Wedge Life

Made some awning brackets detailed here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacomarin’s-chubby-unicorn-build.536001/page-14#post-28723148

First trip was a success! A week in the desert taught us a lot about the need for thread locker and lubricant

 

Whiskey run

 

Killer! I missed out on beach camping when I rode Whiskey Run a couple years ago. Dispersed camping seemed pretty hard to come by all down the coast, and that was in Feb when it was pretty deserted.

 

Dispersed is still very hard there! I assume they had a problem and had to put up a bunch of barriers on the logging roads...that plus alot of private land?

The road to the beach isn't that bad - and we caught some low winds, so it was perfect!

Mike

 

Yeah lots of private timber land, lots of no trespassing signs, lots of gates including state/USFS land. I stealth camped a couple times up private logging roads in WA on the way down. I lucked out with some bluebird days to ride in Port Angeles but after that it was solid rain all the way down to Newport, so there was no point in hanging around.

I camped at Cape Mtn above Florence which was USFS land and some ok trails. Then drove down near the lower Rogue after riding Whiskey Run.

 

AZ with @d.shaw

 

What's the verdict on the Hest mattresses in wedges? The stock one from VO isn't cutting it, but I also don't really want to end up with a situation where we can't keep our bedding on top when the camper is closed.

 

Slept in mine last night. More comfortable than the Exped Megamat. Bedding fits, but I have lightweight down, not thick stuff.

 

How is it to flip up and get out of the way when you're in the bed space? I really wish it folded hamburger style instead of hotdog!

 

I've got a question for those that have installed a fan in the roof of their wedge campers. Do you have any leaving issues when the tent is deployed in the rain? I'm ready to pull the trigger on wedge camper and a have been told by Topo Toppers and Oru Designs, which are my top two choices, that they won't install a fan on a wedge camper.

I reached out to Maxxair and was basically told that I could run into issues when it rains.

Thanks for your reply!

 

Mines installed like this. It rains alot here in Oregon

 

Ditto.. snow / rain hasn’t affected mine fan at all (fan lid is open in the photo)

 

I use a USB powered fan with remote through tent window in my topo mesa it lasts all night and I don't get any condensation . Maybe has to do with wedge angle ???

 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Think of that, 1000 Watts at 12 volt supply is a piddling 83 Amperes. Nothing a #3 wire couldn't handle. If one could bend it.

 

A "knife edge"

 

Anybody here running a Exped Megamat Duo LW in your Vagabond Drifter? Says on their website that it is an option. The bad platform seems a little narrow for it.

For the people that have owned a topper for a while, have you had to replace any silicone on the outside? I looked at a used Vagabond Drifter today and whatever was used to seal in between the sides and the roof was starting to deteriorate and looked like it needed to be replaced.

TIA

 

Yup, mine is deteriorating and I’ve been contemplating about it, but not taken any action as of yet. I believe they use Sikaflex.

 

Thank you for your reply!

 

Looks like a pretty cool system. Wish they made one that didnt have a line down the middle. Cant really see why you would ever want to fold a mattress in a wedge style.