HEST Quest: GFC

September 04, 2024 3 min read

Welcome back to HEST Quest! This year, we want to take a deeper dive into what is the ideal set up for sleeping outdoors. Is it a van? A rooftop tent? The back of your truck? A truckbed camper? A tow behind trailer camper? A ground tent?

With so many options out there, HEST has set out to answer the big question: What is the BEST car camping set up?

Whether you are new to camping or a veteran overlander; everyone wants to know what is the BEST setup. What’s the most efficient, cost effective, easy, comfortable set up for sleeping outdoors? HEST Quest will explore all the different setups; sharing the benefits and setbacks of each, plus “how to” tips when it comes to building or shopping for your next mobile basecamp.

HEST QUEST: GFC

What type of setup is do you have?

2017 Toyota Tacoma with a GFC Camper.

How many does it comfortably sleep?

Two people.

Is it family friendly?

When we bring our additional tent, yes.

Tell me more about the 4wd/off road capability of your set up?

We have extreme off road with the lift and tires. This gets us where we need to go, every time.

What’s the kitchen/cooking set up like? Is it inside or outside?

We do cooking inside the camper and outside—it really depends on the season—but we're equipped for both.

How easy is it to set up, move around, leave the vehicle/go to town?

This is an easy one. Probably a 10 minute pack up time.

Benefits/Pros: What you LOVE about this set up?

Because of the way we built this out, we have optimal off road capability and tons of camping comfort.

Challenges/Cons: What has been a hurdle/setback of the set up?

Honestly, right now I can't think of any. Obviously, each rig will have its challenges from time to time, but nothing sticks out.

What are the budget considerations for investing in your set up?

We came in at a high price point on this one, but it's still cheaper than other camping setups in this class.

What’s the swag level of your set up? While function is definitely the most important consideration when looking for a rig, we can’t deny that some set ups just LOOK GOOD! How does this set up rank in terms of coolness?

Our rig kind of speaks for itself. It seems to be popular at most expos. We have an indoor shower and a sink when converted to lounge mode, which is a nice touch.

Which HEST mattress works best in this setup?

The HEST Foamy, all day.

What are some upgrades you’ve made or want to make? Are there some key upgrades that you recommend to make your setup even better?

After 5 years with this vehicle, we feel like we have to pretty dialed in.

If you had a chance to do it over again would you choose the same set up exactly?

Yes, we're pretty happy with this set up. No complaints and no big changes after all that time getting things just right.

Would you recommend your setup to a friend?

Yes.

What were your main considerations in choosing your set up/why did you choose it?

For us, it was super important that our truck and camper situation was lightweight and extremely off road capable. Once we hit those key points, the rest has worked out well.

How’s the sleep quality you get in your set up? Do you wake up rested? Are there any pain points in the sleep situation in your adventure set up (e.g. pesky light, temperature issues, etc.)?

Like sleeping from home. That's not an exaggeration. Sleep is super important to us, and we found the system that works for us on the road and off the beaten path.

Follow along @hestoutdoors as we meet the people behind these different setups and build outs.

Shop Hest