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The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Discussion in 'Tonneau Covers, Caps and Shells' started by Iggy, Mar 26, 2018.

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  1. Feb 25, 2020 at 9:16 AM
    #3661
    White Mountains

    White Mountains Well-Known Member

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    What do you do up in Denali? I backpacked Denali NP a few years back. God's country.........
     
  2. Feb 25, 2020 at 9:17 AM
    #3662
    Eazy.E

    Eazy.E Big gulps huh?!

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    ILY tho..
     
  3. Feb 25, 2020 at 10:34 AM
    #3663
    Babish_SD

    Babish_SD Well-Known Member

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    mmmmmm that flatbed option I continue to dream of........
     
  4. Feb 25, 2020 at 2:10 PM
    #3664
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

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    MaxxFan Mini-Review

    We had an opportunity to use the v2 fan this weekend, and I thought I would post some thoughts. I can’t really compare the MaxxFan to the Fantastic fan because I have only seen the Fantastic fan on other units. My initial thoughts were that the MaxxFan looks to be great on features but a little less finished.

    E69B90EB-4D4F-4B59-9E23-31D623410DD3.jpg

    The biggest thing I like about the MaxxFan is that it locks in place for transit. After cranking down the vent, you can turn the dial and lock the vent down. I understand from Phil that this feature is available because this fan is use on the A-Liner campers that have the fan in the backwards orientation to airflow when driving.
    6D939B92-6E34-49AB-B1E9-625AC97BDEF6.jpg

    The vent knob.
    411A236A-AA84-479B-A70A-32ABC0A296F1.jpg

    Another feature I like is the ability to adjust the speed of the fan separately from on/off. Some fans require you to cycle through all the speeds in order to turn the unit off. One issue I have had is that the fan stops on level 1. This is a major disappointment because level 1 is also the quietist setting. I have pulled the screen away from the fan and still have the issue. Has anyone else run into this issue?

    885EBD38-3969-4629-A946-79D3143E8B3D.jpg

    The final feature I like about the fan is that it has a reverse switch. This rocker allows you to have inflow, off, outflow. I understand VO hand wires this switch to get the multi-directional fan. Kudos!

    I like the features the MaxxFan provides, but am reserving judgement on the fit and finish. I love the fact that I can get a fan installed at the factory - this is amazing for this product. The screen touches the fan at times causing it to stop. The fan appears to wobble on the shaft as well. Level 1 on the fan doesn’t work consistently and fan will simply stop. I talked with Chris at VO and he thought I might be able to remove and reseat the fan so it will spin without wobble. I will provide any updates if that works. Any other experience with this fan would be helpful.

    3CDA36EF-42A4-4896-A9F4-C153F4FBA52B.jpg
     
  5. Feb 25, 2020 at 3:22 PM
    #3665
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

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    I have run the fan on the lowest setting all night on several occasions without issue...

    Pretty sure I was running it "in reverse" (i.e. pulling air out), in case that matters.
     
    MapJunkie[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Feb 25, 2020 at 5:05 PM
    #3666
    White Mountains

    White Mountains Well-Known Member

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    @Overlanerd
    @Iggy

    You mentioned on Instagram on Jan 9 that you were working on a different camper entry option. Was that a barn door and what is the status? Also, are you still preparing to test the new camper jack attachments in March?
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020
  7. Feb 25, 2020 at 6:46 PM
    #3667
    Kclamer

    Kclamer Well-Known Member

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    2.5" lift, 4.88 gears
    Wow thank you for such a detailed look at the fan. I cant wait for my camper and its reviews like this that make the pain manageable :) also kudos for good pictures!
     
    Anderson likes this.
  8. Feb 26, 2020 at 5:37 AM
    #3668
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

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    dents and missing bits, built in the Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    You can use it to wash the mud of your XtraTuffs....
     
  9. Feb 28, 2020 at 12:25 AM
    #3669
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

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    Denali Park, Alaska
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    dents and missing bits, built in the Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    Yep, you can try using a couple, 1-neoprene sleeve or an extra Woolrich wool sock, 2nd with a OR bottle parka. When the thinner sleeve bottle gets cool, switch it out with the one in the OR parka. I used this combo, Thermarest Base Camp on top of an ensolite pad, along with a fleece bag liner and NF Tangerine Dream laid over the top, or a double bag combo for several weeks in a NF VE25 tent during drill site construction out at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet field camp set up. A few different variations of this combo served very well over 7 seasons of camp put ins.
     
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  10. Feb 28, 2020 at 11:26 AM
    #3670
    brehew

    brehew Well-Known Member

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    In my case, I'm not worried about being warm while sleeping, i'm trying to dry out gear ski gear and reduce the humidity in the camper. Keeping the gf warm while sleeping is a large secondary goal. This is why i'm going Propex, despite the cost and complexity.
     
    Sinner2 and Arctic Taco[QUOTED] like this.
  11. Feb 29, 2020 at 5:50 PM
    #3671
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

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    dents and missing bits, built in the Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    Agreed, with this package- hoping to make my order around the end of the summer, depending on projects and such- but with minimal mods this is an easy 4 season camping device, as long you don’t mind going rustic to a degree. That said the Propex heater sounds like the bomb, and it is going onto my project list. I hope I can lay eyes on one of these in the wild, maybe on my way back up north, or south or during the summer.
    Now to design a double swing out carrier, thinking about a 4xInnovations bumper and possibly a their swing out cut down to facilitate a double swing out. Always something....
     
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  12. Mar 4, 2020 at 9:44 AM
    #3672
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

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    I wanted to post a quick update on the fan. I followed Chris’s recommendation from VO and removed the fan using a small Allen wrench. I then reseated the fan, but allowed another 16th” of clearance between the fan and the motor. I ran the fan for a couple of hours last night and it never shut down. I think this might have resolved the issue. The fan still wobbles as it spins, but perhaps this is part of the design.

    I will also mention that one of the knobs on the fan appears to be mislabeled from MaxxFan. It references pulling the knob to unlock the vent and pushing it to lock the vent. A separate knob is now used for locking the vent, so this text is now inaccurate.
    A49AA7DC-FFA6-4F8B-9820-28E5D20C30F5.jpg

    An additional note is that I have measured the power consumption that the fan takes. These readings are listed below by fan setting:

    Level 4 - 3.0 Ah
    Level 3 - 1.5 Ah
    Level 2 - .65 Ah
    Level 1 - .23 Ah

    I am looking forward to warmer weather that requires use of the fan!
     
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  13. Mar 4, 2020 at 10:52 AM
    #3673
    White Mountains

    White Mountains Well-Known Member

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    So was this a factory defect in the fan or an installation issue from VO?
     
  14. Mar 4, 2020 at 11:24 AM
    #3674
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

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    My assumption is that that VO doesn’t take off the fan for their mods, but I don’t really know. At least it was an easy fix.
     
  15. Mar 5, 2020 at 8:16 AM
    #3675
    4wdExplorer

    4wdExplorer Well-Known Member

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    So I'm about 1 week shy of 1 year mark from placing my Drifter order. Thinking about the options I selected.

    I have chosen both passenger and driver Frontrunner Doors. I also selected the lower insulation option. I believe the ceiling comes insulated standard. Now that I think of it the FR doors take up most of the side space of the short cab. If lower insulation is added are the FR doors insulated?? I would think they are not.

    In that case I would remove the lower insulation option as there is no point having a very small portion insulated and pay $375... Thoughts?
     
    MJonaGS32 likes this.
  16. Mar 5, 2020 at 8:35 AM
    #3676
    SenatorBlutarsky

    SenatorBlutarsky Well-Known Member

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    I believe the frontrunner doors aren't insulated.

    For what it's worth, it was pretty cheap and easy to do insulation myself. I used 1" foam insulation from home Depot and covered it in indoor/outdoor carpet. Probably cost $20 and a few hours.
     
  17. Mar 5, 2020 at 8:36 AM
    #3677
    Anderson

    Anderson Dudemanbro

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    Keep the insulation package. What they charge for it versus what it actually takes them to install is crazy. I wish it was an option back when I purchased mine. It is a major PITA to install yourself. Which I will have to do. I am also working on an insulation system for my doors that will integrate with my MOLLE panels/Side Saddle brackets.
     
  18. Mar 5, 2020 at 5:30 PM
    #3678
    Imperial Taco

    Imperial Taco TK421 why aren't you at your post ?

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    We went with the same option on ours. For the R value it adds and the fit and finish we really couldn't replicate it. I've see some of the home brews and while they are nice most use carpet and we can't stand the carpet feel so it was out for us.

    I'm not sure what other options you went with but for 375 I'd keep it.

    Just my .02 but the clean look and benefits are worth it to us.

    Cheers
     
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  19. Mar 5, 2020 at 5:54 PM
    #3679
    Babish_SD

    Babish_SD Well-Known Member

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    Still dreaming and planning my own, but I battle with similar thoughts. But continue to throw the question, if I need the Front Runner doors on both sides
     
  20. Mar 5, 2020 at 6:10 PM
    #3680
    joeydurango

    joeydurango Nightfall Overland

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    Frontrunners are awesome! I use mine all the time, and the buildout isn't even finished yet.

    As for the insulation - mine isn't insulated but I wish it were. I'll be doing that myself. The factory install is super clean, and there's plenty of room around the (uninsulated) doors that will need it. And I'm pretty sure they use ACM ("e-panel") in the package, and that stuff is insanely expensive, at least everywhere I've seen it...

    I'll be building some sort of insulation for the FR doors as well, that will likely become a Nightfall Overland product offered to the Vagabond public, as well as bug screens for the FR doors.
     
    excav8tor, tyfoon11 and Anderson like this.
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