1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Discussion in 'Bay Area Metal Fabrication' started by MTNHABITOVERLAND, Mar 27, 2018.

  1. Apr 10, 2020 at 7:00 PM
    #3161
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    Speaking of that, I wouldn't recommend using ratchet straps around the garage/barn rafters... This is how the Drifter was stored when I picked it up as a second owner... "Lowering" it onto my truck was ... interesting.
     
  2. Apr 10, 2020 at 7:01 PM
    #3162
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    I agree that the bedrug is a great improvement over a plastic liner or nothing.
     
    huruta likes this.
  3. Apr 10, 2020 at 7:46 PM
    #3163
    Asphaltcowboychip

    Asphaltcowboychip Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2017
    Member:
    #212445
    Messages:
    875
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    @moisesonsurez
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma +3.5 LT
    A lil this a lil that.
    :eek:
    me and your previous owner may have rigged up the same dumb idea.
     
    tacomgee likes this.
  4. Apr 10, 2020 at 8:14 PM
    #3164
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    It wasn't horrible, but it was definitely stressful. If I had to do it again with only ratchet straps, I would have TWO sets on each end. Loosen one a few notches and lock it down. THEN release the one right next to it so it only drops an inch or so at a time...

    I don't have any new dents in my truck and still have my sunroof, so... :bananadance:
     
    ChrclTaco likes this.
  5. Apr 10, 2020 at 8:16 PM
    #3165
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    ANYONE NEED/WANT A SPARE FRONT SLIDING WINDOW?
    Not a fold-down version. Mint condition, boxed up and ready to ship to you.
    PM me your offer and city/zip so I can assess shipping costs.
     
  6. Apr 13, 2020 at 3:32 PM
    #3166
    xplorn

    xplorn Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2015
    Member:
    #168805
    Messages:
    348
    First Name:
    Ken
    Oregon, USA
    Vehicle:
    '10 DCSB OR
    Strategic bends. ;) It wouldn't be too bad to make it perfectly flat (and still fit well) as the copper pads are spaced about 1" apart. I think that would leave more opportunity for failure over time as the pads are very small and close together. You would want to (if soldering), use a fine tip and small solder wire.
     
  7. Apr 14, 2020 at 9:29 AM
    #3167
    Wackyhacky

    Wackyhacky A Well Known Troublemaker

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2014
    Member:
    #131275
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keith
    Berthoud, CO
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCSB
    So I am presently working on/planning to mount an AGM house battery behind the passenger side rear seat. There is a lot of usable space back there once you remove the plastic bins and figured this will allow me to preserve precious space in the bed. Does anyone have any recommendations from similar projects in terms of the best places to run the cabling into & out of the rear of a 2nd Gen cab? So far I have located two existing holes (one smallish one in from the back wall of the cab) and one larger one on the floor in the center behind the seats) that I was thinking of trying to utilize if I can find wiring grommets/glands to use in those holes. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are welcome...
     
    Asphaltcowboychip likes this.
  8. Apr 14, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #3168
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2018
    Member:
    #270670
    Messages:
    1,346
    Gender:
    Male
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2017 Ford Transit by Axis Vehicle Outfitters
    My house battery is behind the driver side rear seat. It's a 60ah, but I'd probably remove the plastic bin and go bigger if I did it again. I ran the cabling through what I think you're describing as the smallish hole in the back wall of the cab. I used a rubber grommet and corrugated plastic loom to protect the wire.
    WmAmTZmd2W7M9REY09mvOklS9O9wGRDqYwCwdi-8_041a5332ffbdbebebec225e8bd65b32b5b34773c.jpg
     
  9. Apr 14, 2020 at 10:32 AM
    #3169
    zhellman

    zhellman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2019
    Member:
    #299570
    Messages:
    118
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Working on a similar project while I wait for my Drifter to be ready. Did you wire your house battery to the alternator?
     
  10. Apr 14, 2020 at 10:40 AM
    #3170
    Wackyhacky

    Wackyhacky A Well Known Troublemaker

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2014
    Member:
    #131275
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keith
    Berthoud, CO
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCSB
    Oh this is excellent, so thank you for the info. I was worried about passing that much wire through the smaller hole but it looks like you certainly have done so. Are you tied into your starter battery as well, or are you just solar only? I plan on using the same battery (just a 125ah version) and 6 gauge wire for my runs from the starter battery to the house batter/DC charger and for the run from house batter/DC charger back into the bed/safety hub.

    Just curious, did you have all this wired up before you went to pick up the Drifter? I am hoping to do so, that way everything powered in Drifter can be hooked right in at installation.
     
  11. Apr 14, 2020 at 11:07 AM
    #3171
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2018
    Member:
    #270670
    Messages:
    1,346
    Gender:
    Male
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2017 Ford Transit by Axis Vehicle Outfitters
    It's wired to the starter battery via ML-ACR. I run some lights, fan, USB charge ports, and fridge via that battery/charging method. We never stay put for more than 48 hours, so that setup has been sufficient for my needs in our van for several years so I haven't bothered investing in anything fancier yet.

    I had this all wired up and run to a fuse box in the bed before the Drifter was installed. Phil provided a loom with all the Drifter's power needs wired at install, all I had to do was add some ring terminals and wire in to my fuse box for power.
     
    Wackyhacky[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Apr 14, 2020 at 11:17 AM
    #3172
    zhellman

    zhellman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2019
    Member:
    #299570
    Messages:
    118
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Any chance you documented your wiring setup somewhere or have photos? I did a rear seat delete last weekend and added my Dometic fridge. Now on to figuring out how to power it and this seems perfect :thumbsup:
     
    Dometic and tyfoon11 like this.
  13. Apr 14, 2020 at 11:36 AM
    #3173
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2018
    Member:
    #270670
    Messages:
    1,346
    Gender:
    Male
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2017 Ford Transit by Axis Vehicle Outfitters
    I didn't document it and I don't really have any photos of the process. Let me know what you'd like to see/hear about and I can get pics and write something up.
     
    Bentrodder likes this.
  14. Apr 14, 2020 at 11:44 AM
    #3174
    Asphaltcowboychip

    Asphaltcowboychip Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2017
    Member:
    #212445
    Messages:
    875
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    @moisesonsurez
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma +3.5 LT
    A lil this a lil that.
    Looks good
     
  15. Apr 14, 2020 at 12:32 PM
    #3175
    MJonaGS32

    MJonaGS32 MJ on a GS

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    Member:
    #15949
    Messages:
    12,399
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    MJ
    SF Bay Area (East)
    Vehicle:
    07 LT 4x4 DCSB 6spd Vagabond
    Drifter wedge camper, Dual battery, OBA, ARB locker, 4.56 gears
    I have wires for various mods going through pretty much every floor hole with the grommets. If your wires won’t all fit in the one hole at the back seats, use the ones on either front driver or passenger and feed them through the side panels to the back.

    With that one floor hole at the back seat, I wired up an amp, wiring for the OBA pressure switch, along with all the plumbing to/from the air tank and locker
    E8C27913-4AB7-4962-A55B-0BCD73458513.jpg
     
  16. Apr 14, 2020 at 2:08 PM
    #3176
    zhellman

    zhellman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2019
    Member:
    #299570
    Messages:
    118
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Thanks! Mostly wondering what products you used for the ML-ACR, fuse box, and other items needed for the job. I have done a little wiring but not much experience so want to be sure I don't miss something and it's all safe / functional.

    I do plan to wire in solar once I get the Drifter, and want to have it ready once I pick it up. Sounds like @wackyhacky76 and I both have the same plan so this would help us both!
     
  17. Apr 14, 2020 at 2:36 PM
    #3177
    Wackyhacky

    Wackyhacky A Well Known Troublemaker

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2014
    Member:
    #131275
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keith
    Berthoud, CO
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCSB
    Hey @zhellman, I do have a "schematic" I did months ago (and shared on here before I think), but I am redoing presently and will be more than happy to share once I have it done. I also have a pretty good list of the materials I will be using with it. The only difference is I am going to use a Redarc charger instead of the ML-ACR set up, which will add cost, but the basics will be the same otherwise if I am not mistaken.
     
    Eze1139 likes this.
  18. Apr 14, 2020 at 2:43 PM
    #3178
    Eze1139

    Eze1139 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2016
    Member:
    #192783
    Messages:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Reno NV
    Vehicle:
    2020 Cement TRD OR DCLB
    I would be interested in your design/list as well. I am like you and might as well get my setup (Redarc + solar) most of the way there so I can just move it and incorporate it into my final build sometime. Let's me use my Dometic the way it was intended sooner than later.
     
    Dometic likes this.
  19. Apr 14, 2020 at 2:47 PM
    #3179
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2018
    Member:
    #270670
    Messages:
    1,346
    Gender:
    Male
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2017 Ford Transit by Axis Vehicle Outfitters
    ML-ACR - I don't have the manual switch wired in to my cab since I don't find it too hard to pop the hood on the rare occasions I need to manually link/unlink batteries
    https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Sys...XLRO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

    Fuse block - I used a 6 fuse w/ negative
    https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-Blade-Blocks/dp/B000THQ0CQ?th=1

    These are useful for managing lots of terminals, but you'll definitely want to be careful about fusing runs of wire:
    https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-BusBars-100A-250A/dp/B01IHPJAUK

    I ran 1/0 AWG wire from the ML-ACR to the house battery and 4 AWG to the fuse block in the bed. You should really read this thread for info on installing a second battery...https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ts-see-them-multiple-batteries-thread.295653/
     
  20. Apr 14, 2020 at 3:25 PM
    #3180
    Asphaltcowboychip

    Asphaltcowboychip Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2017
    Member:
    #212445
    Messages:
    875
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    @moisesonsurez
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma +3.5 LT
    A lil this a lil that.
    I need to get a better setup for the drifter. I had trash @ss genesis dual battery but recently realized the solenoid wasn't working well, and the aux battery wasn't getting charged. I also removed the 2nd battery for weight savings. I've been contemplating running solar on the roof to a Yeti for a quick and easy setup. I dislike and don't understand wiring, solar etc. even after the hundreds of youtube vids.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top