For the most part we all know FWC makes a pretty good product and personally I am a fan and subscriber of Overland Journal. However, when you have a magazine that writes about gear from companies who are also advertisers in that publication, reality is there is likely going to be some bias or the magazine is going to have trouble generating the necessary revenue to keep it going.
So OJ and magazines like it are walking a thin line. I get it. However, I thought I'd have a little "keepin it real" post here to correct what I feel was just a bit of bias in this months article about Jack Dykinga's FWC.
Statements made in the article:
"Good Counter Space"
Not so much. In a camper as small as a FWC (especially the Tacoma size one), space should be optimized to the greatest degree possible. IMO Four Wheel Camper should have gone to flush mount appliances (or at least have the option for them) a long time ago. As it is now I would say a more accurate statement would be "Counter space is limited, and the use of non-recessed appliances without flush mount lids further limits that space".
There's plenty of sitting room for two, a decent table that pops into place with a removable post
It's true 2 people can sit side by side. It's not true that two people and the dreadfully bad FWC table can exist comfortably in the available space. And we all know the table sucks. We have said it a thousand times on this forum, and even demonstrated several very clever (and actually functional) table designs built by members. Why FWC still makes that piece of junk is beyond me. And I'm sure it was obvious to the author of the article as well. Later in the article we read that Jack is considering a flip down work space attached to the cabinet. Which is a clue to what should have been done a long time ago - the table should attach to the cabinet or the wall at the front of the camper.
The troublesome sliding cabinet panels have been replaced with proper hinged doors
Nice idea in theory but fail in application. The hinged doors should have had secure latches and/or a lip at the bottom of the cabinet inside the door to prevent heavy items from banging up agains the door. Off road with these "new and improved" cabinets are akin to a "Yard Sale" in skiing.
How well the space is used
Yes and no. For the most part space is optimized. But a camper company that has been building these campers for decades should have come up with more innovations by now. The storage under the couch is difficult to access while you are in the camper. Getting the table out of this space with two people in the camper is virtually a game of twister. There should be optional access at the front of the cabinet so you can access it while people or stuff is on the couch. And the "table" shouldn't be in there at all but that is the only place it fits (table should be a fold up wall mount or slide out of the cabinet like a cutting board).
Finally, I find it a curious that the only "complaints" about the camper were a handful of issues that had already been changed by FWC, but are still being utilized by ATC.
So OJ and magazines like it are walking a thin line. I get it. However, I thought I'd have a little "keepin it real" post here to correct what I feel was just a bit of bias in this months article about Jack Dykinga's FWC.
Statements made in the article:
"Good Counter Space"
Not so much. In a camper as small as a FWC (especially the Tacoma size one), space should be optimized to the greatest degree possible. IMO Four Wheel Camper should have gone to flush mount appliances (or at least have the option for them) a long time ago. As it is now I would say a more accurate statement would be "Counter space is limited, and the use of non-recessed appliances without flush mount lids further limits that space".
There's plenty of sitting room for two, a decent table that pops into place with a removable post
It's true 2 people can sit side by side. It's not true that two people and the dreadfully bad FWC table can exist comfortably in the available space. And we all know the table sucks. We have said it a thousand times on this forum, and even demonstrated several very clever (and actually functional) table designs built by members. Why FWC still makes that piece of junk is beyond me. And I'm sure it was obvious to the author of the article as well. Later in the article we read that Jack is considering a flip down work space attached to the cabinet. Which is a clue to what should have been done a long time ago - the table should attach to the cabinet or the wall at the front of the camper.
The troublesome sliding cabinet panels have been replaced with proper hinged doors
Nice idea in theory but fail in application. The hinged doors should have had secure latches and/or a lip at the bottom of the cabinet inside the door to prevent heavy items from banging up agains the door. Off road with these "new and improved" cabinets are akin to a "Yard Sale" in skiing.
How well the space is used
Yes and no. For the most part space is optimized. But a camper company that has been building these campers for decades should have come up with more innovations by now. The storage under the couch is difficult to access while you are in the camper. Getting the table out of this space with two people in the camper is virtually a game of twister. There should be optional access at the front of the cabinet so you can access it while people or stuff is on the couch. And the "table" shouldn't be in there at all but that is the only place it fits (table should be a fold up wall mount or slide out of the cabinet like a cutting board).
Finally, I find it a curious that the only "complaints" about the camper were a handful of issues that had already been changed by FWC, but are still being utilized by ATC.
