The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

I am installing my KB Voodoo bed rail caps this weekend.

Would you recommend a silicone caulk for sealing the seams under the caps, or a leveling flexible lap sealant like Dicor? I am planning on using aluminum duct tape to seal all the holes.

I was leaning toward Dicor Lap sealant due to the vibrations. I have never use a lap sealant before and it may be the wrong thing.

Thanks.

 

I used Lexel and it worked great.

 

I used Lexel as well. Highly recommend.

 

I am expecting my drifter soon, and wondering if I should be doing any sealing work on the bedrails prior to the install? Specifically the gaps at the front left and right - water comes in there with my cheap tonneau cover over it but maybe it is not an issue once the drifter is on?

 

I didn't seal anything and have no water intrusion. Dust does get in on desert trips though, but at least some of that is due to us climbing in and out.

 

aome good black silicone in the cracks would work. I know other have talked about butyl tape also working. The process is similar to dealing a camper shell, of which there’s a few threads floating around. Mainly bed rails and those two gaps on the front rail. Those tailgate seals help a lot too.

 

3M Marine grade silicone sealant. Ain't so smart... asked prior to my install and recommended by VO:

$29 3M Marine Grade Silicone Sealant, Clear, PN08029, 304 mL Cartridge

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Gr...icone+sealant&qid=1569346444&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

Water, dust and mud doesn't come in that way.

It comes in between the bed and the bedside. you need to remove the bedsides to put silicone on the ridges of the bed.

 

I made this video to help understand how the bed parts work together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIWht8rxbW8

 

put cock everywhere lol. just an fyi I put the KB voodoo caps on my 3rd gen and now they're chipped and rusting. not sure if you have a 2nd or 3rd gen..if you have a 2nd gen, Billy at Bruteforce made some caps out of aluminum he says hes gonna start offering.

 

Rusty bed caps is why I went extreme on mine.

 

Extreme is removing the entire bedside, you went fully Iggy

 

Thanks, Iggy, for the great video. Somehow I missed that one last summer. For those of us that haven’t taken off the bed yet, the video shows the interaction between the bed sides, cap, and bed. I have the 2nd Gen aluminum bed caps from KB Voodoo. I know Iggy’s plan to eliminate the bed caps would be best, but I am going to take the easy route with aftermarket caps. Extreme is too much for me, I guess.

 

I used the Marina 5200 on parts of my camper. It's a sealant/adhesive. I had to remove some of it...pretty tough stuff.
At least it's easier to remove than the 3M CV62F VHB tape I used. That stuff requires you destroy whatever it's attached to remove.

 

Anyone running the Vagabond on a shortbed wishing they had a LB? Sold my truck and looking at a new one and basing the decision based on the camper!

 

Only until I get the full-size spare back underneath the truck with a new hitch receiver that gives more room. Otherwise DCSB is the best.

 

I went to Benicia and got to check out both a long bed and a short bed Drifter. The extra foot of space with both my girlfriend and I sold me on selling my shortbed and getting a long bed. Test driving a long bed felt different from what I've had for the past 16 years but I will get accustomed to it just fine.

 

A little FYI to current and future Drifter owners:

I’m constantly reminded of why the Drifter is so rad. I closed up the tent last Weeknd with some snow and ice still on the tent (as I have done times before) when we were packing up during storms our local mtn.



The water that accumulated on the tent stays OUT of the inside of the camper and pools up in the tent material until you can pop it up later to dry.

it was cold and rainy for another 4 days after but I have no worries holding a little liquid since the tent material doesn’t saturate. A few days later it was a relatively dry day, popped up the camper at work, turned the fan on inside Incase there was any moisture left over inside and it was dry in no time.

I used to stress so much about water with out Flippac. Now I only have to stress about running out of beer

 

a used shortbed drifter popped up for sale on IG. currently on a 3rd gen. I think the guy lives in Colorado.

 

Link?