The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

If you were pregnant you'd be ready to burst your vagabond baby lol

I'm at 8 months! I hope the baby is kicking

 

I wonder what the current order number is? I am VO-117. Would be nice to see this data and see if people are picking up their Drifters consecutively from their order numbers and not jumping ahead of the line.

 

Think I mentioned this, but my wife is about ready to burst a real baby. I'm really hoping I can book it out to Benicia before the baby comes!

I don't think it's completely consecutive. I just saw on instagram that @cwhet10 picked up her Drifter (CONGRATS!!!!). Pretty sure I put my order in about two weeks before her. I'm sure there are reasons for this discrepancy. Definitely not trying to complain, just providing some facts, but also..... WHERE'S MY CAMPER!!!!!!!?

p.s. Just so there's no confusion, I'm not using this as a means of communication with the VO guys. I have been reaching out to Phil outside of this forum.

 

Sitting at 5 months since ordering, was quoted 8 to 9 months to the install, with a promise of improving lead times and a hint that it will actually increase because of the fullsize camper

 

Spoke to Phil today. Apparently the side panels for my camper were built incorrectly by the supplier and they had to be re-ordered. Sucks for me!

I felt I should put this info up here, in case anyone's counting, since it seems like my experience does not reflect the standard process or time-frame.

 

The added wait times def sucked but getting a quality camper you dont have to worry about leaking makes up for it..definitely better than pushing out a suspect product.

 

Hey All,

Any word about doors in the back of the drifter yet? I hear there was a prototype out there? Photos?

 

Oh I'm not trying to complain, in case it comes off that way, just putting my experience out there for others who are earlier in the process.

I do wish we had gotten a few trips in the drifter before baby arrives, but I also look forward to adding some baby mods to the other thread.

 

I emailed them at the beginning of the week about the current lead time and they told me 10 months. Checking out @snwbrdr852's drifter really has me tempted to make the switch.

 

What do you have now?

Edit: just creeped on your profile and saw you have a gfc

 

Yeah, currently in a GFC and it has honestly been great and trouble free, but the drifter is incredibly nice and extremely well built. And the longer overhang and bed configuration definitely has me saving some pennies to make the change.

 

That’s awesome that yours has held up. Some folks haven’t been as fortunate.

And yea I can’t imagine having to move around bed panels just to get down. Both my wife and I use the bathroom in the middle of night and it would be a pain in the ass if we had to move crap around just to get to the toilet.

If you choose to switch over to a Drifter I’m sure you will love it! Either way, at least you’re getting out!

 

I will add my experience from owning a Flippac and FWC...not moving anything to use the bathroom is a very nice thing.

 

So. Not sure if this information helps or anything.. But with the campers, they build them in batches. Yours and mine were probably in the same batch. Mine went to powder coat, yours had a panel issue. Each one has individualized elements that play into when it will be completed. Say if I'm next in line but waiting on powder coat, they wont cease production just to make sure the order numbers stay consecutive. So undoubtedly they may and can be completed out of sequence a little.

But I'm sorry to hear about your delay. Mine had a powder coating delay at one point so I feel you. Not to mention, I was also told a completion date of April 2019. I picked it up a week ago.

What people dont understand is that they are still a small production shop. You can count the number of guys working VERY late into the night (sometimes all nighters) on just one hand.

"Okay, cool story bro, so why not hire more people?"

Well now you're dealing with finding QUALITY workers who will do QUALITY work that is up to the standard that Vagabond has set. THAT is the dilemma. Sure, any Joe-Schmo can tighten a few bolts or whatever. But if Joe-Schmo doesnt really give a damn about the product or company, then the quality begins slipping. They WANT to hire more people and bring the production speed up. But they will not sacrifice quality to do so.

Hope that helps a little. The waiting game sucks. We are impatient creatures. But know that every Drifter owner goes through it.

 

Well worded and I assume people (including the friends at Vagabond) appreciate the kind and truthful commentary.

 

Some Drifters in their natural habitat

 

Hey guys! Wanted to introduce myself, but picked up a used Drifter in Vegas last week on the way out to NM / CO. Hoping to get a side door added at some point, but generally very excited about the setup. Only snafu so far is the fan door getting caught in the wind on the I-5 (with the little Al wind ramp), but a bit of bending and re-assembly (and some duct tape) helped with the final drive home. Pretty rad to have the first night in it (to me) be in Colorado.

 

Looking good man!

$24 Fantastic Vent K8014-05 Flat Lid Lift Arm

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019G4YGH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-t3oDbAWW3C9E Just an FYI.

 

you're the man! thanks for that link Anderson. has anybody considered a second latch on the fan door on the passenger side, since the mechanism technically locks the driver side? wouldn't mind undoing a latch of some sort for the added peace of mind.