When it comes to building a capable overland truck, there are a lot of ways to get there. Some people want the lightest, simplest setup possible. Others want a fully integrated camper with storage, power, heating, lighting, and creature comforts built around long-term travel.
At Tiny Rig Co., we’ve spent years building trucks around the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper, and it has become one of our favorite platforms for serious overland travel. But we’re also excited to now offer Go Fast Campers, giving our customers another high-quality option depending on budget, lifestyle, and how they actually use their truck.
Both campers are excellent. They just solve slightly different problems.
The Big Picture
The Go Fast Camper is built around simplicity, serviceability, and keeping your truck feeling like a truck. It mounts to the bed rails, is relatively easy to remove, and has a lighter, more modular feel. For someone who still wants to use their truck bed for hauling gear, furniture, or day-to-day truck things, that can be a huge advantage.
The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper is a more complete camper conversion. The tailgate is removed, the rear door becomes your main access point, and the entire truck bed can be sealed much more thoroughly. It feels more like a dedicated camper setup, especially once you start adding storage, electrical systems, lighting, heat, and accessories.
So the question is not necessarily, “Which one is better?”
The better question is:
Which camper fits the way you camp, travel, and use your truck?
Mounting and Sealing
One of the biggest differences between the two platforms is how they mount and seal to the truck.
The Go Fast Camper mounts to the bed rails and uses a bulb seal between the camper and the truck bed. Installation is straightforward, and the camper is relatively easy to remove if needed. That is one of the things people love about Go Fast: it keeps things simple.
The tradeoff is that, because the tailgate remains in place, dust intrusion can still be an issue depending on the truck, the terrain, and how much time you spend on dirt roads. For a lot of people, that is completely manageable. For others, especially those who travel in dusty environments often, it is something to think about.
The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper takes a different approach. The tailgate is removed, the camper is mechanically fastened to the truck, and the bed is sealed much more completely. For customers who want a cleaner, more weather-resistant, more integrated camper setup, this is a major advantage.
At Tiny Rig Co., we put a lot of attention into the sealing process. Whether we’re installing an Alu-Cab or a Go Fast Camper, our goal is always to make the install as dialed as possible.
Tailgate Living vs. Rear Door Workflow
A lot of truck campers are built around the tailgate. You drop the tailgate, cook from there, organize gear from there, and use it as your main workspace.
That works really well for a lot of people, and it is part of the appeal of the Go Fast Camper. You still have your tailgate. You still have that familiar truck workflow. You can add molle panels, tables, lighting, and accessories around the bed and continue using the truck in a way that feels familiar.
The Alu-Cab changes that workflow. Since the tailgate is removed, the rear door becomes the main access point. For us, this has never felt like a downside. In fact, once you build the truck around that layout, it works extremely well. You can pair it with Goose Gear drawers, kitchen systems, electrical components, and storage so everything is accessible from the rear of the camper.
If you want to keep your truck more traditional, Go Fast may make more sense.
If you want the truck to become a more complete camper platform, Alu-Cab may be the better fit.
Sleeping Setup and Bed Access
Another major difference is how each camper handles the sleeping platform.
With the Go Fast Camper, the bed platform uses removable panels. With the newer Go Fast Camper MAX, the longer tent allows for improved pass-through space, which is a big step forward. But depending on your setup, you may still be moving panels around and adjusting bedding when it is time to sleep or when someone needs to get in and out during the night.
That is not a dealbreaker, but it is part of the camping workflow.
With the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper, the bed can stay made all the time. The platform lifts up and out of the way on gas struts, which makes daily camp life extremely simple. When you get to camp, there is very little setup. When it is time for bed, you pull the bed down and you are ready to go.
For people who camp often, travel with a partner, or just want less friction at camp, that convenience matters.
Cold Weather Camping
Both campers can be used in cold weather, especially when paired with a heater.
Alu-Cab has established heater options, including diesel heater setups, and the platform has proven itself in cold-weather camping. We’ve personally camped in Alu-Cab setups in cold conditions, and with heat, they perform extremely well.
Go Fast is also moving in that direction. They have been developing heater options, and the platform is absolutely capable of cold-weather camping when properly equipped. We’ve seen Go Fast setups used in serious winter conditions, including Alaska-style trips with aftermarket heaters.
If four-season comfort is a major priority, Alu-Cab currently has a more established ecosystem. But Go Fast is continuing to develop quickly, and we’re excited to see where their heater and power systems go.
Lighting and Electrical Options
Both platforms now offer integrated lighting and pre-wiring options, which is a big deal.
Historically, some of these features helped set Alu-Cab apart. But Go Fast has been adding more integrated functionality, including pre-wiring for solar, Starlink, lighting, and future power systems.
On the Tiny Rig Co. side, we can build either platform into a very capable electrical setup. That could mean a simple portable power solution, or it could mean a full 12-volt system with lithium batteries, a Redarc system, Victron monitoring, inverter, solar, lighting, and accessory control.
The Alu-Cab platform already has a very natural home for these more complex systems, especially when paired with Goose Gear. With Go Fast, we are continuing to develop clean ways to mount and package power systems while keeping with the Go Fast philosophy of simplicity and serviceability.
Either way, this is where Tiny Rig Co. can really help turn a camper into a complete travel system.
Weight and Spare Tire Considerations
On paper, the weight difference between the Go Fast Camper and Alu-Cab Canopy Camper may not be as dramatic as some people expect, depending on the configuration.
But weight is not only about the camper itself. It is also about where everything else goes.
For example, if you are running a 34- or 35-inch spare tire, the Alu-Cab rear door tire carrier becomes a major advantage. The tire is mounted close to the camper and integrated into the rear door. It is strong, clean, and avoids the need for a swing-out bumper or hitch-mounted tire carrier.
With a Go Fast setup, you may need to keep the spare in the bed or add something like a swing-out carrier. That can add weight, take up bed space, and move weight farther away from the truck, which increases leverage.
That does not mean one solution is right for everyone. But it is an important part of the full build conversation.
Budget and Value
This is one of the biggest reasons we brought Go Fast Campers into our lineup.
Not every customer needs, wants, or is ready for a full Alu-Cab build. Some people are earlier in life, saving for a house, planning a wedding, building their first serious truck, or simply trying to get out camping without going all-in on a more expensive platform.
The Go Fast Camper gives those customers a high-quality, American-made camper option that is simple, durable, and adventure-ready.
The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper, on the other hand, is for someone who wants a more complete and integrated system from the start. It costs more, but it also offers a more refined camper experience, especially once you add accessories, storage, electrical systems, heating, and rear-door functionality.
For us, offering both means we can better match the customer to the right product instead of forcing every build into the same category.
Who Should Choose the Go Fast Camper?
The Go Fast Camper is a great fit if you:
- Want to keep your truck feeling like a truck
- Still use your bed for hauling gear or daily tasks
- Like simple, serviceable, modular systems
- Want a lighter and more minimal camper setup
- Prefer keeping your tailgate
- Are working within a tighter budget
- Want a capable camper without committing to a full camper conversion
Go Fast is simple, strong, and purpose-built. For a lot of people, that is exactly the right answer.
Who Should Choose the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper?
The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper is a great fit if you:
- Want a more complete camper platform
- Care about dust sealing and weather protection
- Want the bed to stay made all the time
- Plan to add drawers, kitchen systems, power, heat, and accessories
- Want an integrated rear-door spare tire carrier
- Camp often or travel for longer periods
- Prefer comfort, organization, and convenience over maximum simplicity
Alu-Cab is one of our favorite platforms because it turns the truck into a truly dialed travel system.
The Tiny Rig Co. Approach
Whether you choose Go Fast or Alu-Cab, our approach is the same: make the install as clean, functional, and reliable as possible.
We care about the details most people never see. Sealing. Wiring. Mounting. Hardware. Accessory layout. Long-term serviceability. How the truck actually works when you are at camp, in the rain, in the dust, or hundreds of miles from home.
That is the Tiny Rig Co. difference.
We are excited to offer both platforms because they serve different customers, different budgets, and different styles of camping. Some people want the simplicity of Go Fast. Some people want the full camper experience of Alu-Cab. Both can be built into incredible adventure vehicles.
If you are trying to decide between the two, we would love to help you think through your truck, your camping style, your budget, and your long-term build goals.
Ready to Build Your Camper Setup?
Whether you are interested in a Go Fast Camper, an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper, or a full custom overland build, Tiny Rig Co. can help you put together a system that fits the way you actually travel.
Reach out to our team, stop by the shop, or follow along on YouTube for more camper walkarounds, build breakdowns, and real-world overland setup advice.