Would I buy a GFC Platform Camper (GoFastCamper) Again? - The Pros & Cons (4K)
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2023
- In this video, I give my thoughts on the GoFastCamper after owning it for 6+ months and putting it through its paces in all types of weather. This thing is bullet proof in many ways, but some very minor changes can make this already great camper even better.
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You said it very well. Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm also hoping that GFC improves their water issues and releases a newer tent.
Thank you! I love the GFC but unfortunately they need to adapt and change with more competition in the market. Hopefully the owners finally agree to make changes as I’ve heard they are slow in making and updating anything on the tent. Some small changes could make the GFC a even better tent!
Thanks for commenting and watching.
Great video and points made. There so many cool things about GFC (both product wise and as a company), but the concerns are all valid and it's not the first time I've heard the same ones mentioned. Like you I'm hoping GFC addresses some of the tent portion issues as I think it will result in an even better product than it already is.
I appreciate the comment and the thoughtful response! I do agree that GFC is an awesome company all around and that these small fixes could greatly improve the tent design and more.
Great summary! I added a marine solar powered fan and hope that helps with the condensation. I haven't had much on the honeycomb but more so on the interior aluminum tracks. Then that drips on my head about 1-2 hours before the sun comes up. I guess we'll see how it works in the fall!
That is the route I would go as well so you don’t have to run/deal with the wires. Curious to hear how it works out for you!
Thank you for this very informative video. I’m actually leaning towards getting a Lone Peak since they are pretty much local to me.
Excited to see what Lone Peak releases this year for their camper. They remind me of Super Pacific a few years ago where they took and fixed a lot of the complaints from folks who didn't buy/were looking at buying the GFC. They also had a KILLER price on their tents which has since increased a significant amount. Lone Peak seems to be following a similar timeline of offering a killer price and fixing some things missed in the market right now.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
So if you leave the windows slightly open while it's raining you get wet from rain and if you close them you get wet from condensation.. if you want to stay dry in your tent you have to spend over 10K but if you don't mind getting a little wet then you get a great deal at spending only 8K. Thanks for the honest review.
In most situations, that is unfortunately the result. Again, condensation depends on the environment but in rainy situations and when closed up, any tent will struggle with condensation to some degree.
Proper ventilation ports help. Something backpacking tents have had for several decades.
After doing a lot of research I am just convinced not to buy this. I know he says that the Super Pacific camper is not the same but it really is very comparable to this. It's $13k but It's worth paying $4000 more if you're going to have something that's actually designed well and is not a closed ecosystem requiring proprietary parts.
The thing he didn't say was that any mods you wanna do to it, anything you wanna attack you gotta buy their own hardware which costs $20 each for 4 bolts .. and then so for 20 you're paying $100.
And this is like 340lbs for the Super Pacific X1 it's not very much more than the 280lb of this camper.
The Super Pacific X1 is barebones like the GFC, the only difference is it's built much better, and you can use any hardware to mount stuff you don't have to use their proprietary parts.
He says the fuselage where you can run wires through is this fancy thing but it's not really fancy at all it's just a very simple part of the design of the frame of the camper. It's not something extra or special really, they just designed it with this in mind.
All in all I do not agree that this is a good camper to get to tinker and build stuff. The Super Pacific is way more suited to DIY and building stuff to add on to it.
Great info! Was going GFC route but am going to look around and/or hope they change the design. Thanks
Look into the Super Pacific X1, it's almost the exact same kind of camper except for two things: You have full openings on the sides of the bed instead of those tubes, so you can easily put stuff in and out the bed from the sides, and it has two built in vents at the top of all three doors of the tent for hot air to escape.
It has many design considerations that lend themselves to much easier DIY-style building and only ways ~40-50lb more. There are many video reviews of it on here.
The only thing about the GFC is I really love how the tent floor works with the panels you remove. It's similar to a Jeep Wrangler camper I've seen that does the same. The Super Pacific X1 in comparison has a slide away floor that you push back and fold the mattress.
I also am not a fan that it comes with an air mattress instead of foam. But it's a 3rd party mattress that comes brand new in its own box so if you don't like it you can sell it and buy something else.
If it weren't for the insulation problems and the weird putting the bug netting on the inside, and also that the bug netting is not small enough. Small bugs can get through!
The GFC just has too many issues. The bed in the Super Pacific X1 is supposed to be more comfortable than a home bed. but I don't like the idea of an air mattress coz I have a dog that would slep with me.
Great video. I just picked up my GFC last weekend. I've actually seen you on the forum a bunch. I did a ton of research beforehand and came to very similar conclusions as your pros and cons. As you said, condensation and the tent doors were/are the biggest concerns.
To combat condensation, a user on the forum installed an extra set of zippers at the top of the rear door (which will allows the top to be opened independently from the bottom) and placed a water bottle with the ends cut to allow for air to flow into the top of the tent. I can send you the forum post, if you'd like. I plan to do this and was able to order some extra zippers from GFC themselves. But if that doesn't combat the condensation enough, I am going to have to try your headliner method.
As for the tent doors, it just doesn't make sense why GFC wouldn't have then zip completely like a U. Depending on how much of a problem this is in the rain, snow, and wind, I may have to install some Velcro or snaps to keep the flap closed.
In the end, it’s a great tent for a great price. But it is irritating having to fix these issues as the user.
Thanks for watching and congrats on the GFC!
I have seen the water bottle hack with the windows. It was on a V1 so not sure if that would make a difference or not. I would probably eventually do the solar vent fan on the roof if anything when it comes to the ventilation. The headliner has completely changed the interior of the tent in a really good way though. Just have to make sure you do air it out afterwards especially if there is a lot of condensation collection.
I tried 3M velcro sticky for the doors. It wasn't strong enough. I would try those snaps that I showcased in the video to close the windows. Velcro also will get dirty and long term, won't stick the same as day one.
Lastly, I 100% agree with you on price for the tent. It's a fantastic platform that allows the user to modify it and change it. I still love it and small changes I have made have improved it for my application.
The headliner fit looks outstanding, going to add this to ours.
Probably the best interior mod for the GFCs in my opinion!
Awesome video! Thank you for the in-depth review. I tow an airstream with an F250 and I'm thinking of adding the GFC.
Thank you! At the time of writing this comment, I am actually picking up a new camper soon as the GFC has sold.
@@hunter_pauley Sweet! What are you thinking of getting? I just found the Super Pacific and I'm digging that one a lot more - but a lot more $$ too!
I thought that iKamper comment looked familiar… that’s me. And yes, I wish GFC had those style of windows. I absolutely loved them.
Yup! Pulled it from the forums haha!
I just discovered the GFC and my first impression was the integrated tent material seems like an afterthought. They could’ve easily beefed up the materials/made it blackout etc.
Well put! Thanks!
My pleasure!
Hey man, just discovered your channel and really appreciate all of the great GFC info. I actually have the 14th platform camper they ever produced on my 09 taco and it’s served me very well over years, though I think it’s finally time to start some upgrades. Do you have a write up or anymore info on the carpet headliner you added? I am thinking of doing that to mine soon. Thanks!
Hey Tyler! Appreciate the watch man.
That is crazy that you have the 14th one they ever made - that's an OG V1 for sure. I posted some stuff on the headliner on the GFC Forums but essentially it's indoor/outdoor carpet from lowes/home depot. You should be able to pop out your roof panel and make the measuring easier also...I could not.
For the adhesive, I used the 3M Super 90 adhesive spray (~1.75 bottles). It's held up fine to the heat in Montana but it might be better to use a true headliner spray if you're in a really hot environment. I sprayed both the back of the carpet AND the roof hence nearly using 2 cans.
If you have any other questions, let me know!
I'm looking into this type of camper for my Tacoma, switching from a dedicated camper van to reduce overall costs and vehicles. I'm seeing these same quality concerns from a lot of GFC owners. Typically, new owners of outdoor gear are excited and tend to believe they've made the best of all choices, so news of these issues so early in the ownership cycle make me really think twice.
Thanks for the comment Mike.
I now have owned the GFC officially for a full year - I actually picked it up Oct 23rd 2022 last year. In that time I have spent over 80 nights with 64 of those nights being just this year alone.
Your concerns are valid and it appears GFC is starting to take notice. They just released new foam in their new campers - the old foam was a huge miss and a huge complaint.
The next thing I hope they target is the tent design. It really just doesn't cut it and the folks who use the heck out of their GFC start to notice this stuff more. If you're a "camp here n there" type of person, you're a lot less likely to notice these issues. I have expressed interest in pursuing a new tent design with GFC...and with being so local I hope to be an early protyper to spread the news that these issues/gripes have been fixed.
I really appreciate your review. My path has been a Roofnest hard RTT on my Tacoma -> dedicated 4WD camper van (nice but requires parking space, licensing, maintenance, etc., and is vulnerable to break-in). The tent topper system would be a less comfortable camping system, but would allow me to lose one vehicle and would be more street-secure. I'm attracted to Super Pacific for what I believe is higher build quality, but obviously I'm still researching and deciding. Might just decide to keep the van after all! Warm regards
Look into OVRLND CAMPERS. Super light weight, as roomy as a van, similar base price as GFC, highly customizable, and none of the issues of GFC.
A diesel heater is a good solution for condensation IF the weather permits.
100% agree and it’s what I use. It a great source of dry heat.
@@hunter_pauley rad. Sub’d to your channel happy camping from crazy Cali 👊🏻
Do you still roof mount it in the rain?
@@mattmazzoni6664 yup! You can check out my snow camp video where it dumped.
What do you think about adding a maxfan to the roof of the gfc? Im thinking that would be a great option to prevent the condensation issue. Plus it can get a fan with an integrated light😊
Some folks have done that on the forums. The cons I see personally: 1) quite a bit of power draw on some, 2) it’s a big fan and ruins the form factor of the GFC for me, 3) you gotta be careful with how far the fan insert comes down inside the tent for closing it and 4) it’s more work to route/run the wiring.
I want to try maybe a 12v marine solar/battery operated fan which is small and circular. If I ever decided it wasn’t enough, I could just jump to a bigger max air fan if I felt that was necessary.
Thanks for the comment and watching!
Thank you for your review. Are you able to keep your Hest mattress stowed up in the top?
Yes I am. Tighter but it still works.
Did you use velcro strips for your roof headliner/ indoor outdoor rug or an adhesive like liquid nails??
3M Super 90 Spray adhesive because it’s heat resistant. I used about 2 cans overall.
Thanks for watching and commenting! 🤟🏽
@@hunter_pauley thanks for this! Did you install with the roof on the tent or did you take roof off?? Great video by the way! My family of 4 Ave a dog are pulling the trigger on a gfc this coming spring!
Have you check out toppo new tent and look better and cheaper than GFC. I got my GFC few months before you.
I have seen them! Some folks have made videos of them online and reported some similar issues with leaking windows, issues with the tent fabric freezing, etc. Still curious to see how they manage once they pump more out and also once people get them in some different climate, specifically colder climates.
Is it possible to put velcro on the window bottom to keep it closed?
Yes and no. You would have to either glue the velcro or apply it with a heated material so it sticks. The only thing with velcro is that it also will get dirt and with dirt, it sticks less and less. I would personally do the snaps like I showed in the video if I opted to close the bottom of the videos. Velcro will also grab in some situations when maybe you don't want the videos closed.
Thanks. The window set up is a big negative. Hope GFC redesigns this. Really like the low weight but the poor designed window set up will make this a no go for me.
where did you get that yellow latch on the interior of your rear panel?
Link is below. It works extremely well and is actually glow in the dark. Helps closing the door if entering through the truck bed and hanging stuff from it if you wanted like a light
www.3dproto-lab.com/products-1/p/interior-panel-handle
Thanks for helping my decision on this camper. Sounds like ventilation on the tent is not great due to the design. Am I correct in that side and rear tent doors can either be fully opened or closed and not partially to allow airflow which would be important in temps close to dew point.
Correct. The bottom does not zip and if you want to vent them more, they have to zip UP which is the opposite of which you see in most doors. The only two doors that zip up are the triangles inside.
Would a small portable or condensation mat solve the issue? And when running your diesel heater?
Likely not.Zero condensation issues when running the diesel heater! @@mattmazzoni6664
Meant portable fan above not portable condensation mat. If you had understood it in that way then I guess a ceiling fan install makes the most sense. I’ve seen this done on the forums but looks like a complex install.
The air has to have a way to escape. So sure it can help and I have done that but the air has to be pushed out a window if possible. @@mattmazzoni6664
So the windows are the add one right? Like if you wanted to excess the tent through the sides? If I decided to not get the window doors, than that solves the no zipper issue? Because if I get the camper I can just access the tent through the topper? I’m asking because GFC got really good deals as they are trying to sell them before next year. They’re upgrading & fixing issues but will go up in price next year.
Yes they are add ons for $525 but 1) that leads to even LESS ventilation and 2) you can only access the sleeping area through the back or below. The back door still has no zipper in the bottom too.
The only upgrade in the new camper is the mattress and water intrusion update. I have had the billet mounts since picking it up in October 2022. They are not new to campers.
@@hunter_pauley Thank you, yeah a 1,000 off is sounding so tempting. They keep e-mailing that Black Friday deal has 12 hours left. I’m going back and forth thinking Moonlander or GFC
@@Bearsfan920 it’s only going up $750 beginning of the year. Black Friday sales are over.
What wheels are those? Nice vid!
17in Rocktrix from Amazon.
What adhesive did you use for the headliner? I was going to do this to mine soon.
I used 3M Super 90 because of the heat resistant properties. I think another individual also used the headliner spray for vehicles as well.
Awesome thanks!
GFC campers are great engineering platforms. As for the pesky details, in the Stoic philosophy the solution is for the person to change and adapt to the conditions, rather than changing the conditions to adapt to the person. Right, some things are easy to change and you should do so. More gnarly things that are harder to fix -- just deal with it. This is camping; not June Cleaver in suburbia making a happy home for Ward, The Beaver, and Wally. Dust, dirt, condensation, too hot, too cold; this is life in the GFC Corps! Submit to conditions!
Thanks for the comment and watching!
I think just saying “deal with it” is hard to do when you’re buying a product that is 8-10k+ depending on your build, options selected and more. I do not personally care too much about the dust, diet, too hold, or too cold but when it comes to water/condensation, they are issues and there are things that could be address. Yes, it’s probably one of the most basic canopy style tents on the market but very small changes/modifications could be made to make it even better than it is. I hope the pressure from other companies making changes/innovations pushes GFC to take the feedback from consumers and other potential buyers. I love the GFC for the community, the mission statement and more…but again, my cons are valid I feel as many others also state the same issues.
Sleeping in a wet GFC bed is a bit more than a "pesky detail" IMHO. It's arguably a major functional shortcoming and product quality failure. Especially when there are other competing products which don't appear to have the water intrusion issue. Honest reviews are very helpful in this regard, for those of us who haven't yet made a purchase.
What size Sherpa roof rack is that?
Animas 30
The bugscreen on the inside is a deal breaker. Imagine having everything zipped up tight cause it's chilly out. But then you wake up in the middle of the night, instead of being able to stay in my bag and just reach up and "crack a window" with the bug screen in place, now I'd have to get out of my bag completely, unzip the bug screen and then unzip the outer solid panel, and then roll it up out of the way to get any airflow. I'd buy a GFC topper and put a better tent on top before I bought the full camper setup.
Current window design is a big con for many folks. I thinks it’s caused enough commotion though that GFC has taken notice and is possibly working on something. I’m trying to be that “squeaky wheel”
for everyone.
@@hunter_pauley guess we can keep our fingers crossed. Anyway thanks for the thorough review!
8 g for a fabric tent?.. for my purposes a truck shell makes more sense and very customizable... You have a cool setup though
I noticed you got shittco item, can you share how you got it?
It's actually not a shittco item. Here is a link to the GFC forum that shows what I used (scroll down a bit on it and look for "GainGFC": forum.gofastcampers.com/t/rain-fly-diy/21416/27
They are the "OVS" rain fly pole holders.
Any issues with going windowless?
None. No regrets,
I've been looking into these, more likely buying used, and I'm starting to be concerned with the Fall, Winter, and Spring camping options in the PNW. I may have to reconsider and just pick up a CVT MT Hood. I was hoping to have the option of standing inside and working from the road, but now I'm questioning it all.
I will say, the PNW will be hard on any roof top tent/canopy. You guys get an insane amount of moisture over there for sure. I would recommend joining the other groups like Alu Cab, Super Pacific, AT Overland, etc. and you will see even the pricey tents still struggle with moisture or insane amounts of rain. Best of luck on the continued search and thanks for watching!
What did you use to stick the carpet on?
Super 90 3M spray. About 1.5 cans of it.
The industrial or no and low voc or no?
@@rwdmtb7556 the one with the green label. I would maybe use a headliner spray next time
Great Video! I am curious why you moved on from the CVT Mt. Hood to the GFC? Thanks.
Ability to stand up in the bed has been a huge advantage during bad weather
I’m curious why you didn’t clip the Rode wireless microphone to your shirt for the video.
The mic had randomly disconnected when I filmed the first few clips and I was worried it would do it through a longer one. Holding it, I could see that it was still connected. Hasn't been an issue since though!
Too much f that. That’s a regret no matter what
Shy of the slow and robotic delivery, this was a decent review. However just because you cant see the moisture anymore, doesn’t mean it’s gone. The outdoor carpet will still hold all the moisture.
Thanks for the comment. This was one of my first few videos so I was getting used to talking in front the camera still.
That is true with the carpet but it dries out fast. You’re gonna want to air the tent out anyways and the carpet will also dry. Mildew/mold resistant as well. It’s also better than having water drip on your face in the evening.
Thanks for watching.
Don’t think the delivery was robotic at all. I appreciate the delivery. He is talking to me and not like a salesman.
Thank you! @@leem1914
Ya if it saves me several thousand dollars, I will happily buy a product from China.
It looks like it should cost about $3000. there’s nothing there….NOTHING. and the tent looks so thin and cheap. The bottom of the flaps are a joke. This thing has been out for a long long time in version two I cannot believe that GFC has not done an upgraded tent. You would think that the material for the tent should at least be like a Jan sport, backpack material. That material is literally paper thin. And it’s so loose and sloppy looking….almost like it’s not finished.
ESSENTIALLY
The foundation of the GFC is absolutely solid, but like you have mentioned, the tent material/design/structure severely needs an overhaul. I think small changes could be made to drastically make the GFC compete again with some of the competitors now on the market.
Thanks for the comment and watching!
@@hunter_pauley I just reread my comment and I hope it didn’t come across as being brash or insulting. I’m actually still considering buying a GFC I have monetary constraints and it is the only camper that will fit my budget. I wasn’t trying to insult anything that you were doing I actually a very envious of your set up.
Well, they fixed all the things that you had a problem with so this video should be changed or a retraction kind of thing
It wasn’t just me but multiple people had issues with venting and condensation or the windows. I am glad to see the new ownership of GFC making positive changes after there were so many requests 🤟🏽
A deal breaker why I did not like almost "EVERY" canopy campe ravailable is the rear door. I could envision the tailgate & lift up door being a PITA after a stretch.
That's why I bought an All-Cab CC
That can be a pro or con for some folks. Some people still want the ability to use their truck for truck stuff and the tailgate/hatch allows that (hauling lumber/larger items, etc). I also see the Alu-cab CC as more of a "permanent" option since the sealing of the bed with Sikaflex is very in depth. A different slice of pie for everyone that is searching for a canopy style camper nowadays which is fantastic! More competition and more companies coming up with fantastic products that push the innovation.
Thanks for the comment and watching!
@@hunter_pauley Fair enough - I thought of the hauling part ( now if I need to haul sh*t - I'll call a friend - what else are they good for -:)
For me I wanted to "Optimize" the camping part and not necessarily have a do it all kind of vehicle & the ACCC did that for me. I had a 4 Season Camper - hatted the small narrow rear door., From that experience I did not ever consider the GFC style rear door layout. The large rear door on the ACCC opens things up in a big way...