The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

If it makes you feel any safer, my dad is a physician in the Bay Area and so far it has been really quiet. He had a patient with COVID-19 that he put on ECO but really they are well equipped and it is not spreading as much as originally expected. 8 total COVID-19 deaths as of two days ago when I last spoke to him.

 

My sister is a nurse in Hawaii and said it’s slow there as well. Still not something I want. Luckily I have a bitchin camper and trees on my property. My says I’m nuts for sleeping in it when I have a king size bed. Me and the dog love it.

 

Slow at my facility in SoCal too. We have patients which are positive but our numbers aren't crazy.

 

Does anyone sleep with their heads towards the front / on the overhang?
Is it rated for that much weight?

I find it hard having to do a back roll and land perfectly on my feet on my truck bed every time I have to get out to not disturb my partner

 

Did your guys’ build dates get pushed back?

 

Lighting Mini-Review

Someone asked for a review of the lights so they could make their build decisions. I am not sure this will help, because you really have to see the lighting in person to make a good decision. I think I will probably make this just complicated enough to leave everyone confused (I am sorry, I guess I am a technical geek). One challenge, is that even decent cameras don't take good photos in low light situations. The human eye makes these low light situations look much better. In order to control for lighting, I started with the highest lighting situation (side lights) and set the camera exposure to normal. Therefore, all the other lighting conditions are going to show much worse lighting. It isn't as bad as the camera makes it look. Perhaps this will help someone get a sense of what the lights do.

First, I created this matrix that shows the amount of light depending on the lighting condition. Obviously, extending the platform is going to block light from above and vice-versa. I am working on a cheap plywood build-out, and that is going to make the interior look lighter because of the light wood.

Lighting Intensity by location


Here we go, pic heavy content below. Note that the camera was normalized to the highest lighting condition. All other photos will reflect that starting point.

Tailgate Light - Platform Extended -- Seating Area
If there were one light I could do without, this would be the one. The light is critical for reaching in and grabbing something at night. If you plan to build out the bed as I have done below, you will find that this is the only light that illuminates the isle-way. The side lights don't extend over the bench seats very well.



Tailgate Light - Platform Extended -- Sleeping Area
Yup, completely black. This one light does nothing for the sleeping area.



Tailgate Light - Platform Retracted -- Seating Area
This light is too weak to light up the seating area well.


Recommendation: Buy this light if you are only buying one light. If you buy two, you can do without it, but the isle-way won't be lit well. It will be your critical light when the top is down, and you need to grab something in the dark.

Side Light - Platform Extended -- Seating Area
This is the big kahuna of lights, and consumes by far the most amps as well. It lights the seating area well. It leaves shadows in the isle-way if you have bench seats planned.


Side Light - Platform Extended -- Sleeping Area

The side lights doesn't light up the sleeping area at all. It is pretty dark.


Side Light - Platform Retracted -- Seating Area
The lighting works well for the seating area with the platform retracted as well.


Recommendation: Buy this light in combination with the top light. You could also use this as your only light, but it doesn't work well for the bed above. Also, lighting down the middle isle is limited, so the tailgate light might be the better single lighting option.

Top Light - Platform Extended -- Seating Area

Only a portion of the seating area is illuminated by the top light. It needs to be used in combination with the side lights.


Top Light - Platform Extended -- Sleeping Area
The top light works great for the sleeping area. It doesn't look real bright in the photo below compared to the side lights, but the human eye adjusts.



Top Light - Platform Retracted -- Seating Area
While this light could work as your sole light, there isn't enough light down in the seating area to make it work well. Pair it with the side light and every area is covered. Also, you can't use this light when the top is down.


Recommendation: Buy this in combination with the side light.

My final lighting thoughts are that each light has its place and if you only get two, some area will not be light well. Vagabond thinks about their design decisions very deeply. My recommendation is to get all three lights -- you will be happy you did. I certainly wouldn't recommend installing your own lights, especially for the side lights. The side lights are installed in the c-channel that is facing out, so they can only be installed well at the factory before the insulation goes in. It is so much cleaner to have the wires hidden behind the insulation as well. A self-install would leave wires exposed in area, where you can't get behind the insulation.

 

Yes, we all got pushed back. Mine is probably already finished but lockdown prohibits install.

 

Great breakdown. I agree with all your points. If I had to pick two, it'd be the top and sides. I use those the most. It's definitely good having the rear tailgate light as I also have a center "walkway" that needs to be lit up and only the tailgate light really gets that.

 

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure the tailgate light comes standard. I have one and didn't order any lighting.

Also, I know you said the pictures don't do a great job of representing things because the human eye yada yada yada, but I think those pictures are a bit misleading. I'm not trying to argue with your reviews of the lights but I felt it necessary to share a dissenting opinion based on my experience, as well as some pictures. The tailgate light alone is perfectly adequate to light up the entire camper regardless of the platform. Here's my evidence...

 

You can absolutely sleep that way, the cab-over is plenty strong enough to handle the weight. Most people don't because it can be a little claustrophobic with the ceiling too close to your face while you sleep. Purely a personal preference thing.

 

The light at the rear above the tailgate is standard on all campers.

Here's a quick lighting breakdown using the names listed on the website where applicable to reduce confusion:

Cab/Standard Light - at the rear above the tailgate. 9 inch led light bar dimmable and switchable from white to orange. Good for quick access lighting, especially when the camper is closed but as you can see from @SenatorBlutarsky photos above will actually cover a fair amount when the camper is open. Faces forward into main living area, not technically intended to light the tailgate itself although does help light that area a little.

Lower Lighting - Led strips running the length of the sides hidden in the wiring tracks (length obviously depends on bed length - either 5 or 6 feet). Dimmable and switchable from white to orange, at full brightness will light up most of the camper especially when the bed platform is retracted. Also perfect when used at lower intensity while someone is sleeping up top so as not to disturb them.

Interior Ceiling Light - 40 inch light bar mounted up at the highest point on the ceiling, dimmable and switchable from white to orange. This is mostly for lighting up the upper sleeping area for things like reading etc. but throws a lot of light into the lower area as well when the bed is retracted.

Which of the optional upgrades you choose is really a personal preference thing. I don't really use the Interior Ceiling Light that much when I'm in bed as i don't generally read when I'm camping, mostly just when making the bed or in combination with the lower lights when I want maximum light inside the camper. However if you, your S/O, your progeny or your thunder buddy spend much time up in the tree-house reading, working or making shadow puppets then this would be a good addition. The ones I use the most personally are the lower lights in the tracks. They put out ample light for most occasions and spread the light out around the whole lower are, and upper as well with bed retracted. While having cabinets can reduce the amount of throw in the aisle it is marginal, plus if you use the standard and/or ceiling lights in combination with these then you will be well covered.

Hope this clarifies most of the questions/confusion, lmk if I missed anything

 

Thunder buddy, LOL! Ted?

 

Lol, yup

 

you rang?

 

I knew I should have put in an order long, long ago

 

its not too late

 

When on solo trips I sleep with my head towards the front of the wedge. It gives me a little more peace of mind in the event someone breaks in, my head isn't the first thing they have access to. I usually move the platform and leave a 6" gap to give myself a little more space at the front of the wedge.

 

Does that mean the gap in between the 2 platforms will have a 6" space when sleeping?
WOuldnt that make the mattress sink in that 6" gap?