Rivian Camper Shell Roundup at Overland Expo PNW

[jjswan33]

I spent some time at Overland Expo PNW and I surveyed the landscape of Rivian camper options.

The only folks with a camper on a Rivian at the show was Go Fast which it looked great, small foot print. Good build quality. Still claiming to see no issues with D+ so maybe the smaller foot print isn't having the same impact I am seeing, time will tell. I think this is a great option for folks that mostly camp in the summer, weekends things like that. It offers a place to sleep and more secure storage in probably the lightest most compact form factor. I think starting around $10k

The folks at Oru were also there, they continue to get better. Loving the optional Arctic Turn windows. They also have a new XL version that is wider, similar to Tune Outdoors offerings. Sorry didn't take any Oru photos but check out my build thread in the signature for some of mine. I think this is a great option for folks like me that spend weeks at a time in their camper, use it often in winter time and want a good balance between price, quality, interior space and year long capability.
Tenfold (canvas wedge) starting at $6k
Bruin starting at $8.5k
Bruin XL starting at $10.5k

I also looked at what was going on with Hardsider. They have some Rivian's in the queue but none built yet so who knows how their implementation will look. These didn't look as good in person as they do in renders and in photos. The 'hard' sides felt more like canvas that had some hard sections in it. I'd be curious what the experience of it would be like in the wind. The base camper material felt really thin, likely wouldn't hold heat in well for winter trips. I'm not sure who this is for, it's a cool idea. I'd let this one bake a generation or so and see where it goes. $18k starting price though they were offering a show special, think they said $15k.

I talked with the folks at Tune Outdoor. It didn't sound like he was super happy with his existing Rivian implementation, I think wanting a better solution for the gear tunnel buttons etc. I like their build quality and this one probably offers the most interior space (maybe similar to what the Oru Bruin XL will offer). I didn't ask the price but I think it's a bit higher.

Super Pacific confirmed they are moving ahead with a Rivian option. Don't recall the price but I believe it has been advertised. I like their quality here too, this one feels similar to the Go Fast for me for the use case. I like their door open/locking mechanisms the best in theory, no personal experience though.

Lone Peak - Confirmed no current plans. Busy filling existing orders for now.
Hiatus Campers - None built on a Rivian yet, didn't say no. This offers probably the most camper like experience (vs tent) but cost and weight are the penalty.
I feel like 50 other camper companies I didn't even talk to.

I should have taken more photos but as is I got too much sun..

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[jctownsley]

Thanks for the write up and pics! I wish I could have made it down this weekend but I’m out at the coast for a wedding. Would love to check out your rig in person sometime!
I think the GFC is still the right option for me and my sporadic use (August build date), but your setup looks sweet too!

 

[sizotty]

That’s for the write up, just the info I was looking for from someone with boots on the ground.

thoughts on spare tire access with the GFC? No concerns?

 

[jjswan33]

That’s for the write up, just the info I was looking for from someone with boots on the ground.

thoughts on spare tire access with the GFC? No concerns?

I wouldn't think so, not sure how it would but didn't specifically look. From the photos doesn't appear anything would be in the way.

 

[Team_GFC]

That’s for the write up, just the info I was looking for from someone with boots on the ground.

thoughts on spare tire access with the GFC? No concerns?

Ben and I actually plugged one of his tires while he was at HQ. There's absolutely nothing in the way of the lid opening.

 

[mcarver316]

I also looked at what was going on with Hardsider. They have some Rivian's in the queue but none built yet so who knows how their implementation will look. These didn't look as good in person as they do in renders and in photos. The 'hard' sides felt more like canvas that had some hard sections in it. I'd be curious what the experience of it would be like in the wind. The base camper material felt really thin, likely wouldn't hold heat in well for winter trips. I'm not sure who this is for, it's a cool idea. I'd let this one bake a generation or so and see where it goes. $18k starting price though they were offering a show special, think they said $15k.

I should have taken more photos but as is I got too much sun..

Thanks for posting. That is disappointing to hear about Hardsider. We will be the first gen guinea pigs.

We picked Hardsider because we live in the NorthEast/MidAtlantic and they are the closest to us (about 500 miles away from MD). We did not want to have to travel cross country each time to either San Marcos CA (Oru Bruin) or Bellingham WA (Hiatus) in case we have something that needs servicing with the truck topper. Hiatus said their camper is not yet designed to accommodate access to the R1T's truck bed buttons (gear tunnel, tailgate/ptc). Bruin is also strong contender as it seems to be the lightest of the three (just under 400 lbs for the base config I think).

Anyway, I will post our experience once the HardCamp topper is installed.

 

[jjswan33]

Thanks for posting. That is disappointing to hear about Hardsider. We will be the first gen guinea pigs.

We picked Hardsider because we live in the NorthEast/MidAtlantic and they are the closest to us (about 500 miles away from MD). We did not want to have to travel cross country each time to either San Marcos CA (Oru Bruin) or Bellingham WA (Hiatus) in case we have something that needs servicing with the truck topper. Hiatus said their camper is not yet designed to accommodate access to the R1T's truck bed buttons (gear tunnel, tailgate/ptc). Bruin is also strong contender as it seems to be the lightest of the three (just under 400 lbs for the base config I think).

Anyway, I will post our experience once the HardCamp topper is installed.

Yeah I was also disappointed by it but maybe it was an early build or something. Hope it works out well for you. I was also surprised based on the material the weight of it.

 

[CharonPDX]

What’s the second one? (The one on the black Toyota)

 

[jjswan33]

What’s the second one? (The one on the black Toyota)

That is the Hardsider.

 

[CharonPDX]

That is the Hardsider.

Wow. That looks so "not hard sided" that I didn't even consider that might be it.

 

[Team_GFC]

Thanks for posting. That is disappointing to hear about Hardsider. We will be the first gen guinea pigs.

We picked Hardsider because we live in the NorthEast/MidAtlantic and they are the closest to us (about 500 miles away from MD). We did not want to have to travel cross country each time to either San Marcos CA (Oru Bruin) or Bellingham WA (Hiatus) in case we have something that needs servicing with the truck topper. Hiatus said their camper is not yet designed to accommodate access to the R1T's truck bed buttons (gear tunnel, tailgate/ptc). Bruin is also strong contender as it seems to be the lightest of the three (just under 400 lbs for the base config I think).

Anyway, I will post our experience once the HardCamp topper is installed.

We have an install/service facility in Raleigh, NC: https://gofastcampers.com/pages/locations

Final weight will depend on exact height over cab (something we're working with Ben Moon to refine), but should be within 5 pounds of 275 pounds. Should be the lightest possible camper ever made for the R1T. (We have proprietary automation tools of our own design that make delivering that weight and quality possible at the lowest price point while paying the highest starting wages of any manufacturing company in the northern Rockies.)

 

[PhatDaddy]

I was also at Overland Expo PNW. Yes, there was plenty of sunshine! There was a LOT to see (“16,000 plus attendees, more than 370 exhibitors”) so there was definitely some overload. I spoke to the Hardsider folks at length… I swear they said the ‘hard’ sides provided something like R-10 or R-12 insulation, which was more than many of the others (did I hear that right?). The ‘thin’ doors (and window frames) and such I believe were steel instead of the typical aluminum, so that should add some structural stability, and it allowed them to use magnetic window covers for ‘black out’ options.

 

[kylealden]

Thanks for the writeup @jjswan33! I popped in on Sunday to see the GFC and was impressed. Your pictures are better than mine so I won't bother, but in particular the spoiler and sharkfin clearance were reassuring to me - my biggest concern with a topper like this is keeping the height low and minimizing any unintentional ramscoop on the ceiling.

I got a chance to talk to Ben and he didn't seem super confident in any range projections yet (especially since he's coming from an RTT mounted over the cab on a tall bed rack) but it sounds like ~15% is reasonable with minimal noise/buffetting. He did mention that plugging the roof spoiler helped a lot and he'd been playing a bit with fairing ideas for the leading edge.

For now I'm still thinking the GFC is the best general-purpose solution for a Rivian pop-up camper that mostly leaves the bed unchanged and is lightweight + relatively svelte. It sounds like it could even be plausibly swapped pretty quickly with a garage hoist if you have enough room to store it, although I'm not sure that makes a ton of sense in the real world. (I carry motorbikes in the bed often enough that I'd prefer not to have a permanent topper...)

 

[jjswan33]

Thanks for the writeup @jjswan33! I popped in on Sunday to see the GFC and was impressed. Your pictures are better than mine so I won't bother, but in particular the spoiler and sharkfin clearance were reassuring to me - my biggest concern with a topper like this is keeping the height low and minimizing any unintentional ramscoop on the ceiling.

I got a chance to talk to Ben and he didn't seem super confident in any range projections yet (especially since he's coming from an RTT mounted over the cab on a tall bed rack) but it sounds like ~15% is reasonable with minimal noise/buffetting. He did mention that plugging the roof spoiler helped a lot and he'd been playing a bit with fairing ideas for the leading edge.

For now I'm still thinking the GFC is the best general-purpose solution for a Rivian pop-up camper that mostly leaves the bed unchanged and is lightweight + relatively svelte. It sounds like it could even be plausibly swapped pretty quickly with a garage hoist if you have enough room to store it, although I'm not sure that makes a ton of sense in the real world. (I carry motorbikes in the bed often enough that I'd prefer not to have a permanent topper...)

On the range question, I also talked with Ben about it. There are some things to consider.

My going take was also about 15% range loss

When I first got my Oru Camper I was seeing ~1.65mi/kWh summer eff on my Nitto Recon Grappler LT275/65R20.

Now with the front fairing I had built I am getting right around 1.74 mi/kWh, same tires. Probably looking closer to 10% loss now.

The Go Fast certainly has potential to do better (narrower/lower) but some kind of fairing is probably needed to match what I am seeing I think.

 

[kylealden]

When I first got my Oru Camper I was seeing ~1.65mi/kWh summer eff on my Nitto Recon Grappler LT275/65R20.

Now with the front fairing I had built I am getting right around 1.74 mi/kWh, same tires. Probably looking closer to 10% loss now.

Yeah, this stuff is where I get a little anxious because I get a nominal 1.3-1.4 mi/kWh with my Airstream, and no noticeable range loss with my Condor Overland. I love the idea of a wedge camper as the sweet spot for fast-deploy and bed usability, but if the range hit is closer to my trailer than my RTT, I'd probably skip it and just use one of those (especially since I can add/remove the RTT so easily, or bring a furnace/AC and toilet in the trailer...).

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