Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Has replaced their tailgate skin with the Relentless Fabrication tailgate reinforcement? I would really like to have a flat metal surface but it changes the height of the tailgate cap and I’m worried it will not seal well with the drifts door. Any input would be helpful. Cheers!

 

Perfect. Thank you so much!

 

Seals fine. The flat skin is perfect for cooking on or not damaging your knees.

 

Somebody posted an aluminum option from another brand that was like $120 iirc. Just an FYI. It just is the skin, you still use the stock cap

 

can you set up and take down the larger awning by yourself just fine?
Or is a 2nd person somewhat needed?

 

I made my own w/ the help of a local fab shop. I still use the plastic top cap for now. It’s in the thread linked below.

Wackyhacky's 2013 Tacamper Build

 

I have the 8’ ARB awning on the driver side. Doable to set up and take down solo, but pretty difficult without looking like an idiot. Damn near impossible if wind picks up.

 

I have one in my 2nd gen and it works great. Not sure about 3rd gen though since they have quite a different window flap setup

 

I can’t speak to Relentless Fab one, nor the tailgate cap since our truck is a Frontier, but we’ve got a Mountain Hatch on our tailgate and it was worth every damn dollar.

 

Here is the way I do it, but I seldom set it up solo. Way easier with 2 people.
https://youtu.be/ZI872CutHXY

 

I set up my 6’ arb awning by myself most of the time but the 8’ would definitely be more tricky.

regarding the tailgate skin, I made one myself out of 3/8 starboard UMHW that I picked up at a shop locally. Traced my stock skin and cut it out. Seals as “well” as the stock skin.

 

Maybe I’m a b*tch but I think it would be almost impossible for me to set up my 8 footer on my own. I’m 6’1 with long arms and it’s just a pain. 2 person job IMO. Your skills are impressive! Haha

 

2nd Gen here, but I did spring for the Relentless tailgate skin. Expensive but I really, really like the one-piece design that replaces the cap as well. Seals up nice with my Drifter hatch. Again, 3rd Gen is different. But I can vouch for the quality and improvement over original of the Relentless offering.

 

Lol that isn’t me in the video. I just use the same technique. However when I do it, I look a little more awkward

 

In reply to "can you set up and take down the larger awning by yourself just fine? Or is a 2nd person somewhat needed?"... I think it so appropriate that @MJonaGS32 referenced Off-Grid Backcountry Adventures.
Because as I commented on his Vagabond Outdoors announcement video (Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-CHANGES TO THE RIG! Here is what's coming up!) my Drifter setup is based on his setup.
Never attempted to open the 2500X2500 solo. That's what the Mrs is for... also I suspect it avoids unnecessary cussing.

 

Setting up is actually easier because you're controlling how much material you have to deal with little by little. Putting it away is more difficult because it's all the way open and a lot more material to manage at once.

 

I think I've said this before, but we used to have an ARB 2500 on our van. My wife vetoed another ARB (or similar awning) on the basis that it was too much of a pain to set up and take down. Her opinion was that we're only getting an awning if it's one of the free-standing 270 varieties, since we're much more likely to use it if it's easy to deploy.

I'm planning to pick up one of the overland vehicle systems awnings as soon as I can get @tyfoon11 @Overlanerd or @Iggy to send me some of their awning brackets!

 

Can someone with a new-ish Drifter post a photo of the clip that the support pole is retained in against the ceiling? The one that came in #11 is metal and the "fingers" extend past the pole by about an inch and when I have the Drifter all closed up with a comforter, it ends up pressing into the tent/window material leaving impressions in the window.

I'm thinking of replacing it with something that doesn't stick out as far from the pole retention area and maybe this has already been solved and updated on the newer Drifters.

 

Photos please! It's a bit lacking on their site. https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...ma-tail-gate-reinforcement?variant=6192257412

 

Here’s a Relentless tailgate skin.




I just happened to be taking pictures of the bed to put it up for sale.