Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

i have one of these. works well, easy to clean and tucks away nice.

 

Fair enough - my husband would agree. I've used those plastic mats for camping and they do serve their purpose. Maybe not my cooking dream, but that's my own high maintenance problem! 35-45" of solid cook prep space sounds pretty dreamy...to me.

 

Another option is to look into a table like the FrontRunner ones. They’re super thin and sturdy for camping. I have in that picture i posted above.

 

Wow those Frontrunner tables are pricey. After many years using a fancy "camp kitchen" I've gone to simplicity and inexpensiveness with an adjustable height table from Lifetime (model 80565) and simple cheap utensils. I got the table on sale at Home Depot a couple years ago and it seems they are currently double the price I paid but they are still much less than the "overlanding" type tables.

 

I used to have one of these. Till the dog shredded it. That dog is no longer with us. He shredded everything. He once chewed up an MSR Ultralite backpacking stove. That was an expensive vet bill... man, I miss that dumbass.

 

Totally! I agree you don't need to go buy the latest and greatest to get out camping. The motto, use what works, is what I advocate the most.

Personally I like to save up and buy quality equipment that I tend to use a lot or want to rely on, but I usually try something inexpensive first to see its something I want to invest more in.

 

In case anyone wondered how much room for activities there is inside the camper for winter camping.

 

Where are you guys mounting Ham/CB antennas? I had planned to install mine on the Prinsu, but since I'll be losing that, I'll need to find a new spot.

 

Front bumper w/ a quick disconnect...

 

Im confused by this. Are you saying you would sleep with your head in the wedge and dangle your feet off the open area at the end?
I sleep the other way as I’m sure most everyone else does with a drifter. I couldn’t imagine sleeping with my head in the wedge. Would feel very claustrophobic.

I have a 12” sleeping extension and it gives the extra sleeping space i was looking for and still leaves more than enough room to get in/out of bed. Also enough room to still stand and get dressed or whatever if the GF is sleeping.
If your husband is 6’3” id suggest getting some kind of extension. He will be glad you did

 

Sorry. I meant that our feet would be at the narrow part of the wedge toward the front of the cab of the truck but that the bed would be slid out enough to have feet dangle off the end if needed. So gap at narrow end of camper for feet, bed and then gap to get in and out of at the tailgate end. I can't imagine sleeping in the narrow part of the wedge either!

 

I usually pull the platform and mattress towards the back maybe 4" or so, leaving a small gap between the fixed and movable sections of the sleeping platform. That usually works out to be the best compromise for me between gaining some extra space and feeling the gap.

 

The mattress is 6’-8” long, so pulling it back on the additional extension will give you plenty of room in the front part of the wedge.

Everyone sleeps differently and we definitely don’t discount the request for an extension based on height. I’m 6’-2” with size 13 feet and don’t use the extra extension. I’m a side sleeper though.

@danneskjold is also 6’-2” and lived in the Drifter for 6 - 7 months without an extension, and said he didn’t need it.

Our plan is to have them pre-made so customers can decide if they need it when they pickup the camper. If you do need one, grab an extra extension, slip me a Franklin, and we’ll call it good

Edit: Franklin, not Hamilton. Missed a zero...

 

I' looking for ideas for L-track on the rood with load bars...can you post one up?
Anyone else...feel free to join in and post

 

@overlandnerd has ltrack with the front runner bars on top if I'm not mistaken...I was looking to do ltrack on top, and on my non-window side

 

The Frontrunner load bars will come in handy with SUP’s, surfboards and kayaks to start. The ranges in heights will allow clearance for the fantastic fan I have as I’ve been unable to mount them so far. I plan on ordering a set through Vagabond.
Baja will be so much better with boards!!!

 

You can even get them with some knives for under $20.

 

How bout it @overlandnerd? That looks like a great system. I saw them on your IG I think...
I did not see this option on the FrontRunner website. Can you please elaborate?

 

TBH - L-track and stud fittings make it possible for anything to be a cross bar. Get some aluminum square tube from your local metal shop for cheap and call it a day. Frontrunner stuff is cool but pricey.

I did something similar with my solar panels using alum angle iron. I’ll be getting some square tubing and making cross bars out of it toward the rear of the truck. Just have to make sure the height of them is taller than the fan so anything I put up there will clear it