I run a Go Fast Camper out of Southern California and prioritize keeping my truck bed fully open for whatever life throws at you…surfboards, dive stuff, hauling gear for everyone coming along on the trip, and the inevitable “Hey, can I borrow your truck?” text from friends. For this reason, smart storage is crucial. I kept running into the same frustration: the storage solutions available for truck campers were either too generic, too bulky, or did not work with the specific platform I was running.

The frame triangles on a GFC are some of the most usable real estate in the camper and at the time nobody was building bags that fit them. A few others had built similar frame bag products before us, but those makers stopped producing the bags and none were updated for the V2 Pro or MAX. So I built my own. I grew up sewing. It's how I've always approached problems…if something doesn't exist, figure out how to make it. That instinct turned into Filstrand: an operation that designs and handcrafts storage solutions purpose-built for the overland community, right here in Southern California.

How we build.

Every frame bag is custom built to your specific truck (make, model, year, and bed length) just like the GFC sitting on top of it. Each one is cut by hand, then pieced together on industrial sewing machines. Start to finish, a single frame bag takes roughly 12 to 15 hours to make. Originally all the bags that left the shop were cut, sewn, and inspected by me. Now we leave the sewing to a professional shop that is local, but no chance you bag is getting out the door without a full inspection.

We pride ourselves on using quality material that you won’t find from the Amazon bags online. We source 90% of our material from the US with a preference for materials that are Berry Amendment Compliant and MIL-SPEC, and we are actively working on the remaining 10%. That is not a marketing line, this is just something we believe in. It's a commitment to keeping in step with the ethos that makes this community worth being part of.

Filstrand isn't a warehouse. There's no inventory sitting on a shelf waiting to ship. Each bag is made to order, for your rig, in your colorway. That takes time but it's the only way to do it right.

Who this is for.

We get it. You work hard for your money and you're deliberate about where it goes. So are we. We over-research everything, live in the forums, and have strong opinions about gear. Fast fashion and next-day Amazon are everywhere and they serve a purpose. You can absolutely buy a $50 frame bag off Amazon and “make it work”. If that's what you need, no hard feelings. But if you're looking for something designed specifically for your platform, built from materials that will outlast the trail, and made by someone who actually uses this stuff then that's where we come in. Filstrand exists to bring design, engineering, and craft back to the gear you depend on.

Where we're headed.

We're a small operation and proud of it, but we're not standing still. We're actively working to expand our supported vehicles, reduce lead times, and keep raising the bar on every product we make. If your platform isn't listed yet, reach out. It might be closer than you think.

What's in the name?

Filstrand is two words combined into one. "Fil" is a nod to my grandmother Phyllis (shortened to Fil) who first put a needle and thread in my hands. "Strand" is another word for beach, where I grew up and still love to spend time. A grandmother who taught me to sew and two coastlines that shaped how I see the world. Both are stitched into every bag we make.