Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Jerry, as always you are the man!

 

@JLee for prez!!!!!

 

Woohooo the Drifter lives on!!

 

#BAMFfam

 

I would happily slap a new logo on my drifter so people can actually get and answer when they ask where they can get one!

very glad you all are doing this as I believe the design to be the best still! So glad they will be made again! Will you be making any changes or just making them the same? I can’t think of much I would change. Would you consider making the rear door hatches with the door?

 

I’ll take a logo for one of the drifters you welded (#11)!

 

There will be slight updates on little things. I've been talking with current Drifter owners on the little things they would change if they could.

If anyone has ideas on things they would like to update I'm open for suggestions. You guys know more than I do on how these preform.

I know the big request was a better mattress with a anti condensation mat and easier to slide the bed extension. I already have Foam samples on the way to make a better mattress. And the extension will slide on UHMW strips to make it extend easier. Something that can be added to current drifters as well I'm hoping.

 

That is awesome. I've been off the forum for a while, but I still use my Drifter frequently. In fact, right this moment I'm camped in the rain at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky! Dry and comfy as always.

Didn't realize this thread had been closed. Didn't know things had gotten (even more) bad at Vagabond. But stoked to see these campers live on. I absolutely love mine and tell people about it all the time.

I'd happily take you up on the new logo - I'll be able to send people in the right direction! I see the old Vagabond Outdoors site is still up. Where will people be able to find/buy Drifters?

 

I use those strips for everything. Glad to see it implemented here. Jerry is taking over the world!

 

Jerry, I have had my Drifter for about 4 years now.

The major thing I would improve is how the sleeping platform stows when you want to use the bed of the truck as living space. The sleeping platform should be on hydraulic shocks and you can just lift up. This is a much better design rather then messing up the bedding folding the mattress in half and sliding the bed plate under, etc etc.

Here is an example of what I am talking about, a Drifter owner did his own modification.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73LyBOpku4s

Alu Cab Campers do this exact same thing as well and it is really convenient to just raise the sleeping flatform up and not mess up your bedding IMO.

Also I upgraded my original Mattress to the HEST Long version. Fits perfectly without modifications and much more comfortible than the orignal mattress.

https://www.rei.com/product/185155/hest-dually-mattress

I have my original mattress too, I can donate it to you Jerry to offset your cost on 1 drifter production, brand new condition. Let me know if you want it! I'm in SoCal though.

 

+1. This upgrade and even better if you can make a kit to retrofit existing drifters, I’d be all over it.

One thing that maybe not everyone else would be interested in but if there was a way to more easily remove the camper off of the bed solo or another person would be awesome. Something like being able to connect slide in camper jacks to lift it off of the truck. I love my camper but would be nice to take it off once in a while and store it so i can go do truck stuff without it. I can’t fit in my garage so a hoist wouldnt work. But again not sure how much interest this feature would be to most owners.

Love what you do for the community Jerry!

 

Good idea! I would be all over the retrofit kit as well.

 

Better mattress, for sure. Though not thick enough that it would prevent keeping bedding/pillows up there when closed.
I wish the rear zippered window had a clear vinyl layer like the sides.
Also that the corner switch panel frames were deeper - I had to add 1" c-channel spacers so there was enough room behind the face plate for Carling switches to fit.
I don't know how much e-panel was still being used on the later ones (if any), but it definitely fatigues/bows over time **if it's not really well supported. Oh, and the finish on it doesn't hold up amazingly, either.

Sounds like it might just be me, but I wouldn't necessarily want the lifting bed platform. I'm not in love with the folding setup either, but the movable portion of my bed platform is two unequal pieces, and I use the bigger half as my desk in my build-out. Plus, I went for LED strip lighting on the ceiling, which is perfect, but obviously wouldn't work so well once blocked by a bed. And the top edge of the side windows would probably have to come down 2-3" in order to still be accessible with the bed lifted.
All things that could be dealt with, sure, but just throwing in my $0.02 that the lifting bed platform isn't an instant slam dunk in my mind.

 

I have an AT Summit which is very similar to a Drifter and the hinged bed is probably my favorite feature! Going from lounging mode to sleep mode takes 2 seconds. If BAMF can make it happen for Drifters I would jump on it!

The mattress is a similar complaint I have with the Summit. I think AT's is 2.5" and more like a gym mat than a mattress. However, I have added a 3" Exped inflatable on top of that and when I deflate it there's no issue closing the lid once I move the bedding a little. I believe Super Pacific just includes a 4" Exped standard so that may be an option? Not sure if the Drifter ever offered an insulation kit for the tent, but that is another of my favorite features of the Summit.

Regardless, it's amazing that BAMF is taking over the you-know-what-show that was Vagabond and it gives me faith that there's still good people out there!

 

+1 for a bed that lifts out the way. Easily the best feature on my Treehouse.

 

I just started modding my bed platform in my DIY Camper so it lifts up and out of the way. I can't wait.

I don't think I'm going to use gas struts though. It's not that heavy.

 

I think you'll see a 50/50 split on who wants a lifting platform vs non lifting. I personally prefer the non-lifting platform. I have a two piece 3" custom mattress I use and it can be moved to the front easily without folding etc.

Were Vagabonds always started at 9k? I thought they were a lot more expensive and a reason I went used for a SP or was it AT Overland that are the more pricey ones? (Besides the lead time)

Personally I would have gotten this BAMF product and maybe I will. I would prefer larger side door openings if possible and that is what really drove me to the SP. Plus as another member mentioned maybe side attachments to stick on jacks to remove by one person.

 

They actually started around $7.5k I believe….but those were also different times than today lol AT were quite a bit more expensive (a few thousand more)

 

Mattress for sure. Maybe a touch taller roof piece to accommodate some more padding/bedding up there? We cut down an old Coleman sleeping bag which barely compresses down and then add camping pads under all that before we sleep. Maybe another inch of top height to fit a thicker mattress or give space for everyone else’s stuff would help a lot.

 

Dang, I kick myself for not getting the SP when they first started at like 7k as I was really contemplating it and then they shot up to 14k. Luckily I found one for 10k used.

Vagabond had a nice product and it will be even nicer now BAMF has taken over and their customer service is top notch.