The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Los Angeles area. To be clear I’m planning on visiting friends along the way, making some side trips, so I don’t think caravaning makes sense, but at some point in Canada or Alaska it’ll be all overlanding all the time.

You know there’s a separate thread called Drifting Away... where are you headed? Maybe we should move this discussion there. Also, next spring seems far away and we don’t even know if the border will be open again, so this is very preliminary.

 

I did the Alcan Last summer; I drove up through Bozeman into glacier National Park and up through Calgary and it was awesome, i kinda rushed through but i plan on doing it again next summer and taking my time! Also i second getting a milepost also top off your gas at every gas station to be safe.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the heads-up. I did find one on McMaster Carr but it doesn't appear to come with the backing plate and hardware, and is $21.58 plus shipping. I'll post if I come up with anything else.

 

For reference. Can’t imagine it was this color when installed or I would have noticed. I do not have a picture when black.

 

I have never see any black anodizing that I've been happy with after it's been in UV exposure for a few months. Usually it turns purplish - seems more rare to turn burnt orange like this, but it happens.
If I have the choice, I choose non-black for anodizing or just a clear anodizing over the plain silver aluminum.

 

Saw my first Nomad in person this past weekend… That extra space sure does look nice since the 30lb dog keeps stealing the bed space. Now I'm dreaming of following in @Anderson 's shoes and putting a Nomad on a flatbed DCSB 2nd gen…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGgM-grHupT/

 

Designs are done. Patent process is underway. Hopefully I’ll have things ready when the Nomad is ready. I’ve been taking this time to address some electrical upgrades, designing the bed buildout and strategies for product launch and the like.

 

When is your build done? I'd love to have a nomad incase my next truck is a tundra

 

Any chance of a build thread

 

I have a build thread. I just don’t update it. I guess I should update it soon. A lot has happened recently.

 

oh really??

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tr00pr-missed-every-target.667154/

 

Hey All,

It’s getting close... I can feel it. Thank you all for your responses to my questions and private convos with questions.

I’m in prep my truck mode for the drifter. I have a 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro... Is there any prep I need to do before hand so when I get to Benecia (the land of the drifter) so I’m good to go?

For instance: Phil mentioned with the 3rd gens you don’t have to do any new bed rails but I may want to seal them? Any idea on what that means?

I think my shark fin antenna will be ok?

Do I need a wheelers superbump if I’m not updating the leafs? I will not update my leafs or anything as I decided to not really build it out at first and just live in it for a year before committing.

The thing is, I appreciate overland (but my main hobbies are climbing and backcountry) I just bomb down forest roads... pretty fast. Hence the trd pro. I don’t want to change much on the truck bc... well I paid a lot for the shocks and all that crap. So hoping the superbumps can get my by for a year or so before I upgrade the leafs (I will only upgrade the rear leafs when it comes to suspension)

finally, the top of the Tacoma seems like it would be hard to wash or wax once the drifter is on. I bought a do it at home kit of ceramic protectant (my neighbor has used it and did all the research) figure I’ll put that on before the drifter and just spray the top down for the rest of the life of the truck.

Anything else I should know of before putting the drifter on?

 

Replied to all I could in the quote itself. Hope it helps!

 

Bahaha... You mean I won't be dukes of hazarding it with the drifter in back and stock suspension? Honestly, thanks for that reality check I'm coming from a jeep wrangler so I just figure the truck will be extremely smooth and better with loads but... I will certainly watch it. I have custom deavers planned - I researched and they can make them without adding a lift as long as it has weight on it... so I can keep my fox suspension. (I hope at least I really don't want to mess with the suspension too much) lesson learned from my jeep.


Am I sealing the bed rails with this tape?

$15 Dicor BT-1834-1 Butyl Seal Tape - 1/8" x 3/4" x 30' Repair Tape for RV, Trailer, Motorhome, Window, and Vent Sealing

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FCB4JS

Is this the foam you use for the bed rails?

$17 MAGZO Weather Stripping Door Seal, 1" Wide X 1/8" Thick Adhesive Foam Tape Soundproof Weatherstripping for Windows, 2 Rolls Total 33FT Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RDDC2R

New to this whole truck life, I've driven wranglers all my life. So some of this lingo is unknown but I'll get there but I'm assuming you put the foam down on the bed rails and then cover it with birch or what ever? Helps with the insulation?

Thanks for the reply!

 

make no assumptions about what you don't need. lol.

 

search the thread, I think it was Iggy that posted about it. You just remove the bed rail cap, tape over the holes with a metallic tape (rejects water) and then put a bead of caulk down before you re-install the cap. I didn’t do this so I sadly don’t know the specifics, sorry!

And no worries man, just realize that Tacoma’s aren’t great with loads, especially full time loads. OEM leafs sag out with no added weight, let alone 400lbs of drifter back there full time. Look up ATS springs, they aren’t mentioned a ton but they do custom packs. They could likely do something for you for a fraction of deavers it cost is a concern.

 

Could you guys update the linked Google Sheet listing Vagabond build numbers and deliveries? I know 129 was delivered recently, and I see some notes on the sheet about expected build dates, but some of these seem outdated. For example, 134 lists an ETA of 7/21, which has obviously passed, while others list more reasonable estimates. Also, 159 says "per Phill, November build (9/27/20)" and I'm 157 and haven't heard a thing, so I'd like to know if there are any more recent updates that might not be on the sheet. Thanks.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Adf_gdp2qHn6fBcosQyigwRp7VkawwSyyAHIbQgOh4/edit#gid=0

 

Added my info to the list. #166 and no word yet to finalize options. Keep waiting for things to pick back up, but not seeing it yet.

 

Mine has not started the build process yet. I am #134