The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

I installed the Maxxair Maxxfan Mini (04401M). Unfortunately, one must be careful because one of the “minis” moves a lot more air than the other. I have solar panels, but no wind deflector in front of the vent. I’m careful to lock it down and it has survived spring in Wyoming and high-speed interstate combined with stiff winds.

The wind here destroys a lot of stuff, and cross wind can be just as brutal as straight on. It was important to me that the vent latch. Time will tell, I suppose.

For those folks that desire to trade out the fan, I don’t think it would be a tough job. You have the internal bracing. The real pain is fishing the wire, so you’re pretty much home free.

 

Per Maxxair's engineer, and the instruction manual, the minimum thickness needs to be 2" for their fans.

https://www.airxcel.com/docs/defaul...an-plus-install-01-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=a073076b_6

Our minimum thickness is 1-3/8" due to the 1/8" thick roof, 1/8" thick ceiling, 1" (standard) roof insulation/ roof framing, and the roof pitch/ cross break (for rigidity and drainage).

The Maxxfan Mini is Maxxair's only offering that has a 1" minimum thickness. And it's the only one that doesn't increase the overall height in comparison to the Fantastic Fan. Both the Maxxair Mini and Fantastic Fan produce 900 CFM's on high.

As previously mentioned, the Mini only comes in the non-reversible configuration. And @Iggy mentioned that it's the only one they offer that has a pancake fan with a flat lid. It was actually designed for A-frame, hard- sided pop-up tent trailers, since they also pop up at an angle and are transported to RV dealers on flatbed trailers sometimes oriented backwards. You may have seen dozens of these campers at your local RV dealer. We're not quite big enough for Maxxair/ Airxcel to make a specific fan for us... yet



@geomo , fan deflector will be shipped to you tomorrow. Need to keep that thing protected from low branches...

 

No problem nice meeting and chatting with ya! It’s a bonus that it lead to finally pulling the trigger

 

@Overlanerd Do I need to run any kind of power to the bed, or do you guys handle that during install?

 

I had to pay extra when i i placed my order to have a wire ran from the aux battery under the hood to the bed.

 

Good to know, I'm getting ready to do a bunch of electrical so it would be a good time to do it.

 

So where is the power typically tapped from for the fan, lights, and the following option: 12v Power Port & Double USB? I plan to run a solar charger to provide power to the accessories or charge the aux battery during the day. That's why I wanted a nice thick wire back to the battery and paid extra for it.

 

My batteries are in the hood. I run a 0AWG from the aux battery to the bed through a firewall boot on the bed wall (along with the other wires to/from the truck)



They go through to one of my cabinets where they all have quick disconnects



Then it goes up that corner panel of the Drifter, along the electrical track on the driver side, and to the back driver side where I’ve mounted a Blue Sea aux fuse panel

 

Quick shot of my interior from a couple weekends back on a big sur weekend trip..super simple, one tote (sp?), usually have the truck ready minus the fridge and toilet. Used the buddy heater in the evening when the back was open, but overnight just used sleeping bags. This is the setup that fits me best and the less my sig other takes makes it even more easy/enjoyable.

 

Odd question, but how are you liking that dometic toilet? There are a lot of reviews on youtube but they all seem to be more of a how it works, rather than how much they like or dislike it after using it for a time. Do you use it in the camper? How's the smell? Is it easy to keep clean? How many days of use before having to empty? I've got a Luggable Loo for now and setting up one less thing is always nice.

 

Also curious about this I think @Iggy has one also

 

I think I spied one in @MJonaGS32's rig too.

 

Yea I have a thetford, but they all work the same. Mine doesnt have the cool level indicator on it, but I can usually tell when it starts to get full.

I think they’re great. Aint nothing like waking up in the middle of the night, using the toilet so seamlessly that I’m able to fall back asleep because I’m not full awake from climbing down a ladder and using the bathroom outside in the cold. Call me a bougie. Fight me

Just make sure you sit-test before you buy one. Some people may find them to be too small for their badunkadunk

 

This!

Same thing a game changer..the smell will depend on what chemicals you use before poops..if you're enjoying brews around camp inevitably you'll need it in the middle of the night. The smells haven't been an issue in the camper, it seals up good. I'm a big dude so there is a little bit of a balancing act but worth it. They're pretty cheap in my opinion..around 100.00. It give the drifter another reason for feeling like a small home. Only thing you need to watch for is the change of pressure in elevation.

 

Yeah just like @MJonaGS32 said, it's a total game changer. Sitting on it takes some getting used to like @Asphaltcowboychip said. There's plenty of room do your business, but not as much real estate as a normal toilet. This is probably the main complaint I hear, but the alternative is either using wag bags, that if you pee in make things messy or a deep squat in the woods, neither which are closer to at home toilet experience.

A few tips like what was pointed out.

• Relieve pressure with the lid closed before using.
• Make sure you use the right decomposing chemicals. I've switched to the little liquid bottles because I can add more during the trip vs the tide looking packs.
• It works for #1 as well, but I try and pee outside as much as possible, otherwise the tank get's full quick.
• Dumping it take some practice, but if you let it sit for a few days with chemicals it makes dumping so much better.
• Avoid baby wipes unless you want some splashing when dumping. They don't dissolve as well as RV toilet paper.

 

I’ve got a Dometic cassette toilet that I purchased through the Vagabros. I’ve used it on a few trips. I bought it to make my wife more comfortable on our camping trips, but she has yet to go camping with me. Honestly, it’s hella tiny. I almost feel more comfortable copin a squat out in nature. Almost... I don’t smell it all. But I do worry about it jostling around too much. It hasn’t spilled, yet. I feel like it needs to be hard mounted. I also feel like I should only take it on trips when the wife actually comes because I unfortunately still find myself airborne more often than I’d like to be when I’m out with the boys.

 

Well that explains a bunch.....

 

Hey All,

Has anyone that ordered their Drifter around mid October received their camper or an update in the past couple of weeks? Our completion date has been pushed back several times now with our build date originally scheduled for end of March or beginning of April, which I was told was a conservative estimate back in October. We expected to pick ours up next weekend or early the following after confirming in the beginning of June that it was just starting to be built and we where still on track. When I reached out early this past week I received a vague email that seemed to indicate it won't be done on time and they would follow up within the next day or so. I have not received any more information since Tuesday after leaving a voicemail. I have stayed in contact pretty regularly throughout the process. I would say I have been pretty patient and understanding throughout all the delays but at this point getting very annoyed. We have a couple of week road trip planned for mid July and tent camping is not really an option this summer so we are looking at needing to cancel our trip. Any thoughts or insight would be helpful? Thanks.