My Thoughts on the 2024 Four Wheel Campers Upgrades

Today Four Wheel Campers announced a host of substantial upgrades and options for their popular line of off-road truck campers. We’re on our second Four Wheel Camper - the Hawk UTE flatbed - which we’ve had for almost three years. Our first FWC was a slide-in Raven model, which we used for over a year before upgrading to the Hawk UTE. In this post I’ll cover each one of the new options and offer my thoughts on whether they are must-haves ro just nice to haves. I’ll also share a few changes I hope to see Four Wheel Campers embrace at some point…hopefully in the near future. Let’s dive in.

Standard Lithium Batteries - MUST HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $1,295 - $6,695

Both of our FWC campers came with AGM batteries from the factory. They were…eh. Even dual AGM’s with 320 watts of solar failed to keep up with our power demands. Admittedly, we are heavy power users. After going through two sets of AGM batteries in our Hawk UTE over a two year period, we made the decision to do a full lithium upgrade using 200 ah of Battleborn Batteries and Victron components. It wasn’t cheap, but it truly has been a gamechanger. That word gets thrown around a lot but in this case, it’s accurate. The lowest I’ve seen our battery level is 74%, and that is without limiting our power usage. For a full breakdown of our power system, check out this post: Should You Upgrade Your Overland Camper or Van to a Lithium Power System

FWC now includes one 135ah lithium battery as standard on all campers with the exception of Project M, with the option to upgrade to two or even three 135ah batteries. This is huge. HUGE. Along with the lithium power systems, Four Wheel Campers has also upgraded all of the wiring, which has been a weak spot in the past.

Roof Mounted Solar Panels - MUST HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $2,195 - $4,275

Some might argue that solar panels are not a must-have, but in my experience they absolutely are. Unless you drive a lot in between campsites you will have no way to top off your batteries without solar. Roof mounted solar panels go everywhere your rig does and don’t take up any additional internal storage, unlike portable panels. Lithium batteries charge significantly faster than AGM batteries, and solar panels will help to keep your batteries topped off. How much solar you need depends on a few variables, i.e. how many batteries you have, your average battery draw, environmental considerations, etc.

Truma Varioheat Furnace - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $1,100

This is a bigger deal than you might think. Four Wheel Campers has had major issues with their heaters for several years. The heaters in both of our campers failed after a short time, and in our Hawk UTE we invested in a Propex heater as a replacement for the factory model. It has functioned flawlessly for over two years. Truma Varioheat furnaces have a stellar industry reputation, and I’m thrilled to see Four Wheel Campers moving to this model. Do you need a heater? Only you can answer that but I will tell you that waking up to a toasty warm camper when the outside temperature is hovering in the single digits is a luxury that, once experienced, kind of changes your perspective.

Truma AquaGo Comfort Water Heater - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $1,225

Our first Four Wheel Camper didn’t have hot water. Our Hawk UTE does. For us, it was a must-have but I understand that for some, it may not be necessary. Washing greasy dishes with cold water has poor results. Splashing ice cold water on your face in the morning may be energizing, but not pleasant. Previous FWC’s used a standard hot water heater. We’ve never had an issue with ours, and I actually like that having a water heater with a tank allows us to carry more than 20 gallons of water. But, the Truma AquaGo Comfort is an on-demand hot water heater that, like the Varioheat, has proven itself as a reliable option for many years. Four Wheel Campers made a good decision to use it in their new campers.

Electric Roof Lift (Two Options) - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $825 - $4,995

For some, this might be a must-have. Longer camper roofs are heavy and not everyone will have the strength to manually lift them into place. There are two options for the electric roof lift; an internal or external linear actuators. The internal option can be retrofitted to older campers and is $825. The external actuators cannot be retrofitted, and they cost $4,995. Unfortunately, the external actuators don’t do away with the roof clips, which really would have been nice. I’m not too sure about this one. I see the utility of it, but I’m not convinced that it’s worth the significant additional expense (at least for us). Also, the external actuators are mounted on the sides of the camper, where they may be prone to damage from trees, rocks, etc. Also, the external actuators are placed such that they partially block the view from the soft side windows. The internal actuator is a little more cumbersome but not exposed to the elements, and costs about six times less than the external actuators. If you want a FWC camper but can’t lift the roof manually, at least now you have this as an option.

Extended Cabover and Underbed Storage - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $1,995

I was tempted to call this one a must-have. For us, it is. But, it may not be for all FWC owners. We spend a lot of time in our camper, and we carry hiking, mountain biking, photography and camping gear for three people plus a dog. If you need the storage, you need it. The extended cabover also means the bed covers less of the countertop when it’s slid out.

Roof Mounted Air Conditions - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $4,995

This is definitely a nice-to-have, but certainly not necessary unless you spend the majority of your time camping in extremely hot climates. We’ve used our Hawk UTE in temperatures in the 90’s. With both roof vents open and one fan set to exhaust, with the other blowing air in, and all windows open, it was reasonably comfortable inside. If you option the air conditioner Four Wheel Campers requires you to also purchase dual batteries and an electric roof lift. Perhaps more important, the air conditioner will only run on battery power for a limited amount of time. Air conditioners are a very high draw appliance and they will quickly deplete your batteries. Four Wheel Campers recommends that the camper be plugged into shore power when using the air conditioner for an extended period of time.

Quilted Thermal Liner - NICE TO HAVE - Upgrade Cost: $1,275

We recently upgraded our thermal liner to this new quilted version. We haven’t used it yet but are about to spend two weeks in the camper exploring Arizona. Initial impressions are positive. It’s certainly got an all-around more premium look and feel to it. It comes with window coverings for all the glass windows, too. Installation is simple and you can still put the top down with the thermal liner in place.

Standard Flush Mount Sink and Stove - STANDARD

A flush mount sink and stove are now standard. Also, the stove has been upgraded. I think this is fantastic. They look better and when not in use, you’ve got more counter space.

What Would I Like to See Four Wheel Campers Do Next?

My wish list is relatively short.

• Double pane acrylic awning style windows - This would do away with curtains, allow for less thermal transfer and, for those of us who use our rigs in rough environments, aren’t going to shatter when impacted by tree branches, rocks, etc.

• Windows at front and rear of soft side fabric - I’m not sure how this could be accomplished with the conventional roof lift as the lift panels cover most of the front fabric but on the electric roof with external actuators, it looks like it would be possible.

• Roof clips - Be gone with you, roof clips! They’re unsightly, delay deployment of the roof and, if you forget to unclip one, will damage your roof.

• Composite construction - This one is huge. I fully understand that Four Wheel Campers has built their brand on aluminum frames and skins. But, there are so many new overland campers constructed of composite materials that offer far better insulation, strength, durability and virtually no thermal bridging. With Four Wheel Campers legendary reputation and loyal customer base, it is my opinion that a composite FWC camper would catapult the company to new heights.

• External access to internal storage - On the Four Wheel Camper flatbed models, you’ve got storage under the dinette seats. It’s a large space and we love it, but it can only be accessed from inside the camper. I would be thrilled to be able to access it from outside, too. I dunno, maybe I’m just lazy? But, having access to all of our mountain biking gear without going into the camper would be amazing.

More Information About 2024 Four Wheel Campers Upgrades

Truck Camper magazine has a great interview with Stan Kennedy, Four Wheel Camper’s Brand Champion, about the new upgrades. Solid insight into their thought process on all of these new upgrades.

Four Wheel Campers Website

Four Wheel Campers Feature Launch Video

Four Wheel Campers YouTube Channel

Well folks, there you have it. My thoughts on the new Four Wheel Campers upgrades. It really seems like they came out swinging this time, and have an eye on the future. These upgrades aren’t for everybody, but they’re a giant step forward and something tells me the masterminds at FWC aren’t going to sit around on their hands. I’m curious to hear what you think about all the new features. Drop a comment and let me know what you think!

Four Tips to Improve Your Fall Color Photography

This morning I walked outside and was all like, wait, what...it's actually kinda not hot out here. What is going on? Then I looked at my phone and saw the date, September 3, and realized that, holy crap, fall is right around the corner. Fall! My favorite season! I did a little happy dance, collected myself and walked back inside to get ready for another day in paradise. With golden leaves already starting to appear in some areas of the Rockies I thought I'd take a few moments to share a few tips that may help you to create spectacular images this autumn. I hope you find them helpful.

FILTERS...KNOW THEM, USE THEM, LOVE THEM

Colorful leaves swirl in the cold waters of the Left Fork of North Creek as it flows through a section of canyon known as “The Subway” in Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah.

There is one filter I consider essential for photography in the fall, and yet another I highly recommend for creative expression. The venerable polarizing filter belongs in your kit year round but is especially handy during the colorful days of fall. I have never been a huge fan of using a polarizing filter for wide-angle landscapes but when shooting interior forest scenes and/or intimate compositions involving water (i.e. waterfalls, streams, etc.), a polarizer will remove or minimize reflections, thus giving the entire scene a more rich, saturated look. I always used Singh-Ray filters, specifically their fantastic Thin Ring Neutral Polarizer, which has a thinner outer ring that is less likely to cause vignetting when shooting at wider focal lengths.

The second filter I recommend is a solid neutral density (ND) filter. These filters are available in two versions: adjustable and non-adjustable. I've used the adjustable versions and find them to be...okay. Not great, just okay. They tend to work well when used at lower power but, in my experience, they introduce weird color casts when used at higher powers. Maybe the newer versions are better? Regardless of which type you choose, an ND filter reduces the amount of light reaching your camera sensor, thereby slowing the shutter speed. This can be used to great creative effect if you want to show movement, i.e. leaves swaying in the wind. These images will tend to have a more impressionistic, and at times, almost abstract mood to them.

I LIKE LONG LENSES AND I CANNOT LIE

Aspen trees and gambel oak display brilliant autumn leaves in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah.

It's easy to get suckered into using wide angle lenses for landscape photography but the magic happens when you break out a long lens to isolate an interesting "scene within a scene." I used long lenses year-round but they got a real workout every fall when the aspens and cottonwoods would put on the all-too-short psychedelic show.

I think if you ask most accomplished landscape photographers whether it’s easier to use a wide angle or long lens for landscapes the answer would be overwhelmingly “wide angle.” I remember making a conscious decision to master intimate landscapes early in my photography career. I definitely didn’t master the art but I did manage to figure out how to create some pretty interesting images of scenes that most people would walk right by without so much as a glance. What’s the secret? You’ve got to learn how to create tension and balance all within the same image. Look for patterns, either actual or implied. Create order out of chaos. The essence of a really good intimate landscape is to work the scene until you’ve eliminated everything that isn’t necessary so that all that remains in the frame is the very thing that caught your eye. For that matter, that’s true of any photograph.

I could tell you to do this and do that with your long lens but the only real way to learn is to go out into the autumn trees, mount up a long lens and start experimenting. I always used either a 100-400mm lens when I shot with Canon and when I switched to Sony, my go-to glass was a 70-200mm lens. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with depth of field while shooting at telephoto focal lengths. Sometimes, it’s better to use a narrow depth of field so your main subject pops from the blurred background.

The single best resource you’ll find on photographing the intimate landscape is Beyond the Grand Landscape: A Guide to Photographing Nature’s Small Scenes by Sarah Marino and Ron Coscorrosa. It’s the best $19.95 you’ll spend this year.

SUNRISE, SUNSET AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Raindrops gather on a single colorful aspen leaf on a cloudy day in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah.

There’s no such thing as bad light, just bad photographers. That might be a harsh statement but it’s true. If you’re a photographer who bitches and moans when the light “isn’t right”, you’ve got some learnin’ to do. Photography is just painting with light - any light - so learn to use whatever light you’re presented with to make dynamic images.

We all know about the magic that happens at sunrise and sunset, but there’s a lot of time in the day between those two events - use it! Overcast light is perfect for macro work or intimate landscape photography. The soft, diffused light casts only quiet shadows, allowing even old cameras to record the full dynamic range of a scene. I love wandering around in aspen groves on overcast days. The opportunities are virtually limitless.

Even harsh mid-day light can produce extraordinary image possibilities. Look for high contrast scenes, i.e. a backlit tree, leaves glowing as if lit from within, against a deeply shadowed cliff face. Let those shadows go deep, deep black. High contrast scenes often times have the most visual impact.

Bonus Tip: While you’re out wandering around in the middle of the day, keep your eyes peeled for potential sunrise or sunset locations. This is what we call “scouting”. Worst case scenario, you spend the day walking around in the woods/desert/mountains/canyons, rather than sitting behind a desk or staring at your phone screen. That’s a win, right?

POST-PROCESSING PITFALLS

Imposing clouds loom at sunset over the Moab Fault in the desert below a canyon filled with brilliant aspen trees high in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah.

I confess, I’m guilty of sliding the saturation slider just past the point of believability. If a little is good, more is more better, right? Wrong. So wrong.

In the mountain bike world, there’s an edict that bikes have gotten so good, there really aren’t any bad bikes anymore. Well, unless you’re buying a bike from Wal-Mart. Anyway, that’s really pretty true of photo processing software, too. I remember when Photoshop was the shizz. And then it was Lightroom. Now, basically anything you buy is more powerful than Photoshop was 15 years ago. However, with great power comes great responsibility.

If I had to sum up the single most common post-processing issue I could do it with one word: more. More saturation, more shadow recovery, more highlight recovery, more HDR, more processing…MOAR!!!! I’ve long strived for my images to remain within the realm of realism. I try to photograph in the best light with the best possible exposures at the correct aperture so I can spend less time post-processing images and more time out in nature. There are photographers who have made a name for themselves overusing processing to create images that are less about reality and more about fantasy. I appreciate their style of art, but it’s not my thang.

In a nutshell, when you’re processing you images, consider reigning it in just a little bit.

If you’re less of a computer geek and more of an outdoor geek, like me, it’s not a bad idea to get some help. I know my way around Lightroom and Photoshop these days, but I’ve been using both for a long time and have bought how-to books, watched YouTube tutorials and had good friends share some of their tips with me. Of all the resources I’ve used, none have been more valuable than Yosemite photographer Michael Frye’s “Landscapes in Lightroom” ebook and Sean Bagshaw’s incredible video tutorials. Michael’s ebook is a great launching point for beginner and intermediate photographers while Sean’s tutorials are helpful for intermediate to advanced image processing techniques.

If you happen to find yourself super inspired for fall photography, please consider purchasing one of my ebooks. Doing so will help me continue to create content for this blog and you’ll surely get a little boost to your karma cup. I’ve got three ebooks covering Arches, Big Bend and Zion National Parks, each costing only $15 or you can buy the whole bundle for $40. Just click here for all the details on eFotoGuide!

I hope you find these tips helpful and, if you’ve got a tip of your own, feel free to leave it in the comments below. Enjoy the autumn leaves!