Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

I anticipated the overhang, gap between truck roof and overhang would affect my mileage. Prior to Drifter install I spoke with Phil. He was working on a Frontrunner solution but it was not ready in time.
VO have a lot on their plate... Unsure of the priorities, my attempt was to close the gap, direct airflow up and over. My question was anyone to try to do the same with what's out there (Inno, Rhino-Rack, Yakima)? If so, did it help, or did I waste my money?

 

I don't think that Yakima fairing is going to do much, unfortunately. I spent an afternoon making a full fairing out of ABS for my old FWC - it went all the way over the top of the cab, and traced the cab lines all the way down to the top of the truck bed, completely enclosing the overhang, except for a ~1" gap for flex. It definitely cut the wind noise very, very significantly - but overall mileage didn't improve by a significant amount.

I'm getting 16+ with my Drifter. Haven't built it out yet, but will be aiming for the lowest weight possible. 2015, V6, auto. E-rated tires, but not super oversized - they're ~32". What tires are you running?

 

First off welcome to Tacoma World. Looks good from the pics. Did you have the awning and road shower on your previous setup? That's considerable weight and lack of aerodynamics.

I would be elated to have 14mpg as a regular mpg. Now I've gotta say if you thought there would not be a hit on mpg then some more research may have been necessary prior to purchase. Did you add the wind fairing after the drifter was installed? That was one of the first things I did with my FWC when I had it. It still helps with my current set up which isn't aerodynamic either.

 

I've had an idea in my head of how to make a perfect fairing for the Drifter on my DCSB, using a Prinsu style roof rack. But I absolutely refuse to spend $600+ on a roof rack, especially if it would only serve as the base for a fairing ...that likely wouldn't make a huge difference in gas mileage anyway.

 

Search wind fairing wander the west. It's a forum dedicated to popups. Lots of good discussion about various types of fairings.

 

I also have been thinking about a prinsu as a base for streamlining the roof, but agree on the price being ridiculous. I've seen a taco around SLC with an AT habitat that uses a solar panel as a wind fairing. I kinda like that idea, if I could mount the solar panel with some sort of quick release brackets.

 

Are you guys thinking the prinsu is about the right height? I have a prinsu currently, picking up a drifter later this year... Debating on selling vs cutting the rack for this, plus maybe a little bit of roof rack storage - cause DCLB.

 

i was thinking the same thing before but decided I’d get more money selling the prinsu. I want to try to replicate the rack similar to the way they’ve shown in the DIY prinsu replica thread. Would be way cheaper to buy some flat stock, bend it to mount to the roof and just get some 8020 crossbars. Have an idea in my head but haven’t made the time to figure it out.

 

One solution some users on WTW did was to mount bars under the over hang. These bars extended forward of the overhang and then the fairing was affixed to that. Hopefully that's a good description.

I would think a prinsu type solution would be better since there's even less gap from the cab keeping airflow from getting under the overhang. There were times with the Finch where I thought the thing was gonna fly off the truck.

 

That's been my thinking as well, but it just hasn't been a priority.
But does this thread you mention have examples of people making them the way you're talking about? ...The only ones I've seen have still involved getting the sides plasma cut and all of that.

 

I did an abs fairing for my RTT for a short minute when it was on my shell. Followed what @HomerTaco did. Helped get a mpg or two. Air resistance on the sides and crosswind effects it too, so the top fairing helps a bit, but has more an effect of wind noise than mpg. However, everyone’s truck and climate is different. So what works for someone else, may or may not for others.

here’s that solar one off WTW. Just googled search ‘camper Tacoma wind fairing’ and a few will pop up.

 

I think someone on here mentioned that the prinsu fits nicely under the drifter overhang.

 

I have the roof rack from Victory on my DCLB and a couple of inches of clearance between it and the drifter. I believe the Victory and the Prinsu have the same specs.

 

I think that's only for the 3rd gens if I remember?

 

3rd gens have a 1” taller bedside than the 2nds IIRC. A Prinsu won’t work on a 2nd gen unless you chop it, but even then only the front legs would mount. @jberry813 kept his chopped Prinsu with two smaller pelican cases in front of the driver overhang.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-drifter-specs-and-faq.540826/page-149#post-21963631

 

I wonder if a long bed would be able to accommodate the second set of mounting brackets...?

 

I have some RV components for sale. Dometic fridge, suburban 6 gal water heater, water pump, gas range insert, etc., for sale.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-bunch-of-rv-stuff-for-your-camper-van-truck-build.651633/

 

Appears you get a little more room. Not sure if it’s behind he middle mount holes. Take a gander through their rollout vids. A few DCLB and ACLB’s with drifters.



I know with full-size trucks they offer a larger overhang, as to provide a ‘living space’ while the bed is deployed. They acknowledge someone may want to be in the ‘downstairs’ while someone else is in bed so they extended the platform over the otherwise wasted roof space on the bigger trucks.

 

I haven’t made one yet for my new Flippac setup.


last trip I got about 15mpg which is great considering all the other bullshit I’ve done to the thing.

That said, I believe you’d need a much larger fairing for your cab. As previously stated, for my former RTT setup I made a fairing out of steel stock and lexan plastic sheeting. It was mounted to my prinsu rack and it made a HUGE difference.
If you’d like to see that former setup you can go to my build thread, the link is in my signature.
I think if you start around page 101 you’ll find pictures & a description.