Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Like @MJonaGS32 said, you can just use washers but I had some scrap plastic from work that fit nicely with minor modifications.

 

Anybody know if the K1122- 05 switch is the correct replacement for the fan plunger switch? Pretty sure my switch is toast.

 

I know I Haven't really schlepped my schtuff on here yet(and not really quite sure if I am allowed?) but I have been following a rabbit hole here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-delete-2nd-gen-only-currently.625966/page-10 and I have Drifter specific stuff in the works with Frontrunner door brackets releasing sometime this week(maybe).

 

I have the FR doors on my order. What do your brackets do?

 

Mounts traction boards and axe or shovel. I should have pictures later this week. Provided my regular job doesn’t kill me.

 

Very Nice. I wonder if it could be adapted to hang other things but probably tough for wider items.

 

Highly adaptable. It’s in the dna of the design. I’ll have more pictures later.

 

I’ll answer vaguely cheaper then buying one but after factoring in labor cost, it would cost more then a drifter.

Just the rv door

installed a diesel heater to help out in the Eastern Sierra low temps. Didn’t want to drill holes in the bed so I Used an old electronic device cover that was cut down, bend one edge to match the rest, drilled holes, add weather stripping and done. It worked great but fuel pump is loud. I mount it on the passenger side for now but will relocate it to the driver side down the line since I have my tire airing stuff in the other box that need to be moved.

also made a mock up flaring to help with wind noise/passing big rigs/gain mpg. Like the fact of using plexiglass to trace the windshield edge. Will be making the entire thing again out of aluminum but as a tool box to store things so it be dual purpose

 

Looking forward to more pics. Really want a way to tie out dogs to side. Got a plan for this with the attachment?

 

i like where this is going. looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

I know this thread has contained discussions about Mr. Buddy heaters. Has anyone used the Olympian Wave 3 in their VO? Wayfarer Vans from Colorado is recommending and installing them in their vans over Mr. Buddy. Here is a video from their site that discusses their upgrade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkIpnLCH7g

 

how’d the heater do at warming the camper up?

 

I don’t n ow of anyone using one in a drifter but I k ow a guy that uses them in his pop up camper and swears by it over a buddy. Still creates condensation but puts off good heat I’m told. They aren’t all that cheap tho from what I remember. Your a a third of the way to a propex or diesel heater

 

The guy in the video says it will increase the van temp 30 degrees over ambient air temps. I like camping in the winter, which means I will still be in a cold vehicle with the Wave 3. I prefer to use the heater to warm up after snow sports - something this doesn’t look well suited for.

 

I have a buddy heater and don’t like not being able to use it without the thought of o2 running low overnight. The diesel heater is dry heat and efficient. The one I bought had two feed vent which is nice and isn’t in the picture. I only got a single agm 31m and was able to start the trunk in the morning after running it for 12 hrs. When I was in mammoth temps were in the low 30s and breezy. Had the window cracked and temp inside was 72ish. None of my walls are insulated (ceilings, walls & tent). I believe fuel pump fz setting range is 1.4 to 5.4 and I used 2.1 for the night. It was cozy only had one fleece blanket and we were good. Can definitely tell the delta in temp whatever side my body was close to the tent wall. Only negative to me is the fuel pump which I used ear plugs and the wife had her music.

 

Did the fairing help with wind noise and did you pick up any milage?

 

I do not think a fairing is needed. I had an Autohome Maggie tent on my previous 4runner and I did not notice any MPG loss with it on or off (to my surprise). But the maggie is fairly streamlined. I should have my Drifter in the next two months and will make my own analysis on MPG.

 

In normal freeway speed w/o flaring there isn’t wind noise for my setup. It was turbulent passing simi trucks. Now with the flaring my scangauge register more mpg at speed and passing simi is smooth. Hand cal mileage is at 16 mpg running skinny 33’s. I think it certainly help with the last trip I did but alittle more miles will help evaluate its effectiveness. It is also only 4’ wide instead of 4.5’ since that’s the size of the scrape plexi that was available. Once the box is made it will be more aerodynamic.

 

With my FWC when passing oncoming semis the fairing helped immensely. Without it I could feel the effect on the truck and camper. It wasn't pleasant. FWC's have a bigger surface area compared to the Vagabond.