I want to start camping again. (The unintentional build)

It will not. The kayak is several inches taller than the RZR's ground clearance.

 

I think your idea with the J mount is solid. That’ll make it way easier to transport/secure.

 

I laughed at the idea, at first, but then I was like "hey, this is outside the box thinking that might work!" So, I looked for the right view of the RZR, and now I'm kinda sad that I can't just by pool noodles and be done. Not much space between the rear bar, mirror, and seats.

 

I mean it was kind of a joke but if it worked that would have been nice lol. I am currently truckless and we have to load a kayak and a paddleboard on top of the wife’s grand Cherokee.

That is a pain. The loading part is ok but the strapping down and making sure there is no slack is a hassle. Then the wind noise. I will be in the same position when we get another truck to find a locking hard cover and mounting a 12 foot kayak and a paddleboard on the truck.

 

My vote is GFC! What is the cost of the mounts and to add them to the trailer? I’m sure you are very close to GFC cost. Just take the plunge if you can afford it.

 

I wouldn’t use the bolt on ones. I’d have it welded and appropriately braced. Could use it for additional storage on the sides besides the top cross bars.

 

The J bars are like 50 bucks. Nothing super expensive. The GFC is still in the running, and it has some huge boons. The kayak increases the cost because I would have to get their beef bars to run a kayak, and as a short guy the prospect of loading a kayak up there is a little daunting.

Just get a hullavator.

https://youtu.be/GPA3Q6gxJzA?t=190

 

That's a bit more of a project and down time on the trailer than I'd like, honestly. Properly bolted would be ok for me so long as it was properly braced. Heck, I might be able to scrounge some old cell phone tower parts to Frankenstein something like that. My strong preference would be the lower J bars on the side of the trailer, though. If that doesn't work, then something like this is the only way to keep the iKamper viable.

 

I got AT Overland Habitat with roof rack for the kayaks. I can also to my trailer with Teryx4 while carrying kayaks or canoe.

Ryan

 

@GODZILLA if you go with the iKamper mini, you already have a low profile bed rack. So put Cross bars on the cab (Thule, Yakima, or Go Rhino) and put the kayak over the cab and iKamper. So when your not camping or not bringing the kayak. Then simply remove the crossbars. A little more $ but easy to deal with an not permanent.

 

Having now seen your trailer, why dont you scooch the sxs to the back, and mount a rtt on the front of the trailer?
Could leave 3’ under rtt for bins/water/tools/fuel. ect to offset the weight on the rear

 

There are a few reasons.

First is safety. Assloaded trailers are unstable and prone to sway, so I don't want the majority of the weight behind the axles.

Second, one advantage to the RTT or the GFC is the ability to go anywhere the truck can go. If I am going to limit camping to where a trailer can go I would rather have an enclosed trailer.

Finally, it wouldn't fit. There's a bit less than 3 feet of deck space not used by the RZR, and the iKamper mini is 4'9" long. Between the jack handle and the RZR there just isn't the room for it.

 

gotcha

 

Well... crap. It appears my procrastination is biting me in the ass.

I've been watching the new iKamper Skycamp Mini 3.0 release info and saw that orders were being taken. I got excited, but then I saw that they aren't slated for delivery until sometime in June. The GFC is in the same window at this point as well. The iKamper Mini 2.0 is still available and is discounted, but it's only $200 off. If it got a deeper discount I would consider it just for the budget "gotta have it now" option, but the new features of the 3.0 are worth the extra dollars IMO.

So, equal timelines on them... price for the GFC is little over double the iKamper (not counting accessories on either)... both appear to be quality... GFC has an easy option for the kayak transport... iKamper has far easier resale if things go sideways... GFC requires additional insurance... iKamper might be able to be sourced from a closer dealer...

I have made a decision...























































In all this pro/con consideration an enclosed trailer never entered my mind. If I really wanted one wouldn't I be thinking about it more? It's officially of the list. One step closer!

 

@BayRunner I stumbled across this in my late night wanderings of the internets. https://scoutcampers.com/ You ever hear of them? Might be a viable option for your next upgrade?

 

Aren’t those like double the price of a GFC?

Those are sweet though but I would probably trade in the Tundra for a Ford if I went that route myself.

 

They are, but @BayRunner is going with a Red Tail anyway, so his budget is bigger than mine.

 

Yea, I’ve run across them in the past. Not rally appealing to me. Reminds me of an ice cream truck . I think the Red Tail is a better option for me. I did see that the scout is also a ‘23 delivery as well so there must be a demand for them.

BTW, sitting here in the Blue Ridge mountains with a low of 9 degrees and a serious blowing snow storm. Pretty cool actually.

 

@GODZILLA Re-reading your message above and I can tell what your inner self is telling you. The iKamper 3.0 is what your gut is telling you. I can tell that’s what you really want. The only downside is the lead time which is why the 2.0 is on the edges.

 

Well, it's complicated, but I have finally decided that the iKamper is the correct thing for me. Last night I was sure about the GFC and actually signed up to their forum to see if I could buy somebody's spot that was before the end of May. Their forum requires admin approval, so I had to sleep on it, and that was a great thing. A buddy had pointed out the inability to sell a GFC or move it to a different vehicle in the even of an accident, and it is a valid point. Then there is the cost, and half price for a sweet RTT sounds pretty nice.

Finally, today I have arrived at the decision and I blame (credit) @LarryDangerfield with the final push. I've always resisted my want/urge/impulse to get a new vehicle every few years, but he rolls with it and seems pretty damn happy. What if I cave and move on from the Tundra? A GFC can't move on with me, so the iKamper is really the best thing I can do.

 

Thae decision is very logical and completely correct. Now for the gut wrenching decision of a iKamper version 2.0 or 3.0.

 

Yeah..... Do I risk another brand new product release fiasco, or go with tried and true? How big a discount/what goodies can I get buy going older?

The 3.0 is definitely improved in several ways, and one thing they changed was getting rid of the clear plastic windows. I was kinda bummed on that, but iKamper themselves said they had troubles with discoloration/yellowing over time, and that was a big part of why they got rid of them. That kind of honesty about an existing product's shortcomings give me hope for the brand.

 

I have a lot of experience in marine clear vinyl windows. The clear vinyl used in the RTTs are very thin and cheap which is why they discolor easy. Another disadvantage is they also become stiff and brittle over time which makes it easy to crack and leak at the sewing points. It is definitely a good thing to rid the clear vinyl window. A professional tip I also offered RoofNest but they refused to accept. Perhaps with iKamper ditching them will help “enlighten” RN on proper design.

 

I think they still have the skylight one. It's just the ones that open in the actual windows that they dropped.

 

Hmmm, that’s a weird decision. Do the side windows also have mesh and a canvas cover? If so and the clear vinyl yellows, just cut it out. However I am not familiar white whatever covers they put in the windows.

 

Yeah, the 2.0 Mini has clear, mesh, and canvas (doubles as the awning) all of which can be used independently for the windows. The skylight does not open on the Mini the way the RN one does.

The 3.0 eliminated the clear windows, moved the awning poles for easier access from inside the tent, added the drawstring setup for the canvas (still acts as the awning).

 

Glad you finally made a decision! And reading everything it does seems like a RTT is the best option for you since you are thinking of maybe selling the tundra in the future.

Look forward to your adventures to come!

 

IMO, out of the enhancements you stated for 3.0, the only real enhancement is the elimination of the clear vinyl. The relocation of the awning poles is minor and the concept of the drawstrings is a solution for a problem that doesn’t really exist. It puts additional holes in the side for the draw string and the odds of the string bugging out in the future is possible. Could be just me but an unnecessary enhancement. Since the windows still have the mesh and canvas cover, cutting out the clear vinyl would accomplish the same as version 3. But I can also understand the hesitancy of cutting into a new tent purchase. Ok, re-reading my post I realize that I’m not helpful at all. Decisions…decisions… sucks to be you

 

The bonus of the drawstrings, for me personally, is that my bed rack being below my roofline no longer makes the window facing the cab unusable. True, still can't use the awning poles, but it provides a quick easy way to roll up the canvas for that window. Minor, but nice.