Yeah mine bowed even before I installed the headliner. When I posted pics/video it sounds like this isn’t super uncommon and maybe isn’t a huge issue since the material is waterproof. To check you can just take a piece of paper or playing card and run it along the surface where the gasket seals against. At the corners the gasket makes contact but in the middle you would be able to slide it freely. You probably don’t have this issue since mine is obvious enough to see the gap visually. I can actually see the actuator support bracket through the gap when my tent is closed.
1 Like
Little late to this party but as someone who’s also owned a V2 GFC and currently have an X1, here’s some more input for ya.
While the Max isn’t quite out yet, I’d HIGHLY recommend checking both out in person if possible. SP has a map where you can see if there’s an owner nearby to meet up with. While it isn’t a Max, you can see a comparison HERE of the V2 vs X1 and get a pretty good idea of what all an X1 has to offer compared to the GFC Max video.
All that said, while they are similar they are also different from each other. GFC max is a minimal camper that provides some much requested luxuries where-as the SP is more of a robust modular camper with tons of extra accessories. Personally, I’d torn between the two if I had to start again. On one hand I love the minimalist design that GFC has but there are so many things about the X1 that would be hard to give up.
Below are some big key differences I noticed when switching from GFC to SP
- 1 latch per door
- No cross braces
- Integrated wire channels for wire management
- 100” of usable sleeping area
- Rain “gutters” around door openings to prevent water entry when open
- Thicker, more robust tent material with full zip windows, awning pole holes and 3 adjustable vents
- Hybrid foam/air mattress vs foam GFC
- Standard sized extrusion so no need to buy expensive proprietary Tnuts for exterior/interior mounting (honestly huge pro for SP)
- Overall weight is more than GFC (max isn’t much less now)
- As mentioned before, GFC is less.
Overall, both are great campers and can’t really go wrong with either. I bought both campers used so no sponsorships or affiliation with either. Just a dude that likes to camp.
Feel free to ask any questions about either looking forward to seeing what u choose!! 
5 Likes
Well said. As much as I wanted a X1. I got a very significant discount on a slightly used v2 Pro. Almost 7k price difference between the price of the GFC compared to the SP. I personally couldn’t justify the price of the X1 at that point. I really like the modularity of the GFC as a solo user.
1 Like
I’m in a similar situation. I’m looking to make a purchase, but haven’t made a decision yet. It’s a decent financial commitment.
I will reiterate what a few others have said. You want to see these things in person.
I went to one of the Overland Expo’s a few months ago to look at GFC, SuperPacific, and Dirtbox. I went into it thinking Dirtbox would be at the top of my list and GFC at the bottom. After seeing them in person, Dirtbox moved to the bottom of my list and GFC to the top.
There are some features of the others I wish GFC would integrate. But I think those features are relatively minor when looking at the overall package (for me at least).
1 Like
If I was in your same situation I’d do the same. Both campers are a huge financial decision and if you’re not worried about putting in some work to clean/mpunt, used campers can be a fantastic deal.
1 Like
well there are plenty of documentations and videos of GFCs taking a beating over high speed runs in the desert and taking up jumps and extreme vibrations. They are also found on purpose built trucks with 3”, 3.5”, 4”, 4.5” diameter shocks with suspension packages that cost north of $10k.
I’ve yet to see a SP being used for those extreme cases. And as I always say, if it can handle days of doing 90MPH+ in Baja or Mojave or whatever desert race courses, it can handle everything else you throw at it, including getting your truck sideways (also documented as well)
so, if offroading is a big part of your travel, GFC is the only correct answer. sure, there are few things that SP and other do better, but those things are more of a “lifestyle” items that don’t matter as much. You can get used to not have the convenience of such “lifestyle” bonus features, but at the end of the day, those features are useless if the camper’s broken.
5 Likes
I personally haven’t seen any broken SPs (please let me know if you have though) but I have seen broken GFCs on this forum with brackets or braces. Personally saw Josh Walkers (sick raptor) in person and he had multiple repairs/fixes/reinforcements from GFC to keep the camper in tack from his coming apart. Many of those pre runner raptors with GFCs from my knowledge have special reinforcements that the campers on day to day trucks do not have.
Pretty extreme usage though and I would beg to differ that 98% of all SP, GFC, AT Overland, Lone Peak, etc. push the camper to those extremes. With the higher chance of deflection and length of the GFC Max, I am curious how long term abuse holds up vs the V2/V2 Pro.
4 Likes
I have no doubt in my mind that SP would handle 90+ mph in the desert. The SP uses rivet construction like they do on airplanes so should easily sustain double that speed 
. Also you don’t have to worry about bolts coming loose on your cross braces, can ask @Dogandajeep all about that and he isn’t the only user that has had that problem. All that said, it was interesting to hear that the molle panel has to be used when running a cab side window on the GFC which is not the case for SP.
To be clear I know the SP can handle getting “sideways”, I’ve done it and the camper is totally fine. I’d like to mention I’ve got build number 73 built in 2021.
In the end, the SP could absolutely handle those desert prerun trips but that isn’t their main audience. The GFC was originally tailored to that prerunning style so of course you’ll see it more, it’s a selling point. I don’t believe bashing one company saying it isn’t possible because you’ve never seen it is the right way of going about it.
These are 2 great USA companies that are making campers for different folks, that’s the great part about it. We need to support USA made companies more than ever and realize some people have different lifestyles and that’s the great part about having different options.
Peace 
3 Likes
Triple follow up. I have had my fair share of problems with the GFC and I don’t jump it off road or thrash it around. I just camp in it and use it as a truck cap during the week. All that said GFC has done a really solid job at keeping me updated and on the trails with the tent and cap. Having seen the Lone peak in person, super pacific in person All three hit personalities of the same market.
The SP feels more fine tuned and crafted but it also costs more money. The GFC feels bare bones and solid but it has significantly less in the way of accessory support given the proprietary mounting tracks. The lone peak is the entry level option and you can tell when you’re hands on but it is also the only one to offer a slanted front door to help keep the rain from hitting your head at night.
All three make products folks would be happy to own.
I’ve stuck with the GFC because it does exactly what I need it to do even if it doesn’t do everything I want it to do and its the camper I have and there is no reason to swap out of something that works.
4 Likes
it is interesting to see Adam’s GFC going through those issues up in Alaska even though he doesn’t run it as hard as I or some other desert folks do. All we gotta do is to add more structure brace on the bed side and all is well. The construction of the camper itself didn’t give any of us any problems, no bolts backing out, no braces coming apart, none of those issues.
Also not saying SP can’t do high speed desert. All I am saying is I’ve yet to see anyone with a SP participating in those runs with documentation, which is understandable because aside from CJC and some others, who would just take their camper truck out and jump them for fun lol Which also lead me to say what I said and I will die on that hill until CJC goes buy an SP and put it on their trucks for another Baja or Johnson Valley run then see what happens.
well, i said what i said. GFC is stout, F the rest of them lol
Jerry from Bay Area Metal Fab was going to take over after Vagabond failed but I guess it didn’t work out and now he is making his own camper with hard sides. Looks like a pretty cool design and offers something different especially if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a wedge tent.
BAMF Rambler (Hard side full pop camper) | Tacoma World BAMF Rambler (Hard side full pop camper) | Tacoma World
1 Like
Hiatus Campers are hard wall, in Bellingham WA. https://hiatuscampers.com/ If I was willing to spend SP money, I’d just get Hiatus.
1 Like
Ive seen some of the CADs via IG stories and i do have to say they look awesome. Pretty cool design with the locks and doors. Hopefully they are able to get one to market because it would rad 
2 Likes
Am I a loon, or is anyone else considering cutting out the 10” of mattress foam at the wedge of their tent for the additional bedding storage space? the mattress would still be as tall as a king, and I certainly am not wedging my head that far into the bed space.
8 Likes
I have heard it said that “there are no solutions only tradeoffs”. The lack of a transforma floor would be a deal breaker for me.
I don’t run the mattress foam at all. I removed it last year and run 1 Hest mattress in the winter and two in the summer months. The foamy gives you that extra 12-16 inches youre looking for.
1 Like
Ive been very much considering doing it to ours as well! I need to do some measurements to be sure how much to cut off, but I really do wonder if we can get out full size pillows stuffed down into that space.
Not a loon, just big brain thinking.
5 Likes
I also thought about this. How do they stop the mattress from sliding into that area on the Max? Velcro?
Exactly, in the prototype that we took out, they had placed the headliner material onto the panel under the mattress, and used velcro to secure the mattress to it. I’m not sure if that is exactly how they will do it for the production models, but I’m sure it will be very similar in practice.
2 Likes