The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Thanks. Is this insulation option you paid extra for?

 

That’s the insulation option offered by VO

 

RE: Insulation - I'm co-owner of a couple small textile goods manufacturing businesses. In the off-road/overland realm we operate Nightfall Overland, our newest venture at a year old. (Bedrock Bags, our bike-world company, has been going strong for almost 8 years.) We're currently building high-end van window covers and organizing accessories, but we're always working on new ideas. We build everything in Durango.

Seeing as I'm about to pick up a Drifter, I know I'll be building some items for mine. I'm anticipating that my personal gear will end up as prototypes for production pieces for the Drifter. Just another future option!

 

Anyone with a drifter had any issues getting insurance to cover it? My people are all confused about what it is lol. Hopefully they call me back before my pickup on Monday!

 

Just tell them its a glorified camper shell! Like snugtop, etc.

 

I can also attest to the difference insulated walls have during cold camps. We spend around 17 nights in our drifter last winter and the walls helped retain heat down low to dry gear, especially wen the bed is pulled out. We normally hang out wet gear below the bed to dry at night.

As Phil mentioned it also cuts down tremendously on condensation. Most of the single layer walls of the camper shell and the tent can build moisture pretty easily but everything dual layer says dry.

We have only used a buddy heater so far. Definitely adds to condensation build up but has kept us plenty warm in cold temps. That said a forced air heater will be a game changer if your logging a lot of cold wet camp days. A friend of mine is working on a pretty slick option for a propex heater for tacos but it’s not finished yet. More to come on that.

The tent wall insulation package isn’t really a necessity but when it becomes available it will be the icing on the camper cake for us winter goers!

I didn’t have any issues having ours insured on my I’m auto policy. That said I had the Flippac insured so I was able to have them update the model and the coverage price. A few photos to my broker helped seal the deal.

 

I am going on 10 months now since placing a deposit on my Drifter. I need to stop going on YouTube and checking out 4wheelCamper Builds. Man, If I could turn back time I would of seriously considered a 1st gen Tundra V8 4x4 2005-2006, access cab, and a Four Wheel Camper!

Hopefully I take delivery of my Drifter soon so my mind can stop wandering!

 

thats a crazy different price point. if thats in your budget and needs, you may want to look into the option. is that with a flatbed? not a huge fan of the slide in models, at least for the tacomas.

 

I do not camp enough to justify a 4 wheel camper hence the Drifter fills in my camping/exploring fix nicely.

Eventually one day when I am taking less international trips I will want a 1st gen V8 Tundra, front/rear lockers, flatbed, and a fourwheel camper! I do not really like the slide in models either.

 

for a quote, I just sent my Drifter quote to show the price and a website link to my agent and they will just add the final value to my policy as a "Camping Unit".

Back in July for me it was about $12-$14/6 months of comprehensive coverage for $11-13k in exposure for the Drifter.

Pretty sweet deal except I would cry if I had to get back in line for another Drifter.

I have heard some insurers want some sort of a marking on a shell or camper to show which one they are insuring. I am sure you could just weld or rivet a number plate on it somewhere if needed.

 

I’m in the process of reregistering my truck as a Recreational Vehicle. From there, my insurance agent is able to insure it all full cost of all items purchased for it. It is a tedious process.

 

Ended up doing what you did, sent my final invoice with options and they were good with that. They did ask for a number or Vin of sort but apparently it wasn't needed since they got me all covered lol

 

Anyone cut a hole in the side to plumb a heater exhaust? I have a much larger truck now so an interior build would make sense but I don’t have the handy bed storage pockets to make it easy to run an exhaust.

 

Not sure what kind of heater you are installing, but I would recommend down through the truck bed.

 

It would be a diesel or propane fueled air furnace. There’s no way I’m cutting a hole in the bed of truck when the Nomad would be far easier to patch if desired and costs 5x less.

 

I installed a diesel heater and mounted it to the truck bed. It took about 5 min to cut a holes for it and the mounting bolts. I would much rather have a hole in the truck bed which in my opinion would be easier to patch anyway (thin sheet metal vs. 1/8" aluminum). Additionally, while not a huge deal, I wouldn't want exhaust coming out at hip height or higher. The exhaust is pretty hot.

I had the same idea as you to mount it somewhere to the camper but I just couldn't find a spot that made sense. In the end, it was super easy to mount to the floor. Where would your fuel source be stored?

 

I haven’t gotten that far, just considering options and thought I’d ask if it had been done yet. I was thinking of something similar to the exhaust grates used on RVs.

 

Something like this could easily be mounted to the bed or side of the Nomad.

Not sure what truck you have, but most full-size trucks I’ve seen have holes (with plastic plugs) that could easily accommodate a 24mm exhaust hose. Lots of options!

 

Pretty much what I had in mind. I have a Ram 2500 now, needed the towing and payload capacity. I’ll have to check in the morning and see what it has for drain plugs in the bed, didn’t think of that.

 

With a forced heater exhaust, at least with a propex, you have to have the exhaust tube continually traveling down. This is because condensation builds up in the tube and any “valleys” need to have a hole drilled to help drain.

So inside the cab you don’t want to drill any holes in your exhaust so the best is to run it down through the floor like Phil said.