This is the bed downstairs- it’s a 3" double size pad turned sideways. I was going to cut to size…becauee this is not tidy and makes me nuts…but the parts folded up against the walls actually cover the aluminum extrusions that stick out where the GFC secures to the bed. My kids rough house a ton and so the padding is awesome protection- my youngest already slammed down onto it and probably would have had stitches without the pad…so the untidy set up stays
Edit: if you zoom in you can see our wood “vent panel” on the right
We just picked up our GFC on Sunday. We’ve got a 14mo old so we want everyone’s tips and tricks. Kid was a champion on our long weekend rally out to Montana and back!!
Another important and easy mod is adding some rubber stripping to the edges of the modular floor panels, so when they are set aside and kids are in bed bouncing around they don’t hurt their heads (as bad). Check out this thread for details:
Camper, tent, house, etc…it is my toddler’s domain. She’s bouncing off the walls in our normal tent most of the time, but loves camping. We definitely had the conversation with my daughter about not opening the doors on the camper since we’ll be 8’+ in the above the ground. Looking forward to our first family trip in the camper over Thanksgiving weekend.
The camper has been such a sanity saver for us- both because we can be spontaneous again, and also that we can separate the kids (one upstairs one downstairs) when they get too crazy at bedtime. We did a ton of tent camping before the GFC and it was exhausting and stressful to find a good tent site, set-up, eat, and get them to settle down late. Hoping next year they are slightly more sane and can share the sleeping space downstairs
Next mod will be a RigD swing out kitchen and I think thats going to save even more set up time.
My other camping tip, especially for being spontaneous, is backpacking food. We keep a stash of Mountain House and kid non perishable food in the rig so we can go without having to think much about meals.
Hope I’m not over posting on this thread. I’ve been meaning to document our family build so it’s coming out here, lol. We’ve been campers together for 16 years and with kids, before the GFC, felt like we were losing the joy of our favorite activity and it was frankly pretty depressing. Getting the GFC has been a game changer in our lives and mental health. I’m stoked to share anything that will make it easier for other families to get out.
@TearingOut55, this sounds very familiar to the situation my wife and I found ourselves in. While we only have one child, we’re really looking forward to getting out even more and enjoying the spontaneity once again in camping whenever and wherever we can.
Thanks for sharing this - it is quite inspiring. I have come to find that my wife is the primary inhibitor to camping fun while my one year-old daughter loves it
Added some reflective utility cord zipper pulls to all zippers, and plan to utilize locking carabiners on the mesh doors to make it a little tougher for our toddler to open them. Thanks for the idea!
A little off topic but when camping with kids wouldn’t a Van or tent trailer be more adequate? Seems like most people with kids camp in places a tent trailer can go so why cramp everyone in the back of a taco? Used tent trailers are more affordable too. Vans can get pretty pricey but you have way more room than the gfc.
Took the 11 month old out and camped in lower temperatures (40-42 degrees). We were worried about his sleeping temperatures so we brought the propane heater and it ended up being about almost too hot at 70 degrees in the truck bed. The experience is slightly stressful with worrying about ventilation, temperatures, etc. my takeaway was a remote thermometer to see what the temp was in his bed for next time.
We camp way out 4x4 roads with kids- the GFC is the only way to sleep 4 without a tent and not be limited by a trailer or van setup in regards to rough roads. Plus a van or trailer are more expensive…
Basically the gfc has allowed us to keep camping way out there, and not be limited to hard to find tent spots up in the rockies.
Same here. The GFC = one less sprinter/van. No interest in a trailer either. We went the direction of the GFC because we want simple and didn’t want to be burdened with extra stuff. That and we get out back of beyond. Where a van and trailer wouldn’t be able to go.
We find it’s easiest to keep our youngest (20mo) warm up top between both adults. If that doesn’t work for you guys, then 2 layers of fleece jammies, a sleep sack on top of that, and ski mittens and a hat should be fine in the low 40s.
Good to hear you use your 4x4 to get out where others can’t. I enjoy doing the same. Most of my friends with kids either have 4x4 sprinters or trailers. I think it’s really cool you’re showing your kids a part of life many don’t see.
100% agree with this, although still do love the tent camping spots. Was very happy to be 7’ in the air over the weekend as we heard a lot of coyote calls near us!
