The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

I agree with the access where you need it, I've seen Jay's build a couple of times with the fridge at the rear passenger side with a side door to open on the trail. I have also seen how easy it is to grab a cold one....

It also helps on the truck weight if I can shift some weight to that side-fridge, water, 2nd battery and tools. All of which would be easier to access if needed.

Driver side is getting a simple window with screen for more air movement, I have that on my shell now and love it for ventilation/airing out gear on the drive home.

Now my decision is whether to go with the windoor or the gullwing on the passenger side. Thinking out loud, here is what I see are the pros/cons of the gullwing compared to the windoor.

Gullwing pros
Looks
durability
Drifter width on narrow trails (won't snag branches)

Gullwing Cons
Cost +$400 over a windoor
Weight-Read that the windoors are 1/3 of the weight of a Gullwing and a gullwing is about 26# added weight (accounting for the cutout)
Reliability?-Read (@Sharkfrog) had an issue with the latch sticking. Snow and dust will be thrown at my drifter regularly. Easy to clean, lubricate the gullwing latches?

Probably would be happy with either. Still have a couple months to decide I guess.

 

I gotta be honest, I think the decision of windoor vs frontrunner is quite simple. How do you feel about spending an extra $400? If the money isn't a problem, get the frontrunner. If that extra $400 stresses you out, get the windoors. They essentially provide the same functionality at different grades of quality.

 

Good point on the width being inconsequential once you put a awning on the side.
Yah $400 for looks takes some thinking (or liquid courage when I finalize my build). I have a lot of other stuff on my wishlist that will easily spend that $400.

 

Speaking of awning width, I was thinking about getting these quick awning brackets from Australia http://www.smarttouringsystems.com....Mount_Kit_&_Heavy_Duty_Attachment_Points.html to allow for me to move my awning from one side to the other depending on where I am camping (270 awning is way too spendy). They could also help with that overall width bombing down forest service roads/trails/goat paths that I find myself in from time to time if I can just take off the awning easily.

If I go that route there goes most of my $400 I saved by not getting the gullwing door lol

Anyone find any better (cheaper) brackets to quick release an awning?

 

i added two of those brackets to my build. One set on the passenger side and another on the rear. VO are dealers for those brackets so they installed mine too.

 

Sweet! I will just do that on each side and then hard mount an awning on the back because I know I will always have that one out at camp.

 

I went with windoors because I can open them from the inside of the camper. It’s really a trade off for size, type of access and strength.

@belloinsella has been working on some goodies for both side windows that should give them a few more features.

 

If a person orders inside insulation and Frontrunner doors, is a price concession made considering the doors take a up so
much space thus reducing the insulation?

 

Its funny you bring that up. Frontrunner doors are the hardest to insulate. We’ve debated actually raising the price on those doors because of the labor involved. We won’t, but it definitely won’t go down.

 

That and you still have material waste from removing the area where the window/windoor/door goes. Mainly from the outer white hard composite panel. I haven't peeked behind that panel yet to see how the insulation is arranged behind it on my solid sided Drifter (no windows/windoors/doors), but I assume it's one long piece.

 

Thanks. It's tough up here in Massachusetts to see these products in person. Hopefully sometime soon I will come across one so I can go through it live instead of pictures and questions. Iggy, I asked on this board a week or 2 ago if there were any owners in the Northeast. If you know one amenable to a visit, please DM me.

 

For sure! And if anyone here is on the area hit him up too.

 

Come out to Colorado, @White Mountains . We seem to have quite the collection within a few hours of Denver.

 

Yes that's what I hear. The VO guys need to market heavy out here. Even Four Wheel Camper via Main Line Overland in PA opened a second location in Bow, NH

 

Maybe they can sponsor an East Coast tour for me to visit my family next spring. I would be willing to cover Maine down to Alabama.

 

Hell if they paid my travel expenses I’d travel to every state with the camper for expos

 

I have not found any cheaper awning brackets. But, I think Vagabond is reselling them now. I have two from them on my final build instructions. Perhaps you could save some shipping...

 

I found these custom aluminum brackets. Basically it's a quick release plate system that can hold lots of weight.
Piranha Lox 9-1010-3001 with Extended Lever
Can still get the original one on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Piranha-Lox-9-1000-9003-Vertical-Rail-Mount-with-Surface-Mount/282614538145
The company changed names and is now marketing for pet bowls... I think they are selling them selfs short because this bracket has so many uses.
https://www.kennel-gear.com/

 

So is that a quick release awning bracket?