Pass thru pop up camper for 4runner

Saw this on ig I messaged them and they said it’s about $15k for parts and labor which I know seems like a lot but a brand new gfc for a pickup truck is $11k and other camper companies are more

 

Got a link?

 

https://campteq.co/

 

How is this different than a RTT? I have never heard of a pass thru pop up camper.

 

You cut a big ass hole in the roof vs mounting an RTT on a rack.

 

It's permanently attached to the vehicle because the roof of the vehicle has been removed/cutout, hence the "pass thru" part of this popup "tent".

 

Ouch never heard of cutting the roof off. Talk about being all in not reversible.

I don't even like the idea of drilling my roof.

 

having owned a gfc (pass thru camper) on a Tacoma it makes a world of difference between a separate rtt

 

I think what you want is a Tacoma and an Alu-cab. Done. Nothing permanently ruined.

 

I could see putting that on my 1st Gen Tundra and cutting a hole in the bed cap. But cutting a hole in the roof of a 4Runner or any SUV seems like you're asking for trouble structurally. Pretty sure you'll void your warranty too.

 

What are the pluses and minuses, would you say?

 

Con is cost I’m sure a rtt and a camper shell is way cheaper

plus is it’s way more comfortable and convenient to have a pass thru basically it’s like a mini mobile two story loft since you can actually stand up in it with a rtt obviously you can’t do that so it just gives you so much more room having a pass thru

 

For that money I’m thinking a Quigley 4x4 van conversion could start making sense if you can compromise on vehicle footprint.

 

How big is the hole in the roof? Where do you sleep if there is a hole in the floor? Or is this about being able to stand up in the runner and sleeping in the runner?

 

@Pavo Im going to push a little more on this question if I may.

Ground tent — upside: you can leave your gear in the vehicle. Downside: you have to have a place clear and flat enough to set up the tent, and then you have setup and takedown. And you’re using cots or pads etc.

Sleeping in your 4Runner — upside: cozy and comfortable. Downside: you have to find something to do with your gear. It’s cramped with 2 people. Requires removing the rear seat bottoms for tall people to be comfortable. Cargo area must be leveled.

Rooftop tent — upside: fastest to set up and take down (with exceptions). Can leave your gear in the vehicle. Potentially more comfortable than sleeping in the vehicle. Downside: expensive, heavy, difficult to mount, dismount, and store.

Pass through tent — upside: can go from passenger compartment to tent without going outside? Can stand up in passenger compartment. Downside: expensive. Heavy. Permanent. Requires cutting a hole in the roof of the vehicle. Here’s the bit that I don’t understand. The benefit of a regular RRT is that the gear can stay inside, in the vehicle. With a pass through tent, where’s the gear? If I’m availing myself of the ability to stand up, am I standing on the gear? And if I’m not availing myself of the ability to stand, what’s the point?

Ursa Minor makes a similar setup for Wranglers. It’s very sleek compared to a normal roof top tent. And it doesn’t require destructive modifications. And it’s more attractive than the campteq version, IMO. For the 4Runner the upsides don’t outweigh the downsides.

 

pass thru tent (I’m assuming if you got one for the 4Runner) your gear still stays in the rig but now you have a “upstairs” and “downstairs” you sleep “upstairs” it has a sleeping platform that slides or lifts up completely. If you look up YouTube videos of a gofast camper or at atlas or super pacific camper or the other ton of similar companies you’ll see what I’m talking about

 

I was wondering if these kinds of conversions were available for the 4runner. I think it’s a great idea if you camp a lot and want a smaller footprint.

It’s probably better return than buying and converting a new tin can van.

 

i do all weather camping and camp mostly in the fall and winter and in all kinds of crazy storms, the only ground tents I found to be truly waterproof are the canvas ones but they take a minute to setup and tear down and usually it’s just me when I camp or my buddies have their own rigs so ideally vehicle camping is ideal for me.

 

So can you lift the bed while you are in the tent?

 

yes it’s on a strut if you go on their website or instagram it has pics and videos they do a bunch of 80 series land cruisers

 

I don’t do the gram, I quickly looked at site, I can take better look.

 

Woah hate to be a Debby downer on this. Haven’t posted in a while but geez. $8,500 for a base mode. Someone is bucking for early retirement praying on the weak minded. I don’t see longevity in this business.

I’m a VW fan and in the 60s-70s the VW camper van with a pop top was popular. Plus affordable. You also have to take in consideration of the times. There weren’t as many options available then opposed to now. Given the choice, ground tent, RTT, or trailer. I’d chose either the trailer or ground tent route. There has been a lot of controversy on roof top load ratings etc to consider the RTT route unless your solo or duo camping. Just my 2 cents.

You can travel more and do more with the $8,500 I’m saving you. Get yourself a decent all seasons ground tent like Kodiak Canvas or a RTT on standby in your garage of goodies for far less than that. The upside you’re not destroying your cars resale value. WIN WIN

 

I bought a nice ground tent last year and used it a few times. It’s nice to have a sturdy tent that allows you to stand up, accommodate a cot to sleep off the floor, with enough room for a nice field desk to write letters home as you quietly sip brandy. But the nicer ground tents suck when you have to set things up for just one night. If I’m in the 4runner, I like to have the option to simply keep cruising to another campsite for the next night.

Just being able to stand up is frankly a huge benefit when it comes to bad weather camping that forces you inside. And considering the general trouble free reliability of a 4runner, it seems a good vehicle to invest the effort and money for a conversion like this. Sometimes I see these super expensive high effort conversions on base vehicles that have iffy reliability, or just rust out in 6 or 7 years. I can’t wrap my head about losing all that money and effort because the vehicle is falling apart. Maybe sprinter vans, and similar ford/dodge options have gotten better, but it seems an awful risk.

 

I'd get a trailer at that point.

 

I think you absolutely would destroy your resale value to those looking for a daily driver 4runner. But mostly because you’re converting it to something else. Just like I can’t expect to get a return on a sprinter conversion for somebody that’s looking for a cargo van.

The price on any type of custom work is always insane. But you have to weigh it against the time it would take to design and make your own conversion. It’s on them to convince a customer that their design and install is actually worth the money. At a certain point in life, time is the more valuable commodity, so it makes more sense to throw money at something to get you going lol. But you’re right…that’s exactly when it’s easiest to prey on people. It always pays to be a critical consumer, it helps sort out the crap.

 

Funny, I was just listening to Overland Journal podcast and the guy on mentioned having this on his vehicle.

Also, sorry but fuck no I would never cut into my roof. Most I would do is an RTT

 

did he say it was the greatest thing he bought or did he regret it like losing his virginity to a Thai lady boy in high school

 

It was mostly just in passing, also I’m at work when I listen so it’s sort of passive listening as I’m doing stuff.

 

One of my favorite (and criminally underrated) YouTube channels is a couple called, “Salty Sunrise”. Their channel has recently switched to documenting living in their catamaran, but for many years they lived out of their Landcruiser, in more countries than you can shake a stick at. They did one of these conversions on their LC and it served them well all over the world, but in my opinion that’s the only circumstance in which I’d consider doing it. As a daily driver and even a fun travel/ adventure vehicle, it’d be too big a modification for me, personally.

 

Ya it would be easier to spend 15k on an addition to your house (full time over-landing), versus you vehicle.