Watching this thread closely with the hope of making a purchase after Spring Overland Expo next year. I'm hoping there will be other options by then.
I like OVRLND full pop up, but it seems very unfinished for the price and seems like it would be a condensation nightmare. I've liked what I've seen and read so far about the Drifter, accessing the bed with 2 sleeping up top is big for me. Another big plus is the review of how thick and durable the tent material is with regard to water and wind intrusion. I checked out the GFC website and they have a great product, but just a tad to primitive for the money for me.
I feel as though by the time Spring Overland Expo 2019 comes around there will be quite a few more reviews, likely some improvements made by each of the companies and likely some more offerings from other companies.
***The Tacoma hard sided pop-up done by the DIY team is amazing. If it was ever offered and reasonably priced I'd likely buy as it seem to be pretty ideal for my needs.*** Hint, hint. They did an amazing job on that unit. Well thought out, well executed. A company with motivation and the facilities to build them should be taking note of that concept.
FWC, god love' em, they're the originals for sure.They just haven't changed enough to warrant the expense for me. It just seems like a dated design. I feel like I'm paying for a design they came up with 20 years ago.
What I like about the new companies pumping some new thinking and innovation is that they're making every effort to bridge the gap between sleeping in my camper shell and a FWC. The gap between the 2 concepts is huge and the payload difference is equally large.
My only real requirements are being able to stand up, being able to sit in a chair, sleep on a roughly queen size bed, heat source, total protection from water and reasonable protection from wind, function as a normal camper shell when not camping and light weight so as to not go over my payload. All the rest I can build out on an as needed basis as far as counter / work / cooking surfaces.