Guidance on a GFC V2

After a miserable experience with Roofnest I am looking for alternatives. Go Fast Camper's Platform Camper is definitely in consideration, but I wanted to see if anyone here has one and pick their brain.

I have read complaints that mostly referenced poor communication and lead times. Any real trouble with the unit itself? If it'll be a headache I can just get an enclosed trailer and build a "roughing it" kind of set up that will still accommodate my RZR.

 

What went wrong with the roof nest?

 

Are you 100% set on a GFC? I like the GFC, but I would prefer if it had a straight walled pop up as opposed to the wedge. Wedge seems like an inefficient use of space to me. I'm still trying to decide if I want to convert a utility trailer into a camper or buy a truck camper, but I had crossed GFC off my list. If I go truck camper, I'd be looking at a ovrlnd camper, or a 4 wheel camper project M.

 

Starts with this post, and goes from there.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/i-w...nintentional-build.91512/page-12#post-2577504

 

I am not 100% on anything. My budget is about what a GFC costs and I like that at any point I can just get in and go camp. I just need info on it to help decide.

 

Lead times are only a few months now. The company has made strides in production so this is really a non-issue. I've read that some V2 owners have had some issues with water intrusion and it seems to be a quality control problem as it happens to some units and not others. Some advice that owners have had is to check the seams of the tent fabric before leaving the GFC facilities - one even had to have the tent portion of his camper replaced before heading back home 1000+ miles away. There are also others that have had water intrusion from gaps where the bed meets the camper, but it's not consistent or a huge problem that lead one to believe there's a quality control issue. Another downside, and this goes with any RTT, is condensation. You will definitely get condensation, but it's really not that bad if you leave a window cracked open. Last downside is that the RTT is top heavy, even though the camper is relatively light compared to other options on the market, so if you do any hard wheeling, just be cautious of a tip over!

With that said, I picked up my V2 in June last year and camp about once/twice a month. I don't camp in the rain, but I have camped in the snow a few times and it has performed flawlessly. I chose the camper for it's simplicity - a tent that takes 2 seconds to deploy and 20 seconds to close, a bed that you could build out or leave empty, and a space to throw things in and not worry so much about weather, thieves, or things flying out while driving to your destination. There are great options out there with more features so it's up to you to decide what works best for your use case(s). For me, I wheel with a group of friends or take weekend trips with my kids to get far enough to places where there aren't many others around and set up and take down camp quickly. The GFC is perfect for these situations with nothing more than I need and nothing less. One of the bonuses that I experienced having a camper, and this isn't for just GFCs, is that on the last day/morning of a trip, I just throw everything in the bed without packing it up since everything gets aired out at home anyway. This saves a ton of time when you want to just get home.

As far as making it your own, there are a ton of examples of build outs in the GFC forums that you could take a look at if you want to go that route. I had a decked system, fridge, etc in the bed, but decided to just simplify my life by using storage boxes and throwing the fridge in the cab, leaving the bed open and spacious. The latter works great for me since I also use the truck as my daily to shuttle the kids around on day trips or to the park. The decked drawers, imo, is a waste of space since the drawers really don't hold that much - not to mention it weighs 220# in addition to the 330# GFC. I also like being able to stealth camp or sit down without crouching in the bed too. Payload management is a consideration that also led me to simplify my set up, but that's another conversation...

Final thought: I love my GFC and this will be the set up I will have as long as I own this truck and do the wheeling and camping that I do.

 

Excellent info and experiences! Thank you for sharing them.

The bonuses you list are the big attractions to the GFC for me. Where I struggle is when comparing it to all the versatility that an enclosed trailer offers.

The mobile storage shed aspect for my RZR and camping supplies, the space for a table and chairs if needed, easily run a heater in colder weather, can be built and customized as needed, and if I decide to move I can load everything in it and go. These all have appeal as well.

I love the idea of the GFC and the company. If it was $7-8K instead of nearly $10k I think I'd have to do it. The savings would be the tipping point, but at nearly the price as a trailer (more than some) it definitely has me thinking.

 

Don’t want to side rail this thread but In summery, both @AzureNightmare and I purchased their new Condor Overlander and it suffers major quality issues.

 

Derail is all good. I owe Roofnest no mercy but I did tell them I would not go off forum with it. You made no such agreement, and I'm not gonna be mad about anybody hearing about what happened.

 

I feel your predicament, both routes obviously have their pros and cons. I would ask what you can't live without..

•Camping further off grid with and without the RZR. Get the GFC

•Camping closer to main roads but you have a weatherproof camp, better security for the RZR. Pick up a good tent for the times you want to camp out of the truck far away from asphalt and people. Get the enclosed trailer

 

That's a good point. I can pack a tent or hammock in the truck or even the RZR and go further off grid if I really get the hankering. The trailer is the do all I think, with the GFC being the quick and simple option.

 

What about a normal truck cap or a softopper, and a trailer? I think that's what I've settled on for myself. I don't off road in my truck, but dirt bike, mountain bike and snowmobile.

I ordered a softtopper and am in the process of building a simple camper for shorter trips/weekend outings. I'm also on the lookout for a 7x14 or 8x16 utility trailer to convert into a camper for longer trips or trips with the "toys".

That way you still have the get up and go aspect and manoeuvrability of the truck camper, and the trailer for more space when needed.

How do you normally haul the RZR? On a trailer or the bed of the truck? If bed of the truck, will it still fit with a GFC?

 

I completely missed this post, so I apologize for the delayed response.

A soft topper won't work for me in a CrewMax, as the bed is just too small to sleep in. If it were I would just get a Smartcap or regular topper and go from there. The topper aspect of the GFC would just be for weather protected storage, and standing space when the GFC floor panels are moved.

The RZR is way to big for the bed of the truck. It's too heavy for a Tundra's payload and it's just physically large. It goes on a trailer. That's why a traditional travel trailer/camper is out of the question. Here's a pic of the RZR on the trailer.

 

GFC FTW

 

Looks great! That's a V1, correct? Pros and cons for that vs a V2?

 

Sure tons of of input and info here
https://www.tundras.com/threads/go-fast-camper.23578/

 

Yes, I've read most of that thread! I'll have to reread it now that I'm in more of a position to buy a GFC or a trailer.

 

I second this. FTW. My V1 has been excellent. After some re-application of bulb seals for the bed, I have had zero issues with water.