Are campers like the Lone Peak, Super Pacific or GFC game changers vs a RTT?
Posted by brainhack3r@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 70 comments
I need advice
I’ve had a rooftop tent before, and right now I’m sleeping in the back of my truck. I think it’s about the same comfort level as a rooftop tent.
The problem I have with this setup is you can't really stand up. Like, once you're in, you're in, and getting up and moving around is difficult.
Now the theory I have is that if I get a camper like the Lone Peak, Super Pacific or GFC that this will be a game changer for me.
Like when you're home and you're in bed, you can just hop out of bed easily, move around, etc.
But when I'm in an RTT I feel like I'm in a coffin - I just don't like it.
The problem is that it's a VERY expensive hypothesis. Anywhere from $7-14k.
Now RTTs are more flexible because I can put it on my RSI Smartcap and if I don't like it, swap it out with a new RTT
My Smartcap, while not perfect, is a pretty solid base.
So the question is do you think having a camper is going to be a game changer?
Overlandaholic@reddit
I've had a softopper, rooftop tent, and now I'm on a pop up camper. I honestly think the camper is the best setup I've ever had. It keeps my stuff dry and I don't have to worry about leaving it out in the open, sets up in literally like 30 seconds, and my specific camper has a passthrough floor that holds itself up so if the weather is bad I can just open the floor and stay inside with plenty of room to do whatever I want.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Are you talking about the Lone Peak ?
Overlandaholic@reddit
Mine is the Madix Outdoors Drift camper. I have some photos of it on my blog/instagram
According-Tax-1433@reddit
Yes. dont miss dealing w/ a RTT at all
UCR998@reddit
My only issue with GFC is its 15k. That’s such an insanely high price to fit a normal size family .
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
It's like $8k ... The max one is $11k.
UCR998@reddit
As everyone has said depending on vehicle. The pro camper is 8k which is the smallest and that is only for tacomas and older trucks . The max camper starts at 11 for older trucks and Tacomas and neither of those prices include shipping nor installation. It’s 250$ if you want it installed in MT otherwise it’s 900$ or greater. So no 8k and 11k are not accurate pricing 9k and 12k to simply have it installed and delivered is an insane price . You can go to Japan or fully build out a truck for that same price . I love how nonchalant people are oh it’s “only 8k “ it’s 11k for a RTT and truck cap lol
joey12342323@reddit
The math just doesn't add up on these prices. High-quality CNC and aluminum are expensive, but not 'down payment on a house' expensive. The real killer is the shipping and the massive margins.
I've been playing around with a modular frame design in my spare time to tackle the dust-sealing issue without spending five figures. It’s definitely possible to build something bulletproof without the 'overland tax' markup—the industry just doesn't want us to know that.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
A good cap and RTT are $3500 each (new) so that's $7k right there.
My RSI Smartcap was like $3800 when I bought it and my RTT was like $2200 (and I got a deal) but that was 3+ years ago. So that's $6k not adjusted for inflation.
So $8k is reasonable in Tacoma land.
I haven't done the math on the other options though to be fair but I suspect they're similar to what I proposed above.
UCR998@reddit
A good cap and RTT are 3500 each so less than this? I got my entire truck built for 15 Including suspension including front and rear bumpers including cap but sure 8k isn’t bad lmao for 2 items or 15k if you wanna fit a nice one on a tundra
Budgetweeniessuck@reddit
$15k is absurd. I remember when they started they were about $5k.
At $15k price point you start getting into a nice used fiberglass slide in or four wheel camper.
UCR998@reddit
15k is how much I spent on my entire build . RTT , suspension, truck bed cap ARE , lights everything . That’s an insane price
Budgetweeniessuck@reddit
ya, it's nuts. They are cool. But I'm looking at $12.5K + tax for a full size truck.
bcameron1231@reddit
They are $8k. Only $15k if you max out and purchase every single accessory.
While still expensive, don't believe everything you read on the Internet.
UCR998@reddit
Yeah don’t believe people who do not do research either . 15k is not max at all . The smallest base model is not 8k they are 8700 starting . If you would like to have more than 2 people the price does even higher . The v2 max starts at 10,950. It’s amazing how people can’t even spend 5 secs to look at the website lmao god people have gotten dumber
bcameron1231@reddit
$8200 (that includes the $250 install) for the V2 Pro.
You really made that entire rant just to be wrong again?
bcameron1231@reddit
Lol the guy blocked me. Guess he couldn't stand being wrong multiple times.
UCR998@reddit
So you agree that it’s not 8k like YOU said? Lol and you then prove yourself wrong? Hell of a way to show someone up lmao
patlaska@reddit
They're 9-12k depending on size and accessories...
UCR998@reddit
No they aren’t as of right this second a tundra base model does not even start at 9. The v2 max base price without installation, tax or anything else 10,950 If you have a tundra that’s an auto 500$ add. Then you have to have it delivered and installed which adds even more so no “they are not 9-12k “ what the real answer is the smallest base model of gfc is 8700 if you only want it without anything at all. Had you said that yes you would be accurate .
My favorite part is saying 12k like that’s some kind of justification of it being cheap. Yeah dude for the price of most people’s full up truck build or a full vacation to Japan you too can have a bed cap and tent . Shit you could get a ARE bed cap and a large RTT from ikamper for 8 installed .
patlaska@reddit
Are you dumb or just stupid lol. $8700
UCR998@reddit
Lmaooooo calling someone stupid then showing how you can’t read is a really rough look
Quote which means I said that (since I know you struggle with reading ) “the smallest base model of a gfc is 8700 “ which you as the brilliant individual you are confirmed by taking a picture of it and showing that right 👏👏 thanks for proving me right lmao
So I guess this is where I ask are you dumb or just stupid ?
patlaska@reddit
You make general statement, someone says "thats not right" then you go "nooo I meant this specific situation! You're wrong!". You gotta realize you sound stupid
UCR998@reddit
Lmao brother I really hope you purchase some hooked on phonics you can’t read for shit . I said specifically what model I talked about and the price you jumped in like an idiot to try and be right and keep looking like an ass . You need reading comprehension help or to get back in highschool . 😭😭 maybe if you spent less on a gfc you would be able to read but I’ll tell you what send me your address and I’ll hook you up! 😂
noname87scr@reddit
They start around $9k depending on vehicle.
kanyesrevenge@reddit
Never have overlanded before or slept in a RTT, dropped the money on a Tune M1L to do it right. I know I’ll enjoy it, I take delivery next month!
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Nice. I hope it works for you. The problem is even if I get the Lone Peak tomorrow I have to wait like two months :-/
kanyesrevenge@reddit
That is true. I ordered mine March 2nd and won’t have it installed until May 20th. I would check marketplace for any used pop-ups near you
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
There's a Super Pacific X1 for like $3k less than used but it's already MORE money than the Lone Peak. And I think I like the Lone Peak more ...
The problem is I can get the Super Pacific right now :-/
kanyesrevenge@reddit
You can’t go wrong with any of them, they all have pros and cons. Definitely do some research and figure out what you really want; I went with the M1L because I felt a wedge would be more cramped
Ozatopcascades@reddit
It's a game changer.
SoundofPsithurism@reddit
The moonlander is better than all of them.
xCaldazar@reddit
I got the tune M1. It's been great, feels like a mini house. Been able to go camping so much more often and on a whim. I went from a softopper sleeping platform to pop up camper. So I skipped the RTT option completely, and happy that I did.
https://i.imgur.com/VmkzlFd.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/zfPGJUe.jpeg
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Yeah the M1 is definitely a house.
I just want something lightweight though... It's a hard decision though because you can't really 'test' these out
xCaldazar@reddit
They have the smaller M1L now. Like others said, check out an overland expo or swap if possible
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Nice. I didn't see the M1L. Unfortunately, I don't have a decent overland expo near me any time soon.
confusedseas@reddit
Go to a dealer or even better Overland Expo and climb around in them. They all have their quirks. You shouldn’t drop that kind of money sight unseen, even if the manufacturer has the most amazing reputation. The style of the sleep floor on struts is really nice, much better than moving panels around. One thing I notice as a tall dude is that it’s actually kinda awkward to get up to the tailgate and then duck into the camper. If a person has any sort of mobility issues this might be a deal breaker.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
That's a fair point. I broke a couple ribs about 6 months ago and I couldn't move at all.
TheGuyUrRespondingTo@reddit
I had a Harker EDC that resolves that issue, granted with a bit of extra setup/teardown. It was basically just a NYC apartment on wheels, miss the hell out of that thing but life priorities changed.
Supersix15@reddit
^^^^ this go to an expo and research
Topo toppers are also in kinda the same price area and have maybe a bit more room.
estunum@reddit
I never considered a RTT for the reasons you mention. I have a OVRLND pop up, and being able to stand, or change standing up is something I wouldn’t be able to go back from.
Arch-53@reddit
Complete game changer and I would never go back to a standard rtt on a rack. If you're in Florida you're more than welcome to hit me up and check out my GFC
captainlvsac@reddit
I had the roof cut off my 80, and a wedge camper installed (campteq) and it cost a similar price to a high end truck topper. It is an absolute game changer.
In my case, it's also much lighter and lower than a RTT setup, which is a huge bonus. being able to stand up, change, cook, do dishes or even just chill is such a game changer.
buddylamp9@reddit
I love my Lone Peak. If the weather turns shitty, climbing into the rtt was not fun for me.
patlaska@reddit
My GFC has been a game changer for me. Being able to stand up in the bed and combine those spaces is incredible. I've been stuck in the truck a few times during storms and its nice being able to move around a bit. And, as a topper alone, its a really great product. Love being able to open all 3 sides
ANeonBlueDecember@reddit
When I drove home with my SuperPacific after install I camped on the way home. I was eating fast food along the way so the only thing I had in the back with me was a single duffle bag and a sleeping bag. It felt incredibly spacious, especially in living room mode.
Having owned it a about a year and having spent about 90 nights in it… It's nice really nice, but not necessarily the game changer it felt like on that first night. I have a permanently mounted 12v fridge in the back and that really cuts down on the standing room. For that reason alone I almost never use the living room mode. That said I have used it to escape the wind and change clothes. It's nice to have the option.
Obviously your use case will vary.
That said, I still love my SuperPacific and it was absolutely the right choice for me. The biggest feature for me ended being able to keep my camp setup ready to go all the time for more impromptu trips.
USCAVsuperduperhooah@reddit
Going against the grain here to say NO. Absolutely not a game changer. It’s a small luxury. I had a GFC, and while it’s nice - at the end of the day it’s just a truck topper + tent integrated together. Standing up is fine, and maybe it would have been more viable in a larger truck bed but it my 5’ Tacoma bed standing up meant I was always standing on top of my gear. Wasn’t much room at all to stand when sleeping with another person.
I can’t personally the $8k-$15k difference between a ground tent and a wedge camper. And if I was in a situation where I could, I think I’d rather put that money toward a full hard sided camper like a Scout Kenai.
211logos@reddit
I dunno if standing up is a game changer for you, but it sure was for the human race. Once we got off all fours onto two, standing erect, everything changed. Got to where we invented campers, and wheezy old sayings like "game changer." :)
ZxDrawrDxZ@reddit
Went from a very nice ikamper to a chinese hard-walled popup canopy camper.
Game changer. Wind no longer bothers me, I feel *much* safer and secure, have about 2x the sleeping space (though lack headroom), and I can lock everything safely inside the canopy when I'm out and about for the day.
Would have loved to keep it domestic but the price different was impossible to ignore. Payed nearly 1/4 what a north american vendor was asking for what visually appears to be the exact same product, minus logos and branding.
SurfPine@reddit
It is not the exact same product. The Hiatus Camper is fully insulated, top and bottom which is important to me but I understand not necessarily important to everyone.
ZxDrawrDxZ@reddit
Mine is fully insulated up top, the bottom no. I'm sure I can do something to insulate the bottom if i wanted to myself for a few hundred. I priced out a Hiatus, nearly 19k all said and done for my 6' 4" bed truck, frankly absurd.
SurfPine@reddit
The price is, without a doubt, the biggest drawback on the Hiatus Campers. I struggled with the pricing but ultimately went forward for more reasons than just the lower portion being fully insulated. The Hiatus Campers are all custom made in northern WA so you get it per your specific order. It is just not close to the same customizing available via the Qian. The Hiatus is fully assembled, welded together, so it doesn't come in pieces to be assembled. There is also local support for the camper where I understand Hiatus is very good with customer support. Hiatus have been very responsive with me during the process and yes, I haven't received my camper yet, it is getting very close to mine being complete for install.
Finally, I honestly do not understand how Qian is legally importing into the US as Hiatus holds patent rights for the unique topper design they came up with. But, that is another case of a Chinese company ripping off an original product and getting away with it. And no, the Hiatus is not made in China and imported in, I've seen people make general statements about all topper/popup campers are such but that simply isn't true for the Hiatus topper.
ub400@reddit
any way to indicate which one you bought?
ZxDrawrDxZ@reddit
Went with Qian Campers.
mak48@reddit
Would like to hear what brand
SignFront@reddit
Link?
bcameron1231@reddit
I went from an RTT to a Project M. It's a night and day difference in overall experience. Climbing up and down stinks when it's raining. Always having access to my gear when I'm in bed is nice too.
stomper4x4@reddit
You answered your own question. Yes, it'll fit your criteria much better. You'll be more happy.
ThatFineChemistry@reddit
I have an iKamper RTT and feel similar to the way you describe, just a little tight sometimes. It’s nice, but I felt restless in it sometimes.
I ended up finding an inflatable camper from a company called ThAirCamper, and it has been really fun to use. It’s made out of the material that inflatable paddle boards are made of.
I’m going to eventually do an Alu-Cab buildout, but the inflatable has been a surprising solution to feeling cramped.
SignificantOption349@reddit
I almost bought a RTT off marketplace but once we got it on and the guy couldn’t find the right mounting hardware, I thought about it and realised I was gonna hate it. We’re used to truck bed camping but you’re right, it’s like a coffin. We used a flated deck bed for a couple years and although it was comfy and provided some space laterally, it was a claustrophobic feeling.
I went and got a GFC style camper and so far I love it!
I’m planning to make a post once I’ve used it for a longer trip, but I went with Wanderfox. I’ve see some kinda hate on them, but they’re local to me, and I had a topper from them before this that was decent. Went out on a limb and chose to give it a go! It does also have a nice roomy tent up top, because the front of the wedge has a pop up window, which I wasn’t finding elsewhere.
The tent seems like a good quality so far. The topper is aluminum so it’s not like a steel construction, but overall I’m happy with my purchase. If you want a fully official one that’s ready to go with insulation and stuff then I think you’re just gonna have to pay more. I like doing a little work on my stuff though and will probably put some insulate in this thing before fall.
I think with install I was at about $6500, so not as bad as some, but definitely not cheap either.
You really should go to a show like others said though. I think you’d like it more than the RTT or bed camping tbh. For me, I don’t have a garage to hoist a tent off inside of, so that was a no go. If it’s on there for the long run I’d rather just have a pass through and option to open it up and have a nice vaulted roof over my head. I’ll get some camper jacks this year and build a big box on wheels as well and if I need to take it off it’ll at least be doable.
DepartmentNatural@reddit
I just seen a super pacific used for $6k that was pending like in 5 minutes for very good reason. I absolutely love my super pacific and will never go back
Love_Rocket_650@reddit
Absolute game changer, I have a Lone Peak, and being able to push the bed platform out of the way makes it incredibly liveable, especially during ski season or bad weather. Two people can comfortably hand out and cook inside without having to hunch over / curl up. If you are on the Colorado front range I would be happy to show it to you.
noname87scr@reddit
I’ve owned an iKamper Skycamp mini 2.0, and 2 different FSR Aspen variants across my 2 trucks. I now have a GFC on the back of my Tacoma and won’t go back to a RTT unless a vehicle wouldn’t allow it like an SUV.
The biggest thing I like about the camper is if it’s rainy or windy/cold, you can move the bed floor out of the way and you have your entire truck bed to hang out in while you’re out of the elements. No worry of being cramped in a tent with a spouse/and or dogs. Also can open the doors and cook in the bed as well if the weather isn’t great.
EmergencyFancy494@reddit
I haven't had a camper but I do have a rtt and awning room, and quick setup gazelle t4 tent and my arb awning was definitely the most comfortable because you can stand up is was big and spacious and it was doable to setup by yourself but way easier if you had someone's help, my rtt I agree getting ready suck but it's fast to setup and easy solo not bad for sleeping with one other person but would be better solo, gazelle t4 easy setup, you can kind of stand up sleep more people 3 very comfortable 4 is tight but manageable, I have thought about getting a camper trailer since there is me the wife and 2 boys for family vacations tho.
pmsnow@reddit
You can pry my Lone Peak from my cold dead hands. It has made camping faster, more convenient, and way more comfortable. The setup/teardown is MAYBE 2 minutes. You can stand up even when the bed is down (about 3' of pass through space) or lift the bed and be able to walk around in the entire truck bed.
ceazzzzz@reddit
At over 50yrs old, a game changer.
I couldn’t do the sleeping on the ground anymore, and wasn’t going to do a ladder thing.
It was a huge investment, but realized 100% worth every dollar after my first multi night trip.
Yes… the standing up and full reach stretch on the first morning still in my underwear was a heavenly experience.
desertSkateRatt@reddit
I have several friends who have GFC and Loan Peaks and they will without a doubt, never go back to regular RTTs after having their campers.
I feel like I will upgrade to one of them but it will be a while for the same financial reasons 😅
IDyeti@reddit
Stupid expense, game changer for sure.
CalifOregonia@reddit
Transitioned from an RTT to a truck top pop up camper a few years ago and would never go back for all reasons that you mentioned. Sometimes you can find deals on used ones.
seanocono22@reddit
If Super Pacific or GFC made a camper for my truck, I would buy it in a heartbeat.