Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

@MJonaGS32 do you have pics of where your solar cables enter the camper? @Overlanerd through you under the bus and I saw photos of your panels but didn't see the entry gland.

I'm looking to do more or less the same -2x 100w panels on the roof.

 

Damn! Didn’t waste any time. Looks great Cameron!

 

What is the purpose of the black vertical pieces at the area where the tailgate meets the bed sides? Thanks!

 

Sounds like you crossthreaded one of the maxtrax bolts. New nuts/bolts can’t seize up randomly.



Before you do anything else, like moving lights that work. Take a day or two to plan everything out. Seems like one mistake is covered up by another impulse action that doesn’t work out. They’re starting to layer themselves.

Awning mount holes didn’t line up led to huge extrusion piece, which led to a water port mount that isn’t working. Above a door you paid to have installed, covered up by flat bar for maxtrax, which have a user crossthreaded pin which is ‘garbage’.

And your solution seems to be to move the light, seemingly the only working piece to the whole buildout plan. Are you just going to keeep drilling holes in this thing until it’s a Swiss cheese? Awning, extrusion, L track, lights. The more holes the more opportunity for leaks.

Just some food for thought.

 

The extrusion piece was planned from the beginning and it was the only component on the GFC I actually liked. Being able to attach additional accessories as needed without having to drill additional holes is well worth the "huge" 1 inch width extrusion piece. Waterport, clothes line, fishing poles, shovel, etc. The modularity is great.

If I moved the light those holes would be covered up by the L track, and the current L track holes would be covered up by new l track as well.

I don't really care if you believe me - but there are plenty of reports on the internet about broken Maxtrax mounting pins with the exact same issue I had - these ones aren't brand new either.

As it stands now there is only one hole that isn't associated with anything and it's an easy fix.

I appreciate your concern but it's not totally warranted.

 

Part of my tailgate-delete / one-big-door mod. Same concept as on Iggy's original design, except I retrofitted mine instead of it being built as one piece from the start.


I just painted the wall extensions and lower half of the door so black that it looks less like my truck has a pop-up slide-in camper because WA state stupidly makes you register and plate truck campers as if they were a separate vehicle. Also a reason I made a second drop in floor panel to cover the whole "upstairs", with it in place the floor-to-ceiling height stays under the legal limit for having to register it with the state as a camper (plus it gives a ton of sleeping room for the two of us plus dog.)

 

Thank you OutbackHack!

 

Didn’t think a public form needed a warrant to give input or suggestions.

Your drifter, your money.

 

$19 Scanstrut DS-H60 Small Horizontal Cable Seal

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SWTPE52/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Is there anyone in Colorado with a Drifter? I would like to see one in person if this is an option.

Thank you,
John

 

@tdubd

 

Thank you Phil!

 

Got the waterport mounted to the Swiss cheese camper.

Ended up going with a "make a clamp" kit for the hose clamps to mount it. Super solid, and requires a tool if you want to steal so has more anti theft protection than a quick fist.

 

Bicycle inner tubes work great for this.

 

I did a thing today. Somethings take a little love, this was one of them. A few tweaks to dial it in still but at least I can carry my 9'2". Its snug on the roof bend, about the same height as the fan.

 

Well that looks like a fun place to park

 

tight would be an understatement. surprised myself

 

hmm, i really need to find someone to buy my habitat. lol.

 

I wonder if you put some sort of 1/4" or 1/2" aluminum spacers under the rack to raise it off your roof line? Great Job btw!

 

thanks man. I may move it back a few inches to leave space between the roof bend, but i also have some other taller L track studs to play with. glad i kept the rack