The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Here are some quick ones I snapped at work. Not really dark out with the parking lot lights but it gives you an idea about the interior light coverage. All my bed power is coming from a single AGM battery in stock location.

*Edit: the bed power plugs I have were from Off-Grid Engineering. (contains volt meter, 2 dual USB ports, cigarette style plug and one other kind that I can't remember the name of(usually what folks change the cigarette style to since it is a more secure plug. I'm sure someone will know the name of it.)

Short LED near 3rd brake light(see reflection on front wall)

Full length side LED

Ceiling LED

All are dual color and dimmable (white/amber)

 

Yes. A long bed drifter on a 2nd gen will fit on a 3rd gen long bed but you will need to change the lower rear hatch seal to seal correctly. I am sure the VO boys could help you with that.

 

I have a Yeti on my rear seat platform that lowers my fridge. I also ran the drifter’s power into the cab and plug into that. It’s nice to have the outlets in the drifter so that we can charge things up while sleeping but ultimately the power is coming from the yeti
Hopefully this makes sense?

 

Thank's Slimbo for the photos! That is all stock lighting if you get both lighting options? It seems like you really wouldn't need much additional lighting to move about the drifter if it is all sealed up? I'm just trying to avoid having to wear a headlamp inside. If I would still need to use a headlamp to shuffle though bins (I'll be living out of bins the first year of ownership until I figure out the layout) I'll consider other lighting options.

Looks like if you have all the lights on, on the LED it would be plenty bright though and no headlamp would be necessary. Is that correct?

Thanks again for the photos.

 

There's definitely enough lighting inside to not need a headlamp, even if you don't order any lightning package. The one rear hatch light that comes stock is plenty, any others would just be an additional improvement.

 

Yes, does anyone have a photo of what this set up looks like? Sounds like it runs off the truck battery. If, the power outlets are easily accessible near the rear door that's one thing. If they are tucked in the back that would be no different than using my Yeti. Thank's for help.

Looking forward to getting this drifter (Order 140 still no word) so I an begin contributing to some answers!

 

I hope you're right on the delivery date but am not getting my hopes up. I have accepted the early January time frame for my delivery, if not later.
#152 & no call or email on specifics or final payment.

 

Yes I’m jealous of 159 getting a phone call. All the good phone calls are taken.

 

I called and happened to catch him!

 

Yes, my interior lighting are all Vagabond options(upper & lower). Like @SenatorBlutarsky said, the standard light(pic#1 & 4) is plenty for ambient light inside and not need a headlamp. If I could do it again I would have asked them to leave the small one off and just went with the side ones(Vagabond lower lighting option). For me I just use those more often and they might give a little more useable light for digging through bins since they run the length. The standard light also gets in the way of the bug net that I bought through Vagabond that's from another vendor(Strawfoot, I think). At the time I got it, they had not installed one yet so I'm just going to try and work on modifying the net over the winter.

 

Anyone able to get the website to load?

https://vagabondoutdoors.com/product/the-drifter/

 

No. Hmmm. I know this can occur due to a variety of reasons, from crash or power failure at the hosting company to problems with Mr. Internet himself. Few months back I alerted Phil to his expired cert. They're busy don't you know. We'll see...

 

Really wishing I had placed my order earlier last year now. We're about to be kicked on our asses out of our house at the end of the month and I could comfortably work and live out of the Drifter even for a little while with my new job. Hopefully we can figure out a good next step and maybe we'll move into the truck once we have the Drifter sometime next Spring (order 201, 1/6/19).

 

Thanks for the heads up!! I notified Chris and Phil.

 

Hey All,

I know I've flooded the forum but... I received my final invoice today and boy it was a doosy! I'm sure it'll be worth it but... Looking forward to focusing back on this project and I'll keep you all updated on the building process. My invoice was #140 and it is expected to be ready in November - Just in time to spend a few weeks living out of the tent climbing in Yosemite (if it's open) and then get the drifter for some luxury Cali and desert travel. I don't think I will miss the dirtbag tent life.

I originally paid for a bear bones deposit and then today someone reached out to me with the list of my add on's I requested in a prior email. They never responded to that email but obviously they received it. AKA if you send emails they seem to be reading them just not responding until it actually matters. Thinking back on it, I sent soo many detailed emails to Phil early on essentially asking questions on designing the rig. He was probably spending a lot of time responding to those it finally wasn't worth it and now they just respond when it's time for the build out? It is all an assumption there.

Hope this helps with anyone waiting wondering if they need to send an update email on their new design ideas.

Also thank you for the help, I did add the charging option and the lighting. Off to the store to buy some Ramen for the next month.

 

Been watching these comments in the background for a greater part of a year now, i know that Vagabond is going through a shortage on aluminum. Is there any word from them regarding when that will be resolved? im not keen on waiting over a year for mine due to life and am thinking about selling my slot or refunding to get a Campking outback.

 

I was talking with @SliMbo4.0 last night and we got to talking about the clamps on the 2nd gen and how the front-most one interfered with the front bed reinforcements on the market.
I then realized that with the insulation package and no side access (windoors, hatches, FrontRunner, etc) on my Drifter, the front-most clamp actually can't go that far forward before hitting the insulation panel where it curves toward the vertical cover.

I have the GCI G-133 clamps (and I think that's the standard issue for 2nd and 3rd gen owners) and wondering if anyone has found another quality clamp that has a little less reach to clamp down further forward with the insulation package

 

Question - Is it really necessary to replace the shark fin antenna with the low profile one to fit the drifter or will the stock one work?

 

What gen do you have? If you have a second gen and are still rocking the plastic bedside rails, then it is not “necessary” to replace your shark fin. If you have metal bed rails, then I would say yes, it’s necessary. If you have a 3rd gen, it is not necessary.

But, they are aesthetically pleasing to the eye!

 

@Anderson I have the 2nd gen and I just replaced the bed caps with the Relentless metal ones this week.