Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

We haven't had any other awning, but are very happy with our Shadow awning. It's great for the drizzle in the PNW and I love that we don't need to stake it down. It's super easy to deploy and pack up. My only beef is that it doesn't cinch tight against the back of the drifter (over the tailgate) and rail will drop in onto the tailgate. They make a gutter, but it doesn't work with the drifter. Would still get it again. Husband is 6'3" and works just fine for him.

 

Great point! Thanks- I was more worried about slipping with wet shoes. Maybe some roll-on truck bed coating with a little texture.

 

Back to the favorite topic of electrical, but does anyone happen know what kind of fuse block is the best. For some reason since the beginning of my planning I had listed the Blue Sea Model 5032 (https://www.bluesea.com/products/5032/ST_Blade_Split_Bus_Fuse_Block). Blue Sea has a lot of these though, so I just wanted to make sure I am using what is best or is it too much? Once I started seeing some were postive bus and some were negative bus, I started doubting my choice. This would be powering my fridge, and the switches for the fan, lights, & chargers. Any direction is appreciated.

 

I have tech mats on my fishing boat. It's a great idea, I'll give it a try. I'll let you know how it goes with the plate.

 

I used Blue Sea 5025 - has a negative bus and cover. Works great. Not the electrical guy that would tell you why one is better than the other, but given that all negatives in my entire system share a common chassis ground, I assumed a negative bus would be ideal. Come to think of it, I've never even heard of a positive bus! Do you then fuse the individual grounds? Huh.

 

Precisely why I started wondering myself!! This 5032 has both neg/pos bus the way I read it.

 

I have a 5032 on my boat. It works great because it can handle two batteries. Each battery can have 6 circuits run off of it. The 5025 is like the single battery version on the 5032. Both have a negative and positive bus. The positive bus is interrupted by a single fuse for each circuit. Your home electrical panel has a positive and negative bus with circuit breakers on the positive side. I'm not sure that helps any.

 

let me edit this before someone gets all worked up. your house has a positive and a natural bus.

 

So the 5032 would actually be more than I need for the camper b/c I plan on only powering the fuse block off my single house battery? I just wanted to have more than 6 circuits for future accessories whatever they may be, but maybe I won't need them.

 

You could use the 5026 it has 12 circuits.

 

Thanks! That will save me a couple bucks.

 

Someone had asked me about the insulation pkg from VO. I don’t know how useful this is because I have full insulation on one wall and the other wall has insulation surrounding a regular windoor. We went to the beach today and it was pretty chilly out so the we just hung out in the Drifter with our takeout from Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. Indoor/Outdoor thermometer shows how cozy we were inside. No need to fire up the heater. In fact, I had to open the fan because it got too warm in there (for me, not for the girls)


Wife isn’t ready to take our almost 6 month old baby camping quite yet, so we’ve been getting a lot of practice urban camping during the lockdown.

 

She is going to be awesome camping! Can’t wait!!

 

I can't help with the updated Vagabond factory solution, but I was like #7 or so, and didn't have a clip at all.
This is what I used -

$11 Deliao 5/8" U-Hook PEX PEX-AL-PEX Talon Clamps Pipe Support 20mm Plastic Socket To Fix Corresponding Pipes 10-Pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HOERHBO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Caveat though... After like 1.5 years, the self-tapping screw I used stripped out of the ceiling. Obviously, that's more a fault of me simply screwing it into the e-panel ceiling, but this clip does hold the prop rod fairly tight too.

 

Thanks bro! Hope to find that out soon

 

My oldest loves camping, she’s 5, my youngest, she’s 1 1/2, loves running around in the back of my truck. I’ve shown pics to my oldest of a drifter and she’s like” dad just order it already, it look so cool”. So I’ve got the head start on kids, but you’ve got the head start on drifter. I’m putting my order in in about a month, no doubt she’s going to love it. Just lock her back there for a bit and sit back and enjoy.

 

That’s awesome. Can’t wait to take my daughter out. This COVID crap really put a damper on our plans. Hoping these little urban camping outings will soften up the wife. If not, I’ll just have to wait for next year. We have the rest of our lives to camp

 

I installed my Rago bed stiffeners over the weekend. I was surprised that I had to make a couple mods to get them to fit.



I posted some photos on my build thread. I really like the smaller form-factor of this product.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pragmatic-overland-build-vo-drifter.638732/

 

Thought I'd post up my first attempt at a tailgate pull. For those of us needing to close the tailgate from the inside(and open if you don't have an easy-down strut). This has made it a little easier than leaning all the way out.
I'll be changing out the blue strap and sewing the end instead of just tieing a knot. I used the greenish paracord cause it's reflective and GITD. I also made a smaller pull for the rear window.

 

Here are the rubber clips that came stock with my Drifter. Picked it up in February.