The Drifter - Specs and FAQ

Phil, Thanks for getting back to us so quickly and for the information - very helpful.
Brian, Thanks for the lessons learned. We aren't sure about solar panels yet, but definitely would be interested in a carpeted top and the awning install.

 

The gen 1 tundra model is my choice. Is the DC & AC model going to be the same drifter? No sure but the DC seemed to have a deeper bed while I have been looking at them. Not sure if a deeper bed equates to a different bed rail top to can top measure.

Barn doors please

 

I’m just going to drop this right here...



It was a grinder on everyone this weekend but after about 30 hours total drive time, 8 hours combined sleep in a 48 hour period, and a lot of hard work from Phil and the Vagabond crew we are now rolling around with our drifter non the PNW!

Seriously cannot thank everyone enough. We are so stoked the time finally came and could not be more happy! Now time to get the interior built back out so I can get all my gear back in the truck that’s taking up space in my garage!

I’ll be posting up in the drifter camper build thread with updates!

 

Easy.E - Congrats! We just bought our Tacoma last week. We are finalizing the details of our order and will be joining the PNW Drifter club early next year. Looking forward to seeing how you build it out.

 

Camping doesn’t get any easier than in a Drifter

 

Where'd you get the mat?

 

It’s the one linked below in products discussed. It was Phil’s recommendation and i love it. Easy to clean and rolls up nice and tight for easy storage.

 

We've been very happy with our madmat that we used with the vanagon that will be transferred over.

https://madmats.com/mad-mats/geometric

 

We also have a Madmat and love it. Looks very similar to the Mat Phil had

 

Thanks so much! Congrats on your Tacoma first off, you cannot got wrong with a taco or a drifter!

 

That's a pretty cool forum feature. I was wondering "linked below what?" for a minute.

 

Just picked up a Mad Mat locally, how do you guys carry/plan on carrying it? I got the 4x6 version - wish they made maybe a 3x5.

 

All hail.

 

At some point, I plan to attach a 3" - 4" diameter piece of ABS in the exterior corner of the Drifter above the back of the cab, with countersunk screw-in end caps.
The length should work out perfectly to fit a 4' rolled mat.
For most, that space would not otherwise be utilized, plus any dirt/mud stays outside and it's not something that I'd be worried about having stolen either.

 

In the flippac we had two four gallon rotopax water containers mounted in side to the passenger wall so we would strap it to the top of the containers. Now that we have a swing out it may go where there or potentially in a PVC tube somewhere..

 

I just got a DC 2006 tundra and can't wait to be able to order my Drifter. It will suck to say good by to our 1979 deluxe westie but the reliability of the tundra in out of the way places is a big plus.

 

Rocky Bush Wacker - We sold our 1985 westy for the same reason and are excited about what the reliability and 4x4 capability of our new Tacoma has to offer, especially once we get the Drifter on it in late January. It's been a productive month: sold vanagon, bought tacoma, ordered drifter. Anyway, you are not alone in the transition!

Brian, We have a 5x8 madmat and stored it in the box atop the Westy. We plan to have a box on top of the Drifter with this is an essential item. We tucked it under the "entry way" to the indoor living space and put our shoes under the car making the inside of the living space shoe free and keeping the shoes protected from the elements. Hoping this will also work for the drifter/tacoma set up.

 

When I bought my Propex I bought it off of a local dude with a Westy for sale. When I drove down he told me how conflicted he was about selling the Westy, but after I showed him my Drifter (and he called his wife, and their friends over as well) he said it helped him make up his mind to sell it. He said that the electronics were so old that while they were driving down forest service roads connectors would pop out.

 

I am going to pull my propex when I order the Drifter for the gen 1 Tundra I got yesterday. Just waiting for the website to offer the model

For the people who have ordered from the website...how do you work out the payment for the options offered but not on the website menus?

 

Just call them up or send them an email. I ended up having to do that as the website wouldn' take Canadian credit cards and I also wanted some custom options done that were not listed.

hoping they respond back to me about the proper heating system, and we can add that in while i am down there. was going to do it with an espar as we use those to heat the cabs of trucks here in Canada in the bitterly cold winter temps, but figured three sources of fuel was going to be a pain in the ass.