Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

I'm making some window covers out of reflectix. What are people using to get a window cover to stay? Is the trim around the windoors magnetic by chance?

 

We(my sweet lady) made some insulated window covers for our windoors as well as the front/back windows of the camper using Low-E insulation panels so they can fold compact when not in use. We have magnets in the edges of the window covers and put one sided adhesive 1/2'' steel banding(the windows frame isn't magnetic) on the black border of the windoors to have them attach to so you can't really even see them when the covers aren't on. They stay in place on bumpy roads no problem unless something falls onto them and pulls them loose. Let me know if you want some of our material shopping lists and we're happy to share. Drifter projects are the best projects!

 

The window covers we sell have magnets sewn throughout the border of the window covers and we make our own adhesive steel strips in a variety of widths to install onto the aluminum frames. Some folks have tried using epoxy to magnets to the frame, but ideally you want the most surface area possible. I'd try making your own strips or painting flat stock and adhering with VHB tape. I just made two window covers for my Drifter out of some scrap material (my daughter wanted "fun" colors...so this isn't the standard offerings).

 

I’d like to order a set of your window covers, what’s your website? Looks pretty sweet.

 

Thank you!
https://strawfoothandmade.com/products/window-covers-vagabond-drifter

 

Can your product be used on the solid frontrunner windoors for insulation?

 

I made some out of Reflectix as well.
For the side windoors, I cut them to fit nice and snug around the latches and the strut attachment points, and that has worked well with just a few additional spots of adhesive velcro.
But for the rear, I can't get it to work so great. Even with multiple points of VHB, it often falls after leaving the rear hatch open in the sun.

 

ETA on sliders windows?

 

Half-sliders are done! They are in the drop down menu.

 

How do you pass the time in social isolation...??? Start reading this tread. On page 35. Waiting on a home refi to go through before I put my order in. But getting kinda impatient.

 

I'd love to see your shopping list I'm having a hell of a time finding adhesive backed steel up here.

We have slider windows so I want to do a steel surround for the window covers to secure to.

 

Take some scrap steel, cut into strips and apply vhb tape. Viola, something you can plop magnets on.
Or you can buy 3M Magnetic tape...

 

Also, I’m thinking of doing my own buildout and scrapping the Goose Gear. Would anyone be interested in a goose gear setup? I still am not sure on pricing. Or if there is any interest in it. Ive got crazy delusions of grandeur and this COVID-19 thing has my brain in Manual, Sport Mode... With the throttle pinned.

 

No one up here has thin gauge steel scrap it's all heavy stuff I've asked the 2 fab shops that do 4x4 and they don't have anything smaller than what they make bumpers out of and that's a bit heavy for window trim....... other than that places want me to buy sheets of stainless and then charge me 2hrs labour to cut them into strips........ it's really not cost effective for 3 windows worth of trim.

the 3m magnetic tape I tried and the rare earth magnets I have won't stick for shit and the supplied adhesive does not like -40c and that happens alot here and sticks around for months. I could add a better adhesive but if the magnets don't work then its kind of a moot point.

I was thinking of getting almost like the steel banding that is used to wrap pallets but I was worried about the memory of the metal and it always wanting to curl back up. Do you guys think that a vhb tape will hold it down ?

 

Steel banding is a great idea. VHB is wayyy stronger than you think.

 

Sounds good man I'll give it a go then !

@beardy I'd still like to see your list as well if you don't mind.

 

I got my window covers (mostly) done this weekend. I used neodymium magnets on both the reflectix covers and the window frames. On the covers, I found out that super glue does not work on reflectix. I kept trying to glue the magnets and they just wouldn't hold. Eventually I switched to 2-sided gorilla tape and that worked, plus I covered the reflectix in some fabric to improve the look; attached that with spray on adhesive which also helps hold the magnets in place.

On the window side, I just super glued the magnets where they needed to be and that worked great.

 

I'm sure someone will want to buy your goose-gear set-up. Are you going to keep the base plate since it's already installed? I've got a 6' bed and I already bought most of the material to build my own, otherwise I'd be talking to you about buying yours.

 

Baseplate will go with the rest of the cabinets. Hell, if someone wants to buy the bed with it all installed, that can be arranged. I’ll have a dual swing out high clearance will be up for grabs as well.

 

Flatbed?