[chito frontier]

Fellow 4X Frontiers!,
For those of us who dream of the nice Utah or Baja Experience how much better can it get if we Forntier Owners could have this Pop Up Camper! The Go Fast Camper!
At 199lbs its lighter than my Carmpy Snugtop! As a Fontier Overlander I have expressed my desire and have spoken with Graeme McPherson with GFC. GFC requires a minimum of 5
committed frontier owners to start his production for our trucks. I believe a $500 refundable deposit puts you in the list. Currently they make only for the tacos, colorado and raptor. I am currently signed in so we need 4 more or more the better!
To better understand what i am talking about here is GFC Website for pricing and shipping.
https://www.gofastcampers.com/
So come on lets have GFC make these for our trucks! Feel free to contact Graeme his a cool dude.

 

[TWX]

Please don't take this as a criticism of you, it's not intended that way.

Looking at their website I'm not seeing why they need a minimum order when the part that's vehicle-specific is also very simple. I'm referring to the support frame and the panels attached to it to enclose the bed in the normal camper-type configuration. Looking at it, that's the straightforward part, it's the articulating/expanding popup on top that I presume is the hard part, but that this part is going to be the same across all models for all mid-size trucks.

Best case he can make a support frame based on the customer providing dimensions of the bed and the cab's overhang of the bed, and worst case he goes and borrows or rents a truck for a day to knock-out the support frame design. Granted he doesn't know how many customers there are for the product, but on the other hand I've known several people including myself that have gotten burned putting down deposits for custom work and if he had a ready-made design that might assuage the concerns of some buyers that would put down money if he already had a design, but won't without one already existing. Given that the cost to design the support frame is relatively low (presumably some materials, sourcing a truck for a day, and the labor of whomever is doing the work for the day) it seems like his requiring so many commitments is a bit short-sighted.

 

[thenzero]

Please don't take this as a criticism of you, it's not intended that way.

Looking at their website I'm not seeing why they need a minimum order when the part that's vehicle-specific is also very simple. I'm referring to the support frame and the panels attached to it to enclose the bed in the normal camper-type configuration. Looking at it, that's the straightforward part, it's the articulating/expanding popup on top that I presume is the hard part, but that this part is going to be the same across all models for all mid-size trucks.

Best case he can make a support frame based on the customer providing dimensions of the bed and the cab's overhang of the bed, and worst case he goes and borrows or rents a truck for a day to knock-out the support frame design. Granted he doesn't know how many customers there are for the product, but on the other hand I've known several people including myself that have gotten burned putting down deposits for custom work and if he had a ready-made design that might assuage the concerns of some buyers that would put down money if he already had a design, but won't without one already existing. Given that the cost to design the support frame is relatively low (presumably some materials, sourcing a truck for a day, and the labor of whomever is doing the work for the day) it seems like his requiring so many commitments is a bit short-sighted.

I think this is a kickstarter type thing, TWX. I don't believe this company has shipped a single camper. They're trying to get a minimum number of orders to start production...

p.s. not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that it's not about the parts, it's probably about starting production in general...

 

[GoFastCampers]

Hey guys, this is Graeme from Go Fast Campers. Wanted to answer your concerns here and see if I could clarify what we are looking for.

Looking at their website I'm not seeing why they need a minimum order when the part that's vehicle-specific is also very simple. I'm referring to the support frame and the panels attached to it to enclose the bed in the normal camper-type configuration. Looking at it, that's the straightforward part, it's the articulating/expanding popup on top that I presume is the hard part, but that this part is going to be the same across all models for all mid-size trucks.

Best case he can make a support frame based on the customer providing dimensions of the bed and the cab's overhang of the bed, and worst case he goes and borrows or rents a truck for a day to knock-out the support frame design. Granted he doesn't know how many customers there are for the product, but on the other hand I've known several people including myself that have gotten burned putting down deposits for custom work and if he had a ready-made design that might assuage the concerns of some buyers that would put down money if he already had a design, but won't without one already existing. Given that the cost to design the support frame is relatively low (presumably some materials, sourcing a truck for a day, and the labor of whomever is doing the work for the day) it seems like his requiring so many commitments is a bit short-sighted.

So we are doing these camper units in large production runs, and those runs require tooling to maintain our efficiencies. FWIW, this isn't custom work, or low volume jobs in a garage.

Our design is parametric and for us to develop a new vehicle is not a problem. But maintaining the SKU, developing the frame jigs, and marketing towards that audience is a lot more work than the design. Make sense?

We have done 45 preorders so far (launched just over two months ago), and are primarily targeting the Toyota market at the moment. If we can't get 5 preorders from the frontier market, it is evidence to us that it isn't justifiable for us to design the tooling and support the frontier.

And please note, that we need 5 of the same generation and bed length.

I think this is a kickstarter type thing, TWX. I don't believe this company has shipped a single camper. They're trying to get a minimum number of orders to start production...

We are not using the pre-orders to fund production or raise capital. We are finishing our production prototype testing currently down in Baja, and will begin shipping production units towards the end of march. Deposits are fully refundable until the point we actually begin manufacturing the customers unit (and don't worry, we will call to confirm before we actually start building), and we are using the deposits purely to gauge market interest and forecast sales volumes. The project is privately funded.

 

[The other Sean]

3 questions...

Price? Looks neat and all, but...

How is this going to attach to the truck? Will it make use of the utilitrac rails? If it doesn't use the rails, will it fit trucks with and without the rails?

How weather tight is this whole unit going to be? I see many mating surfaces and joints...

 

[GoFastCampers]

3 questions...

Price? Looks neat and all, but...

5k shipped during the preorder, 5k+shipping afterwards. Highest quality system on the market by a long margin in every single metric, and the package is more affordable, lighter and stronger than any combination of topper and hard shelled roof top tent. Even the chinese stuff. And 1/2 the price of the nearest competition.

How is this going to attach to the truck? Will it make use of the utilitrac rails? If it doesn't use the rails, will it fit trucks with and without the rails?

On vehicles that have an integrated rail system, we will make adapter kits that integrate into them. That will not be an up-charge, as the fit kit is included in the 5k price. Without those mounting systems, it will use our own version of a standard topper clamping system.

How weather tight is this whole unit going to be? I see many mating surfaces and joints...

It is as weather tight as any topper on the market. Its designed to shed water, and every critical edge is gasketed for water and dust.

 

[Wintermute]

At 199lbs its lighter than my Carmpy Snugtop!

What's a "Carmpy" Snugtop? :/

Not really my style. I managed to be pretty comfortable in a CabHi Snugtop when camping in my last truck, and a hard shell with side windows doesn't cut down on visibility nearly as much as this would. Actually, now that I look at more pictures, it looks like this thing doesn't have any windows at all? If I have to take the sides and back off every time I move the truck, what's the point? Seems like it would be less work to just set up a ground tent at that point.

If it works for you, then great. I don't think my long bed would do you much good anyway. I doubt there are 5 people on here with a long bed and any kind of shell at all.

 

[GoFastCampers]

Not really my style. I managed to be pretty comfortable in a CabHi Snugtop when camping in my last truck, and a hard shell with side windows doesn't cut down on visibility nearly as much as this would. Actually, now that I look at more pictures, it looks like this thing doesn't have any windows at all? If I have to take the sides and back off every time I move the truck, what's the point? Seems like it would be less work to just set up a ground tent at that point.

If it works for you, then great. I don't think my long bed would do you much good anyway. I doubt there are 5 people on here with a long bed and any kind of shell at all.

It has options for windows front and rear actually. But most people are able to back up without a rear view mirror, so we made the forward and rear glass optional.

 

[Wintermute]

It has options for windows front and rear actually. But most people are able to back up without a rear view mirror, so we made the forward and rear glass optional.

Well, I have a camera to back up. I'm more interested in visibility when going forward. Just a thought, but the various configurations aren't immediately obvious looking at your site. It might be useful if you put some kind of table that just lists all of the configurable parts of the camper and what the options for each are.

 

[GoFastCampers]

Appreciate the input Winter, we are going to revamp our whole site really soon. Just started adding photos from our most recent shoot in Baja, and realizing that I should change the architecture completely.

 

[shift_RUSH]

I doubt there are 5 people on here with a long bed and any kind of shell at all.

Every KC Frontier has a long bed. ::grin::

 

[TWX]

What's a "Carmpy" Snugtop? :/

Not really my style. I managed to be pretty comfortable in a CabHi Snugtop when camping in my last truck, and a hard shell with side windows doesn't cut down on visibility nearly as much as this would. Actually, now that I look at more pictures, it looks like this thing doesn't have any windows at all? If I have to take the sides and back off every time I move the truck, what's the point? Seems like it would be less work to just set up a ground tent at that point.

If it works for you, then great. I don't think my long bed would do you much good anyway. I doubt there are 5 people on here with a long bed and any kind of shell at all.

Every KC Frontier has a long bed. ::grin::

Well Wintermute, between you and I we have two longbeds with shells, if you'll accept a 73" bed as a "long" bed. It's funny, I'm used to that term referring to something that can hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, but we live in different times now.

 

[whistler]

I thought long beds were 6.5 ft. Funny never measured it.
Yeah, moving 4x8 sheets of plywood is a pain without a full size.

 

[Wintermute]

Every KC Frontier has a long bed. ::grin::

Yeah, that was kind my point. Maybe it's just me but I feel like I'm the only one on here who prefers the KC most of the time.

Well Wintermute, between you and I we have two longbeds with shells, if you'll accept a 73" bed as a "long" bed. It's funny, I'm used to that term referring to something that can hold a 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, but we live in different times now.

Yeah, funny thing is my truck already doesn't fit in most parking spaces around me. Much as I would like another foot back there, I'm not sure it would be worth being even more stressed about getting hit all the time.

I thought long beds were 6.5 ft. Funny never measured it.
Yeah, moving 4x8 sheets of plywood is a pain without a full size.

I'm between 5'11" and 6' depending on the weather, and I come very close to touching both ends of the bed when laying down lengthwise. Definitely right around 6 feet. IIRC, it's officially either 72.5" or 73.5".

 

[TWX]

I'm between 5'11" and 6' depending on the weather, and I come very close to touching both ends of the bed when laying down lengthwise. Definitely right around 6 feet. IIRC, it's officially either 72.5" or 73.5".

73.3" according to the marketing literature from Nissan. Not sure if that includes factory spray-in bedliner on the VTP trucks or not.

 

[whistler]

Guess I didn’t have to measure as long as everything fit. Did have to do tons of measurements to do it though.
Also I have a full size to move plywood.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Short Bed = 59.5"
Long Bed = 73.3"

 

[Aggrocrag]

I'd be very interested if we could get enough for a short bed. 2014 CCSB here. Let's not clutter this thread with a bunch of non-related chatter. Anyone else interested in this? Like they said, it's half the cost of a AT Habitat...I know, I priced one out.

 

[TWX]

If they're still subscribed to this thread, I have a suggestion for GoFastCampers. Consider a variant product that uses the customer's existing fiberglass canopy, where the customer is supplied with the popup, with hardware that can be used to properly space the popup above the fiberglass canopy, with a template for cutting a hole in the canopy's roof, and with a thick rubber gasket similar to the ones that often are placed between the canopy and the rear of the cab. GoFastCampers could even produce a filler piece that the customer could bolt back on to their canopy if they take the popup off, a piece that is designed with respect to the opening that the template would create, where again there's a thick rubber gasket to reduce water intrusion.

Such a product would have the advantage of being less material to store for those who do not keep the thing installed full time, and would retain the advantages of whatever side windows and rear window the customer already is used to.

 

[Aggrocrag]

I'm not answering for them, but I'm assuming this would be next to impossible to produce while keeping quality high. This would have to be universal to every different shell manufacturer, thickness, etc... They stated that they would need at least 5 people to commit to the same size to make it worth their while to manufacture the shell they already to produce for out trucks. With all of the possible variations that could exist from truck to truck, I'm assuming it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for them to make a kit like that. Plus, if you really think about it, that wouldn't really be that much different than a hard shelled RTT.

If they're still subscribed to this thread, I have a suggestion for GoFastCampers. Consider a variant product that uses the customer's existing fiberglass canopy, where the customer is supplied with the popup, with hardware that can be used to properly space the popup above the fiberglass canopy, with a template for cutting a hole in the canopy's roof, and with a thick rubber gasket similar to the ones that often are placed between the canopy and the rear of the cab. GoFastCampers could even produce a filler piece that the customer could bolt back on to their canopy if they take the popup off, a piece that is designed with respect to the opening that the template would create, where again there's a thick rubber gasket to reduce water intrusion.

Such a product would have the advantage of being less material to store for those who do not keep the thing installed full time, and would retain the advantages of whatever side windows and rear window the customer already is used to.