What do you unexpectedly dislike about your topper?

GENERAL DISCUSSION
26

@jgates Actually…nothing. I picked up my V2 in March and have slept in it @ 18x since. I’m in CO and haven’t tested in the snow yet but plenty of high winds and rain. I love it.

For me personally the access is perfect both via the bed and with the ladder. I prefer the bed as I have a “half” flight deck and it lets me sit, get prepped and stand up with head room to then get situated up top.

When I’m with my wife or kids it’s simply, “you go first.”

We typically set up the ladder (and I just got the mantis claw which is AWESOME) for middle of the night relief if we’ve been poppin’ tops.

I have a Tacoma and read about the “rain dripping into your open crew cab door” and was like, big deal. So while I have experienced this and it sucks, I knew going in so can’t consider it “unexpected.” I think I’ll invest in the gutters :slight_smile:

I have been very pleased with the product. No regrets and it has allowed me to quickly and efficiently adventure more :slight_smile:

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27

Thanks, the ability to “quickly and efficiently adventure more” is what keeps bringing me back to the camper, but I’m leaning more towards the RTT or Superlite just so I have the flexibility to have a chaser trailer with the tent on that when I want. But having this perspective, and embracing the ladder vs bed seems like good plan. In a gladiator, I noticed that my non-lifted truck still has a higher tailgate to climb up onto than the Tacoma w/ a 2" lift I saw at the GFC booth at Expo Rocky Mtn West… so maybe it’s a bit more tedious. I have a full drawer setup I built but it was created with the intent of pulling drawers out to make a bed… if I go with the camper then i suppose it’d be worth a redesign.

I need to start plotting finding camping spots. I suppose it deserves another thread (or just me searching) to see how people are finding their camping spots and how spontaneous it is. Method to that madness would likely get me camping more, even with my current setup.

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28

Getting inside through a panel is the best and easiest of ways. I was very critical of GFC right out of the gate because of a few issues I had with my canopy. Now with that said, I was never a big camper and I still fit it because I liked the idea. Now I camp a lot during the fall/winter and early spring months. Because there are no people outside then and camping has become a great Bobbie for my lady and I. Also 3 pups.

29

Hands down the WORST unexpected thing is the condensation. I had a pretty good idea that there would be some as all tents do but this is a new level. We get woken up by drips raining down from the honeycomb ceiling… I am excited to try and solve this problem and have read through some suggestions but will ideally post my “solution” when done this winter. This is a small thing that makes a BIG difference in a camping experience when you are in the rig for more than a night or 2. Besides this and some water intrusion while driving is been pretty darn cool of a “camper” rig that still drives like a truck with a topper on it.

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30

I’ve had my camper for my F150 for about 6 months now and I use is a lot for fishing and hunting here in MT. What I’ve discovered this hunting season is the difficulty getting in and out (I’m 6’0" and past 50yr) plus the excessive dust. The dust is annoying when I’m trying to live in it for extended amount of time in the mountains. I think its a great product but it has it’s specific purpose if you live in the southern states near the beach or desert. In the Rockies and as cold as it gets in the winter here I’m starting to look into a 4 season slide-in.
Make sure you have someone who can build your interior cabinets to make it more convenient and additional wiring because you’ll find out quickly organization and other things like lighting would be nice. Also, get a ladder to make it easier to access the bed from the outside. Good luck.

31

I’ve had my camper for two weeks, and it has been a trying process to get the unit (check out my story and build here 2014 Ram Big Horn - Build out as I wait)

The previous poster is correct, it has its specific purpose and you have to be prepared for that. I’m a tinkerer and handy in woodwork (albeit novice), but an expert at electronics and wiring. If you’re looking for a turnkey solution this is not for you.

Earlier this week I spoke with GFC, surprisingly considering their customer service is terrible at best, and they are firm that this unit is NOT meant to be waterproof/dustproof. To achieve that you need to make alterations. This was explained to me in the sense that every customer has different expectations. Which actually makes sense. Now…some people have had great experiences with GFC and their customer service, I’ve just been one of the unfortunate ones. Also, a bit of an exception since I had to get my unit shipped to Canada. Another issue I have with this product is that it is clearly built for GFC, not the customer. Do searches on here and you will find a great deal of customers wanting window options, ventilation options, color options…all of which GFC will state don’t fit “their” vision or production abilities. But the last time I checked, I bought this unit for me and if I want a window on the side regardless of weight and cost…let me choose.

Now from the 4 seasons side, I SPECIFICALLY bought this unit for a winter base camp ski touring and doing professional avalanche training. This unit is light, and enables me to still pull my sled trailer into places I probably shouldn’t go (don’t ask me how I became an expert on truck chains) That being said, I held no expectation that this was going to be a posh deluxe accommodation. But…it is hands down a better setup than a ground tent or truck canopy camping. For this reason I’m stoked on my setup.

I’m still baffled why people choose to use ‘Lil Buddies’ and then complain about condensation; but to each their own. Get a diesel heater and be done with it. Not only does it keep things warm, it’s a dry heat that can help dry gear. But again, if you’re not mechanically inclined than a buddy heater may be better.

At the end of the day, if you’re thinking about one of these units, do your research. They’re all a gamble and all have their pro’s and cons. I think I saw in another post that the OP has actually decided to go topper/RTT combo…but this is an entertaining exercise for those that own one. I know for myself I had a spreadsheet and their was a great deal of debate over which company to go with. I chose GFC because of this forum, the ability to purchase build spots, and they were willing to sell to Canadian customers.

AT overland didn’t even grace me with a response, Super Pacific said unless I could come down and and get the unit they would not take my order (COVID has stopped that), and the wife put a stop on the $24000CAD price tag on a 4wc Hawk shell to which I was literally about to sign the order form and pay the deposit, and the Project-M has this stupid shelf around the sides which was annoying to me.

I am definitely not a GFC fanboy, as you can see since I removed my branding, but I will continue to use this unit and share my experience to anyone that is interested. In the end, it looks F-ING badass!

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32

While I’ve only had my GFC for about three weeks now and am slowly building it out to fit my needs… I don’t have much, if any concerns or unexpected issues but I will say this, @GFC, get your shit together when it comes to customer service. You do a great job of riding the Hype machine but when its time to follow through, its almost as if you’re pushing vaporware. As someone who’s heavily involved in the business world, that model is not sustainable at all and will be your downfall eventually and thats something I do not want to see happen at all.

Only real complaints I have is that I have literally brand new locks and they’re impossible to open on the rear so unfortunately, I’ve resorted to opening the side panel and popping the latches on the rear panel just to open them because they will not unlock, no matter what. This is concerning because the side panels are getting harder and harder to unlock now and eventually, none of them are going to be usable at all

@GFC, listen to your existing customers instead of pushing products onto prospective customers so hard, this’ll pay off dividends in the long run as word of mouth marketing and support is exponentially more long lasting than a slick website. you mentioned in a video somewhere that you’ve somewhat recently brought on 40 employees… Are any of them front of house? if not, seriously consider investing in that, or you’ll probably end up with an entire community with an awesome product yet ready to chase you with pitchforks.

TL:DR: Great product, I love it and would buy another one in a heartbeat but customer service and the locks are shitty and needs to be addressed ASAP

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33

I wanted to type up a quick response, I received a phone call and an email from Calder at GFC Customer Service and the latches are being taken care of.

I appreciate the outreach and am already looking forward to making an awesome product that much better where everything is working the way it should be.

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34

Guess I’ll chime in here.

My biggest surprise and disappointment after ordering was how uncomfortable the mattress is for me. I realize it works for others but for my taste it’s hard as a rock. I thought with this type of setup I’d get a pretty nice comfy mattress. I have a mattress topper now sitting on top of the panels. I really do not like that I’ve given up the flexibility to easily move the panels around.

The hinge failures was the the only other thing for me. My camper is in the low 420s. Luckily, I never had a failure. I basically never used the side doors. I was disappointed that there was never any room in the PITs for proactive replacements but I get it. However, I was recently able to get my hinges replaced at a shop here in Denver. The shop did a great job and was fully covered by GFC.

My camper so far has had virtually no issues, so take this with a grain of salt, but customer support has always been great for me. Prompt and courteous responses, and being able to get the hinges replaced locally was awesome.

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35

Yah, as is typically the case, I’m back and forth. I do like the idea of being able to retire into a standing place (the truck bed) if the weather gets inclement. So… I’m still trying to figure out the right option. (I’m also looking at the TopperEZ lift which offers the same joy of the GFC… my truck can remain a truck.)

I appreciate seeing some proper frustrations folks had. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to use my Megamat Duo without losing the standing joy. Right now I’m also considering the Harder EDC which lifts the bed and makes the whole thing very standable. I just want me some cabana mode as well.

36

The cabana mode is definitely cool. Makes for hanging out in inclement weather much less claustrophobic.

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Only complaint is the locks, but they are of similar quality as the rest of the industry so that is a wash. I guess my expectations were realistic, if you don’t have ventilation you have condensation, if you are in a rain storm water will find a way in, it won’t keep you toasty on a freezing night and doesn’t provide a built-in air conditioning when it is hot. Keeps bugs out dang good. It’s a well thought out and well exicuted tent on topper, that’s all it is. The bed firmness is great for me but I’ve slept in the back of a pickup with a army surplus wool blanket. I’ve got maybe 50-60 nights in it and right now about 1/2 to 1 week from home, depends on my attitude it might take longer, I’m retired. This thread is about unexpected dislikes, I have none. Customer service has been outstanding for me. It’s definitely not for everyone but it fits me just fine. My GFC is on a Jeep truck and couldn’t imagine anything better right now. It’s not for everyone, there’s water, dust, and everything else that goes with enjoying the outdoors.

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38

@jgates - I’ve had good luck with two 3/4 length backpacking air mattresses (The Nemo Short Mummy has been my favorite). These allow each person to tune the squish to their liking, but they also allow access to the square panels and they stow easily up front on the fixed floor when you have the floor panels removed. You don’t really notice the shortness of the pad as it still spans all the pressure spots (shoulders and hips). Might not be the solution for everyone but for folks who want to tune their mattress softness and also use the transform-a-floor, this has worked well for me.

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40

After having my camper for just over a week, and spending just as many nights in it, I truly am happy with it.

Going in I knew things like the mattress, water/dust intrusion, and locks would all be “issues”. Personally I hate the mattress (lingering spine injury), but we planned accordingly and the MegaMat is an outstanding sub. I waterproofed the bed and bedside rails as best I could. Up top in the tent, the condensation has been… well… like sleeping in a tent. Keep the small forward windows open and things will be dry by the time you’re done cooking breakfast.

Spending 4 days in southern Utah came with its fair share of dust, but none if it was an issue inside the camper. However, one thing that has been fairly unexpected is how loud the hinges are when filled with dust/dirt/grime. Since the first dirt road, each panel hinge makes a grinding noise when opened. Unsure on future impact there, but time will tell.

Customer service, lead times, and delays aside, for what the camper is (truck topper with a RTT on top?) GFC has designed and built an extremely functional product. To those looking for more “full time luxury” I would look elsewhere :man_shrugging: Everyone seems to have a take on the wedge style truck topper/camper now. I personally like what some of the others have been doing, but for the price, utility, and ruggedness of the GFC, you’d be hard pressed to find a better option.

** edit

I will say, I did not like the $175 install fee when I went to pick up the camper. I’m local, they had a no-show and I went in earlier to help them out (obviously I was stoked to get it a couple hours early). But if I wasn’t local, and had to drive who knows how far, I’d be even more upset about it. It’s not a big deal, I understand it as the install guys are knowledgeable and do this all the time. But, if I’m making the trip and spending $8K + for a camper, I would not usually expect yet another $175…

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@owennoll Can you let me know what Denver shop performed the hinge replacement? I’d like to plan ahead and have this jotted down should the time come. I’m also in Denver, just south of Glendale. Thx.

42

I knew about the condensation. So my 2 gripes:

-I’m getting some water intrusion in heavy rain at the little gaps found in the lower corners where tent meets frame. not sure what the best fix for these gaps is

-it’d be awesome if there were a power-lock/unlock module for the side doors. i know it’d add complexity, but I’d love that. don’t see anything in southco catalog that’ll bolt in.

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45

Did you ever do a solution for the roof fan? Curious if you ordered a Baroud and installed. I emailed him asking if the solution would work on the GFC roof and got gibberish in the form of a question back so unsure of that company now.

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I did not and ended up selling my GFC.

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Hi Dignon! We just installed a diesel heater and we definitely think it does great things for drying things out in there, however, we still get a few icicles where the condensation drips down to the wedge. Have you ever tried adding felt pads to the roof to absorb some of the excess moisture? You seem to be the most knowledgeable person on this site! I’ve looked through threads, but figured I’d just go to the source :slightly_smiling_face:

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48

That’s very kind of you to say. :blush: what I do is have a tea towel and I just give it a quick wipe in the morning. If it’s frozen at the front of the wedge I don’t worry too much about it. When I get back from my adventure I find a place to pull the truck in and open it up to let it all dry if I can.

Make sure you keep the front wedge windows open a bit. I find that helps vent the moisture as well. Are you using a cheap fan? I also have that set up hanging from a clothes line in the top of the wedge.

Cheers,
Wes

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