The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

As already been said, pull caps, ...thanks for the link!

 

This seal along with the vertical sides of the tailgate are what made the biggest difference as far as dust intrusion.
I’ve had the same seal on my tailgate for almost two years with no issues at all.

 

I’ll have to post some photos of my tailgate seal and how it overlaps the bed rug. No dirt intrusion with this setup.

Previously with the bed liner, the tailgate seal ran a the way across and up both sides as one piece.

 

Anybody know if Vagabond have any plans to introduce a solid aluminum rear hatch?

 

I was wondering about that too... I thought I read somewhere that it might be an option already, just not listed on the site. IIRC, it was white to match the non-FR windoors. I'd be curious about a bare aluminum or black one.

 

What are your top options to get? So far I'm at just the fan.

I was thinking of maybe doing a driver side windoor and passenger side slider just to have the best of both.

 

That's my set up that I'll be picking up hopefully soon. Figured it'd be better for my doggo.

Insulation I would say after the fan.

 

Oh yeah I forgot that it's a huge aluminum box lol

 

One thing I have noticed with the insulation package is that while the outside is hot to the touch on sunny days, the inside is still nice temps. I haven’t done any scientific analysis on how well it retains heat in cold, but I feel that for most people if it is too cold, they either won’t camp or have a heater and it doesn’t matter much.

 

The insulation is not helping in the winter much, well it doesn't for me. I presume nobody has taken their drifter out in some of the temps i have taken it camping in -30 celsius is about the same as -30 fahrenheit if recall correctly. Used a buddy heater and the drifter got warm, but it was just above freezing. The dog was literally buried in my sleeping bag, and i was borderline shivering at times.

Cold spots:
-Front and back walls of the drifter
-Tent fabric
-actual bed platform is pretty cold and I am sure this is from the part above the roof of the truck.
-feet which are above the truck roof (no insulation here that I am aware of), it was darn cold regardless on the feet.

How to combat this.

-Hang a wooden blanket/heavy curtain around the perimeter of the drifter on the inside of the canopy. The wire trays around the perimeter are a great spot to hang these from.
-Use a heater, if using a buddy heater/etc, you need to crack the fan open on the ceiling to vent the moisture out of the tent, the side windows will not work as well. Remember to close it.
-Get down booties for your feet
- get a cheap 0 degree sleeping bag from Cabelas, the type that opens up flat like a blanket, lie this on the mattress of the drifter and push it down to the end of the drifter.
-Use a good quality sleeping bag (big agnes are great, although lately I have been using a lot of cheaper bags with great success (tetons, Rogue, etc), I tend to get the double person bags as it gives me more room and the dog is able to crawl under and stay warm as well. I like my snuggles.
-If it is really cold, get a decent quality down comforter to layer on top of all this
-dress appropriately, long under wear, ls shirt, down booties and winter hat.

 

I haven’t been in that cold yet, but have slept on the ground in a 3 season backpacking tent in -10F/-23C and been alright with minimal shivering. It’s all about the prep as you describe.

If I get down to that cold, I will likely be getting a kerosene air heater and skip the lil/mr buddy to avoid condensation/additional moisture.

 

Not sure I've mentioned it here in this thread but I've found a way to keep warmer without a heater in a camper or shell. It even works in a tent. I boil/heat water and pour it in a single wall stainless steel Nalgene with a neoprene sleeve. Make sure it is sealed well. Place it between your legs in your sleeping bag. The heat warms your femoral arteries. This method has served me well the past two winter seasons in Death Valley in sub zero F temps. In the morning when you want hot water for coffee it takes less time/fuel to prep.

 

Nice take on a new school method for an old school trick. People have been using ‘hot water bottles’ for centuries. Simplicity is often overlooked. Good job!

 

I use a 0* double wide bag as a “mattress topper” in the winter. It bunches up around the feet area. I also have warm down booties from Marmot that are awesome but I get sweaty easily in those. I have some thinner down “socks” from mountain hardware that work better for the 0 to -12ish degree temps(Fahrenheit that is). The Pendleton blanket is clutch in my opinion. I also haven’t gotten the opportunity to try out the new diesel heater setup yet( it’s not entirely finished on the install). But this winter it should be a go. Cracking the fan is also key.

 

Any word on our finish time. I ordered it in February and it’s been 8.5 months and I’ve had no word. I was originally told the would contract me after 7 months to finally the build. I did email a week ago and got no response. I want to add powder coat and change the windows.

 

Count on waiting at least 10 months. I'm sure they'll get back to you

 

I ordered in early February, so I'd say we're in the same batch. AND I feel your pain. No formal word on build date to me either.

I did receive a reply to a change note I sent Phil about a month ago. (I also had sent one a few months back which was replied to more quickly.) It was around a month before he replied. Phil apologized for the "extreme" delay in responding. He politely answered my questions with positive professionalism. It seems like we will get a call to confirm the actual build if it has changed from the original order (which mine has).

Agreed it is difficult in an age of getting things tomorrow when I order online today, to be THIS patient. But, as has been said by others, hang in there. I thought originally I'd know by now when the build would start. But in keeping my ears to these threads I'm now in agreement with the Senator that it will most likely be a minimum 10 months prior to even the start of the build.

That's okay with me (sort of) as I plan to spend a few weeks out that-a-way after I pick it up using it to traverse northern CA, Oregon, Washington, B.C., Alberta, Montana, etc. Getting it done in December/January (hopefully) will allow me to do some snowboarding and hiking. I'm thinking that by that much time I ought to know if anything is needing a tweak or not and could head back to the shop without the cross country trek again (from Michigan). Gonna be cold, which is fine by me. I'll not be able to do much in the way of a permanent heat solution. So I hope I can haul enough in a Skybox loaded in the bed of the truck (and then installed on the Drifter at delivery) on my way out there.

Hang in there, Happy...gotta be getting close.

 

I talked to Phil and he said that my Drifter is scheduled to go into production December with a January estimated delivery date. I am order 117 BTW.

 

That would be cool, I’m order 111. I just need to know because picking it up starts a 2 week road trip across the Mojave and around Nevada. I need to formulate plans with others.

 

Actually there is 1" insulation in the cabover area. I had mine opened up when I ran my solar panel wiring.