Panther Plan

[ScottBailey]

Edit 3 September 2008:
I intend to use this thread to generally chronicle my ownership, modification, and experiences with our All Terrain Camper.

Note: we initially were going to purchase an FWC, but had difficulty (product knowledge and customer service) with the FWC sales guy. He lost our business and ATC earned it. FWC and ATC both claim ATC builds the equivalent of what FWC did 4 years ago. The difference? FWC says new is better, ATC is adamant the old is more durable and won't compromise quality for aesthetics. I say research both, and if you select FWC make sure Stan is you sales guy!
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Step one remove factory bed liner.

Huh, how am I going to dispose of that...?

Guess I'll let someone else do it...

How about Line-X? Bet they'd spray in a new liner, too...

I hated how ANYTHING in the back slid around with the factory liner. This liner has way more friction! It should have come from the factory with a spray in...

 

[ScottBailey]

Install

Photos as follow:

• Marty (on the left) and Jeff install our new Panther.
• Marty backs it in...
• ATC Factory air conditioning (thanks to Mark W. Ingalls).
• Baby Jake and cousin play "upstairs" in the "car house". (NOTE: the slide out is king sized.)

 

[ScottBailey]

Tall Pines

In the tall pines of Bear Canyon Lake campground.

We still carry tents, as seen in the background of the second photo. Also seen are my oldest and youngest sons.

 

[ScottBailey]

Which Way?

Pictures as follows:

• Wants out.
• Wants in.
• Inside! (Note oldest sons reflection in the window.)

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Cool, Scott!

Congratulations!

 

[craig333]

Let me guess. Oldest son sleeps in the tent. I remember those days. Bet that'd change if it was cold though.

 

[ScottBailey]

Who's that in the tent?

Let me guess. Oldest son sleeps in the tent. I remember those days. Bet that'd change if it was cold though.

Well, maybe. My wife is very likely to want to use the toilet in the middle of the night, so probably--clearly!--no older children in the camper. We will likely purchase a tent heater for them.

That said, we don't camp anywhere colder than our bags. (Aside: the little guy won't sleep in a bag, yet...)

We have a total of 6 children between us, but only usually have 4 at any one time.

 

[ScottBailey]

Visibility

Here is a rough image of visibility through the camper with the couch flat.

The glare picked up in my camera is much greater than what I see through polarized lenses. With the factory tow mirrors and the couch flat, I have acceptable, if not good, visibility for DD usage.


My first mod was to remove the factory table post mounting (so the little guy wouldn't hurt himself on it, or--for that matter--the big guys, either).

My second mod is likely a new way to anchor the couch cushions and store the table top for DD use.

EDIT: I purchased a more fuel efficient car for DD. Also, I currently leave the curtains closed and rely on my excellent mirrors for visibility.

 

[flinchlock]

My second mod is likely a new way to anchor the couch cushions and store the table top for DD use.
FWIW, I moved the two wood keeps on the seat back about an extra 1" or 1.5" apart so that the portable table would fit between (not on) those keepers and lay flat against the seat back while the portable table is stored.

Mike

 

[DLN]

Scott,

Congratulations on the new camper, thanks for the pictures, enjoy.

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

FWIW, I moved the two wood keeps on the seat back about an extra 1" or 1.5" apart so that the portable table would fit between (not on) those keepers and lay flat against the seat back while the portable table is stored.

Mike

Sometimes the small details are the most inspiring!

Thanks, Mike.

 

[ScottBailey]

FWIW, I moved the two wood keeps on the seat back about an extra 1" or 1.5" apart so that the portable table would fit between (not on) those keepers and lay flat against the seat back while the portable table is stored.

Mine sits between the keepers from the factory...

My solution to my DD problem is simple. Just lay the back flat on top of the seat. The cloth to cloth surface friction is enough to safely keep the seat back positioned flat on top of the bench without fear of damage. The back is not parallel to the bench, so the table--which goes in the rear, passenger corner--can be held in place by the seat back's leg.

This gives me PLENTY of visibility for the DD.

 

[ScottBailey]

Awning + Beds

A couple of quick pictures.

The first shows the awning extended. I have a love-hate relationship with the awning. I hate pulling it out, I hate putting it away, I love sitting under it. Maybe the hate will go away if I use it more?

The second is part of "why we have a camper". Our little guy sleeps safe and semi-sound in his "nest" "downstairs". He sleeps better when he can't see--and want to play with--Mom and Dad. And he won't sleep under a blanket. If you pretend, you can see the thermostat reads 75. It was mid 50s outside.

I love the furnace! Our bedding is a Coccon travel sheet and a large wool blanket. Easy to set up, store, and clean. The "mattress" in the ATC is wonderful. No problem sleeping at all. My wife likes it, too.

(Note: this time we have my wife's girls' tent in the background.)

 

[ScottBailey]

Factory Air Conditiong Pics + Thoughts

After half-unloading the camper on Monday, I decided to putter around with the AC install Jeff and Marty built for me.

The unit looks great installed. Many thanks to ATC for building and Mark for inspiring.

With 2 people the unit installs fairly easily. The same goes for one person, but the window must be removed. I did it myself, carefully, with the window left in place.

With the outside temperature around 95 degrees (according to weather.com--I think it was closer to 100, myself), the unit cooled the camper to the low 70s in a matter of 30 minutes or so, BUT the "upstairs" tended to remain warm. I think the AC would work fine in the same temperature with the sun down. Installing the Arctic Pack would help, too.

That said, we could do a number of other things, for example: use a small fan to move the cool air upstairs, leave the top in the down position and sleep on the couch. The second not optimal, but it might work for the FEW times we will need the unit.

 

[ScottBailey]

Fuel Economy

2007 Ford 6.0 PSD (Diesel)

Without camper, easy daily drive: 16+ mpg.
With camper, same easy commute: 14+ mpg.

A recent trip w/ elevation change of about 6000 feet NO camper, aggressive driving: 13+ mpg.
2 recent similar elevation change trips, camper on, more relaxed driving, but with tow/haul engaged for most of the trip: 13+ mpg.

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Dear Scott,

I wrapped a piece of expanded metal across the outside of mine to try to protect the cooling fins.



I wonder how long the glass will go before the vibrating A/C chips it?



Probably better not to leave it on.

Mark

 

[ScottBailey]

Dear Scott,
I wonder how long the glass will go before the vibrating A/C chips it?



Probably better not to leave it on.

The AC has a couple large rubber stoppers/stand-offs that the glass rests on. I'm more worried they'll get dirt on them and scratch the heck out of the glass!

I was thinking I might try something else to keep the glass off the AC. Don't know what, yet... Of course, the heat is almost over so it quickly becomes moot.

 

[ScottBailey]

Chevelon Crossing Trip Report

Posted in Trip Reports.

 

[ScottBailey]

30 Days -- 3 trips

Today marks 30 days from receipt of the camper.

We've had the camper out 3 times and here are some of my negative/critical thoughts/observations/ramblings, and a few positives, too:

• Table post mount. Bad place: toe stubbing. Do we really need the table?
• Curtain rods suck: flimsy plus mounts pushed holes in screen of rear door. Use Velcro mounts instead?
• Need a factory option for Ax and shovel brackets. These are too necessary in the Southwest.
• Porta Potti storage is inconvenient: it should slide out (ala FWC). I have a plan to "fix" this, just no time to do the work!
• King size bed is awesome and should be a standard factory option with extra lights and--maybe--relocated safety equipment. (I don't think the smoke/co2 alarm will work well with the top down.
• Could the king bed be done without a slide? Extending the bed farther forward above the cab? How much of a PITA would the top be to lift? Just thinking...
• Lifting the back is easy, the front seems--while not hard--awkward.
• The front sliding window is a waste. I don't care for it. I'd rather have flat "glass".
• The arctic pack seems of mediocre durability. If a guy had time, he could make a better solution.
• The 3-way fridge is OK. Lighting it can be a PITA. If the Nova Kools hold up to the vibration, I think a Nova Kool and solar would be a better way to go.
• If I were building from a shell, I would consider an Engel fridge/freeze. There's a lot to like there. I'm thinking I'm buying a small one anyway...
• Always get 2 powered fans. The cost is small relative to the benefit.
• In future, I'd skip the 110v system.
• Running water is awesome. I'm through with stupid 5 gallon cans.
• Wouldn't it be nice if the stove and furnace were diesel?
• I prefer the full length aisle of the Panther compared to the Hawk. Also, stove position is better in the Panther.
• The 4" factory foam is adequate. No need to consider any alternative.
• Ford's factory tow mirrors make this an easy drive.

All criticism is generally minor. The camper is great! It makes getting outdoors possible for us.

As an aside, we just retired the truck to full recreational/hauling duties with the purchase of a cheap commuter. We figure we'll be ahead at the end of 5 years. With the difference in cost of fuel an maintenance we should do OK. Amazingly, the Hyundai has a 60k bumper to bumper. I wish Ford had that warranty.

 

[ScottBailey]

Arctic Pack Permanent install

The first time I took out my 'Arctic Pack' and installed it, I noticed ATC hadn't started using Patrick's D-ring button holes, yet.

In the process of taking it down, I ripped the material along a seam. Frustrating, but it seems a little more care was needed than I mustered that day.

Since we are approaching winter, I was starting to get antsy about fixing the thing and adding the button holes. Well, my wife has a sewing machine, but doesn't really know how to use it or want to know, either...

So, I got my Arctic Pack out, set it up, marked it, and took it down.

I set up the sewing machine, practiced on some scrap, and then went on to button holes and tear repair. With much patience, everything worked out. I put some scrap behind the tear as a backing/reinforcement. I'm happy with the results.

Just some pics of me working, I'll snap some interior photos later.

• Threading the needle, AGAIN!
• It's all under control...