Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

I have my sway bar in the garage, but saving it if I want to put it on in the future.

My recommendation is get sway bar collars if you put it back on. During intense articulation in my previous 4runner I bent my swaybar endlink and then 1 mile later it snapped in half, rotated down, and tore my inner CV boot.

This collar prevents the sway bar to shift during articulation, especially if you are heavier. The OEM collars are made out of pressed on aluminum which are very very weak and tend to loosen over time.

 

Thanks, that looks really useful. Unfortunately, it won't work for my setup. I managed to find 80/20 materials that work with SketchUp so I've been using that. No doubt, your program is more detailed and accurate.

 

McMaster Carr for $35 in one size, which is all I use. I use SST rivnuts and that thing will crush anything. Just need a socket wrench and box end. Not as fast as other options but strong as heck. I bent the mandrel on two Amazon ones trying to collapse the stainless steel rivnuts. Bought the McMaster one and it is still going strong.

 

Nice yah I busted some cheap Amazon. Ones. Mandrel was fine but the whole thing basically imploded. Didn’t get one rivnut.

 

just ordered a McMaster hand one like you noted. I was going to buy something similar but had piss pour reviews on Amazon. Ill give this a shot. Seems less likely to break then the cheap hand tools without getting a pneumatic one.

 

It will crush the brass ones like warm butter. Takes a little more for the stainless ones. There is good feedback on it though. You will feel when it first breaks into the crush and a solid stop when you've reached full crush so you don't over torque it. There is a small learning curve to keep it straight so the threads are centered but after that you can just blow and go.

 

Has anyone thought of the idea of possibly modifying the bed panel in the Drifter to lift up with gas shocks and hinges rather that lifting it up and sliding it over the cab? I'm trying to visualize this in my mind which would require narrowing the removable bed platform by an inch or so on each side. any thoughts?

 

The AluCab camper does this, but the platform is much larger so the standing area is more open.

 

I’m for anything that makes it easier. I know about a couple other guys who built a mechanism that keep it in line sliding up and down. Just spent 2 weeks hassling with it. After this I’m interest in doing something.

 

Anyone have photos of how the ARB 1250mm ("4 foot") awning is attached to the rear of the Drifter?

I just picked one up that is missing the rear extrusion on the outside of the bag/cover and thinking through some ideas of how I want to mount it up without quick release brackets.

 

Also it’s the entire platform that pops up, it’s trickier with the overhang section of platform for us

 

I may try a mock up design out of thin plywood or cardboard to see what kind of head room it allows, the only reason I'm willing to try this is I've added a 2" memory foam topper and it makes folding up the bed difficult.

 

I also have a 2” topper and I just don’t fold it up all the way. Push in the platform then flip the mattress and wedge in into the wedge so it stays. It’s more like a wall but it opens up headroom still.

 

You can kind of see it here


And here’s the view from the inside where you can see how I used aluminum flat bar (2 pieces)

 

There are quite of few mods in this thread for making it slide back easier. I was hoping Vagabond would adopt one of these. I think someone used PTFE wedges to make it super easy to slide up and back.
I also found a custom foam mattress place online but if you did the two sections you would probably have to add your own velcro joining piece. For my last camper I did 1" of very firm foam for the bottom layer and 2" of soft foam glued to the top of the firm layer. My wife loved the plusher foam on top and the bottom firm part kept my hip bones from bottoming out. More money most likely than buying a topper but saves space. Of course when I get it I will test the supplied mattress first to see if it works for us but usually stock camper mattresses are always a little too firm for my 113 lb wife. The other option I never tried was different foam on each half. https://www.foambymail.com/custom-foam-mattresses.html

 

probably a silly question but how are you guys adhering the flexible solar panels to the roof? I have the normal framed panel but transitioning to the flexible.

 

More important question, how did you get a Drifter to fit on a 4runner?

 

I think what I have decided is that the foam mattress supplied is probably fine/good, it's just that the waterproof cover is so rugged that it doesn't stretch much and creates hot spots for side sleepers. I haven't figured out more than that yet.

 

its for an RTT but know these guys know the business

 

I'm planning to use some 3m VHB tape after asking a few guys the same question

$39 Bullshark Bond 2 Pack, Black 3M Heavy Duty 1" Double Sided Tape Mounting Tape Waterproof Foam Tape VHB 5952, 15 Feet Length, Multipurpose for Car, LED Strip Lights, Office, Home Decor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XZH8CSN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1