Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

With the heaters mounted in the spare tire location, wouldn't you have to worry about deep water crossings?

 

Yes, however...

I avoid deep water crossings like the plague. Lost my transfercase on my last truck, almost hydrolocked my 4Runner, and soaked my current trucks interior.

 

Test dummying a 2” mattress topper from Walmart.

Just opened it up to air out, but it feels significantly better if the mattress topper is under the current Vagabond one instead of the other way around.

Will update on how it feels (subjective) once fully expanded and if I can close the Drifter with it.

You’ll notice it’s too wide - I bought a queen with the intention of cutting the width of the mattress topper. The queen was the only one long enough to match.

UPDATE: It sucked. I slept on it with my dog, and he ended up tearing chunks out of it too. It did not help my back/shoulder pain one bit either.

 

I wonder if he’s gonna make one for a third gen. Any info on price point..I think the Sherpa option is around 300.00

 

I installed the OME Dakar HD leaf pack for the drifter, but after picking up the camper it seems I need to aal. It's rated to support a load of 660 pounds plus the 15% from the aal (759 pounds) still doesn't seem like enough...? Not sure what to do. What do y'all think?

 

I have the extra leaf. Here is what it looks like with around ~900lbs in the bed + spare

 

it will fit third gen, they are the same mount wise. you should contact him regarding price gtmartin284@gmail.com i think its pretty competitive the sherpa i think starts at 330 but powder coat and stuff adds up quickly on them. they make nice stuff thou

 

Only a couple of times. But they were both longer trips so I anticipated more water usage and brought the extra 5 gal

This is a great explanation. Thanks!

Of course. My diesel heater is plumbed this way as well.

 

This is precisely why I wouldn’t want to mount a heater under there without some sort of waterproof encasing/box. Although we can try to avoid water crossings, sometimes its inevitable and going a different direction to try to bypass it is not possible

 

Anyone know the width of the L track option on top? I know the bed width on the caps is 58.5" but I am hunting for a solar panel deal during Black Friday and need to know if I mount a solar panel width wise on the front of the Drifter how big I can go.

I am looking at two panels now; one is 58.4" and the other is 51.3". Really just wondering if the 58.4"panel will extend past the L track.

 

I’m definitely considering mounting a Propex HS2211 in some kind of portable tote now. I like the idea of just carrying along a 20lb propane tank and running the grill and heater off one source. Last thing I want to do is carry another fuel source like diesel.

 

Another source of fuel can be a PITA, but I fill up the heater tank before trips and it’ll usually last me the whole trip - especially with only using it at night and on the lowest setting. So I’m not carrying an extra container of kero like I am with gas/propane. I’ll get to test the tank capacity very soon with this winter being my first with a baby. My wife hasn’t camped with me in the winter yet, so it’ll be a first for both of them. There’s already snow in the sierras so I’m excited to get extended use out of the heater.

The main reason of getting the Chinese diesel heater was because I was fed up of the finicky buddy heater and this was the next cheapest option at $150. You can find them for even cheaper now. When it eventually craps out on me I’ll probably get a propex, but until then the diesel heater is serving my family and me well.

 

Family is the exact reason I want one. If it was just me I’d stick with my heated blanket as it does well enough imo.

With a one year old in a pack n’ play in the bed of the truck I need to find a better heating method before we can think of camping during the Winter months.

 

Exactly, can't always avoid it where we like to go... you'd give up any chance of doing Mojave road with that water crossing...

There's some great trails out this way too where crossing 3ft of water is mandatory...

 

So clean! Do you feel like it helped with drag into headwinds at all?

 

Afton is 3/3 for destroying my vehicles

 

i haven't gone too far since getting it on yesterday, ill report back -

 

Never tried it but always thought if you got enough speed the wake would keep the water from reaching the heater. The bottom of my Propex sits 4-inches above the rear doors so I would expect water intrusion in the cab. The 2211 is weather resistant but not submergible. I thought about using high heat caulk on it and wrapping the duct with the stretchy water proof plumbers tape to make it more water proof. Although now you are talking height that would enter the truck bed as well where my Vagabond carpet and house battery will live. I have diff breathers but would avoid this height of water at all costs.

 

I hear you. I spoiled my wife with a sweet toyhauler so if I wanted her with me in the Vagabond, this was her list of demands: "Cabin" Heat, Sink, and gas burner. Must have ability to make coffee and breakfast inside Vagabond in minimum 68-70 degree comfort. She is always cold. My buildout will have a 30" counter space with sink, Nat. Luna 60L Fridge/Freezer, and a 60" couch/dinette with Lagun table. Will also require space at night for PETT Toilet to sit below bed between couch and counter so business can be done without leaving the heated space. Working on a shower too that basically consists of a 1.5 gal stainless steel bug sprayer that can be set directly on the burner for heating and utilizes a kitchen sprayer.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Longray...-dfMgMlDWZz6-Vu7IfoaAoqiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

$85 Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Folding Toilet - Plus Bonus Original Wag Bag Kit

https://smile.amazon.com/Cleanwaste...d=1605497481&sprefix=PETT+toil,aps,201&sr=8-5
https://pantherrvproducts.com/dometic-smev-va8006-rv-square-kitchen-sink-w-glass-lid/
https://pantherrvproducts.com/hb1320us

 

That’s quite a list! Looking forward to see how you lay everything out.