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Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

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

  1. May 25, 2022 at 10:29 PM
    #6481
    trashrose

    trashrose Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! Appreciate the insights. Not much out there on this configuration so I’ve been filling in gaps (as I said, art degree, lol.) But… yeah, mostly aware. Pros and cons of making something that is unassuming when parked on the street and using kits.

    I thought the fuse near the house battery was odd, and thought that was why I bought the Blue Sea stuff, but it came at recommendation of Phil so I just said yeah, do it. I have a fairly minimal set up for now - but wanted the ability to scale, so happy to remove stuff over time. Next up is probably a bed mounted air compressor, then a fridge but that’s probably out a few years.

    Thanks again!
     
  2. May 26, 2022 at 6:51 AM
    #6482
    xplorn

    xplorn Well-Known Member

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    Get something like this for only $190 (it appears to have a latching lid vs compression fit, which is what I look for) https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Refrigerator-Compressor-Electric-4℉-68℉/dp/B099F5Y2PW

    They have mini Danfoss compressors or knockoffs. I've been solely using mine instead of bringing the 50L Dometic. The 16qt worked fine for 2 weeks in Baja last trip. And the prices of the larger fridges have been obscene. Two small ones for $400 and you have a more storable dual-zone fridge/freezer setup. You may find you don't need a large one after a year or two with a 16-20L fridge.

    Here's what I have. Ausranvik, a legitimate brand but I haven't seen this model available for a long time. They make cheap larger ones now (40L for $3-400). If you dig around Amazon has a huge variety of the small fridges. Just make sure it is fridge/freezer which implies it has a compressor. Similar features as the big ones and they draw a bit less.. maybe 40Wish.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2022
  3. May 26, 2022 at 8:08 AM
    #6483
    snwbrdr852

    snwbrdr852 Well-Known Member

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    I see. So that's actually good then - you definitely should have either a fuse or breaker as close as possible to the house battery on the positive output. Phil was right to do that for you.
    If that fuse is already there, then you can eliminate the breaker. Unless the breaker has a smaller amperage rating, then the fuse will blow before the breaker trips anyway.

    I'd say just make sure you have an extra fuse or two in case it ever blows, OR you could also just replace that fuse with a breaker instead.
     
  4. May 26, 2022 at 8:28 AM
    #6484
    Eze1139

    Eze1139 Well-Known Member

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    I pretty much had what @snwbrdr852 said written down and agree with him. Fuses/breakers are there to protect your wiring. In your drawing I notice the fuse off the Redarc/truck battery is on the passenger side when it should be on the driver side near the alternator/batter/RedArc. You might have caught this but it just stands out to me. Take my setup for example and consider my compressor your house battery and notice my breaker & fuse block are near the starter battery & not the compressor (your house battery). The second breaker feeds the setup in the bed with my RedArc & house battery.
    unnamed.jpg unnamed.jpg
    If you want to scale you can do something like mine and have a breaker/fuse block in both the front & the back so you can add stuff to the engine bay; lights, CB, etc as well as extra power in the back of the truck for your Drifter, fridge, compressor etc. Attached is the diagram I used (courtesy of someone on here that I can't remember!) that I made some minor changes to and then checked my lengths and power draws for both fuse/breaker size as well as cable size.
    unnamed.jpg drifter wiring diagram.jpg

    Good luck and have fun. It's very cool to see your work come through.
     
    Ridgewalker1 and Swatdude1 like this.
  5. May 26, 2022 at 9:16 AM
    #6485
    BudLoomis

    BudLoomis Well-Known Member

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    Toytec Aluma Series 2.0 (2.5" x 3.5" lift), JBA UCA, Deaver stage 3 Leaf pack, CMC, Viair OBA set-up, KBVOODOO mid rack, Roofnest Condor RTT, CaliRaised Premium Roof Rack w/ 360 lighting, Custom Bed box w/ camp stove built in
    I agree with the above comment. Rule of thumb, always try to fuse within 12 inches of the battery. Your Bluesea fuse panel provides fused protection to other small circuits, but you want to protect the wire coming from your battery first.
     
  6. May 26, 2022 at 3:54 PM
    #6486
    cobes

    cobes habitual line-stepper

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    For those who have done custom sheets, do you put them over Vagabond's cover, or on the foam itself? I'm planning to order some sheets, but also kind of want to take the cover off because I dont deal with enough moisture to need it and I find it uncomfortable.
     
  7. May 26, 2022 at 8:53 PM
    #6487
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I put my custom fitted sheet over the Vagabond cover. I like the cover and it gives some protection to the foam. When I double the mattress over and slide it into the cab-over section for more standing room the cover looks more finished than bare foam and is a durable surface for stuffing items on top between the mattress and ceiling.
     
    cobes[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. May 29, 2022 at 9:16 AM
    #6488
    parttimedirtbag

    parttimedirtbag The Next Frontier

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    ARB aluminum front bumper VK56 swapped engine BFG K02s 265/75/16 Topo Topper Mesa camper
    Well, my truck is out of commission for a bit with a blown head gasket. Planning on an engine swap, but until we can find a donor vehicle (I drive a Nissan Frontier and we're planning to put a Titan VK56E in it) I'm brainstorming other little projects I can do in preparation for the Drifter. Hoping we can get the truck back up and running before our Drifter is done. Anyway, I'm planning to take our factory roof rack off, and wondering if there are solutions for a wind faring to install in front of the Drifter without something like a Prinsu or crossbar in the front?
     
  9. Jun 1, 2022 at 9:12 AM
    #6489
    Trucko

    Trucko Well-Known Member

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  10. Jun 1, 2022 at 3:22 PM
    #6490
    trashrose

    trashrose Well-Known Member

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    Got some clean up (shortening the B1 wire, VHB for the shunt box) to do but finalized my shunt situation. Thanks for all the help, everyone! Just over here trying to design a solar set up that is primarily in the engine bay as to not tip its hand too much.

    To answer some of the feedback re: breaker - that was a brainfart on my behalf - I wanted an off/on switch, the local West Marine didn't have one in stock, and I needed to get down to Benecia for my install, so went with a breaker for off/on to control all power in the bed of the truck thinking it did the same thing with added benefit, not thinking about dropoff. I wanted the ability to kill stuff quickly - in case of emergency or otherwise. Didn't think about the dropoff at all until you all pointed it out, but that's an easy swap out.

    Kept the fuse block near the battery, as well. Did end up dropping B2 to solar fuse as I was unable to discern any difference with that configuration. But maybe I did something wrong.

    All in all, I'm happy with how clean the install is going to be when finalized -- will post pics when cleaned up with a quick overview. Need to shorten the B1 line first, didn't have a good way to recreate the shunt-side of things for the wire at hand, so have to head to an electronics store.
     
    Wackyhacky and JasonLee like this.
  11. Jun 1, 2022 at 5:23 PM
    #6491
    xplorn

    xplorn Well-Known Member

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    I worked on mine over the weekend and got it functional. Still need to do some better wire routing and cleanup, but it seems all in the right place. Was able to reorganize some things differently from my v.2 to be easier to deal with, namely easy access to breakers and fuses, and being able to see all status LEDs easily.

    Modified all the lugs with incorrect hole sizes to the right ones, and reused most of the v.2 wiring with only mods to the lugs and maybe one or two completely new cables because of length. Very happy how easy it is to build now.

    I really want to build a wooden shelf pocket above it against the bare metal to use as a holding place for accessories like drone or power tool chargers. Maybe this weekend's project.

     
  12. Jun 12, 2022 at 10:55 AM
    #6492
    cobes

    cobes habitual line-stepper

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    Got my water tank. Thankfully one of the cheaper dimensions was the only one that would fit next to my fridge. Way too lazy to pull everything out and drill something to mount it to, so I'm just going to build a little elevated cradle for it, and between that, the c clamps that it fits perfectly between and the fridge, it doesn't have anywhere to go except up which I don't intend on driving in any way that would create those forces haha.

    I'm going to do a rain barrel spigot and a hose that leads out over the tailgate to gravity fill things. But in order to screw that spigot on from the inside I need to be able to get my hand in there, so I'm going to end up putting a marine inspection hatch as the lid. Hoping that seals well enough.

    Alcans are going on this week which means I can finally throw everything in here. Once I know I fit in the garage with the new pack and have enough clearance, fan is finally going on too.


    PXL_20220612_172841393.MP.jpg
     
  13. Jun 15, 2022 at 12:09 AM
    #6493
    Spacegoth

    Spacegoth Member

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    Anyone out there with the Arctic Tern Door option? Would love to see pics if you got-em! I know @jimlangfordphotography has one and it's awesome! I have ordered one and am excited so.. need something to swoon over till then.
     
  14. Jun 15, 2022 at 8:03 AM
    #6494
    jimlangfordphotography

    jimlangfordphotography Well-Known Member

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    Here ya go!) Working on the interior build.

    F21E06EC-6653-45C1-956D-5714F252C324.jpg
     
  15. Jun 15, 2022 at 8:20 AM
    #6495
    Trucko

    Trucko Well-Known Member

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    love the back door that should be standard in my honest opinion. how does it seal up against the bed where the tailgate should be. any pics?
     
  16. Jun 15, 2022 at 9:10 AM
    #6496
    Spacegoth

    Spacegoth Member

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    Love it so much Jim! Can't wait to see the inside!
     
  17. Jun 15, 2022 at 10:34 AM
    #6497
    jimlangfordphotography

    jimlangfordphotography Well-Known Member

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    These are the best I have. Looking back I should have taken more of the sealing surface and the lower brackets.

    ED68285D-9CAA-4E7D-BE49-2A911E7349B1.jpg
    3B3F7994-06DE-4B53-98AB-0020AB8092A9.jpg
    B1EC00AC-6772-421B-BAB8-12F522F795B9.jpg
    91F3ED22-41A5-43E7-8DEB-79FB0557DCE8.jpg
     
    Trucko[QUOTED], d.shaw and Swatdude1 like this.
  18. Jun 16, 2022 at 2:16 PM
    #6498
    cobes

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    Does anyone ever keep their fan running when the lid is closed? Is it even possible, I'm trying to imagine how I would get the tent material out of the way to do so, but I'd like to on the hottest of days have some ventilation for my battery
     
  19. Jun 16, 2022 at 2:18 PM
    #6499
    Twizted

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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
    With the lid closed, where would the air vent to?

    I keep my tent and insulation material from blocking the fan, but that's so I can open the lid to vent while parked and not deployed. I think I posted a pic in this thread of the fan visible from underneath when the Drifter is closed up...
     
  20. Jun 16, 2022 at 2:54 PM
    #6500
    cobes

    cobes habitual line-stepper

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    Was just thinking airflow from fan to the front slider. Honestly just randomly getting a little paranoid about having this goalzero in my truck all the time with the heat, not sure how much thought I should be giving it
     

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