Thank you for sharing your experience with the GFC. This is the second video I've seen this evening of customers with significant problems with water intrusion. The first focused on leakage through the canopy to the truck bed and also the inadequate tent window design. Now you're highlighting an evidently not uncommon problem with the tent leaking. I'm buying a Toyota Tundra and was pretty settled on GFC until today's research. I live in Washington, DC and have mostly been camping in Virginia. As you know being in Tennessee, thunderstorms -- frequently severe -- are often a part of the East Coast camping experience so this failure of GFC to better protect against rain makes this product a no-go for me. Seems GFC is suitable for desert and droughts. What a disappointment. Going to look again at Alu-Cab because I could have that installed, and repaired, in New Jersey -- but don't want to lose my tailgate. The $10k that would have gone to GFC would cover half the cost of America's best-built teardrop trailer so am going to seriously consider that again, too. Again, thanks for taking the time to educate others looking at GFC. I hope they will fix the problems that current owners are experiencing and improve their design and manufacturing quality so their business can survive and keep all their American workers employed.
Went out to Montana and picked mine up. Leaked into bed of the truck from day 1 then started to get worse into the tent. Eventually used some weather striping to get it fairly water tight and sold it. The camper is not made for any form of rain or east coast weather. Thanks for making the video, glad to see it’s not as small of a problem as they make it out to be.
Thanks for making this video! I’m having the exact same problems with my GFC.. You nailed it with this video. Love the concept of the GFC but they defiantly have some refining to do. Been on the fence about selling mines since I live in the PNW and see rain 7 months out the year. Hopefully they come out with a solution soon.
Picked mine up in November 2022 and I'm having the same issue with rain. The rear corners are both leaking and it seems to depend on how I park. I'm guessing if you park on an unlevel surface where the front is higher than the rear then the water will drain toward the back corners. I've also had problems with it leaking on the lower bed seal. Water finds it's way on the inside of that seal then trickles down into the bed :( Please let us know if you find a fix! I've been trying to patch it with silicon, but no luck yet.
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel how many inches is the piece that goes over the roof. I need to know how many inches top of jeep roof to top of it. I need to see if I can pull in my garage with it on
What is your build # by chance? I am from Montana and went with a GFC this fall. Almost went SuperPacific or Vagabond but couldn’t stand 1) the wait time or 1+ year at that time and 2) the price. The SP was nearly 12k and 2) the vagabond build was close to 10k and a year plus. I haven’t Had any of the issue here yet but knowing I am close enough for warranty issues is for sure a plus. Every camper will have issue from what I have seen but the customer support of GFC is pretty darn good. I have heard SP is/has been horrible in that regard. I am sure Vagabond also has some issues just like they all do. Wish I could combine all 3 of the campers together but that would result in the king of them all probably which is Alucab lol. Hopefully you can get yours fixed!
Mine is #2400 something. There’s a lot of stuff I like about the GFC the leaking issue just makes it a hassle now that I have to check it and air it out all the time. But I agree with you about the other campers being long wait times and high priced. I’m hoping I can get it resolved thanks!
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel I totally agree that the leaking would drive me bonkers as well. My build # is like 4200s so hopefully they have potentially refined a couple of things since then to fix this. I picked it up in October here so time will tell once summer comes! Other things in the video I agree with as well such as the windows not having that other layer to completely block out the rain/wind, etc. There are many pros and there are many cons. I had a CVT MT Hood before the GFC and that tent was the best. I do miss it but I have found there are trade offs of everything it seems. Like I said, I wish I could take stuff from Vagabond, GFC, and Super Pacific to make the damn near perfect tent lol.
I like the camper setup so if I was to change it would be for another camper option not just the canopy like the smart cap. If you don’t do much camping then the smart cap is a nice option
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel sorry to bug again! but from your response would this be due to weight restrictions, camping utilities, or something different?
Thanks for a well done, detailed and honest review. Glad I decided to go with Super Pacific. Hope my experience is better than yours. Not much worse than a wet bed.
No problem a lot people like to show the hood but not the bad. I still like the concept of the gfc with a topper and tent together over a bed rack just because it keeps your gear more secure and dry
I’ve watched a ton of these videos on GFC & Moonlander to decide what I wanted. Your video was very helpful & convinced me to go Moonlander. I got a short bed & GFC was offering military discount and Black Friday deal. Taking off almost 500. Moonlander isn’t offering any discount but just seems like a better option.
I have a GFC, I haven't had any issues expect condensation when it is cool. A diesel heater would solve that problem. So far it is fine, but it is good to be informed about possible issues.
Love your rig and setup. Thanks so much for this vid. I was considering the GFC for my Gladiator. I went with just an Alu-cab Canopy and a ground tent (Gazelle) for now. I camp less than I need to carry stuff at this point in my life, and wanted to be able to store stuff 24/7 in it and store stuff attached to the ceiling on the inside. I have a vid on it on my channel if you are interested. May go with a RTT later. If I get to a point where I am really long distance overlanding and camping more, I’ll probably go with a camper, but right now leaning toward the Alu-cab camper for the colder weather features. And this far super pleased with the canopy.
The Teardrop industry have designed some really great ways to keep out moisture as well ! Their rear hatch that opens & closes a lot hast to seal properly & with rain channels ... it's much like the auto industry with trunk lid design ... there's so many great ideas that actually work & has a proven history !
Cheap tents are known to leak , poor design flaws in the frame work ? I know here in Florida humidity & wind & rain ... is extremely hard on camping equipment ... moisture issues here is top concern ! It's not my first rodeo .. I have built & lived in my own creations .. the very first one was a epic failure , horrific actually , moisture & mold on the inside educated me quick ! I have finally conquered the moisture issues ... condensation & humidity can be a challenge ! & that isn't even addressing high wind driving rain side ways with extreme pressure issues ..lol Have to have air flow under mattress or it's the first place to mold . I camp full time .. retired , My newest creation home on wheels is proving to hold up to what Florida can through at it ... extreme heat , side ways driving rain , high wind ... My roof is also a pop up wedge type system .. I put a lot of thought into my design .. most of the money was purposely spent on the best rubber gasket seals on the market .. it proved to be money well spent .. lol I have so many built in factors to keep out moisture .. many of designs have come from the Florida boat industry ... All light weight & proven designs ... Proper installation of seals & weather stripping & internal / inside weather lip barriers to produce a wall & platform to stop moisture intrusion ... A long with , Fans moving air is a must ! Everything must be able to breath to wick moisture & condensation out ... the worst thing to do is trap moisture any where ! Water will find a way in or out ... Planning for it & helping it go in a productive way is essential to a dry & non moldy environment ...
Yes the track t-nuts are GFC. Gzila also produces them. Gzila also makes the rain fly poles. We are up in MD no issues with cold temps this past Sunday at 22F. Running the diesel heater in the middle (#3) if you have a 5k model. I'll have a video up soon. Heck on full blast on #5.5 it got to 100F even with the flaps being open at the bottoms. I ran my heater directly into the upper side door. I got a "short" on our channel. 🤣 Do you know what # is your GFC is? Happy Camping & Merry Christmas! Mark (& Teresa)
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm getting ready to order one of these for my Gladiator. You're right the lines of the gfc do look good with the Jeep! Seems strange water is entering the extrusions. I would have thought, and maybe there are, gaskets at the extrusion ends between machined joints. Rubber washers for the screws and caulking also come to mind. Adding the water escape holes doesn't seem like "fix", more like a bodge. Like you, a little disappointing. Guessing you don't take this through an automatic car wash? One other question, how tall is the top of the camper above the cab at the truck CL? Trying to confirm I'll be able to drive in my garage. Thanks and good luck!
Not sure if you mentioned it but did the previous owner have water intrusion? I assume the answer is no because if he told you this thing leaks water you probably wouldn't have bought it. Even though you bought it at a discount it sounds like the guy who sold it to you is the one who got a good deal because he got rid of it. If you can't get it fixed you might have to take an even bigger hit to sell it to someone else or not be able to sell it at all. Respect to you for giving an honest review
Thank you for the video good I came across to watch your video before making a decision getting a GFC this help me a lot going different camper specially to there full price
Mine isn't a gfc but I got the same problem...so far I didn't found a solution...I siliconed all the tent frame(aluminum channel where the tent slide in) from outside trying to make it more leak proof
the 4 season part refers to the tent material being made from the same material 4 season tents are made of the tent door doesn't close because the air needs to escape when you bring the roof down, otherwise it would stay inflated like a balloon
The tent material is really good quality but doesn’t matter much if it leaks. And there are plenty of other manufacturers that have windows that close all the way around. You would just leave part unzipped when closing to let the air out. But I am happy to say that they have contacted a bunch of people saying they have a fix in place so hopefully I can get that done soon!
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel definitely, was bummed to hear the bad news, been saving for one of these and I live in Oregon where it can be rainy for weeks on end, would have no opportunity to dry it out
I think if you were to get one now it will have whatever new updates they are doing to combat the leaking. I love the setup other wise it’s very low profile
Thank you for sharing your experience with the GFC. This is the second video I've seen this evening of customers with significant problems with water intrusion. The first focused on leakage through the canopy to the truck bed and also the inadequate tent window design. Now you're highlighting an evidently not uncommon problem with the tent leaking. I'm buying a Toyota Tundra and was pretty settled on GFC until today's research. I live in Washington, DC and have mostly been camping in Virginia. As you know being in Tennessee, thunderstorms -- frequently severe -- are often a part of the East Coast camping experience so this failure of GFC to better protect against rain makes this product a no-go for me. Seems GFC is suitable for desert and droughts. What a disappointment. Going to look again at Alu-Cab because I could have that installed, and repaired, in New Jersey -- but don't want to lose my tailgate. The $10k that would have gone to GFC would cover half the cost of America's best-built teardrop trailer so am going to seriously consider that again, too. Again, thanks for taking the time to educate others looking at GFC. I hope they will fix the problems that current owners are experiencing and improve their design and manufacturing quality so their business can survive and keep all their American workers employed.
get version 2 pro model that just came out for GFC and you wont have issues
Went out to Montana and picked mine up. Leaked into bed of the truck from day 1 then started to get worse into the tent. Eventually used some weather striping to get it fairly water tight and sold it. The camper is not made for any form of rain or east coast weather. Thanks for making the video, glad to see it’s not as small of a problem as they make it out to be.
Good to know.
Thanks for making this video! I’m having the exact same problems with my GFC.. You nailed it with this video. Love the concept of the GFC but they defiantly have some refining to do. Been on the fence about selling mines since I live in the PNW and see rain 7 months out the year. Hopefully they come out with a solution soon.
my plan is to buy version 2 PRO model just released do you know if they solved this issue
Picked mine up in November 2022 and I'm having the same issue with rain. The rear corners are both leaking and it seems to depend on how I park. I'm guessing if you park on an unlevel surface where the front is higher than the rear then the water will drain toward the back corners. I've also had problems with it leaking on the lower bed seal. Water finds it's way on the inside of that seal then trickles down into the bed :( Please let us know if you find a fix! I've been trying to patch it with silicon, but no luck yet.
Can u let me know how many inches the camper is closed on roof. Roof to top of it
Thanks
What do you mean?
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel how many inches is the piece that goes over the roof. I need to know how many inches top of jeep roof to top of it. I need to see if I can pull in my garage with it on
@@TaylorandDaddy oh ok I can measure it later my jeep with the lift and tires is 7 foot 1” tall
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel ok please measure it for me roof to top of piece. Thanks
What is your build # by chance?
I am from Montana and went with a GFC this fall. Almost went SuperPacific or Vagabond but couldn’t stand 1) the wait time or 1+ year at that time and 2) the price. The SP was nearly 12k and 2) the vagabond build was close to 10k and a year plus. I haven’t Had any of the issue here yet but knowing I am close enough for warranty issues is for sure a plus.
Every camper will have issue from what I have seen but the customer support of GFC is pretty darn good. I have heard SP is/has been horrible in that regard. I am sure Vagabond also has some issues just like they all do. Wish I could combine all 3 of the campers together but that would result in the king of them all probably which is Alucab lol. Hopefully you can get yours fixed!
Mine is #2400 something. There’s a lot of stuff I like about the GFC the leaking issue just makes it a hassle now that I have to check it and air it out all the time. But I agree with you about the other campers being long wait times and high priced. I’m hoping I can get it resolved thanks!
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel I totally agree that the leaking would drive me bonkers as well. My build # is like 4200s so hopefully they have potentially refined a couple of things since then to fix this. I picked it up in October here so time will tell once summer comes!
Other things in the video I agree with as well such as the windows not having that other layer to completely block out the rain/wind, etc. There are many pros and there are many cons. I had a CVT MT Hood before the GFC and that tent was the best. I do miss it but I have found there are trade offs of everything it seems. Like I said, I wish I could take stuff from Vagabond, GFC, and Super Pacific to make the damn near perfect tent lol.
Any updates to your camper and water intrusion? Is it still water tight?
@@cmc9823 still dry! Just have to seal my damn Tacoma bed better!
@@cmc9823 GFC has put out an update saying they have a fix but I haven’t had it done to mine yet. So currently mine still leaks
So strange about the lack of zippers on the bottom of the doors. What kind of heater do you have? You said a diesel heater?
would you stick with this or go with a RSI Smartcap?
I like the camper setup so if I was to change it would be for another camper option not just the canopy like the smart cap. If you don’t do much camping then the smart cap is a nice option
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel sorry to bug again! but from your response would this be due to weight restrictions, camping utilities, or something different?
how does dust do in the back ?
The gladiators tailgate isn’t sealed well so you’ll get dust in just from that and the camper itself is sealed ok but the back door could let some in
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel thanks for the answers!
Thanks for a well done, detailed and honest review. Glad I decided to go with Super Pacific. Hope my experience is better than yours. Not much worse than a wet bed.
Super Pacific is light years ahead in design, imo.
I’m going with the go fast camper without the roof top tent.
Thanks for your honest feedback. It’s nice to hear an objective review about the issues.
I am debating a RTT and a rack, a Harker EDC or a GFC.
No problem a lot people like to show the hood but not the bad. I still like the concept of the gfc with a topper and tent together over a bed rack just because it keeps your gear more secure and dry
You should check mount the Super Pacific X1 as well.
I’ve watched a ton of these videos on GFC & Moonlander to decide what I wanted. Your video was very helpful & convinced me to go Moonlander. I got a short bed & GFC was offering military discount and Black Friday deal. Taking off almost 500. Moonlander isn’t offering any discount but just seems like a better option.
Thanks! I really like the Moonlander I think it would be awesome for my 1st gen tundra
So glad I came across this, that is such a no go. No tent on top of a truck is perfect in weather. Thank you so much for the review.
So does it leak when setup at camp or only when closed/driving?
I haven’t had it leak while deployed only when closed
Do you prefer the GFC or your bed rack and roof top tent set up?
Definitely still prefer the gfc because it keeps your gear dry and protected I’m just not happy with the tent portion so far
I have a GFC, I haven't had any issues expect condensation when it is cool. A diesel heater would solve that problem. So far it is fine, but it is good to be informed about possible issues.
Love your rig and setup. Thanks so much for this vid. I was considering the GFC for my Gladiator. I went with just an Alu-cab Canopy and a ground tent (Gazelle) for now. I camp less than I need to carry stuff at this point in my life, and wanted to be able to store stuff 24/7 in it and store stuff attached to the ceiling on the inside. I have a vid on it on my channel if you are interested. May go with a RTT later. If I get to a point where I am really long distance overlanding and camping more, I’ll probably go with a camper, but right now leaning toward the Alu-cab camper for the colder weather features. And this far super pleased with the canopy.
Thanks for sharing. Water leaking and window bottom gap at significant issue. I won't consider it if GFC can improve.
I just had the water intrusion fixed done to it and waiting on some rain to see if it fixed the leaking or not
The Teardrop industry have designed some really great ways to keep out moisture as well ! Their rear hatch that opens & closes a lot hast to seal properly & with rain channels ... it's much like the auto industry with trunk lid design ... there's so many great ideas that actually work & has a proven history !
Cheap tents are known to leak , poor design flaws in the frame work ? I know here in Florida humidity & wind & rain ... is extremely hard on camping equipment ... moisture issues here is top concern ! It's not my first rodeo .. I have built & lived in my own creations .. the very first one was a epic failure , horrific actually , moisture & mold on the inside educated me quick ! I have finally conquered the moisture issues ... condensation & humidity can be a challenge ! & that isn't even addressing high wind driving rain side ways with extreme pressure issues ..lol Have to have air flow under mattress or it's the first place to mold . I camp full time .. retired , My newest creation home on wheels is proving to hold up to what Florida can through at it ... extreme heat , side ways driving rain , high wind ... My roof is also a pop up wedge type system .. I put a lot of thought into my design .. most of the money was purposely spent on the best rubber gasket seals on the market .. it proved to be money well spent .. lol I have so many built in factors to keep out moisture .. many of designs have come from the Florida boat industry ... All light weight & proven designs ... Proper installation of seals & weather stripping & internal / inside weather lip barriers to produce a wall & platform to stop moisture intrusion ... A long with , Fans moving air is a must ! Everything must be able to breath to wick moisture & condensation out ... the worst thing to do is trap moisture any where ! Water will find a way in or out ... Planning for it & helping it go in a productive way is essential to a dry & non moldy environment ...
Good review, thank you. I ordered one, I'm going to call and see if it will have the upgrades.
what did you find out
Yes the track t-nuts are GFC. Gzila also produces them. Gzila also makes the rain fly poles. We are up in MD no issues with cold temps this past Sunday at 22F. Running the diesel heater in the middle (#3) if you have a 5k model. I'll have a video up soon. Heck on full blast on #5.5 it got to 100F even with the flaps being open at the bottoms. I ran my heater directly into the upper side door. I got a "short" on our channel. 🤣
Do you know what # is your GFC is?
Happy Camping & Merry Christmas!
Mark (& Teresa)
Digging the gobi Gladiator, not
so much the GFC, the leaking issue would be a deal breaker for me, among other things.
Yeah not sure how I’m feeling about it so far. The jeep actually not the Gobi color it’s Gator green looks similar
Excellent detailed analysis and review. Many thanks.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm getting ready to order one of these for my Gladiator. You're right the lines of the gfc do look good with the Jeep! Seems strange water is entering the extrusions. I would have thought, and maybe there are, gaskets at the extrusion ends between machined joints. Rubber washers for the screws and caulking also come to mind. Adding the water escape holes doesn't seem like "fix", more like a bodge. Like you, a little disappointing. Guessing you don't take this through an automatic car wash? One other question, how tall is the top of the camper above the cab at the truck CL? Trying to confirm I'll be able to drive in my garage. Thanks and good luck!
Thanks im not sure where it could be getting but hopefully they come up with a fix. I’ll measure it when I get home it’s not much higher than the cab
Thanks for the video. Have been thinking of getting one of these. Second thoughts now. Like the Alu Cab but not their weight.
Not sure if you mentioned it but did the previous owner have water intrusion? I assume the answer is no because if he told you this thing leaks water you probably wouldn't have bought it. Even though you bought it at a discount it sounds like the guy who sold it to you is the one who got a good deal because he got rid of it. If you can't get it fixed you might have to take an even bigger hit to sell it to someone else or not be able to sell it at all. Respect to you for giving an honest review
Have you looked into the Alu Cab ? Think that one looks nice on the Gladiator and made to with stand all 4 seasons !
I missed it. Is this a v1 ?
No it’s a V2
I wonder when the v3 will be coming with a video like this!?
Thank you for the video good I came across to watch your video before making a decision getting a GFC this help me a lot going different camper specially to there full price
No problem I’ll be doing an update GFC has said they have a fix for the issue so once I get it done I’ll report back
What happened to the taco?
I traded it in last October for the Gladiator
Mine isn't a gfc but I got the same problem...so far I didn't found a solution...I siliconed all the tent frame(aluminum channel where the tent slide in) from outside trying to make it more leak proof
What camper do you have ?
Truck looking awesome brother!!🍻
Excellent review! Thanks dude ✌
the 4 season part refers to the tent material being made from the same material 4 season tents are made of
the tent door doesn't close because the air needs to escape when you bring the roof down, otherwise it would stay inflated like a balloon
The tent material is really good quality but doesn’t matter much if it leaks. And there are plenty of other manufacturers that have windows that close all the way around. You would just leave part unzipped when closing to let the air out. But I am happy to say that they have contacted a bunch of people saying they have a fix in place so hopefully I can get that done soon!
@@Vehiclesupportedtravel definitely, was bummed to hear the bad news, been saving for one of these and I live in Oregon where it can be rainy for weeks on end, would have no opportunity to dry it out
I think if you were to get one now it will have whatever new updates they are doing to combat the leaking. I love the setup other wise it’s very low profile
I had the same issue too and it is from passager front. I contacted GFC and they said that is not an issue.
Glad to came across this vid before buying one 😮 thank you
Thanks'
Thanks
Thanks. No go for me.
Bro the dogs lmao 😂
I know they were going crazy when filming and not even my dogs 😂
😂😂
I literally just sold mine yesterday. Wasn't happy with gfc.