Rockcod
Senior Member
Hello all, long time reader, first time poster. I started to put together my "just retired, need a better camping rig" plan about 1.5 years ago. Thinking back to the 80s and 90's , I decided I would upgrade to a new 2014 F150 Fx4, last of the kind it was, steel body and all. I loved his truck, smooth and with plenty of get up and go. Next was a fiberglass shell, Snugtop Cab high, color match, loved it also. Found the original 80's style carpet kit, same guy still putting them together in So Cal. Shortly thereafter it all started to go south. The Snugtop leaked like a pasta colander , both side windows. Ok no worries lifetime warranty, all good , sent it back, 3 months later it was back on my truck, repainted and repaired, ha. Sure. First rain, 1 week later, w/o a doubt flooded in the very first rain. I requested a new unit, took 3 weeks to be approved, but ok I win. 3 months later, I exchanged it, I just dealt with the wet inside as well as I could. Number 3 looked poorly painted and you bet, leaked like a sinking boat, I have a video, but won't bore anyone who is still following my introduction . So refund, they promised new window design was on the drawing board and as soon as they had them,no charge to replace,sorry, goodbye, never again. I had a carpet kit, a Yakima Mega rack, AND a pair of Thule Aero bars, and nothing to put them on. I could care less, to me that company folded up and is gone. This took from May of 2015 to March of this year to evolve. Sunny days, I discovered WTW and started reading, took a drive to Sacramento and met Jeff. Got a quote, I am thinking Ocelot, what a great recovery this can be. Snoopy dance... If I could. Now this could explain the payload choice on my f150 , 1320 lbs, I only needed maybe 650/700 with the shell. Jeff tells me with my options, near 1050 lbs,, I think he said wet, though not sure. To close for me to get comfy with. I have read both WTW and Expedition Portal, all I could find, and still not sure how to safely with reliability increase my payload 4 to 500 lbs. I would lose some dough if I had to trade up, so I come here looking for some honest & positive input. That pos snugtop cost me a year of comfort. And more grief than I ever want again. What I missed when I decided on the shell was, tall truck bed, cab high shell ,tiny window to crawl (pour)l in and out of, and I am a shorter, 165 lb guy. Also, the foam on the carpet kit just killed me to sleep on. Apologies for the camper shell bio, but i feel better for it. Thanks for listening, I am moving up !!!
Rock
Rock