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1st Gen Lightweight Shell Tent Campers

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by speedtre, Feb 20, 2019.

  1. Feb 20, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #1
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    Our trucks are getting long in the tooth, so I thought I would make a thread for a listing of the newer lightweight shell tent camper options from manufacturers that are either listing our trucks as supported or have been confirmed by someone that they will be supporting them.

    Go Fast Campers base price $5750

    I wanted one of these, but with a year plus lead time (as of 2/20/2019), I'm looking elsewhere


    https://gofastcampers.com/collections/campers/products/gfc-platform-standard

    [​IMG]


    Leentu does not list 1st Gen Tundras as supported, but I have confirmed they can build their new Sunzal to fit a 1st Gen Tundra. Deliveries begin late spring or early summer 2019.

    https://www.leentu.com/

    [​IMG]


    AT Habitat, base price $8900

    https://adventuretrailers.com/campers/habitat/

    [​IMG]

    AT Summit base price $8900

    https://adventuretrailers.com/campers/campers-summit-truck-topper/

    [​IMG]

    Snap! Outfitters Snap! TreeHouse, base price $9299



    [​IMG]
     
  2. Feb 20, 2019 at 10:08 AM
    #2
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    Damn they all cost so much
     
  3. Feb 20, 2019 at 10:48 AM
    #3
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    I'm sorry but $5 to 9 THOUSAND dollars?!!!? WTF. I'm trying to think of how I could justify spending that much money to camp in the bed of my truck. Maybe if I planned to live in it full time?
     
    gascap, HBTundra, Voss and 6 others like this.
  4. Feb 20, 2019 at 11:18 AM
    #4
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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  5. Feb 20, 2019 at 11:22 AM
    #5
    Spolar

    Spolar Going broke

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    Yea u gotta spend a lot of time outdoors to justify that when a ground tent works just fine
     
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  6. Feb 20, 2019 at 11:24 AM
    #6
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    Tundra2, Voss, BTBAKER and 3 others like this.
  7. Feb 20, 2019 at 11:48 AM
    #7
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    Yea, but you can't drive two Tundra's out to a remote campsite and have a comfortable bed in 90 seconds with room to store lots of gear. :thumbsup:

    It's all good. To me, those Four Wheel campers are priced crazy (option them out and they are around $35K) because I don't understand
    why you want the amenities of a hotel in a camper (an INTERIOR shower in pop-up truck bed camper?!?!). Under $10K for a camper that is extremely lightweight, retains the ability for the truck bed to transport stuff and can deploy the sleeping area in 90 seconds is not that crazy...but I'm old getting old, when I was much younger, something like this would have seemed stupidly expensive to me when i could just sleep in a tent on the ground. These days, easy setup and comfy dry bed and light weight means alot. :)
     
    Sunnier likes this.
  8. Feb 20, 2019 at 12:03 PM
    #8
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    This is what I think too. I’ve spent alot of time in ground tents all over the world. They roll up and stuff into a bag the size of my right leg at about 5-10 lbs. max.

    If pushed into a truck bed sleeping situation, I’d be using a tarp with a few ribs. The key to off-roading travel is staying light.

    These campers Speedtre posted are very cool and suit a specific person group like ‘van life or fill in the blank’. Young people with money wanting experience. Truth is camping on the ground sucks just a little less than a truck bed/top even at $9k in cost. The weigh/metal stress fracture complaints over on the 3rd Gen ‘princess’ section about these camper shells throw a caution flag.

    Best to stay light. Bring a CANVAS hammock (canvas as you don’t want bug bites on your back from one with holes) and a mosquito net and string it up or sleep on the ground (tent). A tarp and some poles for shade during the daytime.

    $9k is about a week at the Ritz for me (Concierge Level).
     
  9. Feb 20, 2019 at 12:17 PM
    #9
    Casper421

    Casper421 Toyota RidgeTrac driver!

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    I’ll stick with my Tepui that I bought used for $600 2.5 years ago. Paid for itself on the first 10 day road trip I took. I’ve spent over 40 nights in it. If Im backpacking, I carry my ENO hammock.
     
  10. Feb 20, 2019 at 1:12 PM
    #10
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    Y'all have fun on the ground...I'm done with it....I wish I was young and had money...hell, I'd take either one by itself...:thumbsup:
     
  11. Feb 20, 2019 at 1:18 PM
    #11
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    You ever tried an inflatable mattress? In the tent? Its awesome. Make sure you put it in the tent before inflating.
     
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  12. Feb 20, 2019 at 1:27 PM
    #12
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    Oh, yea, I quit those a few years ago. They were great at first, but the truth is they are terrible for your back. A lightly padded firm surface is best...and if it's not cold ground, even better. :)
     
  13. Feb 20, 2019 at 9:22 PM
    #13
    girdwood

    girdwood New Member

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    Thanks for listing those options; I've been going through since about November looking at different options... I've pretty much zeroed in on the GFC. I don't have a lot of time for prepping, need to be able to move quick (to and from camp) and need my truck as a truck. GFC seems the most durable for the price, and I'll be able to sleep 4 (2 littles) without being on the ground. I'm just hoping that GFC makes a few more options in the near future... waiting for a bonus from work before I reserve my slot in the build que.
     
    speedtre[OP] likes this.
  14. Feb 20, 2019 at 10:41 PM
    #14
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Feb 20, 2019 at 11:02 PM
    #15
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    While I like the idea the price turns me away too. 2500 to 3k I could do, but more than that is out of my justified range. For those who can justify it that's pretty cool, I'm a bit jealous.

    For camping and skiing I bought a 4wd 5 speed Honda Element for $6k. It does pretty well off road and I eventually took the rear seats out. A full sized air bed fits perfectly and I've slept there several times. Not gonna win a beauty contest but it works well for adventures.

    20190220_224835.jpg
     
  16. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:52 AM
    #16
    lsaami

    lsaami Let ‘er buck

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    I think I'll just buy an extra tall topper and put an air mattress in the bed. $9,000 is almost 4 times what I have TOTAL invested in my Tundra.


    either that, or buy a stinking truck camper. even that could be cheaper.
     
    Aerindel likes this.
  17. Feb 23, 2019 at 3:49 AM
    #17
    BigWalker

    BigWalker New Member

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    I have used them all, truck beds, ground tent, roof top tents, safari trailer, & wedge topper ( current name for the toppers shown above).
    The truck beds, RTT’s, & wedge toppers are just a place to sleep they offer little or no comfort when you need a place to hang out in the rain. The wedge was super fast setup two latches, drop the inside ladder and climb into bed. Below are a few recent pictures of my jeep before SEMA.

    NOW i have two setups, the wedge which is moving to either a trailer or my tundra AND an OZTENT RV2 ground tent I use with the jeep. Both setup in 30 seconds.

    If you are doing the drive, camp, drive, camp the wedge is great
    But if you travel half a day setup camp cook and relax the OZ is awesome and if its crummy out you just move your char under the awning or inside.

    BTW ipaid a little over $6k for the wedge. People shouldnt be so hasty about saying only “young” peeps with money buy these, i am retired, early to overland.
    4E56C920-F256-4C27-B45A-E56EAC17F150.jpg 06258191-37F9-4515-AC48-8DE098918531.jpg
    41CDE17A-21D1-492F-BA43-FC22581AEB80.jpg
     
  18. Feb 23, 2019 at 4:38 AM
    #18
    Aerindel

    Aerindel New Member

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    I only spent $3k on my tundra...

    I only spent $15K to build the first stage of my house, which I lived in for three years saving up to build more...

    Sheesh, I guess some people have a lot of money to spend on toys.
     
  19. Feb 23, 2019 at 5:01 AM
    #19
    BigWalker

    BigWalker New Member

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    I guess, but after 6 years of college, 40 years in aerospace and no debt.....

    The jeep was built from a salvage!
     
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  20. Feb 23, 2019 at 5:59 AM
    #20
    myt1

    myt1 New Member

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    Camper.jpg Tundra.jpg
    Here is how I roll.

    When it's cold I use a Heater-Buddy space heater, and I make coffee in the morning using a backpacking stove.

    Also, and this is kinda important, my rig lends itself to stealth sleeping very easily. When on the road it is sometimes necessary to sleep places where you would rather not let others know you are in the back of the truck.

    I don't really see how some of those other options lend themselves to sleeping on the road under the radar.

    This is also my daily driver. I don't think our HOA would allow us to park some of the above mentioned rigs in our driveway. They aren't thrilled with us parking our current truck in truck in the driveway.

    That being said, if I could afford a third vehicle and only use my truck for camping and fishing I think I would look very seriously at a used Four Wheel Camper, or if I won the lottery an Alaskan camper.

    That's the other thing. I've been several places with limited overhead clearance. I have desert pin-striping on the top of my truck cab and camper shell. Some of the above mentioned rigs would have real problems making it down some the roads I traveled in Utah.

    Everything is a compromise. When you gain one feature, you give up another feature.
     
  21. Feb 23, 2019 at 6:10 AM
    #21
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Stealth and nimble is the key. Also, something that transitions back to normal use quickly rather than having to store a big box somewhere or another dedicated vehicle taking up space. Nice rig you have there.
     
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  22. Feb 23, 2019 at 7:08 AM
    #22
    myt1

    myt1 New Member

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    Thanks so much.

    I'm more proud of it than I should be.

    It really is all I need.

    But we all know the difference between need and want, particularly on this site:).
     
  23. Feb 23, 2019 at 7:26 AM
    #23
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    What is this "want" you speak of? All things I see around here become immediate "needs"!

    I really wouldnt mind doing a shell like yours. I considered it enough to photoshop it, but for now getting a house has become need #1.
    PicsArt_09-02-09.34.25.png
     
    Brown Bear, myt1[QUOTED] and Outbound like this.
  24. Feb 28, 2019 at 7:40 PM
    #24
    girdwood

    girdwood New Member

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    Do you have more info on your Jeep setup?
     
  25. Feb 28, 2019 at 8:02 PM
    #25
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    Pretty cool OP. I’m like you and am done sleeping on the ground. But, at that price for that thing they should limit production to 5 or 6 a year or they will have 4 sitting around.
     
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  26. Feb 28, 2019 at 8:11 PM
    #26
    tplane2

    tplane2 New Member

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    You'd think, right?

    Go Fast Campers are on a over a year wait list. Someone on ExPo just offered up $2500 for someone's SPOT to purchase one.

    A/T Habitats are on over a 6 month wait list.

    Its crazy man.
     
  27. Feb 28, 2019 at 8:14 PM
    #27
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    That is crazy. I watched the full video and I have to say those thing look really well built. Some neat little amenities like the lights and usb plug in. If it was just me and the wife I would consider it but again, for basically a truck tent it’s IMO outrageously priced.
     
  28. Mar 1, 2019 at 2:49 AM
    #28
    BigWalker

    BigWalker New Member

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    Are you interested in the jeep or top?
    Snap fabricated the topper to match the pickup bed of the jeep 58”X70”
    The bottom of the topper has a 12” door and 48” on each side. The under cab height is 29” this is due to the cab height. On a tundra that could be 23”. I slept in it 10 days in cold and rain and it works well. Unless someone buys the topper i will fabricate a new bottom for my tundra build

    The jeep is a 2005 rubicon with the AEV Brute conversion plus Cummins diesel, fabricated differentials, king coilover suspension and a whole lot more. The truck was shown at SEMA last year for Cummins
     
  29. Mar 6, 2022 at 11:14 AM
    #29
    Trailscape

    Trailscape Zip Tie Wizard

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    Been rethinking campers lately, felt like bumping this thread partly out of curiosity and also amusement. Have you seen how much the prices of campers (well, everything really) have increased the past few years?

    The campers in the original post were ripped for being expensive three years ago, now they're substantially more.
     
  30. Mar 6, 2022 at 12:13 PM
    #30
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Covid tax.

    I'm happy a pandemic could jostle folks into reconnecting with the outdoors and all of its awesome activities. But the price hikes on all the things I enjoy has been a big disappointment.
     

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