- GoFastCampers, one of the biggest name in overlanding circles, finally has a camper option for the Rivian R1T.
- It sleeps two in a pop-up tent above the R1T's bed, and you can stand up in the bed of the truck.
- But the custom, Montana-built camper isn't cheap. It starts at $9,450.
The Rivian R1 is the ultimate electric off-roader, at least for now. While we wait for the Scout Traveler, Jeep Recon and eventual electric Bronco to arrive, you can't do much better than the flagship Rivian R1T and R1S. They both boast solid ground clearance, trick hydraulic suspensions, underbody armor and plenty of torque. But if you want to overland, rather than just wheel, the R1T has a big problem. You can't sleep in it. Well, you couldn't, until GoFastCampers launched the Rivian version of its Platform Camper.
Those who wanted to sleep in a Rivian had to go with the R1S. But if you're hauling dirty, muddy, snowy gear around, it's certainly nice to have a separate bed, rather than having to scuff up the interior of your $90,000 SUV. The same logic is why pickup-bed campers have long been a favorite for overlanders. You can haul heavy, messy gear in a proper truck bed, then climb into an attached, enclosed sleeping platform. Unlike with a rooftop tent, you also can stand up in the bed with your head in the camper portion, and you don't need a ladder to get in and out. It's the ultimate solution, unless you have the space, organization and rig for sleeping inside the SUV itself.
Gallery: GoFastCampers Rivian R1T Platform Camper
The camper is also built to support mounting and carrying larger objects on the roof. If you need to haul lumber or surf boards, for instance, you'll be able to purchase cross bars that allow you to carry up to 500 lbs on the roof, even on a trail. You'll also still have access to the full bed, along with room to sleep two adults of any height. GFC has also upgraded its included mattress in recent years, so your sleep should be pretty comfortable. The camper weighs 270 lbs, which—depending on your R1T's battery size—should still give you 1,500 to 1,750 lbs of additional payload capacity for gear and passengers. GFC says it has a low-drag design that should only reduce range by 7 to 10%.
I tried out GFC's Platform Camper for the Ford Maverick back in 2022 and loved it. Seeing them around San Diego on the backs of Rangers and Tacomas has me even more jealous. But for those of us who love EVs, there hasn't been a great option yet. Part of why GFC campers work so well is that they're built specifically for the truck and bed configuration you have. Since Rivian isn't selling R1Ts as fleet-oriented work trucks, they're a bit trickier to upfit than a Tacoma or Colorado.
GFC notes that the company had to cut around the Rivian's mission-critical rooftop antenna to make it work. (Side note: If you've ever wondered why pickup trucks still have traditional, bendy antennas mounted at the top of the hood, this is why). The company also had to work around the truck's curved rear glass and control buttons mounted on the rail of the bed. There are plenty of hidden sensors, too. All of these things contribute to Rivian's relatively high repair costs, and also show why the simplicity of traditional truck beds is such an advantage. Most ICE trucks are designed to be upfitted. So is the F-150 Lightning, because it has the same bed, and the Silverado EV uses a lot of those principles too.
So it took a while for this camper to come out. Meanwhile, F-150 Lightning owners could just use the GFC camper built for the standard F-150. Now, though, GFC says it has a camper that keeps all of the vehicle's functional bits in working order. It's also built by hand in Montana, by a crew of full-time employees who earn a living wage. I've been to that Bozeman facility, and I've been a GFC believe ever since. It's nice to see a company make a custom, competitive product for a passionate audience while treating its people fairly.
But custom-designed, artisan-built campers aren't cheap. The standard GFC Platform starts at $8,450 before accessories. But the Rivian version is a bit more expensive: $9,450. If you don't need to sleep in it, and just want a well-built bed cap for your R1T with a solid suite of accessories, the Platform itself is $4,999. Both are available today and can be deliver to and installed at any of GFC's eight retail locations, which are in Bozeman, MT; Vista, CA; Sacramento, CA; Scappoose, OR; Denver, CO; Grandview, MO; New Braunfels, TX and Reidsville, NC.
Contact the author: Mack.hogan@insideevs.com.
