The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

How much did overland outfitters say to receive and install?

 

How difficult is it to load the drifter? I’m order #185 and starting to think seriously about how to load it on and off the truck. I’m hoping I can hang it in the garage when not in use and load it in an hour or less for weekend trips. Is it a pain to get all the gaskets lined up? It seems like most people install the drifter and let it live on the truck permanently. I envision a beefy swing set with a hoist that will let me lower it onto the truck. Before sorting the final build details, I need to figure out what to use as a lifting point. In the front, it’s probably easy enough to slip a 2x4 under the overhang. In the rear, I probably need Phill to add some lifting points. Thought? Ideas?

 

When I transferred mine from my 1st gen to my 2nd gen, I utilized 6 people to lift it and a 7th person to run around and move 2x4 pieces that we could set it on to not smash our fingers.

It's large, it's mostly awkward with how high the weight is and where you lift it.

That said, if you rig up a pulley system to lift/store it, it should be too bad. You can loop a strap around the overhang pretty easily. If you loop a strap around the bottom, don't chew up the seal like the previous owner of mine did. I would actually probably install L-track or some type of eye-hooks on the sides of the roof and connect to those if you are actually loading it up and unloading it every weekend.

 

Are the gaskets permanently bonded to the bottom of the drifter? I like the L-channel idea. If I put a vertical strip near the rear, perhaps that is strong enough.

 

this is a challenge. I’d steer away from using people if all possible..the weight of the vagabond is awkward as previously stated (front of center) even with a lift.

 

Define "permanent". It's not like the GFC, where they glue a seal to your bed and then if you were to take it off, anytime you carry a load that you rip up the seals because they are stuck to the truck…

I believe they are attached using VHB tape, so they are attached well, but not "permanent". You could remove them and replace, but it's going to take a little elbow grease.

 

Gaskets aren’t permanent. I’ve replaced mine once so far..Phil will get you the info on the correct gaskets if and when the time comes.

 

How do the boys at VO do it. There has got to be a way to engineer a reliable system that won’t give me a heart attack every time I load it.

 

Are the seals just bonded to the drifter? I don’t want any adhesive on my bed rails.

 

I thought about doing similar of rigging up the Drifter to be able to be lifted without looping straps around it so I could remove it a few times a year (max) and do some cleaning, interior building, truck detailing...

If I were to do it myself, I would install 4 L-Track, single dot things like these on the front and rear of the sides and use those to lift/lower the Drifter from the ceiling.

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/2-Round-Anchor-Point-Tie-Down-Kit-Black

I thought I saw some load limits on these before, but not right now, so disclaimer - I'm not responsible for these failing to hold the weight...

 

Forklift. Buy yourself a forklift.

 

Forklift with fork extensions to be exact haha

 

As well as custom rigging setup they have been perfecting since the first one was installed. They are always improving and streamlining the process. All processes for that matter.
So beyond pumped to be a part of the Vagabond family.
They really do make the best wedge camper out there.

 

I remember asking Phil at Vagabond if they were considering anything like camper jack receiver plates, and I THINK he said they were considering that as an option. Anybody else hear that? That way you could attach jacks whenever you want to remove and store it, but not have the jacks hanging permanently off the sides.

As to hanging it from the ceiling, I had a Flippac that had been hung from the ceiling by a previous owner, and it had spread apart from its own weight. Not sure this would happen with the Drifter, but also not sure why it wouldn't. As I see it the sides are firmly clamped to the truck bed when in use, so the clamped bed is helping to prevent it from spreading. If the sides weren't fixed to anything and were suspended on hooks or straps for any length of time, I'd think the weight would spread the sides. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

You can't compare the boat construction of the Flippac to bent and welded 1/8" aluminum sheets.
The Flippac uses untreated wood, corrugated cardboard, mild steel that rusts… and so on wrapped in Fiberglass.

 

The camper jacks are an option, but I need to unload it in the street and then roll it into my garage and then raise to the ceiling. I’m sure you will all get a good laugh at the YouTube vid I make.

I’m not worried about the spreading. I expect to use two lift points in the rear, just below the tent section. The other will be a 2x4 under the overhang.

 

I haven't done too much searching on it, but I know I have seen the Aussie Ute/Canopy set ups where they use a kind of camper jacks on casters, lift the canopy off the flatbed & can roll it around off the truck for storage etc. I would think a fully outfitted aluminum canopy like that has to weigh very close to Drifter.

 

I bought the cheap plastic one, but did not even attempt to install it. I then found this one for 6x (with shipping) the price. However, I am that much more pleased with it.
If I recall, they have colors...but my memory is waning.
Its quite robust and looks like it was made for it.

 

The GFC also uses taped on seals, not glue.

 

I’ve seen an install video where GFC tapes the seals directly to the bed rails. I sure hope VO doesn’t have a problem taping them to the camper instead.