Dude you are all set ;) I’m waiting on mine and wish I didn’t agree to buying the mattresses. Wish I could bail out on that. I’m super excited and stoked for you.
Thanks. It was a fun run and I went on quite a few adventures in it but I have since sold it. Mostly due to the truck being too big for the narrower roads where I tend to go. I got a Nissan frontier and have been tenting it the two or three months.
Thanks for sharing an example with 8 foot bed, like I am considering this or the Tune for my 8' truck. I am not delighted with the side shelves that come with the M though - I'd rather build a custom 7ftx 5ft sectional sofa (removeable, foamboard frame) on one side but the shelf would be in the way. On the other side I'd build a 8020 based slide in 6 foot kitchen cabinet, but again shelf in the way. I suppose the shelves can be cut out. I've thought of just using a 450W electric heater, as I have a 3.6KWhr Ecoflow pro, and solar, and could add alternator charger (not for below freezing).
Yeah the shelves were a pain but also nice sometimes but the in the future if I were to go with another pop up camper I would not want the shelves. Better to have a blank slate and just build out the interior. The project M is a really solid unit but there’s a lot of competition out there now. I’d go with whatever company gives you the best bang for your buck. Depending on how much you run it a 450 watt heater will burn through power but definitely give it a try before going all out on another system. Diesel heaters are great for dry heat but they are bulky and can be messy plus the ticking from the pump can be irritating, Ive also used a Wave 3 and a Mr heater but they add a bit of moisture inside not too bad if you air it out and keep a vent or window cracked. A 12v electric blanket is great for sleeping too, it’ll keep you warm but the cabin will still be cold.
Beautiful camping spot Scott!! Great to see your new camper and how you're outfitting it. Cool to see your fridge and how you're getting the heater set up --- it's is going to be nice when it gets cold and you can keep getting out. Fun that you bring your cat :) We have a trailer and it's a bit of a chore to set it up and take it out- looks like you can be ready to go in a fairly short time!! Awesome! :)
Thanks. It’s been good so far. I usually like to get as far out as I can but still have a little bit of comfort so I think this set up will work towards that goal. Not huge and heavy like a traditional truck camper but definitely a lot more room than a canopy.
It's so beautiful up there. I'm in LA and just recently drove up to Seattle. I'm Jealous....lol. Nice setup I'm trying to figure out my build on my tundra.
Thanks. It’s really nice having places like this not too far from the Seattle area. There’s a lot of options out there for builds between roof top tents and slid in or bolt on campers . I think if I was to do it again I’d probably go with a Topo Topper or something similar on a smaller truck. The full size long bed truck is nice for being at camp but it’s too big in every other aspect. I also find myself bringing too much gear that I never use since I have all that extra space.
@scottalpine I can see that being an issue. I had the same problem when I had my toy hauler. Now that I sold it I'm trying to figure out a good setup for my glamis trips as well as short getaways.
Thank you for sharing and I have a question, Can you still sit on the side bench comfortably while the pop top is closed, Do you still have headroom for it? Thanks.
I’m starting put a video together that will come out later this month or in the beginning of next month. Takes a little while to go through the older footage.
Those look like good heaters. I have 3 heaters currently. The Mr heater buddy heater, a Wave 3 and a Vevor diesel heater. So far it hasn’t been too cold, hopefully winter will arrive here soon.
Since then, in the middle of the night, I changed a canister, ignited it, and had a big ball of fire- pull out the fuel tube and it went out' yeah folks......
Good videos ,i found a oil radiator heater that uses only 400w hr.(NEW AIR is the brand)i might spend the money on a power station that will allow 6-8 hours of run 11:46 time,probly the jackery 3000 then charge it with my generac 3000 gas generator😂,hey it works good
The Jackery’s are nice units, I had a Jackery 500 that was great. The 3000 is pretty spendy, hopefully you can find it on sale. Depending on how cold it gets where you’re going and the size of space you’re trying to heat 400 watts may not be large enough. For last winter I went with a diesel heater (Vivir 5kw) and it did great on the low settings, I don’t recall exactly how much power it pulled but it pulled under 50 watts ( I think it was closer to 20ish watts) I usually ran it off a Bluetti 2000 watt station. My Vitoman 300 watt station would run it but it would be low on power after running all night and the Bluetti 500 watt station wouldn’t run it at all, I suspect the fluctuations of the power draw running the pump tripped it into shutdown. I also used an Olympian Wave 3 heater that works great and saves space on not bringing diesel fuel and the larger power station. A lot of money can be spent on heating and cooling, depending on how much cold weather camping you plan on doing you may try a cheaper option before dropping a couple grand or more on a power station that may only be used 2 or 3 months a year unless you plan on using it as your only source of power year round then it might be worth it.
@scottalpin Diesel heaters still have to run like the generators tho,doesn't really make a difference to me,the 3000 jackery is 67lbs and I'm at the age where I might plan on full time living outthere anyway.good chat,like your little mountain lion!
@@tonygulick9289 the diesel heaters also have a constant tick tick tick from the pump that can be annoying. For full timing or longer stays that Jackery would probably be perfect. Happy camping 🏕️
First of all… thanks for dropping this video. It is extremely informative. I’m thinking of purchasing a Project-M for my Chevy Silverado 1500 but I have two questions. While watching these videos, I’ve noticed that all of the vehicles are 4x4. My question is… is a 4x4 mandatory for this item? Also, did you have to add new springs/shocks or add a lift to your truck before adding the topper? Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for watching. 4x4 is not necessary but I like to get way out there and having a 4x4 definitely helps and in the winter there’s no way I could get to my destinations in 2wd. It’s basically a personal choice depending on where you think you’ll use the camper the most. It’s a good excuse to buy a new truck but if you can get where you need to without 4wd then definitely save the money. I didn’t add any suspension mods to the truck. My camper only weighs 600lbs (8’ version) and my truck can haul 3104 (according to the door sticker) so I don’t even notice it on there except a little wind drag. I think I lost 1 or 2 mpg with it on there. These campers are pretty light and the newer trucks have a lot of weight capacity, I’m fairly confident you could handle the camper and your gear with no problem. You could always add a helper spring and/or stiffer shocks after the fact if you feel you need to. You can always call Four Wheel Camper too and talk to a sales person depending on how close you are to a dealer you could swing in and check one out in person and see what they have to say. The roof can be kind of a pain to raise and lower sometimes. I have some shoulder issues and it makes it a bit more difficult for me so you may want to consider that too. There are other brands too that may be lighter and more budget friendly. There’s a UA-cam channel called Western Wild and they have an Oru Designs camper that is very similar to the Four Wheel Camper. It looks like the roof is really easy to pop up but I think that the Four Wheel Camper would be a little bit more tougher. I haven’t seen an Oru in person it’s just a feeling I have. Any other questions feel free to ask.
What is the width between the side shelves? What is the height from the truck bed to the top of the Project M when it is in the down position? Thanks for the video!
Between the shelves is 45.875” (basically 46”) and with the top down I have 56” but I have about 1.5” of floor kit in there so probably more like 57.5” And between the walls is 73”. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the very helpful reply! I am hoping to purchase a Project M for an older pickup with an 8' bed. I currently have a Topper EZ Lift installed which is great however I need more room to haul what I need. Having the mattresses and bedding ready to go will save a lot of room. Unfortunately I am too far away from the factory and the closest dealer suggested a dealer several hundred miles away. Thanks again for the reply.
@@garygroundpounder7817 Several hundred miles is a long way to go for a camper. Depending on where you’re located there may be something from a different manufacturer that is a bit closer. Hope you can find something that works out for you.
No actually had less wind noise. Before this I had a contractor canopy on it (Leer DCC) and the wind noise with it was pretty loud. With nothing on there it’s still a big diesel pickup so not super quiet but adding the camper didn’t really add any noticeable wind noise for me. The canopy set up was really loud on the freeway but the camper doesn’t seem to go beyond the regular truck noise.
@@scottalpineI know exactly what your talking bout with the Leer contractors cap, I had one exactly like it. I’m seriously considering a FWC project M, my truck is a2022 F350 6.6 bed with a 7.3 gas.thanks!
@@Slickheadhunter it’s nice being able to stand up inside especially In colder and rainy weather. However even with that in mind I still find myself spending most of my time outside and not really hanging out in the camper much. I probably should have just stuck with the canopy set up. Prior to the camper purchase I had envisioned that I’d be spending more time inside especially in the winter months but that hasn’t really been the case except for a couple of colder trips when I had the diesel heater going. The shelves on the sides of the project M are a blessing and a curse. They make getting up and down from the bunk area easier but take up room in the bed when I want to haul material. I’ve thought about cutting them off flush with the bed rails but have held off since I might sell the camper at some point.
I believe the side shelves are part of the frame as well, but perhaps they could be removed. Obviously if you sell it that wouldn’t be a good idea like you said. I went today and got to see a project M today and for me it would work out perfectly for the hunting I do in the New Hampshire and Maine areas that I hunt. Love watching your videos!
@@Slickheadhunter That’s great that it looks like it’ll work for you. The open space gives a lot of room for different build options especially if you’re looking to use it for hunting part of the year, then just camping/fishing and still can pull everything out to haul stuff too. Thanks for watching.
Get the Ecoflow Wave 2 with battery & ecoflow delta pro ultra and install the ecoflow 800w alternator in your vehicle you’ll be self efficient and free..
I’ve thought about getting an Echoflow if I need to get another power station. I don’t use that much power though, I usually just bring a Vitoman 300 watt that takes care of my spring and fall power needs and in winter I add in a Bluetti 2000 watt for the diesel heater and for summer I have a Bluetti 500 watt for the fridge. So far it’s been working out pretty good, I usually have more power than I need.
@@scottalpineIt's not just about the battery capacity, but rather how efficiently the battery can sustain your power needs over a long period without relying on the grid. I understand the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra might seem like overkill, but it really depends on what you're trying to power and for how long. For me, I don't want to rely on anything that plugs in or needs constant recharging, especially for heating and cooling with the Wave 2. The EcoFlow 800W alternator can recharge both the Wave 2 and the EcoFlow Ultra in about 4 hours of driving from 0% to 100%, which can sustain you for over 8 days if you manage your consumption well. Even if you only drive an hour a day, you wouldn't have to worry about recharging, making it a free and efficient solution.
@@SamyElGhoul sounds like a good system, my power needs are fairly small though. So far I’ve never run out of power and can make up what I do use with 12v plug charging and solar panels.
Way to much money for just a shell. I bought a 1997 Sunlite for $2,600. Added solar, new batteries. Has indoor rest room with outside shower. AC, propane furnace, 3 way refrigerator. Clean and comfy. Total investment with tie down system and nice stairs right at $3,450. Its not new, but its in really good shape. Weighs in at 1,650 lbs, which my Chevrolet Silverado 2001 2500HD can easily handle.
Yup. The new stuff is way too much especially for a shell. I wanted a popup camper so my options were one of this style or an Alaskan. I also didn’t want any of the interior build. Most of the amenities that come standard with campers I don’t want or use. I previously had a Northernlite on a Ram and it was just too big with not enough room cause of the interior build. 20 years ago I had a 1970 Mel Mar camper on a 1978 pickup and that was fun but it needed more work than I wanted to put into it. Used is definitely the way to go. I’ll never buy another new vehicle or RV.
Dude you are all set ;) I’m waiting on mine and wish I didn’t agree to buying the mattresses. Wish I could bail out on that. I’m super excited and stoked for you.
Thanks. It was a fun run and I went on quite a few adventures in it but I have since sold it. Mostly due to the truck being too big for the narrower roads where I tend to go. I got a Nissan frontier and have been tenting it the two or three months.
Good video. The most fun is figuring out just how you want it. Have fun.
Thanks. Already started and already want to change it.
Love that spot. Usually make it there couple times a year. Thanks for the review!
It’s a gorgeous spot. Definitely a fantastic view from there.
Thanks for sharing an example with 8 foot bed, like I am considering this or the Tune for my 8' truck. I am not delighted with the side shelves that come with the M though - I'd rather build a custom 7ftx 5ft sectional sofa (removeable, foamboard frame) on one side but the shelf would be in the way. On the other side I'd build a 8020 based slide in 6 foot kitchen cabinet, but again shelf in the way. I suppose the shelves can be cut out. I've thought of just using a 450W electric heater, as I have a 3.6KWhr Ecoflow pro, and solar, and could add alternator charger (not for below freezing).
Yeah the shelves were a pain but also nice sometimes but the in the future if I were to go with another pop up camper I would not want the shelves. Better to have a blank slate and just build out the interior. The project M is a really solid unit but there’s a lot of competition out there now. I’d go with whatever company gives you the best bang for your buck.
Depending on how much you run it a 450 watt heater will burn through power but definitely give it a try before going all out on another system. Diesel heaters are great for dry heat but they are bulky and can be messy plus the ticking from the pump can be irritating, Ive also used a Wave 3 and a Mr heater but they add a bit of moisture inside not too bad if you air it out and keep a vent or window cracked. A 12v electric blanket is great for sleeping too, it’ll keep you warm but the cabin will still be cold.
Congrats on the new camper! Looks great on the truck and I’m sure you’ll love the added living space. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Thanks! I already built a couple things and realized I need to change it. 😂
@@scottalpine all a process!
Camper looks awesome! Congrats!
Thanks. So far is been great.
Beautiful camping spot Scott!! Great to see your new camper and how you're outfitting it. Cool to see your fridge and how you're getting the heater set up --- it's is going to be nice when it gets cold and you can keep getting out. Fun that you bring your cat :) We have a trailer and it's a bit of a chore to set it up and take it out- looks like you can be ready to go in a fairly short time!! Awesome! :)
Thanks. It’s been good so far. I usually like to get as far out as I can but still have a little bit of comfort so I think this set up will work towards that goal. Not huge and heavy like a traditional truck camper but definitely a lot more room than a canopy.
❤ nice setup. You will get it all figured out. Thank You for sharing your video. Jake McClellan The Oregon Boy 👦
Thanks Jake. It’s a work in progress. I’m doing a quick and dirty build just so I can get rolling in a day or two.
It's so beautiful up there. I'm in LA and just recently drove up to Seattle. I'm Jealous....lol. Nice setup I'm trying to figure out my build on my tundra.
Thanks. It’s really nice having places like this not too far from the Seattle area. There’s a lot of options out there for builds between roof top tents and slid in or bolt on campers . I think if I was to do it again I’d probably go with a Topo Topper or something similar on a smaller truck. The full size long bed truck is nice for being at camp but it’s too big in every other aspect. I also find myself bringing too much gear that I never use since I have all that extra space.
@scottalpine I can see that being an issue. I had the same problem when I had my toy hauler. Now that I sold it I'm trying to figure out a good setup for my glamis trips as well as short getaways.
@@brianduran6547 yeah, sometimes it can be a challenge to find the happy medium between a full on RV type set up and sleeping in a tent
Thank you for sharing and I have a question, Can you still sit on the side bench comfortably while the pop top is closed, Do you still have headroom for it? Thanks.
There’s about 34.5” from the bench to the ceiling. I can sit on it but have to lean my head forward a bit.
Thank you!
Pls do a video on getting rid of it. ?
I’m starting put a video together that will come out later this month or in the beginning of next month. Takes a little while to go through the older footage.
@@scottalpine thanks, I think that would be interesting.
The kovea works well , doesnt put out too much heat- if u sleep in, itll take 1. And a half butane canisters.
Those look like good heaters. I have 3 heaters currently. The Mr heater buddy heater, a Wave 3 and a Vevor diesel heater. So far it hasn’t been too cold, hopefully winter will arrive here soon.
Since then, in the middle of the night, I changed a canister, ignited it, and had a big ball of fire- pull out the fuel tube and it went out' yeah folks......
Good videos ,i found a oil radiator heater that uses only 400w hr.(NEW AIR is the brand)i might spend the money on a power station that will allow 6-8 hours of run 11:46 time,probly the jackery 3000 then charge it with my generac 3000 gas generator😂,hey it works good
The Jackery’s are nice units, I had a Jackery 500 that was great. The 3000 is pretty spendy, hopefully you can find it on sale.
Depending on how cold it gets where you’re going and the size of space you’re trying to heat 400 watts may not be large enough.
For last winter I went with a diesel heater (Vivir 5kw) and it did great on the low settings, I don’t recall exactly how much power it pulled but it pulled under 50 watts ( I think it was closer to 20ish watts) I usually ran it off a Bluetti 2000 watt station. My Vitoman 300 watt station would run it but it would be low on power after running all night and the Bluetti 500 watt station wouldn’t run it at all, I suspect the fluctuations of the power draw running the pump tripped it into shutdown.
I also used an Olympian Wave 3 heater that works great and saves space on not bringing diesel fuel and the larger power station.
A lot of money can be spent on heating and cooling, depending on how much cold weather camping you plan on doing you may try a cheaper option before dropping a couple grand or more on a power station that may only be used 2 or 3 months a year unless you plan on using it as your only source of power year round then it might be worth it.
@scottalpin Diesel heaters still have to run like the generators tho,doesn't really make a difference to me,the 3000 jackery is 67lbs and I'm at the age where I might plan on full time living outthere anyway.good chat,like your little mountain lion!
@@tonygulick9289 the diesel heaters also have a constant tick tick tick from the pump that can be annoying. For full timing or longer stays that Jackery would probably be perfect.
Happy camping 🏕️
First of all… thanks for dropping this video. It is extremely informative.
I’m thinking of purchasing a Project-M for my Chevy Silverado 1500 but I have two questions.
While watching these videos, I’ve noticed that all of the vehicles are 4x4. My question is… is a 4x4 mandatory for this item?
Also, did you have to add new springs/shocks or add a lift to your truck before adding the topper? Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for watching. 4x4 is not necessary but I like to get way out there and having a 4x4 definitely helps and in the winter there’s no way I could get to my destinations in 2wd. It’s basically a personal choice depending on where you think you’ll use the camper the most. It’s a good excuse to buy a new truck but if you can get where you need to without 4wd then definitely save the money.
I didn’t add any suspension mods to the truck. My camper only weighs 600lbs (8’ version) and my truck can haul 3104 (according to the door sticker) so I don’t even notice it on there except a little wind drag. I think I lost 1 or 2 mpg with it on there.
These campers are pretty light and the newer trucks have a lot of weight capacity, I’m fairly confident you could handle the camper and your gear with no problem. You could always add a helper spring and/or stiffer shocks after the fact if you feel you need to.
You can always call Four Wheel Camper too and talk to a sales person depending on how close you are to a dealer you could swing in and check one out in person and see what they have to say.
The roof can be kind of a pain to raise and lower sometimes. I have some shoulder issues and it makes it a bit more difficult for me so you may want to consider that too.
There are other brands too that may be lighter and more budget friendly. There’s a UA-cam channel called Western Wild and they have an Oru Designs camper that is very similar to the Four Wheel Camper. It looks like the roof is really easy to pop up but I think that the Four Wheel Camper would be a little bit more tougher. I haven’t seen an Oru in person it’s just a feeling I have.
Any other questions feel free to ask.
What is the width between the side shelves? What is the height from the truck bed to the top of the Project M when it is in the down position? Thanks for the video!
Between the shelves is 45.875” (basically 46”) and with the top down I have 56” but I have about 1.5” of floor kit in there so probably more like 57.5”
And between the walls is 73”.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the very helpful reply! I am hoping to purchase a Project M for an older pickup with an 8' bed. I currently have a Topper EZ Lift installed which is great however I need more room to haul what I need. Having the mattresses and bedding ready to go will save a lot of room. Unfortunately I am too far away from the factory and the closest dealer suggested a dealer several hundred miles away. Thanks again for the reply.
@@garygroundpounder7817 Several hundred miles is a long way to go for a camper. Depending on where you’re located there may be something from a different manufacturer that is a bit closer. Hope you can find something that works out for you.
Have you noticed a lot more wind noise after the install your camper?
No actually had less wind noise. Before this I had a contractor canopy on it (Leer DCC) and the wind noise with it was pretty loud. With nothing on there it’s still a big diesel pickup so not super quiet but adding the camper didn’t really add any noticeable wind noise for me. The canopy set up was really loud on the freeway but the camper doesn’t seem to go beyond the regular truck noise.
@@scottalpineI know exactly what your talking bout with the Leer contractors cap, I had one exactly like it.
I’m seriously considering a FWC project M, my truck is a2022 F350 6.6 bed with a 7.3 gas.thanks!
@@Slickheadhunter it’s nice being able to stand up inside especially In colder and rainy weather.
However even with that in mind I still find myself spending most of my time outside and not really hanging out in the camper much. I probably should have just stuck with the canopy set up. Prior to the camper purchase I had envisioned that I’d be spending more time inside especially in the winter months but that hasn’t really been the case except for a couple of colder trips when I had the diesel heater going.
The shelves on the sides of the project M are a blessing and a curse. They make getting up and down from the bunk area easier but take up room in the bed when I want to haul material. I’ve thought about cutting them off flush with the bed rails but have held off since I might sell the camper at some point.
I believe the side shelves are part of the frame as well, but perhaps they could be removed. Obviously if you sell it that wouldn’t be a good idea like you said.
I went today and got to see a project M today and for me it would work out perfectly for the hunting I do in the New Hampshire and Maine areas that I hunt.
Love watching your videos!
@@Slickheadhunter That’s great that it looks like it’ll work for you. The open space gives a lot of room for different build options especially if you’re looking to use it for hunting part of the year, then just camping/fishing and still can pull everything out to haul stuff too.
Thanks for watching.
Get the Ecoflow Wave 2 with battery & ecoflow delta pro ultra and install the ecoflow 800w alternator in your vehicle you’ll be self efficient and free..
I’ve thought about getting an Echoflow if I need to get another power station. I don’t use that much power though, I usually just bring a Vitoman 300 watt that takes care of my spring and fall power needs and in winter I add in a Bluetti 2000 watt for the diesel heater and for summer I have a Bluetti 500 watt for the fridge. So far it’s been working out pretty good, I usually have more power than I need.
@@scottalpineIt's not just about the battery capacity, but rather how efficiently the battery can sustain your power needs over a long period without relying on the grid. I understand the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra might seem like overkill, but it really depends on what you're trying to power and for how long. For me, I don't want to rely on anything that plugs in or needs constant recharging, especially for heating and cooling with the Wave 2.
The EcoFlow 800W alternator can recharge both the Wave 2 and the EcoFlow Ultra in about 4 hours of driving from 0% to 100%, which can sustain you for over 8 days if you manage your consumption well. Even if you only drive an hour a day, you wouldn't have to worry about recharging, making it a free and efficient solution.
@@SamyElGhoul sounds like a good system, my power needs are fairly small though. So far I’ve never run out of power and can make up what I do use with 12v plug charging and solar panels.
Mattress is 770.00 on there website.
That’s great, prices rarely go down. They used to be 1150.
Way to much money for just a shell.
I bought a 1997 Sunlite for $2,600. Added solar, new batteries. Has indoor rest room with outside shower. AC, propane furnace, 3 way refrigerator. Clean and comfy. Total investment with tie down system and nice stairs right at $3,450.
Its not new, but its in really good shape.
Weighs in at 1,650 lbs, which my Chevrolet Silverado 2001 2500HD can easily handle.
Yup. The new stuff is way too much especially for a shell. I wanted a popup camper so my options were one of this style or an Alaskan. I also didn’t want any of the interior build. Most of the amenities that come standard with campers I don’t want or use. I previously had a Northernlite on a Ram and it was just too big with not enough room cause of the interior build. 20 years ago I had a 1970 Mel Mar camper on a 1978 pickup and that was fun but it needed more work than I wanted to put into it. Used is definitely the way to go. I’ll never buy another new vehicle or RV.
@@scottalpine I agree.
Diesel heater 💡
Yup, got one and gave it a test run yesterday. Just waiting on snowy winter days now.