From iKamper to Go Fast Campers: Why We Made the Switch
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Half a decade, dozens of dirt roads, 14 national park trips, and many nights under the stars have been folded up neatly inside our iKamper Skycamp Mini 2.0. However, after five years with this unyielding setup, we have officially transitioned from the iKamper life and made the decision to overhaul our adventuring and made the leap to a Go Fast Camper.
To be honest, it was a bitter sweet moment camping in the iKamper for the final time this spring. The trusty setup holds so many memories and its profile has defined many of our camping photos. Over the course of five years, the iKamper saw us through rain storms and severe winds. It kept us warm surrounded by snow, weathered mountain passes and hot desert nights, and to be completely honest, there is nothing I regret about getting it. Not only did it serve us well and provide exactly what we were looking for when we first upgraded from tent camping, even after making the switch, I would still enthusiastically recommend iKamper to anyone looking to enjoy a rooftop tent. In fact, we’re not even getting rid of it, but rather holding onto it for mounting onto a future trailer for even more camp options down the road!
That being said, there were some stand out features and accommodations we felt we were missing that led us to this decision.
While a full campervan still remains on our wishlist, let’s be real for a second…the price tags on those things are crazy and we’d like to continue having a savings account. Instead, we found a middle ground that checked all our new boxes: elevated gear organization, a weather-proof indoor space, the ability to stand up, and the added bonus of having the chance to enjoy the bed of the truck again for daily truck stuff.
Let me start by saying, that comparing the iKamper and Go Fast Camper at the same level is an unfair comparison. Across the board these are two very different setups that works great in their own ways. Check out the full break down of the iKamper in my 1-year review of the iKamper.
Both iKamper and Go Fast Campers have various models of campers with different specs and features to meet a range of needs. For the sake of this review however, I will only be comparing the models of each that we have personal experience with; the iKamper Skycamp mini 2.0 and the Go Fast V2 Pro Camper, both mounted on a 5-ft bed Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-road, a.k.a. Roxie.
Setup; Opening and Closing the Tent
Both the iKamper and Go Fast Camper are categorized as roof top tent setups, and when fully setup, both are wedge tents, however the iKamper is a fold-out hardshell, whereas the Go Fast Camper is a true pop-up wedge. Initially I anticipated that setup and tear down would be relatively the same, and for the most part they are, however the Go Fast Camper has proven to be even more streamlined, which makes a big difference.
iKamper Skycamp Mini:
The top opens like a clamshell, and the floor folds out over the passenger side of the truck with an attached ladder.
Utilizes three canvas straps attached to the tent to tuck the fabric inside as you collapse the shell.
Go Fast Camper:
Pops open upward, with the high point of the wedge at the back of the truck.
No straps for tucking, instead the fabric pulls inward as the roof lowers.
The biggest difference I noticed with opening:
There is no unfolding needed for the Go Fast Camper, and the sleeping area is in place and ready to go as soon as you pop up the tent.
The biggest difference I noticed with closing:
No straps! While the straps were never really a huge issue with the iKamper, it wasn’t always the easiest approach to tucking in the tent on all sides and at times I would need to climb onto the truck to tuck the canvas in on the side. While there can be the need to tuck some extra fabric in on the Go Fast Camper, having it open with the length of the truck, I can easily reach both sides.
What I am most looking forward to:
If you have ever folded up an iKamper in the rain, you know that you will get soaked, especially when reaching under the door overhang to close up the mattress setup. You also know that working with the rubber-covered stainless steel straps that latch on the top shell can seriously hurt in cold wet weather. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Go Fast Camper is to open and close when the weather is not on our side.
Sleeping Space/Access and Storage
iKamper Skycamp Mini:
Sleeping space in the tent is 83” x 51”
Sleeping area contains one small pocket under each side window.
Various mattress options: standard 1.3-inch high-density polyfoam or add-on feature of a 3-inch air and foam inflatable mattress.
Exterior access to the sleeping area through the main wedge door on the side of the truck via an attached ladder.
Allows full use of the truck bed however access is limited based on the height of the bed rack and crossbar setup.
No built in lighting (newer versions do have this).
Go Fast Campers V2 Pro:
Sleeping space in the tent is 90” x 50”
Sleeping area contains one small stash pocket under each side vent window.
3-inch thick dual-density foam mattress.
Sleeping area panels can be rearranged and adjusted to create different setups such as a lounge area or standing desk.
Internal access to the bed area via removable panels. An add-on ladder feature also allows for external access through the large window on the side of the truck.
Allows for full use of the truck bed with full access to the enclosed bed.
Stretch mesh panels underneath each removable square panel.
Built-in, adjustable lighting in the lower camper and upper sleeping areas that can be adjusted to red, amber and white light and is dimmable.
The biggest difference I noticed:
This is where the big game changers are for us and why we made this switch in the first place. The ability to have access to the full bed of the truck for directly from inside the tent via the floor panels, means we don't need to clutter our sleeping area with extra bags or gear at night. Everything can stay organized downstairs, yet be reached from inside the tent space by moving the panels if we need to access it. The second big game changer is the ability to move the panels and have full ability to stand up in the bed of the truck while still being fully enclosed in the camper. No more acrobatic maneuvers laying down while trying to get dressed!
What I am most looking forward to comparing:
With the addition of a molle panel on the cab side in the truck bed of the camper, we now have an entire vertical wall dedicated to gear storage. I'm looking forward to dialing in our mounting setup for recovery gear, camp accessories and clothing changes for quick access on the road and for hanging out inside the camper.
Weight & Structure Dynamics
iKamper Skycamp Mini:
Approximately 125 pounds (not including mounting system).
Fiber-Reinforced Plastic double-layer shell with air insulation, paired with high-performance honeycomb aluminum floor panels.
Black shell with grey tent fabric.
We installed the iKamper and mounting system onto the truck ourself.
Go Fast Campers V2 Pro:
Approximately 275 pounds (for the full-bed camper and tent).
Replaces the former tonneau cover entirely, bolting directly to the bed rails in a low profile (the tent adds about 6 inches above the cab).
Tubular spaceframe construction, billet aluminum joints and bolted connections.
Side and rear panels on the camper open for full truck bed access and to provide shelter from sun and weather, all with locking latched for security.
The Go Fast Camper was professionally installed at the GFC headquarters in Manhattan, Montana.
The biggest difference I noticed:
The Go Fast Camper is now part of Roxie (our Toyota Tacoma). Unlike the iKamper, which we could lift on and off if we ever needed the truck bed or didn’t want the tent mounted, the Go Fast Camper is now the truck's camper shell full-time. One thing that I am going to miss about the iKamper however, is it had a skylight and all the windows had a clear vinyl plastic window panel as well as the black out canvas and screens, so you could fully look out while you laid in bed but still be protected from the wind or elements. The Go Fast Camper has the black out tent and screens only and no skylight. I will miss looking out at the rain, the stars and sunrises while being comfy in bed.
What I am most looking forward to comparing:
Believe it or not, I’m quite excited about our first camping trip in the rain. Not only because we can hang out inside the camper, but the side and rear panels can open and provide even more covered shelter options. I can't count the number of rainy trips we had in the iKamper and while they were all great, huddling under the foldout tent platform for shelter was always a challenge.
iKamper Skycamp Mini Go Fast Camper
Weather Resistance
When it comes to weather resistance and staying cozy and dry in storms, only time will tell. We have had three nights of camping in the Go Fast Camper so far and two of those nights did include light rain and it did great, but only time will give us hte experiences to fully compare it to the iKamper.
For a full break down of my 1-year review of the iKamper: click here.
Add-Ons & Customization for the iKamper and Go Fast Campers
iKamper Skycamp Mini:
Add-ons we purchased: insulation inner tents, awning (which we never used because we never had enough space at campgrounds for the setup) upgraded air mattress, and a shoe rack bag.
Customization: Tent interior features a large world map graphic printed on the interior hardshell fabric liner. Shell colors are Black and Rocky Black and the canvas tent is grey.
Go Fast Campers V2 Pro:
Add-ons we purchased: Molly panel, ladder kit, and top shelf organizer and pocket dump organizer storage bags.
Customization: lots of customization options including panel colors, tent fabric color and front/rear window glass.
Saying goodbye to the iKamper as our primary camping setup truly marked the end of an era. It earned every bit of our trust over so many nights under the stars, it will always be a setup I recommend without hesitation, and with luck we can give it a second life on a future trailer build. But stepping into the Go Fast Camper feels like the natural next step in our outdoor evolution. At the end of the day, upgrading wasn’t about leaving the iKamper behind, but rather evolving how we adventure. The ability to stand up, have an indoor space, and store more to travel further.
We couldn't be more excited for this next chapter with the Go Fast Camper, and we’re ready to see just how far this new setup will take us.
Here’s to retiring the roof top tent and embracing the excitement of having an official rig!
Comments