RTT: Go Fast Camper or new iKamper

Considering the GFC
https://gofastcampers.com/collections/accessories/products/gfc-rooftop-tent

or the new iKamper CX-Cover
https://www.ikamper.com/pages/xcover


Thoughts? Reviews?

 

I have been looking hard at the GFC for a while now. My front runner was the Maggiolina Airlander but the GFC is very nice. I feel it is just as durable as the Maggiolina. The GFC is very expensive but keep in mind you don't need to buy a rack for it. It mounts to the stock rack location with their mounts. The mounts cost about $450 on top of the price of the tent ($3499. This makes it very low on the roof and you can probably still fit in your garage with it installed if you have one. With the mounts and GFC tent you only have about 145lbs on the roof.

With the Ikamper you have to buy another rack but the reviews are good. Honestly I don't much about it but what I have read has been positive. I have never seen any of these in person yet. Out of the two I think the GFC is of better quality and will last longer due to the simplicity of the design and the quality materials used. Plus it is 100% built in the USA and all the parts are readily available and able to be replaced. But with the GFC you cannot store your bedding in it closed, there is simply no room. This is bummer cuz now your bedding takes up more room inside the 4.

So as with any of these type tents there is a compromise but for me, right now, the GFC is on the top of my list. I continue to save before pulling the trigger or may just stick to the ground tent or the sleep system I already have inside the 4. Good luck with your research.

 

This may sound silly, but you have to remove the shark fin on top and put a plastic piece they made for the GFC to fit. That killed it for me. Plus I don’t like their external pins they use to close it. Looks very finely machined and if any dirt/snow/salt/mud gets in there it could be a pain to lock.

 

Yeah I wish there was a perfect solution but everything is a compromise. For what it is worth GFC says their antenna fix does not effect the performance of the antenna. I look forward to someone doing a real life review on this tent. I have spoken to a guy on a different forum who has the truck canopy. I asked him about the tent part. He is very pleased and says it is very high quality and has had no issues.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmDApR876p8

 

The other video. Shows more of the tent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsXQbXpdz2A

 

IKamper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xq8extuP1M

 

Unfortunately it is. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sold on something only to find out that there’s something about it I don’t like, find something that addresses that issue, but falls flat on other things. Ughh time to start Prestige Worldwide.

 

It kind of scares me that ikamper says that you can’t do over 70. I’ll get ran the hell over if I’m doing less than that here. It’s been a year and a half since I started looking for my “forever” RTT and I’m pretty much where I started. But Ikamper and GFC are looking solid. I wonder if you can keep bedding in the GFC because of how slim it is? Probably can’t and no ladder either. Same with the ikamper.

 

I looked at the bus Autohome Columbus Variant but it didn't work out since I need mounting capabilities on top (surf boards, etc).

I have ruggedized crossbars from http://lfdoffroad.com which would probably work with the iKamper.

I have seen the older model in person and it looks great but I have never owned a RTT so I don't have 1st hand experience with them.

The one I am thinking about is the new coverless one.

 

You can't keep bedding in there but thats not a deal breaker for me.

The fact that I can park it in my garage is a huge win.

 

That's funny. I never pay attention to stuff like that.

 

Lol.

 

There's no question as far as I'm concerned. GFC is the real deal. Half the weight and drag of other tents, with WAY more practicality baked in.

If I were a young single dude without family in tow, I would buy this thing, throw snowboards on top, take a sabbatical, and chase winter all season- with zero worry about breaking anything.

Since I'm not, I only get out a few times a year. I use a ground tent that I bought for $150. As far as I'm concerned, anything else for my use case is just showboating.

 

I haven't looked much, but was thinking of a roof tent. Are you guys all telling me they are close to 4 grand??? Wow... is this the norm for a tent,.. that goes on your roof??? If so. I'll pass all day, every day.
4 grand. Fuck a tent trailer around here is cheaper .. bummer. Was kinda wanting one of these. But no way I'm gonna pay 4 large for a tent.

 

Some are very expensive. The price usually climbs with the quality of the tent. Hard shell tents are all big money except for some of the chinese knock offs. You can get RTT's cheaper but you also have to factor in the roof rack price if you need one. With the GFC you don't need to purchase a roof rack. I honestly don't know if I will ever get a RTT due to the prices. Also may just wait until my M416 gets back from the fabricator and get a cheap Yakima RTT for it. Or may just stick with a ground tent. It's worked this long. Still saving and thinking about what direction to take.

 

@robfl any update on what direction you went with and how you’re liking or disliking that choice?

I personally have an ikamper skycamp v1 on my 2018 GX460. It’s been great! I’m happy to discuss further if you have specific questions or concerns.

I want to follow this thread as I’m looking to outfit a few 4Runners as rentals and seeing if there’s real word talk about the GFC. I’m pretty sure I will be pulling the trigger and ordering 1 very very soon and comparing it with my needs as a business model. I should have 2 new skycamps v2 and an X-cover arriving mid May (in a few short weeks).

 

Holy shit. $4,000 I had no idea some of these costs that much. You can get a top of the line suspension system and sleep in a ground tent for that.

That being said, to each their own.

There is a guy over in the other forum that is currently prototyping one very similar to the GFC above. It looks really nice. He’s not selling them yet, but I think he will at some point. No idea on the price, but I have to believe it’ll be cheaper than $4,000. If you can wait a little, it may be another option to consider.

I’d try to provide a link, but I’m on my phone and that other site doesn’t work for me on this phone. Maybe someone else knows the thread I’m talking about and can link it here.

 

I have an iKamper (Skycamp) and I love it. For what it’s worth the 70mph this is lawyer talk. It’s basically to protect themself Incase someone buys some cheap clip on bars for a small sedan. A lot of vehicles nowadays had the rear crossbar sitting lower than the front crossbar. This basically angles the tent up so it catches wind making it want to lift. Properly secured on a solid rack and a wind deflector of some kind it’s a nonissue. I personally have had my Skycamp on on for cruising at 80-85 for hours and brief sections above 90mph.

 

Here’s that link I was talking about:

 

Well to reiterate on my previous posts here on this subject I have crossed the GFC off the list. You cannot store your bedding in it so you would have to pack up and store your bedding in the vehicle each time you needed to move. The tent @nimby posted about will have an inflatable mattress which would somewhat solve the storing of bedding issue but you will have to deflate and inflate the mattress each time.

So the new front runners are the Alu-cab Gen 3 and the Eezi-Awn Blade. An yes both still $4k. Both aluminum so should hold up well to hits. Both will outlast the vehicle if taken care of. Saving.

 

Thank you for sharing this. I’ll be watching the terrapod! However the timing will force me to move forward with current options much sooner.

 

I hear you on the bedding issue and not being able to leave it up there. I find it hard to believe that you couldn’t fit something that was compressed. I really want to be optimistic with this setup for the GFC. In the event some or all bedding needs to go below I hope CamPack Gear will help with space.
https://campakgear.com/

I’m reaching out to a local contact who is a recent recipient of GFC rtt to check it out in person. I really want to make a decision on it prior to Overland Expo west is a few weeks. Turnaround times will surely extend further out.

 

GFC is turning into the Gobi of roof top tents.

 

Could you guys leave a 3" thick piece of memory foam up there as bedding? I imagine that would compress nicely.

 

What was the result of this? What did you think. Seriously considering, I've heard both good and bad from 3rd parties

 

I ended up getting the Ikamper and it’s prefect for what I need. Fits so nicely up top. Can recommend 100%