Boogielander Build – Part 11: Go Fast Camper – Having the Best of Both Worlds

Note: This article is based on the GFC Platform Camper V2. GFC has since moved to newer production models—the V2 Pro and V2 Max. While there are dimensional and visual differences between these versions, the core design principles and functionality discussed here remain the same.

Introduction

I grew up believing that you can’t have everything at once. If you want a burger, you can’t get ramen at the same time. If you want to drive fast in the desert, you don’t run a slide-in camper. Most slide-in campers are heavy, and in off-road travel, every extra pound affects how the vehicle behaves.

Put more simply: hiking with three days of food, a tent, and a sleeping bag is very different from hiking empty-handed. Your stamina changes. Your balance changes. As a result, expedition gear has always needed to be both durable and lightweight. Under that logic, slide-in campers never made the list.

Then the ramen burger showed up—ramen noodles pan-fried in place of a bun—and solved the either-or problem. Lightweight slide-in campers did the same thing for camping. Comfort no longer had to cancel capability.

Go Fast Camper (GFC) is that unlikely chef who came up with the ramen-burger idea.

GFC Overview

GFC, short for Go Fast Camper, is the only slide-in camper on the market that can run the Baja 1000 route at race pace without compromising structural integrity. The company is based in Manhattan, Montana. Compared to traditional camper manufacturers, it is relatively young, which also means they’re more willing to listen and evolve their product.

In addition to the camper (275+ pounds), GFC produces rooftop tents and toppers (a camper shell without a tent). Many accessories are manufactured in-house. Everything is built primarily from aluminum to keep weight down, and all share the same mounting geometry for pickup trucks. GFC strongly believes in American manufacturing and strives to be 100% Made in USA, sourcing as much material domestically as possible.

The camper starts at $7,950, with pricing increasing based on size and options. My truck required the XL (+$500), front and rear glass windows (+$400), and side tent openings (+$525), plus installation in Manhattan (+$175) – though it was Belgrade at the time of install – bringing the total to $9,100. If installed in California, with labor and tax, it would have been close to $10,500.

It was expensive enough that I bought used instead. Purchase price: $6,000 – cheaper than a new base model.

To get it, I spent four days in early November driving to Montana and back—about 600 miles per day.

Passing through Idaho, snow lined the highway in the northern part of the state.

It was around 2 p.m., gray skies overhead, and I half-expected it to start snowing at any moment.

Once in Montana, there was even more snow.

The trip itself left little room for photography. Aside from fuel stops in the morning and restroom breaks every couple of hours, the day was spent entirely in the driver’s seat. I didn’t even stop by Expedition Overland’s headquarters, even though they’re also in Belgrade, not far from GFC.

Because the whole trip was about making time, I decided I’d come back someday when it’s warmer and experience Montana properly.

Camper Overview

The standard camper weighs about 275 pounds. The XL weighs about 295. Both versions mount to the truck using the same clamp system. The tent and lower area are connected; once deployed, removing the floor panel and mattress opens the space vertically.

With the space open, I can stand comfortably inside at 5’9”. Reaching the top of the tent requires standing on something. The tent forms a triangular profile similar to a rooftop tent. It includes two small front ventilation windows and one large opening that functions as both door and window. Mine also has side openings on both sides, which were optional at the time but are now standard, allowing entry either from inside or via ladder from outside.

Front and rear windows are optional. Their primary purpose is preserving rear visibility through the factory rearview mirror. Their secondary function is allowing visibility from inside the camper without opening any doors – useful when it’s extremely cold or hot but the view is worth watching. With a diesel heater and a camping AC unit, I can stay comfortable regardless of outside temperatures.

Modifications

Although GFC is the closest match to what I wanted, a few changes were necessary.

First were the clamps. Pickup beds flex while driving because they’re bolted directly to the frame, unlike the cab which sits on rubber body mounts. GFC’s clamps handle lateral movement just fine, but during high-speed off-road driving, the bed also shifts fore and aft. Under those conditions, the camper can creep forward. This isn’t unique to GFC—any clamped-on camper or bed rack with a heavy load will behave similarly when pushed hard.

The simplest solution would be to stop off-roading altogether. Problem solved. End of story.

But that’s not me. Instead, we added four L-brackets to limit forward and backward movement. We drilled into both brackets and bed, secured everything with Grade 8 bolts, and torqued them down. That solved it.

It wasn’t my idea. I just copied my friend’s homework. Sometimes it’s really that simple.

Second was the electrical system.

Since I don’t use the bed for cargo, the side rail became a mounting location. I cut a steel plate by hand, left extra space for expansion, sanded and painted it, then mounted the components: LED controller, switches, fuses, and a fuse block. Currently powered by the main battery, but eventually it will run off a second battery.

Third was interior LED lighting. I used RGB+W adhesive strips. Warm white for normal use, red for preserving night vision. The controller allows dimming, strobing, flashing, and can respond to music.

Yes, I brought a nightclub into the wilderness.

The upper level uses the same lighting setup, controlled by remote or phone app.

The fourth upgrade was a one-inch memory foam mattress and fitted sheet from Overland Softgoods. The factory mattress is already decent, but comfort matters – especially after long driving days. After installing it, it was more comfortable than my bed at home. I chose blue to match the truck.

The final modification was adding a pull strap to close the tent without stressing the fabric. Although GFC designed the tent to be closed without a strap, I prefer not to pull directly on the fabric. To address this, I added an Agency 6 Grab Handle paired with a Wrap-It Easy-Carry Storage Strap as a dedicated tent pull. When the tent is stowed, I remove the strap and store it in the Decked drawer until the next deployment.

Experience

Since purchasing it in November – as of December 2023 – I’ve only camped once, mainly for testing.

The camper and sleeping setup performed exactly as expected. The upper level simply takes some adjustment to the additional space. Power management needs improvement – a house battery with alternator and solar charging will address long-term draw concerns. Storage organization is still a work in progress.

Aside from those areas, performance exceeded expectations. Handling changes are minimal except in strong crosswinds. The added weight is barely noticeable off-road. Fuel economy is unchanged.

At camp, the experience went beyond what I expected. In winter, I can sit inside in a T-shirt and shorts, watching a movie without lighting a fire. Remove the mattress and the platform becomes a table. Compared to my previous rooftop tent, this feels luxurious.

Parting Thoughts

Beyond being lightweight and durable, GFC offers strong support and aftermarket options. It’s essentially a blank canvas. Every year, GFC makes incremental changes to its products and introduces new accessories based on customer feedback. There are also plenty of third-party manufacturers invested in the Made in USA ethos, producing quality products that enhance the overall GFC experience.

A slide-in camper was always on my list for an Alaska expedition. The problem was weight. In 2023, that tradeoff no longer feels unavoidable. The burger and ramen can finally be had at the same time.