White Dog
Senior Member
I sent the order for our Grandby in to FWC Canada today 
Thanks to all those who were kind enough to offer suggestions on options. Here's what did and did not go on our order (other than the obvious).
1) We went for most of the 'comfort' options (furnace, hot water/outside shower). I've done and still do the tent thing but comfort is good too.
2) Splurged for the Waeco 110 L compressor fridge. We will be using the camper mostly in the summer and like the reliably cold temperatures. Since we will likely be remote most of the time, the large size and low temperature means the food will stay fresher longer.
3) We ordered the glass covered stove but not the sink. In our travel trailer, we have a cutting board that is designed to sit on the sink. We really like this arrangement. It gives a flat surface for hot pots that won't damage the counter top and can be moved over to the dining table if one of us is making a salad. I'll make the board after we pick up the camper. We also thought the folding faucet in the covered sink might be hard to replace in 5 years when the orginal dies.
4) In addition to the regular internal battery and charger, we ordered the second battery because of the fridge. I also ordered the roof plug for the solar panel but not the panel. My brother is upgrading his trailer and has an 80 watt panel in almost new condition. We order the LED lights to keep the lighting load to a minumum.
5) The Arctic pack was a must. This is Canada after all
6) The screen door wasn't even discussed. It was just an automatic tick mark on the order form. If you've traveled in northern Canada in the summer, you'll understand.
7) The Fantastic fan was a must as well. We used them in the trailer for years. They work great. My brother turns his on to 'exhaust' when he is lowering the top on his Northstar. It sucks the material in so it doesn't get pinched. We also ordered the extra roof vent so the sleeping shelf has more fresh air.
8) We hummed and hawed about the awning. In the end we waffled and ordered the mounting plate ($85) but not the awning. This makes for easy installation if we decide we want it latter.
9) Ordered the Yakima tracks (I have the racks themselves for cap on the truck) and the rear steps to get up to the roof. We'll see how it is lifting the roof with canoe.
10) Went for the dinette seating. We tried both and liked this layout so we could look at each other over meals and could see out the side window.
11) We didn't order the rear 'yard lights' (as we started to call them). Couldn't really think when we use them.
12) We went for the original aluminum siding. We have fiberglass on the the trailer and, while it has advantages, it is a lot of work to keep it looking good after a few years. The aluminum is lighter and easier to fix.
13) Didn't bother with sliding rear window, stereo, or small left window. Again, didn't seem important. We did order the front left cabinet though (in place of the left window) for the extra storage space.
Based on the numbers from FWC, the wet weight with propane should be just a touch under 1200 lb. We'll see what it really comes out to when it arrives.
So, we should take delivery in the spring, take it for a test run on the way home, and then head for the Yukon in late July.
All in all, this has been a pleasant experience (except writing the cheque). Stan at FWC and Gary at FWC Canada were pleasant, helpful, and patient with all our questions. I wish this was the rule in the whole RV business but, in my experience, it generally is not.
Thanks to all those who were kind enough to offer suggestions on options. Here's what did and did not go on our order (other than the obvious).1) We went for most of the 'comfort' options (furnace, hot water/outside shower). I've done and still do the tent thing but comfort is good too.
2) Splurged for the Waeco 110 L compressor fridge. We will be using the camper mostly in the summer and like the reliably cold temperatures. Since we will likely be remote most of the time, the large size and low temperature means the food will stay fresher longer.
3) We ordered the glass covered stove but not the sink. In our travel trailer, we have a cutting board that is designed to sit on the sink. We really like this arrangement. It gives a flat surface for hot pots that won't damage the counter top and can be moved over to the dining table if one of us is making a salad. I'll make the board after we pick up the camper. We also thought the folding faucet in the covered sink might be hard to replace in 5 years when the orginal dies.
4) In addition to the regular internal battery and charger, we ordered the second battery because of the fridge. I also ordered the roof plug for the solar panel but not the panel. My brother is upgrading his trailer and has an 80 watt panel in almost new condition. We order the LED lights to keep the lighting load to a minumum.
5) The Arctic pack was a must. This is Canada after all
6) The screen door wasn't even discussed. It was just an automatic tick mark on the order form. If you've traveled in northern Canada in the summer, you'll understand.
7) The Fantastic fan was a must as well. We used them in the trailer for years. They work great. My brother turns his on to 'exhaust' when he is lowering the top on his Northstar. It sucks the material in so it doesn't get pinched. We also ordered the extra roof vent so the sleeping shelf has more fresh air.
8) We hummed and hawed about the awning. In the end we waffled and ordered the mounting plate ($85) but not the awning. This makes for easy installation if we decide we want it latter.
9) Ordered the Yakima tracks (I have the racks themselves for cap on the truck) and the rear steps to get up to the roof. We'll see how it is lifting the roof with canoe.
10) Went for the dinette seating. We tried both and liked this layout so we could look at each other over meals and could see out the side window.
11) We didn't order the rear 'yard lights' (as we started to call them). Couldn't really think when we use them.
12) We went for the original aluminum siding. We have fiberglass on the the trailer and, while it has advantages, it is a lot of work to keep it looking good after a few years. The aluminum is lighter and easier to fix.
13) Didn't bother with sliding rear window, stereo, or small left window. Again, didn't seem important. We did order the front left cabinet though (in place of the left window) for the extra storage space.
Based on the numbers from FWC, the wet weight with propane should be just a touch under 1200 lb. We'll see what it really comes out to when it arrives.
So, we should take delivery in the spring, take it for a test run on the way home, and then head for the Yukon in late July.
All in all, this has been a pleasant experience (except writing the cheque). Stan at FWC and Gary at FWC Canada were pleasant, helpful, and patient with all our questions. I wish this was the rule in the whole RV business but, in my experience, it generally is not.
