Smaller or more minimalist truck camper

Grit dog wrote:

livemusic wrote:

cptqueeg wrote:
The 8' FWC shell model is $18K, the 8' FWC Grandby side dinette is $28K so it's $10K cheaper(plus tax, if applicable.) The 6.5' Hawk has the same $10k difference in prices btwn models. Idaho requires a title and therefore state sales tax, where the shell model does not require the title. ymmv

Any accessories added are going to cost the same on either the shell or fully built out model. You'll need solar, batteries, and controller.


Throw in your camp stove, water supply, porta potty, diesel heater, 12v cooler, and you're good to go. The interior is empty so you can bring lots of stuff and it's only limited by what can fit through the door.


Grandby shell build

Regarding your link, I appreciate having that to review, as it shows so many options you, typically, need to consider getting, if not all, and provides the price.

Thanks to all responses, I may have to just buy bigger and more complicated. Sure is a lot to analyze, lol. I wish I could just find a used truck and truck camper ready to go and drive away! I not only have to choose a truck, but then an RV, sheesh!

I'm going to characterize your budget as relatively limited, based on your couple posts.
Buying something like the FW shell model either completely bare, or ala carte (the prices on some of the "options" assume the buyer basically can't even use a screwdriver or go to the hardware store...) is a horrible financial decision. Unless I'm wrong about the budget part.
For the cost of just a new shell, or less, you can buy the whole camper, same thing (used of course). The resale in the future on the shell will be 0 for the vast majority of pop up TC buyers and very limited for the few that may want to build it out.

While the options are available at FWC doesn't mean you have to buy it from them. For instance installing your own battery bank, solar, and inverter is pretty well cookbook stuff with plenty of quality examples here at rv.net to follow.

As for the FWC market you couldn't be more wrong. There isn't anything out there to be had. Sold mine for more than I paid after deciding it wasn't for us. They get snapped up in a matter of hours once posted on line.

The beauty of a shell is NOT building it out, its leaving it empty and packing only what you need on each trip. And you can still fit a fair amount of cargo using it as a DD.