The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

I hadn't thought much about parking lots, but this is an excellent point. While camping it would be great. I think it would suck driving and parking around town in traffic dense Seattle. It is not our daily driver, but still.

 

Do you have a BAMPF now? Past 90* would be awesome, do I hear 180*? "The Toy is nothing but an enjoyable money pit"...SO TRUE.

 

Or we can just be like @rob1208 and have quick-connect awning brackets on both driver and passenger sides so you can move the awning to either side.

 

A swing out is great, but also, a lot more weight and expense and makes tailgate access more difficult while in transit (we use the tailgate as a changing table at lots of gas stations/rest stops these days ).

Here are some swing-out free solutions to the issues you bring up that I'm implementing...

Trasharoo can go on the tailgate. It's a bit less convenient since it's difficult to access with they tailgate is open, but doable. Usually I move ours somewhere else in camp when we arrive.

You can just add a hose to your water jugs and run that out the end of the tailgate. As long as the end of the hose is below your jerry, the water will flow. If you add a hose attachment, you can also refill them directly from your spigot at home and then you never have to move them out of the truck. A pump is great too obviously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvYeDePC47Q

I have a 5lb tank with a 6ft hose from the local propane shop. It gets strapped to some L-track in the bed for travel (see red elastic band in the bottom of first image) and placed on the ground when we arrive at camp. The long hose allows me to still run the line in to the truck for heating or cooking when its cold.

This is one I'm still wrestling with, but some version of what @alldownhill implemented seems like a great plan. It kinda moves the kitchen box off the tailgate, providing extra tailgate space for prepping but also making it easier to allow camper access. I also like this idea because you can still move your kitchen box to a central camp table if you're with a big group. See https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ildout-and-mods.540940/page-126#post-22151560

 

I have mine on passenger and rear. I've only deployed it once but its nice having a longer awning off of the back when I need it and put up some awning walls to get some more covered "living" space (stole the idea from @Eazy.E)

 

That dude also has a single swing out bumper on a DCLB - seems to get around just fine with all his length!

 

I stand corrected. Bad ass either way

 

What kind of a solution would be needed to reinforce the struts holding up the roof up and allow for carrying additional weight when open ?

With a roof rack and a couple of basic items it could easily exceed the current limit, anyone have ideas on how to support about 200+ lbs realistically ?

 

Upgrade the struts. I think VO has some options if you tell them before your build. I swapped mine out after the fact with 200lb struts because I added two solar panels and I have a snowboard rack in the winter. Bought them straight from McMaster for $50
https://www.mcmaster.com/9416k54

 

I agree. We should have gotten the upgraded struts. May change them out.

mjona, is it easier to lift with the upgraded struts, or are you just more confident about the weight its holding and that it won't fall down? Are the struts you ordered the same ones used by vagabond? thanks.

 

for those worried about the roof collapsing check this out. I think we are the only wedge camper on the market with this level of safety.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv5ECtPhz2_/?igshid=1q9wr3jf416lk

 

Jay can do more pullups... Post the full vid!

 

jays a one and done kind of guy. That was uncut first take. He’s a pro, dare I say he’s raising the bar?

 

Jay ain’t no lil dude either.
But more important, how much does he charge to dry hump my camper?

 

This actually makes me feel better. I’d rather have a camper that’s built right. I still don’t see anything better on the market. I just it’s ready before it’s to hot to explore the Mojave.

 

Hey, I remember seeing y’all at NW overland rally, recognized the dogs. We had the tan taco with the grouchy Boston. Seeing the 270 on it looks great. I’m definitely getting one installed on mine.

 

Who makes a swing out on the drivers side?

 

no idea, nobody i know

 

It may be a little more difficult? I don't really notice it. *EDIT* The lid is a little more difficult to open because of the added weight of the solar panels (and snowboard racks in the winter), plus with the awning on the back, it kinda changes the lift angle to open it. But once the lid is about 12" off the top, the struts actually make it easier to prop all the way open.

The struts are the very same ones used by VO. That's actually one of the things I love about the Drifter. All of the hardware is stuff you can replace on the go and in the field. No custom pieces that's only available to them and difficult for you to get a hold of. Makes it easier for everyone.

Just a heads up, replacing the struts were a little more difficult than I expected, but once I figured it out, it was easy. You'll need to remove the tent fabric (zippers) because it'll be the limiting factor when trying to open the lid so the struts can be mounted - because there's no way you're going to be able to compress the struts to fit in the mounting points.

Because I was by myself doing this, I used a ratcheting cargo bar that was in my garage to hold the lid open while I removed the tent and the old struts


Once the struts and tent was removed I used the ratchet to expand the cargo bar - thus lifting the lid the necessary height to mount the struts to their mounting points. Once the new struts were in place, I lowered the cargo bar just enough to put the tent back on.

 

Yes! Drifter on board as of Thursday. Forgot how much a PITA camping out of a pickup truck with no shell is - the weather between Colorado and Benicia was cold and wet. Once the Drifter was on the truck (thanks, Jay and Chris!) things felt a lot more like my normal. Except, that is, lighter and more bomber. Super-nice build quality. So far I'm very impressed. Can't wait to get back home and start building this thing out!

Very few photos because the weather has been insanely rainy as we drove up the coast to visit family in Oregon for Christmas... I'll get more photos ASAP.