GAIA campers and caps

https://gaiacampersusa.com/products...-colorado-2015-shortbed-5ft-deposit-truck-cap

For those interested in the GAIA camper aspect (shout out to noahv for mentioning in RSI thread), below is the follow-up to several emails with customer service. Overall I found GAIA to be responsive, and they offer a unique design with the pop up (as far as I can tell anyway).

Q: What about a mosquito net for the top so one can open it up at night? Even if it only unrolls flat across the top, a great idea for one to vent the top and have a similar (great design btw on the sides) screen.

GAIA: yes this is being worked on currently and we hope to launch these options in early 2023.


Q: How much does it weigh?

GAIA: It depends on the model truck. Naturally, larger trucks, longer beds equal heavier caps and campers. We are working on collecting specific data per model and that will be added to the website. The caps for a 5ft short bed that you are inquiring about, are in the range of 160-185lbs similar to most other stainless steel caps and even most fiberglass toppers if I am not mistaken.


Q: How tall is it? Is it flush with the Tacoma Gen 3 cab or slightly higher like the RSI? Always important for those that want to put a rack on top, and have to account for the shark fin radio antenna, etc.

GAIA: Most stainless steel caps on the market are slightly taller than or equal height to the high point of the truck cab dome high point. But, not usually higher than the antenna. Most fiberglass toppers tend to be slightly lower, more similar in height to the rear part of the cab roof where the 3rd brake light is. Regardless of the exact cap height, the rack you choose will have more to do with clearing the antenna (assuming it projects forward over the cab, as in the case of a platform style rack). In the case of typical crossbars that you can bolt into the provided t-slot tracks, you typically will have leg height spacers available from the rack manufacturer to allow you dial in your total height and make the item on your roof rack "clear" your cab antenna if that item projects forward (such as kayak or plywood on the rack etc) Also, on many trucks, the antenna itself can be unscrewed and a "stubby" antenna can be put in its place to reduce its height. I understand that is not the case with the Tacoma, just pointing this out since it applies to many other truck models. The overall height of the GAIA cap is approximately equal to the cab dome high point, and slightly higher than the rear roof area. We will provide more specific dimensional data on the specific truck models as it becomes available in the near future, and add that to the website. We should have some Tacoma specific photos of the cap on the site sometime next week as well.


Q: Will there be a sliding window option to access the truck?

GAIA: This is a possibility for future generations of the cap, but I cannot say exactly when this will be available.


Q: What is the lead time? How long, and how much does it cost, to ship to Raleigh NC?

GAIA: There are multiple production runs in progress as well as containers of caps and campers in transit. Based on projected ocean freight arrival dates we project the first units will begin shipping by the end of October. However, we cannot promise a set lead time due to ocean freight variability, customs, usa truck and train availability etc. Additionally, it depends on when you purchase because orders will be filled on a rolling 1st ordered, 1st fulfilled basis. That all being said, I would estimate that if you ordered your cap in the next week, your cap would ship around the end of october to middle of november. However, if delays which are out of our control do happen, it could delay the cap being sent to you. Thanks for your patience and understanding. The current price for the 3rd Gen Tacoma Shortbed Cap is $4299 but that is temporarily reduced for introductory pricing to $3999. We also currently have flat rate shipping on truck caps of $400. However, these rates are subject to change (up and down) as truck freight continues to be volatile.


Q: Can this be installed by a rookie? Perhaps include an installation video online?

GAIA: Yes, they are very easy to install. No complicated , time consuming assembly is required as is with so-called "modular" caps. The cap is fully welded at the factory, so you will just need to drop it on the truck and bolt the clamps into the side tracks. We are working on more comprehensive English instructions and videos and those will be made available as soon as they are complete. At a minimum, we expect to ship the cap with a set of paper instructions.

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Subject: Re: New customer message on September 7, 2022 at 10:56 am


From: GAIA Campers USA <info@gaiacampersusa.com>

Thank you for your inquiry. Please see responses below inline with your questions. We are also actively adding to the FAQ section of the GAIA Campers USA website and we will try to add some of these questions there in the near future as well.


Q: Some pictures have outside hinges on windows or side panels, meaning a bad guy can simply unscrew the window hinges and crow bar his way into the cap. Other pics don't show hinges. What is available now?

GAIA: GAIA is continually improving the products. Therefore, yes you may see various small changes to details on different photos taken over time. We will verify your hinge question and get back to you. In our experience, there is not really much concern either way, because attempting to unscrew a bolt from the outside would result in the nut turning on the inside and therefore still no good way to remove the bolt or hinge. GAIA stainless steel caps are a step up in security over fiberglass toppers, and also provide you with significantly more room for gear and cargo that you want to secure versus bed covers.


Q: Does GAIA offer a Positive Pressure Air Vent or similar (e.g. RSI Smart Cap)? Given your design, is this needed?

GAIA: We have found that this is not needed, nor is it widely used by most truck cap owners. In many countries without "dirt highways" you are driving slowly on a "trail" and not creating enough air speed for a positive pressure vent to make much positive pressure inside the cap (thus just letting in more dust, if the cap utilizes a physical "door" on the top of the cap) or you are driving at high speed, but on a paved highway, and there is no use for the vent since there is no dust. We have also found on some designs that utilize a passive type vent, the vent and/or its seals tend to fail over time letting in significant amounts of water especially when you are in a car wash or driving in a downpour. For all these reasons, no, at this time, we do not utilize a positive pressure door or vent.


Q: Do the locks or latches have any issues in cold weather?

GAIA: We have not observed any issues with cold weather. Most compression trigger style latches are very similar in construction and function, and therefore widely used among truck cap manufacturers throughout the world. They work well for metal panel construction, and for creating proper compression forces to pull the door in tight.


Q: Any paint issues, e.g. RLD is getting a bad rap now.

GAIA: There have been no issues with paint. Proper coating procedures and techniques are important to a quality product such as GAIA truck caps and campers.


Q: Do the windows have gas struts?

GAIA: I am unsure of exactly what you are asking. The front and rear safety glass are fixed panes at this time, not operable windows. We have found that this design is more durable over time, and that most customers have no real functional need for an operable/sliding window in these locations. The rear door on the cap of course has gas struts and lifts. Both windows are protected on the inside with removable security bars. This feature helps protect your cargo from theft, but also helps protect the windows from your cargo shifting into the glass during loading or while driving. The bars can be removed if you do not wish to utilize them.

Q: Can one be inside the cap and secure the windows? Be locked inside?

GAIA: By "windows" are you referring to the operable doors on the sides and the rear? You cannot be locked inside, you simply can remove one screw on the backside of this style latch and then you can push the latch out the mounting hole. However, no, this style latch is not "operable" from the inside, which is common among all products using this type of latch which includes most all truck caps on the market. If you are getting inside and closing the doors down, you would just leave the latches in the open position.

Q: Will you be at Overland Expo east next month?

GAIA: Unfortunately, the timing of the expo is not possible for us this year. We expect to be at future overland expos and events throughout the country in 2023. We will have more information, photos, and content coming in the near future, especially for the Toyota Tacoma.

 

I like that fact that it’s welded.

No 6’ bed though?!?

 

Not to dig up a few month old thread, but I wanted to add to the conversation . I’m looking to buy something for my Tundra and had a few questions that I got answered within a few hours. Please keep in mind, the weights listed in here are estimates, and for a 6.5’ Tundra bed. I’m sure Tacoma beds are substantially lighter, as outlined in the original post.

One of the things I believe that sets this company apart is that it can be modular by design. You can buy the camper portion and remove the RTT portion, add the top of the cap, and have a normal truck cap/topper. I believe they are the only pop-top camper who offers this option, and I think they could get more interest if they advertised the modularity. Here are a few of the Q&As I got from them:

Original question on their webpage portal: The camper and truck cap seem to share the same “cap” portion. Is there a way to make this modular to have a truck cap only for daily driving, and add the tent portion only for camping? Also, when will will one be available for a 2018, 6.5 bed Tundra?

A: Thank you for contacting us! The Gaia Camper is two pieces bolted together (the Cap and the Camper/tent). You would just need the top of the Gaia Cap to bolt on when you remove the Camper top.

We are hoping to add the 2018 Tundra 6.5' Bed this coming year. Im est. 2Q 2023 we will start to see those units.


Email follow up questions:

1. How much does the tent portion weigh on your camper? I would love to be able to interchangeably have a truck cap and a camper, but it would be challenging to load if the tent portion weighs an egregious amount. Also, how long would it typically take to interchange the tops?

A: Im not sure yet on the 6.5' Tundra.

I would estimate 200-225lbs. You could get a Garagesmart System to lift the Camper off the Cap. That would make it much easier. You would need to unbolt the Camper Top and lift off then bolt on the top to the cap. When installing the top to the Cap you could skip installing the gas struts that would save quite a bit of time.


2. Is your camper & topper waterproof? I am not looking to drive it under a waterfall, but I do enjoy camping in light thunderstorms. Will I get soaked in the tent? Will my equipment get soaked in the topper?

A: Yes the Camper and topper are waterproof. No you will not get soaked in the tent! It's usually best to keep any equipment slightly elevated in the bed just in case water finds its way in. Truck beds in general have areas where water can find its way in.


3. How much is shipping to Alabama?

A: Flat Rate shipping is $900 to a truck terminal for pickup or commercial address with unloading capabilities i.e. loading dock and or forklift
Altitude Industries in Denver is the closest dealer to you right now. They have the Gaia Cap and Gaia Camper on display in the showroom and also offer installation


4. How would warranty service claims be handled in a location foreign to your company (Alabama).

A: You can file a warrranty claim on our website. We carry spare parts and can also order in parts if needed.
https://gaiacampersusa.com/pages/warranty-claim


5. Do you have an anticipated weight for the 6.5 Tundra beds?

A: We don't have a unit here to weigh. I would estimate 275lbs for the Cap and the Camper top 200-225lbs


6. How much will the top of the cap cost to complete the previously mentioned switch from camper to cap, and vice-versa?

A: I'll need to check on the cost of just the cap. I would estimate $500ish.


7. Do you have window options for the side of the truck cap portion of the camper?

A: At this time sliding side windows are not offered as part of the base unit nor as an optional feature.

 

Overall, it seems like a unique option and it has my interest. Thought I would share

 

I'd been considering an 80" wedge RTT mounted at or slightly above cab height, with a tonneau cover or Decked. The cap looks like a great alternative, provided they can install tent sides on the flip-up portion. I'm sending an email out to them with some questions.

 

FWIW - I went back and forth via emails with GAIA. Overall they were responsive and starting to roll out more US presence. Some nice to haves - the handles, flexible top concept, etc.

But overall, I keep going back to GFC. Being American made with a solid parts supply chain, the newer ones have a locking mechanism on the top, sides cannot be unscrewed and simply popped off, strong engineering, etc. GFC put out quite a few videos on their V2, and with 5 locations likely delivery times will drop. Be nice if they ever made it to the east coast however.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet but GFC is leading Gaia at this point. Open to thoughts from the peanut gallery of course.

 

Yeah, the way the doors are attached is a concern. I'm surprised they're not using carriage bolts or rivets for that application. Yes, they're mounted with security torx, but you can buy those anywhere.

They did respond to my email, and I'll post it up once I get a response to some follow-up questions I had. They did confirm that the cap will have a variety of material options for the sides of the flip-up segment, though.

 

I actually have an order in already for a Lone Peak Overland camper. They are fully refundable up until production, but I was one of the first orders in so I gotta decide fast haha.

I want a camper, but it’s just not practical to leave one on my Tundra at all times, as I have multiple parking clearance issues with my daily driver. The modular configurations is what caught my eye with the Gaia Campers. Does anyone else know of a pop-top truck cap that can be easily removed or converted to a regular truck cap? As far as I know, the Gaia is the only one on the market.

GFC is probably the lowest profile one and I may be able to squeeze it into my parking spots. I’ll have to look into it for sure.

 

Based on the phrasing of some of the responses, I think that they're coming from Gaia's US vendor, Altitude Industries, rather than Gaia themselves. (Although maybe there's some back-and-forth between them). Regardless, the cap definitely has my interest at this point.

1. Is it possible to have the pop-up portion of the cap have tent sides? (No platform, just the sides.)
   
   As noted above, I'd be sleeping on a platform in the bed and would like to have it popped up while sleeping. yes, We will have an add-on option soon, to enclose the opening with a fabric insert (clear window, bug net, canvas) and make it more like a "tent". I do not have pricing on that yet. But, obviously it will be less than purchasing the full blown pass through camper. This fabric kit will be available in the near future.
   
   
2. Will the canvas "tent" option for the cap be waterproof and leak-resistant?
   
   Yes.
   
   
3. Do you have an estimated weight for a 6-foot bed cap?
   
   Estimating 250lbs.
   
   
4. How is the cap attached to the bedrails? I'm not seeing photos for either the cap or the camper that show this clearly.
   
   L Bracket that attaches to the rails in the Tacoma. You could also drill and bolt it to the rails or use clamps (but would need to take off the rails).
   
   
5. Has this been hard-use tested? I'm worried about flex and cracking, for obvious reasons.
   
   One of the nice things about these caps is that they are fully welded. Unlike so-called "modular" caps that are bolted together using plastic "nuts" and such, you don't have joints and seams that can rattle apart and loosen etc. Flex and cracking, are a more significant issue with Aluminum in our experience. Aluminum is a softer metal than steel, so the welds are more prone to crack from vibration over time. Stainless steel has less possibility of doing this, which is one of the reasons why we use it for the truck caps. Keep in mind that the products are also covered by warranty against material or workmanship defects. The caps have been in production and in use in South Korea by overlanders for several years with many hundreds (probably a thousands) of units on the road. We are now bringing in the products to the USA market but that requires fitting all the USA model trucks, which are of course, different for the most part, than the Korean trucks. This is quite a process as you can imagine, so it takes time to get them all over here, and fitted and tested etc. So, that being said, no-one has run the Rubicon trail with one to my knowledge, but I am sure it won't be long The truck cap itself would have no issues I am sure. Of course, as with any overland type setup, you have to be mindful of how much weight, and how evenly distributed that weight is, as well as how you attach all that weight. Those are all significant factors in how a truck cap can support the weight and its longevity.
   
   
6. Are the doors able to locked and unlocked from the inside, or only the outside?
   
   This is a common question. The answer is no, they don't "lock" from the inside. But, to "lock" yourself inside (against someone trying to open the door from the outside, you can simply use a strap or the like, to attach to the back side of the door. Even if the door latches are not locked with the key, someone can't pull it open if you have it pulled shut from the inside. Just a simple rope type of thing. Or, some people have installed their own slide latch type thing on the inside. Also, you cannot get locked in, since you can use a screwdriver on the inside to disassemble the latch and pop it right out of the door. That, and they would not have the key to lock you in from the outside, to begin with. Hope that helps. Its pretty much the same scenario with about all toppers or caps on the market.
   
   
7. Does the rear door prevent the tailgate from being opened? It looks like it sits flush with the top of the tailgate, and would not, from what I'm seeing.
   
   When you fit the cap on the track you have adjustability in how tight you bolt it down or you could add thin spacers in between the Cap and Bed Sides. These options would help the tailgate open without having to open the rear door.
   
   
8. Is there a possibility of solid doors (without windows) being added?
   
   The Side Doors are Solid. We can check and see if we can custom order a cap with a solid rear door.
   
   
9. The door hinges cannot be removed from the exterior of the vehicle, correct?
   
   You would need to unlock the door and access the nut on the inside to remove the hinges.
   
   
10. Will an upper side-facing mounting rail be available for the cap, so that an awning could be mounted to the side? (Since an awning mounted to a roof rack wouldn't be able to be used with the roof popped up.)
    
    I'm not sure if/when Gaia may add a mounting rail towards the top of the cap. I have not heard of any plans to add a mounting rail.

 

I had some more questions as well. Some are the same as yours:

Do you have mounting points for awnings on the camper? I see the rooftop t-tracks, but I don’t think an awning can be mounted here. Am I missing something?

We had one customer bolt the Quick Pitch Awning Brackets to the Camper... Or you could bolt some tracks to the side of the camper.

As I will be reconfiguring the camper from truck cap to camper mode somewhat frequently, is there increased risk of degradation of the weather seals? Is the camper designed to be changed out like this?

I dont think the seals would degrade faster than normal. It's mainly just unbolting/rebolting to attach the camper or panel.

Is the camper/truck cap insulated? Do you offer a “cold weather” lining?

There is not a "cold weather lining" available from Gaia at this time.

Is there a way to ventilate the topper while driving? I have dogs that ride in the bed.

it would probably not be too terribly hard to simply cut in a window to the side doors. You could have an RV shop or custom van builder, cut a hole in the stainless steel sheet metal (just a simple angle grinder and a steady hand can do this) and then put in an aftermarket slider window. Here is an example of aftermarket slider window...
https://www.sprinterstore.com/merce...WVQeUtkEIv3HsW3_TLxovHI2Pn_jYsC0aAlImEALw_wcB

Can you lock/unlock & open/close the hinged back & side doors from inside of the camper/topper?

The hinges Gaia uses do not lock/unlock open/close from inside the camper topper. You would need to add an aftermarket latch/locking mechanism

 

Im not sure how I feel about not being able to “close & lock” then “unlock and open” the doors from the inside. Isn’t that one of a “no-brainer” features of a camper?

But On the other hand, I get it. I never locked my ground or RTT and never had any issues lol. I would just like the option to stealth camp (when in truck cap mode, not pop up topper mode) and not worry about security.

I would also like to see more provisions for mounting awnings. Windoors would be nice, but I could get that installed by a local RV shop relatively easily if I really wanted it. These guys will probably have my business when they release the 6.5 bed tundra model.

 

Echoing comments above re Lone Peak https://www.lonepeakoverland.com/products/lone-peak-camper

Seems like a great idea, and will all the options costs the same as a GFC with all their options (both about 10k with everything). Lone Peak had some pretty cool features/functions, like the bed the raises, gear caddys, etc.

Thinking GFC offers a more mature product (V2 CNC vs. LP's V0/V1), and GFC offers (perhaps?) a more structurally sound engineering design. But again, once LP gets going they do offer a nice setup.

 

Ignorant question - but my TRD Pro came with a full bed liner (some sort of shell - not a spray job, so it likely can be removed).

Assuming this has to be removed for the campers to be able to clamp onto the bed? Is it worth cutting just the top part where the rails are?

 

Lastly - GFC videos show it able to be locked. Didn't see that on Gaia or LP but may have missed.

 

I remember seeing somewhere that the LP can be locked & opened from both the outside and the inside. I would take a look at the "full walkthrough" video on their youtube/instagram.

I have been following them since they announced it in the mid-summer, and I placed an order about a month ago. I am just moving to a new city now, and worried about height restrictions with garage parking, workplace parking, and parking decks (my Tundra is already 78" tall with just a mild, 2" lift and 33.5" tires).

As I understand it, the Gaia topper portion can be key locked, and you would have to padlock the pop-up portion on the latches. No way to lock it from the inside.

Not sure about this one. You can reach out to the LP folks using their chat function or email function and get a reply relatively quickly.

 

LP viewers may find this interesting. LP founder even offers reply on page 3 https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lone-peak-overland.784704/page-3

 

Thanks @essjay, @dherring256, and OP @Tarpon Slayer for sharing the info/responses you received. We are a dealer and offer sales / installation and received our first 2 units last week. We also have a unit installed on our *2022* Tacoma available if anyone would like to see it in person.

We plan to help develop or offer future solutions for common concerns. We will also create a in-depth walk-thru video of the camper once it's mounted including dimensions, weight, etc. Please DM or reach out if anyone would like any more info.

 

Is this a custom project truck? Isn't a normal Tacoma less than 18'?

 

2022 year

 

I meant Model Year 22 (MY22) or a 2022 Tacoma. My typo was updated, thx.