Best quote from one of my professors who was a materials science/weld engineer: “After a lifetime of welding and studying its effects on material properties, the best advice I can give you is to avoid it at all costs” 😂 I like listening to you explain your design ethos because it matches mine. Someday I’ll have enough saved up to put one of these campers on my truck
I love the extra engineering and attention to detail. I've been using a softopper for a few years... originally thinking it was very important to me to be able to remove the topper whenever I want. But now nearly 3 years in I feel like I'd never take it off if it was just water/dust proof and carwash friendly. I'm strongly considering a GFC camper for my tacoma in 2025. I've also been very pleased with the Superlite RTT on my 4Runner.
I really like the approach of GFC. Would you ever consider building a camper that is flush with the top of the cab with no overhang? Basically a camper in the size of the topper. Of course it needs at least a 6 or 6.5 ft bed to make sense. A lot of us mount an RTT on mid height bed racks to keep the height as low as possible.
I feel like have the extra height/room in the camper is worth the slight mpg hit! I doubt your Tundra will really notice that much of an MPG difference anyways. Very curious what GFC has to say though
@@joemahan311yeah it will definitely be a trade off with useable height, but good that I’m short lol. MPG isn’t really my main goal. Lowering the tent part (100+lbs?) by 6-7 inches would help a lot in handling and off camber stability. A lower roof heigh would also help clearing trees on the trail. These 2 were actually the main reasons I took the RTT off my FJ, even though it was a 6 inch thick light weight tent
Stoked to see you here man, really love your channel. It’s something that could absolutely be done, our 8’ bed camper does something similar. That said, like Joe commented, you might not see too much of a hit with that old school v8. Love the rcsb tundra 🤝🇺🇸
@@GFC Thanks! I want my RCSB to be a "rocklander" capable of very technical trails. So my goal is to keep the roof height and center of gravity as low as possible. Granted, the standard GFC is already pretty good. I like the look of the 8 ft camper, but it would be a lot cooler to have that on a short wheel base that can go anywhere :)
GFC is the only overlanding camper company that puts engineering up front like this. For me, that inspires. It's ultimately the big reason I bought one (besides the treehouse feeling in the tent). It's a whole different ball game than the competitors rebranding and reselling stuff from China. There's a place for that, too, but it's not on my truck.
Will there ever be an "extended length" version of the GFC? Something that offers a little bit more cab-over length for people with 6.5 (or longer) foot beds? To me, the only pain-point is having to remove part of the mattress in order to access above or below the bed platform. The extra length would allow for a separate trap door or just a gap/space to allow the whole bed to remain intact while traveling from top to bottom inside the camper.
Great video and explanation! Do you have any considerations for some of us that have growing families and would like a wider bed up front, more overhang over the cab so it is easier to have somebody sleep and still have standing height inside the bed when the weather is bad. A non wedge style would be amazing as well so sitting up in bed over the cab would be amazing.
@@GFC 2 kids 5 and 7, we currently fit in a king size bed hardshell RTT but would be great to have room for us to all sleep up top together while they are still young and room for a pass through when they can have a bed in the bed afterwards. Campers like the Topo Badlander or Tune M1 might work but they don't seem to have the overall build quality of the GFC. I also don't know other than maybe material shipping constraints why most are not longer than 10 feet when there is so much room on a Full Size Truck over the cab. If cantilever is a problem, I am sure deploying some temp supports that are supported by the cab roof would also work.
Any plans to expand the mounting design from the rivian to other trucks? The new ranger specifically has sites to have things bolted to the rails that would work great! (Not that I don’t like the clamps, they are beautiful, but ford is really pushing to use these sites in their builders manual)
We have a great solution for mounting to the 6g ranger platform that has worked well on the dozens of units installed, lots of off road abuse, especially the portal axle ranger raptor in our last build video.
Would there ever be a 2-in-1 design to go from camper to topper and vice versa? Any chance you’ll come out with an option to have a bed struts that open up like Alu cab? I find that as the best design for moving the bed up. I get your current design but find it cumbersome.
Yep, there were only a couple of tents that were affected due to a tolerance stack issue. Because we make the tents in house in Montana we are able to address things like that immediately 👍
Gfc led the way and I had a v2 but for the life of me I don’t get they let their competitors innovate and evolve more with options of side windows to solar and a roof fan. I get they probably don’t offer it to streamline production and maximize profit while keeping costs lower but they could have really monopolized the market by even offering just solar and a roof fan option
Our process of streamlining manufacturing helps us to take care of customers and make sure we keep building the best product on the market, both in value and quality. Taking care of customers is key, and that is often counter to profitability as we build our brand and community. Have you seen the updates in the new pro? Lots of neat things happening. All of that said, keep an eye out for accessories in 2025 👀🇺🇸
Best quote from one of my professors who was a materials science/weld engineer: “After a lifetime of welding and studying its effects on material properties, the best advice I can give you is to avoid it at all costs” 😂 I like listening to you explain your design ethos because it matches mine. Someday I’ll have enough saved up to put one of these campers on my truck
Thanks Sam! Appreciate the kind words!
I love the extra engineering and attention to detail. I've been using a softopper for a few years... originally thinking it was very important to me to be able to remove the topper whenever I want. But now nearly 3 years in I feel like I'd never take it off if it was just water/dust proof and carwash friendly. I'm strongly considering a GFC camper for my tacoma in 2025. I've also been very pleased with the Superlite RTT on my 4Runner.
So good to hear! Appreciate your feedback. Ease of ownership is super critical on a daily driver
I really like the approach of GFC. Would you ever consider building a camper that is flush with the top of the cab with no overhang? Basically a camper in the size of the topper. Of course it needs at least a 6 or 6.5 ft bed to make sense. A lot of us mount an RTT on mid height bed racks to keep the height as low as possible.
I feel like have the extra height/room in the camper is worth the slight mpg hit! I doubt your Tundra will really notice that much of an MPG difference anyways. Very curious what GFC has to say though
@@joemahan311yeah it will definitely be a trade off with useable height, but good that I’m short lol. MPG isn’t really my main goal. Lowering the tent part (100+lbs?) by 6-7 inches would help a lot in handling and off camber stability. A lower roof heigh would also help clearing trees on the trail. These 2 were actually the main reasons I took the RTT off my FJ, even though it was a 6 inch thick light weight tent
Stoked to see you here man, really love your channel. It’s something that could absolutely be done, our 8’ bed camper does something similar. That said, like Joe commented, you might not see too much of a hit with that old school v8. Love the rcsb tundra 🤝🇺🇸
@@GFC Thanks! I want my RCSB to be a "rocklander" capable of very technical trails. So my goal is to keep the roof height and center of gravity as low as possible. Granted, the standard GFC is already pretty good. I like the look of the 8 ft camper, but it would be a lot cooler to have that on a short wheel base that can go anywhere :)
If you’re in Southern California we should link up and do some testing!
GFC is the only overlanding camper company that puts engineering up front like this. For me, that inspires. It's ultimately the big reason I bought one (besides the treehouse feeling in the tent).
It's a whole different ball game than the competitors rebranding and reselling stuff from China. There's a place for that, too, but it's not on my truck.
❤️🇺🇸
Space grade campers, love it brother🤙🤙
Appreciate ya Scott!
Will there ever be an "extended length" version of the GFC? Something that offers a little bit more cab-over length for people with 6.5 (or longer) foot beds? To me, the only pain-point is having to remove part of the mattress in order to access above or below the bed platform. The extra length would allow for a separate trap door or just a gap/space to allow the whole bed to remain intact while traveling from top to bottom inside the camper.
For the 5 ft beds would you guys consider improving interior space by extending the wedge over the cabin by another 12” for the tall guys?
Great video and explanation! Do you have any considerations for some of us that have growing families and would like a wider bed up front, more overhang over the cab so it is easier to have somebody sleep and still have standing height inside the bed when the weather is bad. A non wedge style would be amazing as well so sitting up in bed over the cab would be amazing.
How many kids are you camping with and how old?
@@GFC 2 kids 5 and 7, we currently fit in a king size bed hardshell RTT but would be great to have room for us to all sleep up top together while they are still young and room for a pass through when they can have a bed in the bed afterwards. Campers like the Topo Badlander or Tune M1 might work but they don't seem to have the overall build quality of the GFC. I also don't know other than maybe material shipping constraints why most are not longer than 10 feet when there is so much room on a Full Size Truck over the cab. If cantilever is a problem, I am sure deploying some temp supports that are supported by the cab roof would also work.
Any plans to expand the mounting design from the rivian to other trucks? The new ranger specifically has sites to have things bolted to the rails that would work great! (Not that I don’t like the clamps, they are beautiful, but ford is really pushing to use these sites in their builders manual)
We have a great solution for mounting to the 6g ranger platform that has worked well on the dozens of units installed, lots of off road abuse, especially the portal axle ranger raptor in our last build video.
Would there ever be a 2-in-1 design to go from camper to topper and vice versa?
Any chance you’ll come out with an option to have a bed struts that open up like Alu cab? I find that as the best design for moving the bed up. I get your current design but find it cumbersome.
Traveling through Bozeman on my way to Yellowstone and it's GFC everywhere 😮
Heck yeah, team GFC out in the last wild parts of the lower 48 🤝
Was the issue with the sagging tent resolved? Per GFC forum, a lot of complaints regarding the V2 pro tent
Yep, there were only a couple of tents that were affected due to a tolerance stack issue. Because we make the tents in house in Montana we are able to address things like that immediately 👍
@@GFC Awesome! Glad to hear the issue was resolved 😊
Of course! Always happy to help, and we will be ready when you are!
Dude. Sign me up
🇺🇸🤝
Gfc led the way and I had a v2 but for the life of me I don’t get they let their competitors innovate and evolve more with options of side windows to solar and a roof fan. I get they probably don’t offer it to streamline production and maximize profit while keeping costs lower but they could have really monopolized the market by even offering just solar and a roof fan option
Our process of streamlining manufacturing helps us to take care of customers and make sure we keep building the best product on the market, both in value and quality. Taking care of customers is key, and that is often counter to profitability as we build our brand and community.
Have you seen the updates in the new pro? Lots of neat things happening. All of that said, keep an eye out for accessories in 2025 👀🇺🇸
Has the leaking and moisture issue resolved towards the pivot?
Great videos! I'd love to sell these
Glad you like them!