Ordered...2011 FWC Hawk!

[LT Traveler]

We went for it yesterday, we ordered our new Hawk. We went down Saturday to crawl around, ask questions and shop the options available; then after having 24 hours to stew over it bit the bullet. Thanks Steve and Stan for all your help answering questions and guiding us along the way.

The build:

2011 Hawk
3.0 3-way fridge with vent fan
Furnace
Dinette
led lights throughout
tan cloth upholstery
fantastic fan
4 jacks
aux. battery system
roof rack with additional cross bar
rear wall steps
screen door
go-anywhere package

We didn't want to go over the top with accessories and systems to try to minimize cost, maintenance and over all "having to screw with stuff" factor. Solar would be nice for certain trips but cost prohibitive. Hot water with shower would be nice but we can easily make due. Awning would be great but $$ and we can make due with a sun sail or tarp when needed. Additional exterior lights would be nice at times but easily lived without. I'll always be a Coleman gas lantern guy!

We're super excited and can't wait to pick this thing up(build time approx. 8 weeks). Need to start researching suspension upgrades(camper going on Nissan Titan 6.5 foot bed) Seems like everyone loves Ride Rites but I really want to keep ease of use to a minimal and am leaning towards some helper springs of some sort. We'll see where I end up on this, I have 8 weeks to figure it out. I'll post up with updates along the way and pics when we have some to offer.

 

[billharr]

You will love your Hawk. Dinette is a great option, post pictures when you get it mounted.

Bill in Stockton.

 

[Ted]

Congrats LT Traveler! We looked at the new campers at a show a couple of months back. Ours is only eight years old but the new ones are so much nicer. You are really going to enjoy it.

 

[Barko1]

Very cool. Might consider getting it wired for a future solar panel, would make install a breeze. Right now you can get 100w for just over $200 and the prices are dropping. It would help keep your battery strong to run the furnace. Where is the 1st trip!!

 

[leadsled9]

Might consider getting it wired for a future solar panel, would make install a breeze.

I believe they pre-wire all of them for solar these days. But I would ask them to terminate the wires in the roof and install a roof plug. Then....like Barko1 says.....in the future it's an easy install.

My camper had the pre-wiring....but when it came time to install the solar I had no idea where the wiring was terminated in the roof. Luckily I was at the FWC factory for another reason and had them locate the wires and teminate them in the roof with a plug. I think the plug was $9.00.

 

[LT Traveler]

Very cool. Might consider getting it wired for a future solar panel, would make install a breeze. Right now you can get 100w for just over $200 and the prices are dropping. It would help keep your battery strong to run the furnace. Where is the 1st trip!!



That's a good suggestion. Steve mentioned that I think for $50 they can prewire and we could buy an aftermarket solar panel later....maybe we should do that. It would certainly help with the fan too for summer desert camping. something to chew on I guess.

 

[LT Traveler]

I believe they pre-wire all of them for solar these days. But I would ask them to terminate the wires in the roof and install a roof plug. Then....like Barko1 says.....in the future it's an easy install.

My camper had the pre-wiring....but when it came time to install the solar I had no idea where the wiring was terminated in the roof. Luckily I was at the FWC factory for another reason and had them locate the wires and teminate them in the roof with a plug. I think the plug was $9.00.

View attachment 11479

Another great suggestion; thanks Leadsled.

 

[ski3pin]

LT Traveler, congrats on the purchase, you are going to really enjoy it! Photos and trip reports are a must! Please forgive the minor hijack, I need a few of the pictured plugs, male and female, where can I get them?

 

[leadsled9]

It would certainly help with the fan too for summer desert camping.


I had two fantastic fans installed in my Hawk. Recently I upgraded one of them to the 6600 model with the remote control. It's not that you need a remote control.....but the 6600 upgrade fan uses a lot less juice when it runs....and you have a choice of 14 speeds.

The original Fantastic fan in my camper only had a few speeds....and the lowest speed was too high and used too much electricity. When you get solar installed, you will become an electricity miser. Every little bit counts.

I would have at least one....if not both upgraded to the 6600. It's way cheaper to do it up front.

 

[leadsled9]

LT Traveler, congrats on the purchase, you are going to really enjoy it! Photos and trip reports are a must! Please forgive the minor hijack, I need a few of the pictured plugs, male and female, where can I get them?



Get 'um here (scroll down near bottom of page):

http://www.solarsell..._extensions.htm

Five bucks a pop for the roof plugs.

They also sell the male adapters in two sizes (18 awg and 12 awg).

 

[LT Traveler]

Dang you guys are killing me, I thought we were done spending money at least for a little while! Definitely appreciate the input, I think I'll get Steve to add this to the build and then plan on buying a small PV cell that we can plug in as needed.

 

[jcfly]

Congrats on the new camper! Be sure to post pics when it arrives.

 

[pods8]

I believe they pre-wire all of them for solar these days. But I would ask them to terminate the wires in the roof and install a roof plug. Then....like Barko1 says.....in the future it's an easy install.

My camper had the pre-wiring....but when it came time to install the solar I had no idea where the wiring was terminated in the roof. Luckily I was at the FWC factory for another reason and had them locate the wires and teminate them in the roof with a plug. I think the plug was $9.00.

View attachment 11479

Oh that's nice. Looking back over your install it looks like you have the plug mounted under your panel right? How much vertical clearance is required when its all said and down to clear the bent over wires (coming out of the plug that goes into that)?

 

[DLN]

Congrats on the camper buy, you're going to love it. 8 weeks now, they must really be bangin' em out these days. It took 14 weeks back in 2006 when we ordered our now gone Eagle.

 

[leadsled9]

Oh that's nice. Looking back over your install it looks like you have the plug mounted under your panel right? How much vertical clearance is required when its all said and down to clear the bent over wires (coming out of the plug that goes into that)?

Yes, the plug is under the panel. The panel is mounted 2 3/8" above the roof and there is plenty of room for a nice gently radiused bend.

 

[LT Traveler]

Hey guys, sorry for the questions but I'm a total newb at all this stuff. If we add the plug that Leadsled is recommending to the wiring that I would ask FWC to add then can we simply buy a small portable solar panel that would plug into that and charge the battery?

Second question. Can we store the camper on the jacks or do I have to build a rolling dolly/support box to store the camper on? I thought we could just store on the jacks but just some someone recommending not doing that on Exped Portal.

 

[leadsled9]

Hey guys, sorry for the questions but I'm a total newb at all this stuff. If we add the plug that Leadsled is recommending to the wiring that I would ask FWC to add then can we simply buy a small portable solar panel that would plug into that and charge the battery?

Second question. Can we store the camper on the jacks or do I have to build a rolling dolly/support box to store the camper on? I thought we could just store on the jacks but just some someone recommending not doing that on Exped Portal.


First answer. No, you have to install a solar charge controller (brain) to handle the charging of your batteries. Under the Truck Camper section there is the "Ultimate Solar" thread. It is a good read.

Second answer. Best to store it on a platform....not on the jacks. If I ever decide to take mine off for storage....I'm getting one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/870-lb-capacity-40-inch-x-49-inch-heavy-duty-utility-trailer-with-8-inch-wheels-and-tires-42708.html

Put some 4X4's on the trailer....set the camper on top.... and then when it is stored you can just roll it around to where ever you want. If you want more security than just having it sit on the trailer....you can incorporate some eye bolts to secure the camper to the trailer using the same turnbuckles that come with your camper.

 

[LT Traveler]

Got it ok thanks for all the guidance and help.

 

[pods8]

Devils advocate: I store mine on the jacks when I take it off my truck. I do lower the camper way down though so the camper is only ~1' of the ground though (way to wobbly and might stress the brackets/frame while extended), it does fine assuming you aren't running in/out of it. If I do need to go into it for something its 1 person only and moving slowly to avoid jarring it around while only supported by the jack brackets.

If you need to move it around I'd get a cart, otherwise I wouldn't really worry. If you did want some extra insurance while on the jacks you can make some X style supports out of plywood to rest the camper one (FWC uses something like this at trade shows see this post here: http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/topic/3103/page__view__findpost__p__33721).

 

[leadsled9]

Devils advocate: I store mine on the jacks when I take it off my truck. I do lower the camper way down though so the camper is only ~1' of the ground though (way to wobbly and might stress the brackets/frame while extended), it does fine assuming you aren't running in/out of it. If I do need to go into it for something its 1 person only and moving slowly to avoid jarring it around while only supported by the jack brackets.

If you need to move it around I'd get a cart, otherwise I wouldn't really worry. If you did want some extra insurance while on the jacks you can make some X style supports out of plywood to rest the camper one (FWC uses something like this at trade shows see this post here: http://www.wanderthe...ost__p__33721).



If you are storing it on jacks....why not lower it all the way to the ground so you are not putting any stress on the floor by walking around in the camper? I don't think it is a good idea to be walking around in the camper while it is suspended in the air.