Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

I'm trying the Exped DeepSleep Mat 7.5 Duo this weekend. 3" thick should be enough for two side sleepers and the doggo who uses rocks as pillows usually.

I first tried the Exped MegaMat Duo LW+. It was great and very comfortable, but overkill with the R-value inside the Drifter and at 4" thick, I couldn't leave a comforter up there anymore.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XyS8PH5rg/

 

I definitely want to leave a comforter and pillow up there still. Thats pretty important to me. I think I will try that 2" topper from Costco linked above. With the minimal research on here I should be able to still close the tent with a 2" foam topper..

 

Just a btw, those things are awkwardly heavy and are hard to move around.

I'm at the point where I'm going to put in an RV or hospital memory foam mattress in and ditch the Vagabond one. I can't feel my damn shoulders when I wake up lol.

 

I also worried about condensation/mold with a topper on top of the Vagabond waterproof mattress cover.

 

I guess I should ask - If I can get new mattresses made that are better than the ones we currently have, would people be interested in it? I'm sure I could figure something out with North America Mattresses.

 

I thought about ditching the Vagabond one and ordering a custom 4-5" thick mattress from Tochta or similar company. https://www.tochta.com/

Shelling out $500 or so on a Tochta mattress that might not be comfortable for the price you pay is too risky for me. Thinking the 2” topper will do the trick for $100 ish.

I had a memory foam topper on my Autohome Maggie, it helped some. Yeah its not very light but I do not think you need to move it around once its set in place?

 

I have a 2” topper, I have had no issues but I can’t store a comforter up there. I pull the platform back and store my pillows there. I cut it to fit and it’s made sleeping in the drifter enjoyable. I used to toss and turn before or wake up incredibly sore. Only bummer with an exped is it would make folding up the bed harder. I would love a 2-piece mattress that is far more comfortable so I can ditch the topper!

 

I posted this before about the mattress.. I’m not convinced it’s the mattress itself. I think it is the waterproof covering that is not stretchy. If the cover can’t stretch, the mattress can’t confirm that well causing hot spots on the hips/shoulders/etc.

 

Worth it to me at this point of not so quality nights of sleep.
Also, it’s been solved now by @excav8tor

 

I have heard some people being able to close the cover with a 2” topper on and also fit a comforter and pillow. Guess I’ll have to find out myself when I get it.

 

I've been using a 2" memory foam topper in mine. I trimmed the edges a bit to make it easier to tuck in the tent sides since I leave it up there along with a sleeping bag. If there was a decent enough option I would ditch the foam topper also.

The topper does make folding the bed over to the overhang harder but I haven't had the need to do that with my camping so far. I suppose that will change as it gets colder out and if I don't take my ice hut as a secondary place to hang out(for family outings).

 

I guess I’m one of the few that have no issues with the mattress.

That or you guys need to drink more

 

I was thinking of getting a custom 4” split mattress to replace the one in the truck. Just an inch thicker, and I’ll run my memory pad on top of it.

But let me know how the topper works out; if it’s not too much if a hassle, I may do it myself.

 

I have had folks recommend these Exped ones several times & like you, if I can't sleep decent, I might as well give up & buy a Sprinter... ha. How are they as far as needing air? My only air mattress experience is w/$15 Wally World specials.

 

The MegaMat I tried, I inflated once and it stayed for a month before I removed it. These aren’t cheap, bottom shelf air mattresses AS SEEN ON TV.

 

X2 lost count of how many nights we have on the stock mattress at this point but all have been good. Maybe it’s cus I was coming from a Flippac foam mattress.. or maybe I’m just drunk

 

Oh the Flippac was worse ... and the mold from condensation and the mattress being glued to the fiberglass lid with no way to dry it out...

 

Do I spend $300 on a new mattress, or on booze to make me sleep fine on my current mattress

And the flippac mattress SUCKED lol

 

haha I ripped my mattress off the lid and put a layer of closed cell foam but it only masked a small amount of the issues.

hahaha I mean.. I like to party..

 

Heater question:

Now that we have a little camper on our travels im getting around to installing my propex. for both propex and the diesel heaters there is a the hot air output and the "fresh air" input separate from the intake for the combustion chamber.

On westy's they typically have the hot air output and intake routed into the camper cabin, but It seems like a lot of people recently are only running the hot air output into the camper and pulling air from outside or under the truck (or wherever the heater is mounted) for the unit to warm up before kicking it into the camper.

Both ways work but am I wrong in thinking if the heater was circulating air from inside the camper it would take less time and energy for it to bring the temperature up? rather that pulling in cold air from outside, heating and releasing into the camper it would slowly be pulling warmer air from inside as the temp increases.