OVERVIEW OF OUR 2020 FLEET SHELL BUILD. WHY WE PURCHASED A SHELL MODEL AND HOW WE WENT FROM AN EMPTY INTERIOR TO A TINY HOME ON WHEELS.
When we decided we wanted to travel full time, we explored all the options. We had already owned and loved our Tacoma and wanted to keep that as the platform for our travels. When we discovered Four Wheel Campers, we knew immediately that would be our choice.
After doing our research, we came to learn that Four Wheel Campers offers the ability to customize your camper’s interior with as much or as little as you want, while also giving several exterior color and siding options which quickly got us excited. Knowing we were looking to DIY our interior, we placed an order for a nearly bare bones Shell model.
Find it online
- Four Wheel Camper Fleet Model – Check Price
- Pricing will vary based on your custom build
FOUR WHEEL CAMPERS FLEET
Four Wheel Campers, (FWC), just celebrated 50 years of adventure. They have always had the reputation of being reliable, durable, and lightweight campers. We have seen from experience these products cater to everyone. From retired folks, to weekend warriors, to full timers, and beyond. All campers are made to order in Northern California and are available through vendors around the world.
The product line at FWC is impressive. Slide-in campers are the most common, however flat bed models are starting to become increasingly popular and a new “Project M” truck bed topper has been made available recently. There are campers specifically sized for most trucks and bed sizes available on today’s market. That brings us to the Fleet.
The Fleet model is a slide-in for mid-sized trucks with a 6ft bed. There are several different stock layouts to choose from. We personally chose a shell because we got all the best parts of the camper with the ability to fully customize our living space.
Our Fleet arrived weighing approximately 800lbs. There were a few customizations we decided on for quality of life purposes such as 2 powered roof fans, solar pre-wiring, removable thermal pack for additional year round insulation, and roof tracks for future use of roof rack systems. These have proven to be incredibly useful upgrades and are always what we recommend when asked.
STANDARD FEATURES
Standard features received in the base pricing include:
- Standard “Mesa” exterior siding in white
- Aluminum jack brackets
- One powered roof vent/fan in the rear
- Roof vent over bed
- One 12V camper battery and battery cabinet
- Traditional wood grain interior
- Screen door
- Aluminum frame construction
- Queen cabover bed with 3″ mattress
- LED internal lights
- Exterior porch light
- 12V outlets and USB port
- Privacy curtains
- Large passenger window
- Small storage compartments above wheel wells
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke alarm
After undoing the 6 clips located around the exterior of the roof, step in and push the rear of the roof up and lock it into place. Then move to the front and do the same. The struts on both ends of the camper make this easy for people of all ages. Within about 60 seconds, you’re inside your fully enclosed camper and ready to climb into bed, make lunch, or get cozy and hang out. There is more than enough head room for most people. We are 5’10” and 6’2″ and there is plenty of headspace for us while standing.
The pop-up portion of the Fleet includes 4 windows with 3 layers each. A screen layer, a clear layer, and a blackout layer. Our thermal pack provides another layer for the windows. The 3 LED light strips are touch operated, making them silent. They are also independent of each other and dimmable, giving you fully customizable lighting inside the camper. The bed area slides out, giving an incredibly comfortable amount of sleeping room for us and our two dogs, (approximately a Queen). We have replaced the stock 3″ mattress in order to increase our comfort since going full time. I will talk more about that along with other modifications later.
Curious to see our camper tour?
- Here’s an awkwardly funny video of us showing what a Shell model looks like and how the pop-up functions.
OUR DIY INTERIOR
We found inspiration from overlanders, van-lifers, campers, and other nomadic lifestyles. After noting the things we used on a daily basis and learning how to minimize our clothing and luxury items, we were able to start making decisions on the dimensions of our build and the complexity of it.
We had seen a video of another camper tour and the owner said “head space is wasted space in a pop-up” and that changed everything for us. We were able to realize a much larger scale build once we realized we could fill the entire height of the hard sided structure. This concept gave us FOUR more storage spaces! A major focus point became a raised dinette with storage below the benches and a swivel table. Once we figured out the maximum height of the seats, we were able to create the space at the front-most part of the camper. Then followed the fridge, the sink, and the finally the cabinets.
One of the biggest reasons we did a DIY interior is because we were able to maximize the amount of storage. Everything has a place and is easily accessible through the large cabinet doors. Another reason we decided on DIY was because we knew going forward we could easily make changes to fit our needs, or change out parts that need to be replaced.
We did make modifications to some of the factory items simply because we would be using the camper on a daily basis. The mattress that comes stock from the factory is comfortable for short term use, but after a few weeks of sleeping on it every night we decided to upgrade to an aftermarket mattress. It has made a major difference. We also upgraded from the standard battery and charging system. Now, we have 2 100Ah Battle Born lithium batteries and a complete charging and monitoring system by Victron. These are some of the most expensive upgrades we have made but they are used every day and keep us going for longer periods of time.
For a better look into our build thread,
click here.
FAVORITE FEATURES
- Low profile. We are still able to drive on low clearance roadways and can use drive-thru windows. Even with suspension upgrades, we are still shorter than a high roof sprinter van.
- Mounting system. The camper is held on using a turnbuckle system that is easily accessible through doors inside the camper. With use of the camper jacks, the camper is easily raised and lowered onto the truck.
- Alternator charging. We have solar power as well, but being able to simply run or drive the truck to charge the batteries is a huge plus, especially in colder months where the sun is lower in the sky.
- Usable space. Even after adding all the cabinetry and seating, we still have a fair amount of room to move around. We have even been able to haul a thing or two in the camper and have been pleasantly surprised at what we can still fit.
- Simplicity. Being able to show up to camp in the middle of the night and be safely inside and behind a locked door within 60 seconds is great. Stepping up into the camper without needing a ladder or doing any external setup besides undoing the latches has helped us forget the days of using a rooftop tent.
OUR HONEST OPINION
After two years of ownership, we have used this camper in every season and probably every way you could imagine. It’s been a weekend warrior setup, a full time home, and has even been used as a temporary home in the driveway during power outages thanks to the onboard power system. We are so happy with our decision to buy a Four Wheel Camper. The amount of comfortable space we are able to enjoy while still having every single thing we need for life on the road is unmatched for the quality and price. This camper allows us to get out there and stay out there, and that’s exactly what we need.
