The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Finally!!! Woooo!

 

All the details (well except R-value) are in the Instagram post. You need to click through to see the text, so I pasted it below in a quote:

 

Maybe you could do a full walk through video and a review when you get one? I probably wont buy until i know its good and see it in action. Camping in -21F this weekend so I can definitely make use of the insulation package.

 

Debating whether we add it to our order or just hold off. Depends on when our Drifter ends up being ready for install. Could save the money and put it off until next winter season.

 

The insulation pack in my old FWC actually kept things cooler in the summer too... although I rarely used it that way.

 

That thought crossed my mind for sure. I’m comfortable camping in pretty much any temperature so I know I can live without. We’re adding a bunch of things to our final
Order so I think it’ll mostly come down to whether we want to put off the additional cost. We’ll see!

 

Any hotter in the camper since I have the the heater and I’ll die. My camper is super hot always. The lowest I camp is 0-10°, so not sure if I need it for a while.

I plan to order a Nomad so I’ll add it on with that!

 

What heater are you running?

 

5.5kw diesel heater.

 

found the photo

 

Ouch.

 

Once I get my taxes done I'll probably look into ordering one to have before next fall season

 

I plan to. I sent an email to VO and waiting to hear back on details for ordering.

 

I went camping this recently for the first time with the Propex. I can now report that this thing really works! As many know, there is a major series of storms that has been hitting the PNW. I ran the Propex on high all night and it consumed 12 Ah and about 3 lb of Propane. This is a worst-case scenario, something I probably won’t do very often. At this rate I should be able to get multiple nights in a weekend out of my 90 Ah battery and 5 lb mini propane tank. I plan to install a 10 lb tank with a swing away rear bumper when I save the money.

The exciting part was that the outdoor temperature was 20 degrees F in the morning but the interior temp (measured at bed level) was 65deg. The wife and I were cozy with a light down comforter similar to the one we use at home. This is a full 45 deg increase over ambient temps. I am hoping this might even improve a bit once the tent insulation package is installed.

The only problem I ran into is the 12in of snow that fell over night and froze the driver door shut. I ended up crawling in from the passenger side. I think this problem is much worse on the Access cab due to the edge of the Drifter dripping water directly in the door frame. Perhaps I need to engineer a gutter that some have installed on their GFC. This is a pain. Yes, I know my raised solar panels make the issue worse. I will take it for the increased cooling of the panels in the summer.





I have a Drifter with the lower insulation package without side openings. I didn’t have my Strawfoot window cover either. Of course, didn’t have the upper tent insulation package, though it is on order. I do have one on order from VO, I am very stoked to get more insulation!

By the way, the Propex has been everything it was advertised to be. Fired up the first time and every time. It was worth it to spend the money for a well-designed product.

$51 FLAME KING YSN5LB 5 Pound Propane Tank Cylinder, Great For Portable Grills, Fire Pits, Heaters And Overlanding, White

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...ywords=5lb+propane+tank&qid=1613442705&sr=8-3

 

Haha, I camped on Sunday and it got down to -22F at night. With the gasoline heater and a small electric one going all night I still got ice at the end of the wedge and the tent walls. Beautiful spot though:

 

I recently got a RV Trailer for family trips and have an evacuation home for fire season. We went on a maiden voyage and it was only in the 40's at night. The trailer comes with a 30K BTU furnace and with the temp set at 65 all my windows had condensation. I'm starting to wonder if there is really any way to avoid all condensation.

 

Not unless you run a dehumidifier or leave a window open.

 

I dont get condensation anymore with my diesel heater running and the windows cracked. Sometimes I put a small 12v usb fan up against the window screen to pull out the humidity, and I think it helps.

 

Backpacker forums discuss this topic ad infinitum. There are so many variables that come into play from shelter design and construction to ventilation and air movement (inside and out) to relative humidity and dew point.
Example: I was out the other night. It was 20* F outside and dropped to around 10* by morning. There was no wind and light snowfall. I did not put up any insulation, had the fan lid cracked a bit and running in exhaust mode on lowest speed. I had no heat on (a chilly 15* in the drifter in a.m.) and had very little moisture on walls and ceiling in the morning. Mostly it was above my head where I was exhaling (I sleep head at the pivot end) in frost form. There was some also at the pivot end of the ceiling and sidewalls. The pivot end always has moisture. I have tried a small fan to move air in that space, but have not found a workable solution yet.
Compare that night to to a previous trip which had similar conditions except I did not use the fan nor open the lid and had lots of condensation. I would conclude then that some type of ventilating exhaust and air movement is profitable for condensation removal.
Theres my $.02 on this subject
Oh, and while on this subject. I built some d.i.y. Insulating panels from moving blankets and stapled velcro tabs. While they did their expected job of not having a cold canvas to touch and it was seemingly warmer inside, moisture passed through them and condensed on the canvas fabric walls overnight. They had to be dried out the next day. Not so happy with them for that reason. So when I saw that V.O. had theirs ready to put to market and I was quite interested and excited until I thought about more wait times of 12+ months or so, lol.

 

Insulation package has been ordered. Looking forward to it.