The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Sorry, I meant tape. The point was that when you remove the GFC, the bed seal stays on top of the bed rails and risks getting ripped and chewed up when you “use your truck like a truck”.

 

Definitely true. My only guess for them doing that instead of attaching it to the camper is because of the round frame rails?

I digress, this isn’t a thread about the GFC.

 

I’m thinking these might do better than the L track attachments. The farther out the mount protrudes, the more of a moment you create. https://www.uscargocontrol.com/Mounting-Ring-1-x-800-Lbs-Stainless-Steel-T316

 

their seal system is tried and true..all weather, all driving conditions.

 

Thanks for the tip! I just picked the same handle up on eBay (a few bucks less and I feel better about payment security that way). Looking forward to installing this, I was getting tired of being careful with the seal!

 

My Maxxfan lid also has a crack... but I checked out their site and they claim the lids have a "Lifetime Limited Warranty". I called them with the model number and serial number and they said they'd send a new one to me. Haven't received it yet, but I'm hopeful.

 

My lid ALSO has a crack. I will give them a call. Good to know there is a warranty.

 

That is PRECISELY where my lid is cracked! It also looks like your lid appears "bent" upwards on that corner, just like mine. I wondered if somehow mine was accidentally deformed and led to a stress fracture, but yours looks the same. I wonder what's going on there.

 

I wonder if there is some kind of defect in the plastic. I know I have treated mine with kid gloves in the 9 months since I got my Drifter. If feel like the MaxxFan doesn’t have the beefyness that the prior fan had. I still struggle with the screen popping up and causing the fan to rub. I am not sure how to keep this from happening. I have moved my pillows to keep them from pressing against the screen in transit, but I still have to take the screen off every time I use the fan.

 

My screen rubs the fan as well after the Drifter has been closed... I don't think there's a way around this. Even with just the mattress/tent material and no blankets I think the screen is impacted. I just pop the screen back out gently with my pocketknife tip, only takes a second. No removal required.

I hope the new lid doesn't have the same problem as the batch your and my original lids apparently came from. Would be a drag to keep replacing them.

I had a Fantastic Fan in my FWC and so far I prefer the MaxxFan, on the basis of A) the dual lifting arms, B) the locking lid, and C) the very quiet low speed. This last is important because the FF made a lot of noise on even the lowest setting and I found it difficult to sleep under.

 

@joeydurango @MapJunkie My fan lid also has a slight crack in that exact spot...

 

Drifter fans...I've gone through several pages and cannot locate the height of a Drifter when closed. I merely want to estimate the total height of a camper sitting on top my 2017 Taco. Any timesaving help will be greatly appreciated. The threads I reviewed were helpful too. Thanks.

 

Phil had answered this to me in an email once actually awhile back, "The camper is 31" above the bedrails. If you go with low profile rails (like KB Voodoo), you will lower it approximately 3/4"

 

Anyone else? Seems we have a pattern going here.

I wish someone made an aluminum lid for the MaxxFan, that would be really cool. Also expensive as hell, probably.

 

+1
Had the same issue on the hinge as well as some cracking on the top center of the lid. I used some JB Weld that worked okay for a while but eventually cracked again. My replacement from the warranty claim was on backorder for a couple months and it just arrived last week, so hopefully that's a good sign yours ships right out and that they don't have similar issues down the road.

 

like this?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...y-and-roof-top-tent-for-flatbed-socal.662761/

 

Yeah, exactly like that set up right there, but the jack stands had wheels. Some guy from Australia on Instagram. Very similar to this one, but on the back of Landcruiser pickup. I have seen him back in & load the canopy using them & even off load it, roll it out of the way in a field so they were free of the extra weight for wheeling or whatever.

 

Thanks. I was wondering what was in there. Glad I sold mine.

 

The wait is worth it - Just motivation to those who are waiting! There's a reason owners of other campers tell me they want to sell theirs when they see a Vagabond in person

Also, add the options while you can! Powdercoat, prewire, fan, windows, etc. Add them all.

 

Any updates from anyone? Haven't heard of people getting build dates or making final payments in a while, was just going through and updating the spreadsheet today. I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic, and just like keeping track since I live out of my truck two days a week and as we head into winter the Drifter would make a world of difference but sounds like I won't be enjoying comfortable Drifter living until next Spring at the earliest. Just curious since it seems like it's been radio silence for a while and haven't heard of any installs recently.