Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Camper

Oh, the lengths we'll go for comfort.

 

5. Standard Lithium Power

Say goodbye to your old AGM batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat - formidable cousin to your general Lead Acid block). Welcome to a world illuminated with 135Ah of lithium power baby. Now standard, that soft, white alkali metal has handed AGM an AARP card and relieved it of duty. It was time. The trusty reliability of AGM batteries only remains constant under optimal conditions - and we know how optimal conditions are in the wild. An average, but unpredictable shelf life of 2-4 years is threatened daily by deep cycling and temperature extremes. However, those issues aren’t exclusive to lead acid tech.

The uphill trudge from tech obsolescence prevents any form of succession without complication. Early lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are temperature sensitive, expensive, and subject to age. The successor, LiPo, can be discharged at higher rates and provide more power, but are exceedingly more expensive than early developed Li-ion tech, and still prone to catch fire if overheated or damaged. 

Welcome, Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). By comparison to the aforementioned forms of battery tech, LiFePO4 batteries boast significant advantages in life expectancy, charge efficiency, size, weight and temperature tolerance. The only downside in 2024 - the price tag. However, if you’ve ever sat alone and stared longingly at a dead battery indicator in the stillness of night, you know. A power bank committed to both reliability and longevity is of incalculable value, and a relationship you put a ring on. 

 

 4. Roof Mounted Air Conditioning

We’ve all stared out at the right-hand of the interstate and seen the local DIY cargo van conversion. You know - the one laying down heavy miles with a home window A/C unit somehow married to the steel. Laugh all you like. The truth of the matter is until recent years, not unlike that right lane cargo warrior, mobile home cooling looked very much like - home cooling. A/C units designed for campers were not known for their elegance, and awkwardly installed at the expense of valuable surface area.

A low profile rooftop A/C unit from Nomadic Innovations is an option available with any new FWC model of your choosing. Out of sight, out of mind, the roof mount eliminates any unsightly vehicle protrusions and frees up space for other mountable equipment. Quiet and lightweight, you only really notice it when it’s off.

 

3. Truma Hot Water & Furnace Systems

When you experience cold winter months on the road, the importance of effective indoor temperature control and water heating systems is nonnegotiable in this modern age of gadgetry. Previous campers employed Dometic systems, which, do the trick, but are a bit antiquated by today's standards. The Dometic furance is only ever ON or OFF, and furnace is controlled by a wall mounted thermostat - early 1900s tech (steampunk before steampunk was cool - thank you very much, Alice H. Parker).

Truma AquaGo

Truma VarioHeat

The new hotness, so to speak, is Truma. Their furnace and hot water systems are top of the line. Three fan speeds, opposed to ON or OFF settings, and discrete operating decibel levels made certain Truma took that blue ribbon. But that's not all. The systems are both controlled by a programmable LCD screen, allowing you to schedule propane ignition times so your living quarters is Holidays-with-Nat-King-Cole toasty by the time you return from doing all those things that you do. Convenience and efficiency are the name of the game here. It isn't that we couldn't forage for dry fire kindling at sub-zero and feverishly rub two sticks together before frostbite set in. We just prefer not to.

 

Truma Programmable LCD

 

2. Under-bed Storage Option 

I know this sounds relatively self-explanatory, but let me do my job. Prior to these new FWC models, the under-bed storage option was only available for flatbed trucks due to the size and weight. Now you can have your cake and hide some for later, too. Recommended for 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups (due to the added weight), the over cab sleeping bay is a bit larger and under the mattress is a discrete closet space for your unmentionables.

No matter how many features you stuff into or bolt on, you're still in the bed of a truck - and real estate is scarce. Having extra storage elevates your off-grid game tremendously. With ample room for gear and amenities, not only does clutter become a thing of myth, but "unessential" items previously left behind now have a place on your adventure.

 

1. Special Edition Orvis Camper

 

Hard truth time. Rarely do individuals go out of the way to make life on this big orb (sorry, flat-earthers) more challenging. As far back as Plato's Republic, it's been universally accepted that "The true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention." From George Washington Carver's obsession with peanuts, to splinter-free toilet paper from the great Northern Tissue, humans never fail to find a need and invent a solution. Complacency rarely stifles ingenuity in the pursuit of takin' it easy. So, that is why our No. 1 Four Wheel Camper upgrade is the Special Edition Orvis Camper itself.

This unique camper edition, available in two sizes, standardizes sophisticated adventuring. Whether you're an avid angler, or occasionally toss out a line with a cold one, the Orvis Edition caters to camping needs you didn't know you had. Under-bed storage, an over-cab rod & reel compartment, and a separate wet/dry gear locker ensures a place for everything - keeping natures best efforts from the plush pleasantries of your studio apartment on the go.

The Orvis Edition is the first of its lineage to feature coin flooring, modern cabinetry in black, and bamboo countertops as standard sexy. New interior color options scratch that aesthetic itch, while a detachable stove brings the joy of cooking outdoors when the weather welcomes it. This inclusive base package shines so bright, you almost forget the available upgrades not included. Treat yourself, friend. 

 

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