Ranger Camper Limitation

[Tracy Bowman]

I mounted a used ‘14 Eagle FWC on my Ranger with Hellwig rear sway bar set to max and Firestone air bags set 35 drivers side and 30 on the right. Ride is much better with sway bar. Next will be 265/70/17 cooper at3 tires.
Someone mention the height of the new bed, I pick up a tri-fold ramp from HB and made some light weight stay to make up the difference .
My gross with 2 adults, 20lbs of propane, full tank of fuel and a fully kitted Eagle is 6100 lbs.
I also added a Redarc charger to work with the Ranger alt.
Over on the gross by 50lbs but under on the axles, but over is over.

I like this, but am not familiar with it. Could you please post some pictures of the inside. Also, if it let's up, could you post some pictures of it inside & out? Thanks! Might be something I would like to get.

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[Rich]

I like this, but am not familiar with it. Could you please post some pictures of the inside. Also, if it let's up, could you post some pictures of it inside & out? Thanks! Might be something I would like to get.

The Eagle is not in production any more but hey are around used, they are 69” wide and is perfect on the new Ranger

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

Nice, your Eagle looks like new. What is the build weight on the FWC spec plate ? I read FWC keeps building heavier.

Can you explain more about your platform under the Eagle?

 

[Rich]

We have not yet installed a substitute camera - I'm waiting for the aftermarket to catch up and make one specifically for the Ranger. The current solution available is a more generic one-size-fits-all camera in a housing, which I'd rather not pursue.

Go as light as you can in a shell, but understand that any options you want will add weight. We're hovering around the payload rating when fully geared up, which is not where I wanted to be, but oh well. FWC seems to have trouble building truly lightweight shells these days. They'd advertised a certain shell weight when we ordered, and then it came in 200 pounds over weight even after you subtracted all the options. I don't know why, except maybe they're reluctant to try modern composite materials that are untested in overland settings, and they stick to the proven frame and aluminum skin approach. That's not a bad strategy in terms of reliability and rock-solid campers, and probably more profitable. Their plywood framing and cabinetry is well built, too, although heavy. I understand ATC has basically the same design as FWC (the owners/staff apparently came from the initial FWC company) but maybe they do more custom work and will play with lightweight components.

If ATC can actually deliver a rock-solid 500-lb shell, you should probably think seriously about buying it.

I used the stock camera from the tailgate to save some time and money.

 

[HenryMac]

The Eagle is not in production any more but hey are around used, they are 69” wide and is perfect on the new Ranger

That's awesome! Thanks for posting.

 

[Rich]

Nice, your Eagle looks like new. What is the build weight on the FWC spec plate ? I read FWC keeps building heavier.

Can you explain more about your platform under the Eagle?

On the bottom of the camper are risers running the width (5) on each I cut up the ramps to make up 2.5 “ in the height of the bed walls so weight is even on the bed floor and a very close clearance on bed walls

 

[HenryMac]

On the bottom of the camper are risers running the width (5) on each I cut up the ramps to make up 2.5 “ in the height of the bed walls so weight is even on the bed floor and a very close clearance on bed walls

Are the (2) schrader valve fittings located near the license plate for air bags?

 

[Rich]

Are the (2) schrader valve fittings located near the license plate for air bags?

yes, and I have an off shore air compressor that I have been using for a long time, still works well.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

The Eagle is not in production any more but hey are around used, they are 69” wide and is perfect on the new Ranger

Thank you for the pictures. That is very nice!!! Is it fairly easy to take off when you don't need it? Or do you leave it on?

 

[Rich]

I can take it off with jacks ,set it on a dolly I made but I have utility trailer If needed to haul any thing, an old motorcycle and two seater for date nite.

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

I can take it off with jacks ,set it on a dolly I made but I have utility trailer If needed to haul any thing, an old motorcycle and two seater for date nite.

That's what we'll need - a dolly for offload and roll it into the garage. Or make the garage door taller.

Which type of dolly did you make? A full platform?

 

[Rich]

That's what we'll need - a dolly for offload and roll it into the garage. Or make the garage door taller.

Which type of dolly did you make? A full platform?

The dolly is platform I made from an old motorcycle work table and casters from the flee market .Trailer is an 8x5 from Northern that I use for caring extra weight without adding to truck gross, also the Eagle fits on there perfect. All stores in my 2.5 garage to void any storage cost.

 

[gkendrick]

We just completed the second half of an extended 10,000-mile shakedown cruise for our FWC Fleet shell and 2019 Ranger, both of which performed flawlessly. The FWC systems all ran perfectly, the new Ranger handled jeep trails as well as highway speeds comfortably, ranging from 15-21 mpg depending on headwinds and the amount of low-range jeep trail adventuring versus highway cruising. Averaged 16.5 mpg over the entire trip, typically had 15-16 mpg in 4WD low range, and hit 22 mpg with a tailwind one day. May be looking at installing a sway bar and air bags in the future (see my prior post for our existing suspension mods), but for the most part the truck handled the camper weight well in off-road situations.

 

[gkendrick]

I used the stock camera from the tailgate to save some time and money.

Have you played around with replacing or upgrading the radio antenna at all? We've found that the reception is crappy with the camper on, a tin-can effect blocking signal to the stock antenna on the cab roof,.

 

[Rich]

Have you played around with replacing or upgrading the radio antenna at all? We've found that the reception is crappy with the camper on, a tin-can effect blocking signal to the stock antenna on the cab roof,.

It's on my list. I have Sirius radio and it fades in and out at random, the FM is fair with a shorty antenna. Looking into a sirius ant to mount on camper and plug in when camper is mounted or a booster of some kind.

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