I’ve never been so excited for a purchase!
Install day in Belgrade, MT!
After nearly a year of research, personal debate, and saving up I finally decided on a truck camper solution. I explored numerous companies; Four wheel campers, Ovrlnd Campers, AT Overland, Palomino slide in units, Kimbo, Goose Gear, a plain old topper, etc. And then there was Go Fast Campers, I’ve seen them for a few years and have heard nothing but the best things. So I put in my deposit, selected my options, and not so patiently waited for 10 weeks while my new platform camper was built. If this isn’t the best purchase I’ve ever made in life I don’t know what is!
I opted for rifle green side panels with the stone colored tent and couldn’t be happier with the combo! Obviously a white truck sticks out like a sore thumb, but at least the topper blends in with the surroundings a bit and with over 4,000 GFC’s out there, I wanted to be just a little bit different than the others. With the black framing interior, black hardware, and raw aluminum joints, this is a jaw-dropping camper system and one I’m confident will serve me well for years and years.
About half of the bed panels are removable allowing entry to the “master bedroom” from inside the “living room”. I joke with the rooms but I swear the GFC is more spacious than my first apartment! The first few nights were fantastic, though I’m still in the process of making it feel more like a home, some coming additions will include; sheets for the cushions, interior lighting, drawer system, small battery system, and a sticker wall to celebrate all the places Riv and I get to go!
St. Anthony’s Sand Dunes.
So far in the first week we’ve camped 3 nights in Lola, have traveled 1,500 miles, had my first dune driving experience in Idahos St. Anthony’s sand dunes, hit 80+ mph racing through southern Utah trails and have shown it off to so many curious people without a single issue! I still have a few spots to seal up better but after somewhere around 300 miles of dirt and hours of pouring rain, there was almost no leaking into the truck bed and zero into the bedroom! And much to my surprise the sleeping platform is actually fairly comfortable for being a meager 2 inches thick.
Night one we experienced winds well over 40 mph but with the wedge pointed straight into the wind we had very little noise and slept great! This was maybe my favorite camp spot ever, we were perched about one hundred or so feet above a large lake in Idaho and had fantastic views, I saw only one vehicle, a guy who lived on the lake and was passing through checking on his new neighbor, and two ladies on a morning walk. I spent that first night getting my things situated, mounting the new Trxstle rod vault, and enjoying the cool weather. I also enjoyed a nice filet of salmon and pasta to end what will forever be one of the best camp nights of my life. For someone who has lived in the desert much of the last 6 years, you’d think I love the heat, I can’t stand it! I can’t quite describe how happy it made me to wake up and feel the crisp 40° mountain air, the perfect temp for a cup of coffee! After cleaning up and taking Riv on a nice walk down to the lake, we made our way south to Utah, but not without stopping for a few hours of fishing along the Henry’s Fork.
Provo river walks and swimming!
Night two was spent tucked away on a mountain road high above Provo Utah with no wind but quite a bit of off road traffic, still slept well and woke to beautiful weather! I drove for miles and miles up the steep winding road looking for an epic view point, but after about an hour I gave up and drove back to a trailhead parking area that was unoccupied. Not the most amazing camp spot, but it worked out very well and gave me a great spot to read a book and relax in the morning before the crowds of hikers arrived. After packing up and grabbing some always delicious Chik-fil-a for breakfast, went for a quick walk along the Provo River and Bridal Veil Falls, and drove about 12 hours back to California, including about 100 miles of racing on dirt. I was originally going to head straight home, but a major accident on I-15 just south of Vegas forced me to reroute toward Needles, CA. That night was a warm one in the desert near the Nevada/California border, even with overnight temps in the 80’s, with all the windows open and a light breeze we were quite comfortable. I had to be to work for 8am so I packed up camp at the very early 2am and made it home just in time for a shower and breakfast before starting the work week.
Overall this camper has far exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. Coming up we have a long weekend planned for some NorCal adventures to the cooler temps and bigger mountains! As with most trips, there will be no shortage of killer views, small stream fishing, and off grid fancy feasts!