Why a camper? (fiberglass shell topper, that is)

Yeah, they have since increased their prices (I believe base level camper is $8kish) and as of last May, it was a 14 month wait.

 

Gotta pay to play. I waited over a year. Well worth it.
also gfc is truly made In America. Feels good spending money knowing full well I am supporting 50 American families who all make an awesome living wage. Minimum wage at gfc is 25$ an hour.
As compared to say a shitty smittybuilt rtt and Chinese bedrack.
Put your money where your mouth is.

 

That is not a priority to me at all. I spend out of self-interest, and my self-interest is more concerned with having a few extra thousand to put back into the market when I'm still getting 90% of the functionality of GFC. Not to mention, I think GFC is literally one of the ugliest set ups out there and while I do believe in function over aesthetics, I didn't pay $34k on my dream truck just to make it ugly.

 

I had mine installed by the dealer and had zero leaks in almost 2 years now. It’s like everything else, complaints get posted far more than praises. And than there’s some people who simply repeat what they’ve heard, without any firsthand experience.

I think the RTTs look cool and all... I’m sure they work great for what they’re designed to do, but for me, a cap just makes sense. If you’re spending more than a single night somewhere, you can just close it up and go for a day trip in the truck without breaking down your RTT. Otherwise, it’s also great for dry and secure storage for all sorts of stuff while out and about. Tools, supplies...

 

GFC seems to have a lot of QC issues. There are plenty of other companies out there making similar products with less lead time and less controversy. People are already reporting that GFC V2 is shaking itself to pieces on forestry roads and the new latches are failing. For that kind of money it's kind of unacceptable.

Not sure why you're getting so worked up about Made in USA. Most of the canopies, bedracks, and RTT's people seem to run around here are also Made in USA.

 

https://topperezlift.com/index.php/product/the-nomad-camper-package/

 

Maybe I’m in the minority but I’ve never been in my ground tent and thought that a RTT or sleeping in a shell would make the experience $1000-2000 better. But I also spent a fair amount of time backpacking and usually travel pretty light compared to the rest of the overlanding community. Plus I use the truck all week long for work in heavy construction so it would mean taking the tent on/off every time.

If I lived out west where the ground is rocky and home to nasty critters I would maybe feel different.

 

I came from a 4Runner, so having additional secure storage was the rationale for me. It's not as watertight as the cargo area of an SUV, but only because I haven't put in the effort yet. It still offers me more flexibility as well. For instance, I can throw a deer in the back of the truck with the cap on and slide my bow case right beside it. I can then hose down the bed, let it dry out, and throw luggage back there to go on a trip the next weekend, locking the cap so that everything's secure.

This is something I wish I had known myself. Or rather, wish I had put more effort into up front. I saw the gaps at the front of the bed, I know there are holes drilled into the bed to drain water, so putting a little additional effort into sealing those would have probably made me more satisfied, but I still don't have any regrets. Since installing my cap, I have had ingress from the front, and some slight (at worst) leaks from the bed rails. I feel like I'll be happy once I finally pick up some butyl tape and apply it to the front of the bed. Slight drips I can live with for my purposes.

 

do you have a kid/wife/dog? Those plus gear and you need a topper

I was in Moab on a mtb trip when it poured rain. Everyone was hating life except for me and my wife relaxing in the dry rtt

 

I have a Tonneau cover now and just placed an order for snugtop rebel 2 weeks ago. I was hesitant to get the camper shell as well because I don't want to lose the open bed function. Over the past 1.5 years owning this truck I only use the bed to carry tall items twice but I have issues not having enough room under the tonneau cover every time we go camping or road trip with the family. So decided to get the camper shell.

 

I use my truck for work and needed a dry secure place to store stuff. It also works well to store normal everyday things as well. Mine has aluminum inserts instead of windows and has Folding T handle locks so it actually is somewhat secure. The best thing about not having windows is never having to deal with car headlights at night. It's nice. Most obviously prefer windows, it's all what you are used to I guess.

Nothing bad unless you haul around tall stuff a lot I guess. I have a cargo and utility trailer that haul taller stuff easier and better than a pickup anyways. I personally doubt I would ever own a truck without one.

 

Any more details on the boot?

This is our setup. No leaks, lots of room. It is mostly a dedicated camping rig these days though.

 

What model is that? I'm not finding it on their site

 

Depends on your needs I guess. For me, I’m able to mount my RTT or other stuff on top of the Diamondback if it’s too big to fit under but usually I just remove it. Doesn’t even take 3 mins and you have full access again.

 

Look at all the crap you can keep safe and dry.

 

And security that either a Diamondback or shell provide that a soft topper doesn’t.

 

It's an ARE contractor canopy. I added windows myself because I didn't like the ARE options.

 

For me it was a fb impusle buy. I guess I have two options which is adding on the RTT or just unload it and and get a cab.

 

I bought my truck with the shell already on there, but I do prefer having it on almost all the time as I just like the look of it. Before I moved into the new house I had a much taller garage where I built a pulley system so I could just unbolt the shell and lift it off the truck myself and it just hung from the ceiling. Made for a great storage area for all my camping things while I had the shell on the truck as well.

Does have some cons when trying to move big things, or myself trying to get in the back being a giant I end up in some awkward positions.

I did use some clear silicone around the edges at the back of the cab and that seems to have helped reducing any water getting inside. I have really been contemplating selling it to get a bed rack and a roof top tent, but it seems shells are a bit hard to sell based on my looking around.

 

I can relate. I have a softtop I couldn't get rid off. It's sitting on top of one of the flat bed trailer in my backyard and it's been blowing around with the heavy windstorms we usually get.