The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Yeah, I saw that with the prinsu, too close for my comfort and well it just doesn't;t work. And I have a special umm offer from a offroad company that is basically hooking me up with some sweet deals due to all the problems i had with companies installing their products incorrectly on my truck and causing damage/issues, so I am going to take advantage of it and get some work done by them.

You'll love the shadow awning, I have one and it is fantastic. Nothing like setting up an awning in 20s. I actually use this one.

 

Opted out of the fan myself, thought about it, realized I'd rather not have an RV fan strapped to the top and figure I'll stick in a normal fan and turn on a heater in the camper if I get a lot of condensation building up.

 

I wouldnt exactly consider it just “strapped” to the top. It’s actually bolted to the extra upgraded framing that is added to the internal upper roof layer to allow the dope 14” fantastic-fan to be installed.

That said....I didn’t get one either. I really wish i would have.
That thing really sucks....or blows....ya know, because it’s reversible too

 

You can definitely just through- bolt it. There is nice access on the interior. I used the hardware that came with the awning.

For easier removal, this might work.

Bolt these to the side or rear of the lower roof.




The profile of the Frontrunner roof rack is 50mm, or 1.96”. These brackets fit over the edge of the rack and should fit over that 10-series T-slot extrusion.





This hasn’t been proven- just something that will most likely work.

Looks like some testing is on the horizon.

Smaller fan will definitely work for condensation. If it’s really hot with no wind, the Fantastic Fan works really well. And with 900 CFM’s, I can evacuate the evidence quickly after breaking a different kind of wind...

 

Exactly what @tacomgee said. There’s additional framing, that surrounds the fan, and is welded to the rest of the roof frame. It’s a really solid mount.

 

My wife is going to appreciate the fan for this reason

So did you end up drilling 2-4 holes per side? my thought was to drill/counter sink and notch out the extrusion from inside the bag in 2 spots and either use carriage bolts or some flush allen heads rather than the smaller hardware that is supplied but idk yet. need to check it out more one I get it home.

The FR brackets definitely looks like a viable options! I wonder if there is a "male" end extrusion that would slide into the existing T slotted extrusion that comes on most awnings... Slide it into place and lock it. im going to have to dig into this more

I had originally planned on opting out of the fan but after talking to the guys about the additional frame work etc, it seemed like a no brainer to just have it installed. Plus their pricing is really good for labor and fan

 

wheres recent content?

you guys die?

 

Busy building campers! LOL

We have a few new things in the pipeline as well!

 

im just being an impatient millennial and wanna see!

 

I drilled 4 holes for the rear awning. I believe @MJonaGS32 drilled 8 for the side awning. 6 would probably be adequate though.

I don’t know of a male portion of track. Seems like it would bind up on an extrusion that long.

I’ll try the other T-slot method and report back

The roof is probably strong enough to support the fan alone. But we built things differently round here

In your arms tonight.

Must have been something you said

 

I have a few ideas brewing for those front runner mounts... let me know what you come up with

 

I need to add to this "song lyrics to match the occasion".

 

any updates on when campers will be ready for the first 10?

 

You right they are not strapped to the top of anything and are bolted down. I am not being literal here. I've installed many a fantastic fan into work trucks, service trucks, etc to help with the heat. It's relatively simple to do. That being said I know these fans fail all the time and are easily replaceable, granted usually this is from branches/etc, which is part of the other reason I opted out of it. A lot of my places here in the PNW of Canada where I off road have a lot of low lying branches which like to rip off fans/etc. Having had numerous people I know lose fantastic fans due to this, I figured I would eliminate the chance right out.

I plan on installing a 12 volt fan with a clip that I can position where I want to circulate the air and remove when not needed. I have no issue if it is hot out as long as their is moving air and I can fall a sleep.

Originally my thoughts were for condensation, but after thinking about it for awhile, I have never been able to successfully do this in any tent. MY JB RTT with a fan ended up being moist in the mornings, and I had to air it out for awhile before I put it away, then at the end of the trip or after a few days, i would open it all the way up and let the bedding, tent air out for a few hours in the wind to dry it out(was never dripping wet). Figure what I am going to do is more the same to keep the condensation to a limit. My thoughts now are that when I am in the PNW and have been camping in the wet weather, I will pRk the truck with a dehumidifier in it when I get back home. And maybe turn on a fanned heat source in their to help dry it out.

 

@aaen What about a marine fan like this? It’s a bit lower profile with less of a chance to have overhanging branches cause a failure. Solar powered/charged so you don’t have to run wires to it either.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/nicro-ventilation--3-stainless-steel-day-night-solar-vent--17863317

 

Yeah, that is something I thought about installing aftermarket later on. Will see, I am going to run without the fan to start. then if I want the option later on, i will gladly install it.

I'm more worried where I am going to put all my goodies (shovel, axe, chainsaw, etc) A lot of it was strapped to the roof of the alucab with quick fists.

 

My rear awning (Tepui 4’) has four bolts - 2 pairs

My side awning (ARB 8’) has eight bolts - 4 pairs (PITA to install but wanted the overkill)

The back side of the awnings (inside the camper) has 2” wide aluminum flat bar sandwiching the lower lid with nylock nuts. I also have closed cell foam on alum flat bar and again on the back side of the awning on the outside of the camper - also sandwiching the lower lid.

Here is a kind of shitty pic of the side awning opened as @tacomgee and I were watching the Baja 500

 

Welcome to TW Dan! We will be sending out an email update this weekend.

Let us know where you are thinking of clipping or hanging the fan from. We know the construction inside and out and could definitely give you some mounting ideas.

And if there’s a possibility that you will install a fan in the future, we can run a wire to that location and coil up the other end behind one of the corner panels.

We looked at those and can definitely offer it. Not sure how effective it would be. For comparison, we were looking at (and purchased one) the Ventline Vanair fan, which moves 100 CFM. Might be enough. The Fantastic Fan handles 920 CFM's on max.

The Marinco day/ night solar vent moves 17 CFM's. The day only (passive at night) model moves 12 CFM's. Our huge side and rear windows really help with the ventilation and could possibly be more effective than one of those fans.

If one of our customers wants to be the guinea pig, we'll definitely install one! And if it doesn't work out, you can still utilize the hole in the roof.

With the L-track roof option, there is plenty of mounting solutions.

The shovel and axe could be mounted to the side, or probably the Frontrunner door in your case.

Here's @tdubd 's setup. Sorry, low quality IG screenshot. Maybe Todd can post some better pics



And @MJonaGS32 's

 

Yea I think I’m going to add a third row of L Track on the passenger side to mount my shovel and/or axe because #EAF

 

A wood burning stove in a tacoma? Hmm, this could be the game changer the overloading crowd has been looking for hehe.

With regards to where I am intending to put the fan (clip/mount), well I am not 100% sure. Would like for it to blow down onto me. For me the big thing is the white noise knocks me right out with the fan going. That coupled with the air moving around the tent would make some of the hot humid nights bearable for me. Guessing in the rear of the canopy towards the tail gate and probably up on either the roof shell, or down lower.