw makes a great bench!

Next picture is everything installed and mounted in the propane door.


I then have a 20ft extension line for the pit and simply hook it up to the valve when in use. This is great for 2 reasons... If you turn the valve down on the pit it hissses and ruins the makeshift campfire. This it allows me to regulate the pressure at the camper away from the fire. 2nd, I am able to position the fire on the drivers side, passenger, or back.

This is a GREAT thing to add to your setup. Also is nice when you are somewhere with no open fires allowed because this is technically allowed and not an open fire. Also you dont have to carry wood!

Picture of my setup on the old camper.

The hood on the fire pit is from a little BBQ. Suspend it above the fire to help distribute the heat. Makes a HUGE difference.

[Boxlunch]

This is a GREAT thing to add to your setup. Also is nice when you are somewhere with no open fires allowed because this is technically allowed and not an open fire. Also you dont have to carry wood!

SLO I only have 2 words regarding your fire pit setup...


FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yet another thing I wil be copying. I like to setup my patio right outside the back door under an easy-up canopy.... so I will tap into the gas line on the left rear of the camper where it goes into the camper for the furnace. Figured I'd roll with a quick connect after a shutoff valve so that I could hook up a fire pit or a small grill.

Have any info on that pit? Looks like the perfect size....

[SLO_F-250]

SLO I only have 2 words regarding your fire pit setup...


FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yet another thing I wil be copying. I like to setup my patio right outside the back door under an easy-up canopy.... so I will tap into the gas line on the left rear of the camper where it goes into the camper for the furnace. Figured I'd roll with a quick connect after a shutoff valve so that I could hook up a fire pit or a small grill.

Have any info on that pit? Looks like the perfect size....

Thanks! That little fire pit is one thing that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. This is the one I have. It has some weight, probably 15lbs but well worth it. Like I said, I fabbed up a hood for it to reflect the heat. That is key! If its chilly out, without the hood you dont really feel any warmth.

Note that it is not like a real fire. No where near the heat output, but is WAY better than no fire. My girlfriend and I just snuggle up close to it and it keeps us warm no problem. If you want some better picts of the hood setup let me know.

Input on the small grill. I searched a long time before I got the colman grill. It was the most compack little one I could find. Great for (2) people.
Interested to see what you pick. Speaking of grill's, Im Hungry! Dinner time. Steaks?



Action shot!

[CLynn85]

Digging the fire pit and the Tee into the propane lines for external use. Definitely might be borrowing that idea as well Only drawback is my propane storage will be on the opposite side.

[SLO_F-250]

Digging the fire pit and the Tee into the propane lines for external use. Definitely might be borrowing that idea as well Only drawback is my propane storage will be on the opposite side.

Carl, I just bought 20ft of extra rubber line so if we set up opposite side I just run the line under the truck Works GREAT!

[SLO_F-250]

Alright Crew,

Gotta get some updates on here before I take off on the first official trip with this camper! Still got lots of little crap to do, but we are CLOSE! WHEW!!!!

First gotta give a big THANK YOU to AlleyKat from Wander the West forum. He generously offered up his Saturday to help me install the new lift panel. He was a HUGE help!
Next, a big thank you to Marty of ATC. He answered our questions and gave us advice.
Finally I used this thread from WTW as well to gain some knowledge. Great incite here. Thanks Rich.

Before you remove what you have left of your lift panel which includes drilling out A LOT of rivets, build some sort of support for the roof. This needs to be rigid in all directions so the roof does not move when you take the old panel out. I used some 2x4's and braced it off. Worked well, but looks like crap. That is fine. Scrap wood comes in handy! haha Dont forget to pre tension the spring loaded hinge. My tie down idea seemed to work pretty darn well. That is documented in a few posts above.
Also, remember there are elastic straps riveted to the canvas. When you take the panel out don't forget to cut them. You don't want to rip your canvas.

Pict of one side of the support.


Old Panel..


Panel out. Dont for get to clean your canvas! I also reinforced the areas that looked weak with canvas repair tape. I want as much time out of that old stuff as I can get.


New panel ready for infitting.


Looking good up there.


I REALLY did not want to drill out the canvas for the elastic bands and attach new ones. I felt that the older canvas would rip. Instead we came up with sewing velcro to the existing elastic band on riveted on the canvas, then sewed another peice to the elastic on the new panel. You know what. It works like a charm and made it easy to attach! SWEET, the canvas folds in still.




Now after that is done you can start getting the panel in there. Dont forget to measure like 10 times to make sure it is centered and aligns. Also dont forget to connect your new velcro straps.

Hum... I need a haircut!

We shimmed it up with wood I had laying around and got the upper hinge nice and tight to the roof. After a 12th time checking the measurements, it was centered and RIVET TIME!
New holes for the new rivets.



Marty from ATC recommended doing about 7 on top and 7 on bottom spaced evenly. Then poping the camper up and down a few times to make sure it aligns. NOTE.... Look long and hard at your camper roof and how it aligns when down before you start this project. From the factory mine was not perfect so you might want to note how yours folds before so you can compare it to folding with the new panel.

After checking it, we were pretty happy. Time to finish the job.


And here it is all nice and shiny! Also, dont forget when taking those tie downs off, the lower hinge is still tension and will snap back. Marty said use an icepick, but we found that it was easy to manually bend the hing around.


All in all it was not too bad. I cant stress enough that the support structure should not let the roof move. Also measure, measure, measure. It was a solid 6 hour project as well.
I just realized that I did not take a pict of the new handle. Have to do that later.

Gotta get a shot of both the rigs!

Happy after a good day of work!

This old camper is quite a hybrid. New white counters, old Oak veneer walls, and new birch front panel! haha Still looking good and am Pretty darn excited about the trip.
Cheers guys and let me know if you have any questions. It late and I am probably forgetting something.
Paul

[ExpoMike]

Nice work!

[locrwln]

Awesome work. My hat is off to you sir.

Jack

[kpredator]

hello slo
very nice and well thought out.years of fun.
what brand of stove top is in your fwc
kevin

[SLO_F-250]

Gents,

Thank you for the comments! It was a project, but well worth it!

hello slo
very nice and well thought out.years of fun.
what brand of stove top is in your fwc
kevin

I will check it out next time im in there. Take a look at FWC's website though, that have links to the older camper handbooks & new ones.

Just got back from the first trip in the rig! Trip report and LOTS of pictures are coming soon! Just trying to catch up with work! YUCK! haha

Teaser...........