Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

FWIW with some finagling you can fit a G31 in the drivers side cubby as well. For those of us with the OE JBL set up

 

Wait, is that Neil DT and... Tesla?

Thanks for all the replies. MapJunkie, I will take you up on your offer and send you a PM. When you get around to regretting it, just say so and I'll stop.

I know flex panels aren't going to last as long as a rigid panel. That said, higher-quality ones like SunPower (or especially high-buck ones like Merlin) seem to have much better life than the Renogys and Rich Solars of the world. I'm going for slim and light, don't want something heavy on the roof that adds to my already decidedly un-aerodynamic profile...

RedArc replied to my questions with some decidedly unhelpful answers... such as saying I needed to wire SunPower panels in parallel, not series, which is precisely the opposite of what SunPower recommends. (EDIT: Although now I see why, because that's the only way to get multiple 110W panels in under RedArc's voltage limits.)

I'm getting there. It's kind of like circling around the drain, if the drain is the answer - but I'm getting there.

 

It is is worth the wait! Keep the faith.

A big thanks to Phil, Andy, Chris, and Hanford for excellent service and friendship. This is an amazing company.

We are driving back to Washington through Nevada, so we hope do find some great areas to camp on the way home.

 

Anyone know where theres more pics of this truck?

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4WREScAnsm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

I kept trying to trade my drifter for it but @Overlanerd wouldnt bite

 

So great to meet you guys, welcome to the family! Hope your adventure home is a safe one

 

Congratulations! I'll be picking mine up in a couple weeks.

 

I have a couple of questions, mostly unrelated to each other:

For anyone that has the Vagabond Goose Gear system installed, what is the width of the hallway in the middle?

Also, what's everyone using for a steps tool/ ladder for getting in and out of the back of the truck?

Thanks!

 

I've been using one of these step stools over the past ten years for my various campers. Works like a champ.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubberma...MXMgUvPq4L72Hf__6A8UokkGw8STbBQxoC08UQAvD_BwE

 

That's a great height. Do they last long out in the wild?

 

Improvements #1 Inno Box!

We got this low profile INNO box (model 660) which fits perfectly. Sits so that fan opens all the way and doesn't hang over the lip of the camper. Holds all the right things...rug, collapsible table, chairs, coals, firewood.

 

Another Improvement - Blue Ridge Overland Gear tailgate bag (small one, modified strap to fit without tire)

 

And last but not least, I am most adept at using velcro and BROG bags. And velcro to inside of front runner window is great for holding our hiking sticks and sit pads.

 

I like the bag idea! What brand Velcro? Any trouble with it sticking in hot weather?

 

If velcro fails, try 3M Dual Lock.

 

Still digging and uncovering new info every step of the way. What 220W flexible panel did you find that has an OCV low enough to be used with RedArc's 32V max?

Also, another general question for anyone who might know: I saw (for example) one 220W panel that had cells rated at 16% efficiency. SunPower's Maxeon3 cells are rated at 25% efficiency. To me, this sounds like a SunPower 25%-efficient 170W might actually make more power (42W) than a 16%-efficient 220W panel (35W). Then again, there is a high likelihood I'm thinking about this wrong. I already went back and amended my earlier posts with additional info clarifying where I was wrong, so that future researchers aren't screwed by my ignorance...

 

They will have already accounted for the efficiency in the wattage rating. So for a given wattage, a more efficient cell is just going to mean a physically smaller panel.