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

I almost pulled the trigger today on the RCI rack and a ROAM RTT. Then said to myself that I'm not spending anymore money on this truck since I'll be ordering the 2022 Pro. Then I'll be in the same position as you with which camping setup to go with.
It'll either be a bedrack and RTT
A GFC
or if I really want a cool setup, then probably the SCOUT camper for the bed.

Looking forward to what you decide and for pics.

 

Been running an IKamper for 7 months now, maybe 3k miles. Don’t daily drive, only used for wheeling and camping. It’s really nice, extremely comfortable, and built with high quality materials. Would recommend looking at other options though due to the shape of the hard shell. Same amount of tent has to fit in the shell, and at the forward/sloped end there is not enough room and it is wearing through the rain fly, map, and difficult to close latch. Also would be nice to leave bedding in it, but not possible. Truck is down for repairs till later this week, will post pics of wear when it’s mobile if still relevant. Pics of front latch(sloped), and rear for comparison.

 

It was easy research at least. We have different goals/needs from our future RTTs, so I am still mainly considering the same ones as before.

 

Nice info to have! I look forward to hearing all the pros and cons of the tent from somebody who isn't trying to get sponsored or drum up views!

 

Any of the 4 man options out there are $3K or more. I have reluctantly accepted this. Gotta pay to play, right?

Here's my thoughts on the iKamper Skycamp 2 vs the Roofnest Condor XL (links to each in post #2)

• Both appear to be well made and designed.
• Both offer plenty of room. (Roofnest is 3 square feet larger inside, but over the size of the tent that's not really a huge amount.)
• Both setup really easily. One man operation matters to me.
• Outer dimensions - The Roofnest is shorter so I think it would more feasibly mount on a lower rack without a big overhang in the rear of the truck.
• Materials - Both have the same waterproof rating. iKamper lists this rating for the rain fly and Roofnest lists the rating for the actual tent material. Typo by one or the other?
• Price - This one has me thinking hard, and I delve into it below.

iKamper Skycamp 2
I know it's well made, and a good design. Koreans make some good stuff. I love that the tent can actually be unzipped and replaced (are you considering this @Vizsla?). The locking rack mounts and latches are give a nice sense of security. Several accessories, and even an insulation tent that can be put inside for cold weather. All good features, but all of those features cost extra. The single biggest thing that makes me hesitate on the iKamper is the price. The base tent with the rocky black coating is $4,199.

Roofnest Condor XL
Pros for the Roofnest include the price of $3,395 (currently on sale at $3,195), thicker sleeping pad, slightly larger interior space, shorter length fits over the bed with less overhang, and the goodies included. LED lights inside, shoe bag, and gear bag are all included.

The basic design is essentially the same as the iKamper, but there are some differences on finer points. The windows have a better awning design, IMO, but they lack a clear plastic for light/visibility while staying warm that the iKamper has. It's a net or full black out only. The pad is thicker than the iKamper's, but does that mean it's better? Somewhere in my research I saw a person stating that the rainfly has to be rolled up to stow the tent. I see some videos that are stowed this way and some that are not. Major issue in the rain if you have to do this. I have emailed Roofnest with some of these questions.




The Skycamp 2 is one of the few 4 man RTTs out there, and I expect to pay more for a bigger tent. A full thousand dollars more than the Roofnest, though? Nothing but the basic tent in that price either. No accessories. Those are all an upcharge. Plus, it's generally accepted that the sleeping pad needs an upgrade, so more dollars...

I don't know anyone that has a Roofnest Condor XL, so the quality of it is more difficult to measure. Reviews all tout it, but who knows if they are honest. This is a nagging question.

 

check last line of defense on youtube. He runs IKAMPER and diamonback setup on his tacoma and F250. Pretty dialed in.

 

No. It’s a design flaw and costs too much money for compromise. Shell should be same as back on the front side, also would allow picking what side of the vehicle entrance is. Sure you could run it “backwards”, but I can’t do that. Going to send pics to IKamper when I can open it and ask for return and refund. Seen others, same as mine.

 

Good info to have. Keep me posted on progress and interactions with them, please? Customer service matters too, and I'd like to know how they address this.

 

I see from your original posts that you have ruled out the TuffStuff Alpha tent. Curious as to why you chose to remove this one.

 

I've seen some reviews that had issues and defects. If it were half the price I may still include it as a bargain option, but it's only $600 less than the Roofnest.

I also reserve the right to add it back into the list at a later date. This is just where my brain is at right now.

 

Wow! They have gone up in price.

 

Hard shells are stupid expensive. You can get into the standard ones for much less, but they are similar in set up and tear down times to the traditional ground tent.

 

Yeah I have an aluminum hard shell....clam shell style. Takes 10 seconds to setup. Just looked on the website and they have not increased in price. But I was also looking at the ikampers and roofnests back when I got mine and they have seriously gone up in price. Sign of the times I guess

 

Yup. Demand has skyrocketed over the last year. iKamper claims a 300% increase in orders over the last year.

 

Looking for a rtt is one of the most difficult decisions I have made in a long time. I wish you luck and patience. Definitely take your time. Write down the pros and cons of every model. In the end there is no perfect setup and you will mod it like everything else. But it will bring you and your family joy so it's worth the effort and expense.

 

Well shit.... Some asshole (@AlaskanAssassin) pointed out that a Go Fast Camper isn't that far outside the price range of these top end hard shell RTTs once you account for a bed rack and possible Decked system. So now I need to research this option as well.

GFC thoughts so far:

• Though it's only a 2 man set up there is the option to put kids in the truck bed below.
• It is costly, and needs to be compared to the ideal RTT for cost benefit comparison
• Essentially gives a topper/shell and a RTT in one (Costs about the same, too)
• Not a fan of the look, but if it's the best tool for the job then I'll get over it
• year round install/use is appealing
• Did I mention it's expensive?

 

Here's my water heater recommendation. I know guys that've been using these for years and compared to things like the water port..... well, there is no comparison.

$152 Eccotemp L5 1.5 GPM Portable Outdoor Tankless Water Heater

https://www.amazon.com/Eccotemp-L5-Portable-Tankless-Heater/dp/B01MXDZCKM
I use a 5lb propane cannister (no more throwing away the little green cans) and run both the stove (camp chef Everest) and the heater. I use 2 different hoses, one with a regulator and the other with an adapter that screws on where the green can would attach to the stove. A cheap 12v pump is required too:

$25 bayite 12V DC Water Transfer Pump with 2 Hose Clamps 12 Volt Diaphragm Pump Self Priming Sprayer Pump with Pressure Switch 4.5 L/Min 1.2 GPM 80 PSI Adjustable for Weed ATV Marine Boat

https://www.amazon.com/bayite-Diaph...ds=12v+water+pump&qid=1625547042&sr=8-2-spons
For totes I like the rigid tool boxes, they're water and dust proof. Using the side latches you can tie them down and still open the lid.
https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-Inch-...keywords=rigid+tool+box&qid=1625547354&sr=8-1
I also like ammo crates for totes. These too can be secured and still allow the lid to open.

$35 MTM ACR8-72 Ammo Crate Utility Box | Ammo, Survival or Hunting Gear Storage | O-Ring Seal for Water Resistant Dry Storage | Double Padlock tapped for Security | Carries 85lbs of Gear | Dark Earth

https://www.amazon.com/MTM-ACR8-72-Crate-Utility-Large/dp/B00T4XL4HM
I've gotten a LOT of use out of the RCI bed bars and find them very convenient, no drilling and easy to remove when desired.

 

Sub'd for all the good info here...............and I want to see what you end up with.

 

Ok, so I've done some digging into the GFC. Here's a link to them if anyone else is interested. https://shopgofastcampers.com/collections/campers/products/gfc-platform-camper

This seems like a great option.... if you want a camper shell and the tent is just a bonus item. The shell is solid, well built by all accounts, and there's lots of customization options. Very modular, but zero features to start with. The tent up top is also very basic, and any add-ons have a major premium attached.

Price List

• GFC XL (full size truck) starting price - $7450 (requires a $575 non-refundable deposit)
• Options that can be added:
  • Front and/or Rear Topper Windows - $200 per window
  • Tend Side Doors - $525
  • "Premium" Colors (anything besides black, white, or their "dare" color) - $399
  • Dare ya color - $1.00
  • Ladder - $179
  • Cross bars - $199 each
  • Various mounts and attachment hardware - price varies by item
  • Install if you drive to them in MT - $175
  • White Glove Delivery and install - $1000-$1400 depending on where ***Price can change due to fuel prices at any time prior to your GFC being loaded on the truck for delivery***
  • Freight shipping - Inquiries and pricing requires contact via email

Colors below. Apologies for the youtube screenshot, but GFC doesn't show you any colors on their site. You have two fabric colors to choose from above the 6 color choices. I don't think fabric color affects the price, but the top 3 premium colors for the shell are all a $399 fee. The white or black are included in the base price. Their "Dare ya" color is red and is priced at $1.00. I think the dare ya/limited color changes, and the video this was taken from was posted in February. There might be a new/different limited color now, but there's no way to know without putting down the non-refundable $575 deposit to get a sample kit.






So, I'll run down my ideal build for a GFC and total the cost.

• GFC grey fabric - $7450
• Tornado Grey color - $399
• Front and Rear shell windows - $400
• Tent side doors - $525
• 2x crossbars - $398
• Ladder - $179
• Install at their location - $175
• Approximate travel costs - $200-$300 in fuel and 15+ hours of driving

Grand total as listed above (not including fuel as that is variable) - $9,526


After fuel it's a hair shy of $10,000 for a two person shell/tent. This doesn't include sales tax, camping gear, mounting hardware, or any accessories that can be added later. I feel sick thinking about it.

I'm not sure that my budget is that rich as it's something that's due all at once. The other RTT/rack options can be pieced together over time. I still need to compile some priced build lists for comparison, so I'm not completely discarding the GFC yet.

 

Good deal, man. I hope this thread can wind up being of use to others as a source of information. As far as seeing what I end up with... yeah, that's gonna be a while. I'm planning ahead, and if the stars align I might be able to get it all going over the course of the next 12-18 months.

 

I'm kind of in the same boat. I have a 2 day trip planned in a couple of weeks at a campground just to see how committed I want to get into this, and how well the stuff I have will work. It will tell me if I need to upgrade some things.

 

Yeah, I don't like the campground camping. I like to get out there away from people I don't know. Just read Noah's experiences here https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-campfire.87582/page-5#post-2309284


I am not a fan of most people, or their spawn.

 

yeah, me either. Problem is , I don't know of any dispersed camp areas, let alone any I could get to in 2wd AND that have a lake for kayaking.

 

Fair enough. I guess it all depends on where you are in the country/world. I'm blessed to only be 30 minutes from the mountains, or an hour from the lake.

I hope you enjoy your trip and don't have to deal with any asshats.

 

For anyone who wants to DIY something like a GFC. @AlaskanAssassin, how handy are you?

https://youtu.be/1iiZJ7xa0jk

 

Ok, so I spent the last while here going over the prices of the 2 major items; racks and tents. I went off their MSRP so this is all worst case scenario. Any sales, discounts, or used items would be great, but for the sake of K.I.S.S. I have ignored all that. In the spirit of simplicity I have also not included anything that can be done later. (Decked, totes, bed stiffeners, etc.) This is purely a price for the tent and rack combos.

As best as I can tell I have included the minimum hardware and brackets required to install, and all tents are priced with a shoe bag and gear bag.

 

Also you cannot keep your bedding in the tent when you fold it up. So you have to remove your bedding before leaving and reinstall when ready to sleep. Not a big deal for some peeps but it's a consideration.

 

So now you are getting into the price of the AT Atlas topper and Four Wheel Campers Project M topper. Both IMO much better at that price range than the GFC.

 

Thanks @3rdTundra! This thing is like when you get your first air compressor: you never knew how much you needed it until it was installed. Dozens of compliments so far and I haven't had to climb into my truck bed since (over 50, this is a definite knee and back saver). The only irritation so far is there isn't a lot of height where it slides under the Retrax retractable box, but no show stoppers 10 truckloads in. @Saltyhero13 pretty much convinced me I'm getting a Leitner rack system and will couple this with either a Smittybilt or ARB tent.