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Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Discussion in 'Bay Area Metal Fabrication' started by MTNHABITOVERLAND, Mar 27, 2018.

  1. Jul 10, 2021 at 9:13 AM
    #5741
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    I have a large size Swiss box I got from mule years ago. Made a wood top for it and it’s been our step for the truck and has held up great. We keep our cool gear and dry food in there as well. Slides into our idle way and is the first thing to come out usually.

    lots of talk on the STS brackets! I too have them on all three sides as most of you already know from when we first tested them out on the drifter. The single 6ft awning with a room when needed has suited us very well in all conditions. I’m honestly surprised that an arb awning when tied down well, has withstood the winds and snow we have thrown at it.

    a buddy of mine gave me an off brand 55” awning recently and I had an extra set of STS awning side brackets so we have been trying it out off the back recently with a sun shade wall to allow us to use the room off the side know they we are camping with a 1 yr old.

    this is from some “urban camping” at my dads for the 4th.
    4D365323-2CDB-4348-842C-C2AF0EBDC7D7.jpg
     
  2. Jul 20, 2021 at 12:47 PM
    #5742
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I received the tent insulation kit and got it installed. My Drifter came with the upper velcro flaps sewn into the tent, so the upper attachment location was ready to go. The kit came with strips of adhesive velcro that were pre-cut and labeled, to be applied around the lower edge of the upper-half of the wedge. Once that was installed, there are two pieces of 2-ply insulation fabric that get attached. The first is a thin strip that attaches to the front (hinge end) of the wedge, and the second is the huge wrap-around piece that matches the entire dimensions of the tent canopy. The big piece took a couple tries to get it centered correctly. There is a little bit of intentional overlap where the big piece meets up with the thin strip at the front of the wedge. This is nice because it provides more overlap in those front corners (where I've noticed air movement) and also allows some forgiveness to tuck solar cables or any wires you may have routed up in those corners.

    Once installed, the top still closed with bedding (sheets and a blanket) and pillows in there. No chance to try it out yet to see how much difference it makes but I immediately noticed a sound-insulating effect with the windows zipped up. I've been told it's good for both warm and cool seasons.

    I haven't seen any specs on the material and I'm wondering if it can be laundered / washed.

    IMG_20210717_191610.jpg

    IMG_20210717_204956.jpg

    IMG_20210717_205026.jpg
     
  3. Jul 20, 2021 at 4:03 PM
    #5743
    s.e.charles

    s.e.charles Well-Known Member

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    looks like it would muffle the wind & cold
     
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  4. Jul 20, 2021 at 4:09 PM
    #5744
    joeydurango

    joeydurango Nightfall Overland

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    I had a similar setup in my FWC and it worked as advertised. If I end up doing more cold camping in my Drifter, I'll be installing both a Propex and the insulation package. I am a bit worried about closing it with both the insulation and bedding... seems a tight fit as is. Do you notice the lid not closing all the way along the sides? That's something I've seen if I pack my bedding poorly - it latches just fine, but bows up enough over the length of the lid that the seals don't make contact in the center.
     
  5. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:42 AM
    #5745
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    I too recently installed the insulated walls except I was Guinea pigging the retro fit kit a little bit.

    All in all the kit was very complete and straight forward to install. We Have about a week in it so far and have been very happy with the differences in hot whether. It’s kept the inside a bit cooler when we kept it all closed up and was quieter on windy nights which helped the baby sleep.

    one unexpected benefit was over all comfort when sleeping. We typically sleep with just a comforter and sheets which means some times you get a cold touch from the tent if you’re rolling around. I had made some temporary insulation panels we stuck in when we were camping in the winter but this was much better.

    I’m excited to test it out this winter. We never had a problem staying warm but this will help keep the propex from having to run as frequently I imagine, and hopefully remove any remaining condensation!

    70BEAFBE-8375-4CDF-BF1F-6E169347BD24.jpg
     
  6. Jul 21, 2021 at 12:31 PM
    #5746
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I don't have any issues with the bulb not sealing equally down the sides. See pic below, with the insulation kit, bedding and pillow. It will just depend on how compressed your bedding can can be. For my particular setup, it is layers with a fitted sheet and flat sheet (base) fleece blanket (mid-layer, shown in pics) which stay on the bed. Then the top layer(s) are goose down which can either be compressed a great deal, or stowed away compactly somewhere else depending on if your lid can accommodate or not.

    IMG_20210721_121808.jpg

    Great feedback! Yes, now that you mention it, I remember the cold contact from the sidewalls waking me up if I didn't keep the blanket tucked over the side well enough. That will be nice to eliminate that issue. I'm also guessing the reduced cold drafting at the nose of the wedge will help too, since that is naturally the coldest spot in the camper.
     
  7. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:20 PM
    #5747
    Twizted

    Twizted 1GR FE

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    stock af, but hover if you think you disagree... RV living: Vagabond Drifter (6' bed) Custom bed cabinet buildout 175w Renogy solar panel 40a Rich Solar MPPT solar controller 1000w Wagan Pure Line inverter Lavaner Pro 2kw diesel heat exchanger Suspension/wheels: Toytec Aluma 2.5 front shocks with resis 13x700 coils (soon 14x700) Toytec Aluma 2.5 rear shocks SPC UCAs Deaver Stage 3 rear leaf springs Wheeler's 3 degree axle shims Wheeler's U-bolt flip Wheeler's Super Bumpstops 18"x9" XD Monster (x5) 275/75/18 Cooper ST MAXX (x5) EBC Stage 3 pads/rotors Electronics: Kenwood DNX773S iDatalink - Maestro RR Stubby Antenna No-name Switchback LEDs Hella Sharptone horns (no relay) Relocated backup camera w/DIY bracket Armor/recovery: BruteForceFab Rear HC w/swingout BAMF Sliders (DOM, 10 degree w/kick out, rattle-canned) BAMF IFS Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF Mid Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF TC Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF LCA Skids (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF Rear Diff Skid (early model, powder-coated) BAMF CMC Plates US Offroad Winch Bumper Smittybilt X20 10k synthetic rope winch Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners ARB compressor w/air-up kit DIY cowl snorkel ARB rear air-locker Interior: Husky Floor Liners (F&R) Rear 40% seat-delete Hinged fridge platform in place of rear seat Exterior: CaliRaised Low-profile Ditch Light Brackets CaliRaised Side-projecting LED pods CaliRaised Faux TRD Pro Grille Morimoto amber LED fog lights One-of-a-kind 1GRFE plate (second iteration) Removed: OEM Bed Mat CaliRaised bed molle panels
    I started using the tent insulation back in February, but it was an earlier prototype without the section at the wedge. Had some pretty cold nights up here, and the insulation certainly helped a lot. The new production version is even better, and I expect to leave it in year-round.
     
    tyfoon11 and Swatdude1 like this.
  8. Jul 21, 2021 at 2:51 PM
    #5748
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    We actually leaned against it partially on our last trip it was comfy. Definitely closing in the section towards the front will make a big difference.

    Good to hear! I expect we will be doing the same as well, I can’t really think of a reason to remove currently. Thanks fully even if I do it’s small enough to fit in a cabinet
     
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  9. Jul 23, 2021 at 1:30 AM
    #5749
    migx333

    migx333 Well-Known Member

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    I have the 4' ARB, so nice to know CVT makes the walls for their smaller awning.

    How long does it take to set up and take down the room?
     
  10. Jul 23, 2021 at 11:15 AM
    #5750
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    Our 6' room only takes 5-10 minutes max to set up, you just slide the keder line end in the onse side and sip the in the opposite side and snap all of the clips onto the awning frame. Staking it down is a different story lol If its really nasty we have 6 stakes that hold the base down plus two for the awning.

    Im staring to think if I could find some long very course thread lag bolts I could impact all of them in quick :rofl:in the snow I keep an aircraft drill in the truck for drilling into ice to get stakes in


    Edit:

    I may have just found my next purchase...

    https://www.amazon.com/Penetrator-A...=&hvlocphy=9033404&hvtargid=pla-1326422118384
     
    d.shaw likes this.
  11. Jul 23, 2021 at 11:55 AM
    #5751
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

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    Does anyone know where the serial number is for the MaxxAir fan? My lid is cracked and AirCel support told me they need a serial number to process the replacement.

    Except, the serial number isn’t where they said it is. They told me to remove the screen, and the serial number would be visible. See warranty image below.

    Anyone have this issue? Does VO place the serial number sticker in a different location when they add the reverse switch?

    0AF74CBC-421D-4B0D-98AD-4E2BB0B35626.jpg 7CECEF14-FAF4-4760-82E5-2EEE1BACCD3D.jpg
     
  12. Jul 23, 2021 at 12:23 PM
    #5752
    beardy

    beardy Active Member

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    The fan paperwork VO provided to me at install had my serial number on it. New cover is already having the same issue cracking so I think flex tape/plastic epoxy is probably the best long term solution, but might as well get a backup from them.
     
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  13. Jul 26, 2021 at 3:42 AM
    #5753
    Kclamer

    Kclamer Well-Known Member

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    Started working on preparing the utility cabinet yesterday by relocating my battery and swapping it to a Lithium. The AGM did well during its time but this 100Ah will basically double the capacity, it also has a heating blanket on it. The entire enclosure received insulation as I continue making my way around the truck bed. Next will be to install the tank itself which has already come in and has a 10 gallon capacity.

    20210725_180833.jpg
     
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  14. Jul 26, 2021 at 10:44 AM
    #5754
    georginclay04

    georginclay04 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the update! Did you receive tracking information or did it just show up at your door?

    Also, you show the two side windows but what about the third window facing the rear of the truck. Did that have a cut out and zipper on the insulation?




     
  15. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:14 PM
    #5755
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

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    Yes, the rear window does have a cutout and zipper. I have received an installed my insulation kit as well. I found no noticeable difference in closing with a very thick down comforter and two sheets in the bed. We haven’t camped in it yet, but on a 100deg day, it kept the interior temps roughly the same as exterior with the fan on high (pulling air through the open tailgate. In the past, the interior has been 15 degrees above the outdoor temp.
     
  16. Jul 26, 2021 at 10:47 PM
    #5756
    4wdExplorer

    4wdExplorer Well-Known Member

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    How much is this insulation package? I went on VB site and I did not see it on there.

    I do more winter camping than summer. So I need to order this.
     
  17. Jul 27, 2021 at 8:22 AM
    #5757
    Mista_G

    Mista_G Well-Known Member

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    Think it’s like $500
     
  18. Jul 27, 2021 at 8:25 AM
    #5758
    4wdExplorer

    4wdExplorer Well-Known Member

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    I'll call Phil and order this. Thanks!
     
  19. Jul 28, 2021 at 7:08 AM
    #5759
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    No tracking number or shipment notification. It just showed up one day. As MapJunkie mentioned, it does have the zipper panel that matches the one at the rear of the truck. The price I paid was $664.83.
     
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  20. Jul 30, 2021 at 8:12 PM
    #5760
    migx333

    migx333 Well-Known Member

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    How long does it take to set up the rooms to your 270 awning?

    I have the OVS and Im looking at getting their kit that makes it into a big room but know that if its too much trouble to set it up I'd probably never use it.
    Thinking of switching over to the normal ARB with the room
     

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