Four Wheel Campers

We bought an ATC Panther (shell model) in spring 2019. For our type of traveling, I still think that was our best choice. No regrets.

First, we have a Toyota Tundra with a 1550# payload. We were worried about weight, so that's why we got the shell model, which was around 700# with the extra long bed and a Fantastic Fan added. I regret not getting the furnace.

A previous post said that 30 degrees is the max cold temp for a pop up TC. I say it's 40 degrees without a constant heater! We camp without hookups 95% of the time, but having an electric heater and hookups solves the "it's frigid" issue. Without shore power, we run a Little Buddy right before bed and as soon as we wake. Not ideal, that's for sure, esp at high elevation when the Little Buddy won't ignite.

We upgraded our TC battery and have 3@100 watt solar panels on the roof. Having a herniated disc, popping the top up with that weight on the roof is awkward. Do-able for this 52-yr old chick, but not something I look forward to, and I usually make my teen son do it. But with that small inconvenience, we watch DVDs while camping and dont worry too much about electrical usage...when it's sunny out. We also have to look for unshaded sites and/or park so we are not shaded by trees.

We chose the ATC because I wanted something I can easily drive around. We had a travel trailer but being that I usually am the only adult on trips, I didn't even want to think about towing something, finding parking with a TT, backing a TT up, and set up. Having a pop up camper is sooooo easy. We added a backup camera, and gas milage didn't suffer too much. We lost maybe 1-2 mpg with a camper on the truck.

Storage is a challenge. Just bringing our bikes camping means removing the stairs from the hitch, replacing it with a tray, and lashing our bikes to the tray. Then when we get to camp, removing the bikes and locking them to a table, just so we can get in the camper door. So we don't bring bikes when out destination is more than a day's drive.

Some campgrounds treat pop up TCs like tents and those rules apply. Others treat them as RVs. But in bear country, having food in the pop up is a no-no in Yosemite, for example. So we plan ahead and bring stuff in a cooler that we throw in the bear box when we get to camp. In other campgrounds, they'll let you keep food in the fridge in the TC. It just depends on the rules of the park/bears.

I look at it as every choice (pop up TC, TT, tent, etc) has its pros and cons, and you gotta ask yourself what type of camping you do, what amenities can you give up and what are must-haves, then go from there.

But again, really wish I had that furnace! Dang it!!

Prolly TMI, but there's my experience.

A way to alleviate the heat/moisture issue is plug in and carry a small electric heater.

Grit dog wrote:

mockturtle wrote:
I have a 4WD 'camper'.

Good for you…

Sorry, I thought that's what the thread is about. What's a Four-Wheel camper, then?

Oh, I see...it's the brand name of a truck camper. My bad.

opnspaces wrote:
My friend has had a few in the past. I liked that the top is very low when stored for travel. It was also the only popup at the tine with an aluminum frame. But as stated as far as insulation it's like a tent when it's popped up.

Actually what it reminded me of was sleeping in the back of my PU w an uninsulated aluminum shell w Mr Buddy heater going and condensation dripping of the loominum roof in a cascade. A tent would have been more comfortable. And that's why my first choice for a pop-up would be hallmark, but was fence sitting on both trucks and RV's prior to the pandemic and missed that boat.


I can confirm in the year we owned it, there were (0), zero defects in the workmanship. The company did not race to fill their backlog of orders so that says a lot about the company.

I was looking at some Forest River pop up campers this week. A full sized camper tends to be heavy and top heavy. The pop ups solve that problem but are not so good below freezing.

One of the great things is that some of them have clear windows all the way around in the canvas on top of the sides. It is easy to see out and it lets in some sun. Much less claustrophobic than larger closed up campers.

With a light camper I can still bring a drift boat.
I have never liked taking my truck canopy off and mounting a camper. With a light camper it might be possible to just leave it on for a month or two.

At one time in this forum Four Wheel Campers was a frequent topic of discussion. You can/could get them as barebones or fully furnished, built to order.

mockturtle wrote:
I have a 4WD 'camper'.

Good for you…

My friend has had a few in the past. I liked that the top is very low when stored for travel. It was also the only popup at the tine with an aluminum frame. But as stated as far as insulation it's like a tent when it's popped up.

Years ago, FWC bought Six-Pac - a small hard side camper based in Texas as I recall. And moved the company to Woodland CA. I thought it was adding HS campers to FWC at that time.

It never materialized. Both were mimimal but well build campers ... I have no idea what happend to Six-Pac nor why FWC didn't continue building SP-HS Campers.

I have a 4WD 'camper'.