Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Hell yeah! I'm game for a meet up

 

I will be in Telluride in 3-4 days

 

Are you counting me?

 

Of course! We almost need to have a list going of where everyone's at

 

SWCO - Durango.

 

CODA... Colorado Drifter Association?? Someone get the patch machine churning out designs. I am no artist... ha ha

 

Alu-Cab makes a gutter kit- https://www.alu-cab.com/product/270-shadow-awning-gutter-kit/ that will hopefully help. I have not figured out a great way to install it, but when I do, I'll send photos.

 

I'm now strongly considering this awning. Still not sure if it seals better on the back over the tailgate area.
https://overlandvehiclesystems.com/...e-dark-gray-cover-with-black-cover-universal/

 

Ah ok. I don't think I'll be able to make it down there unfortunately.

I'm just north of Denver.

 

Are there any 270 degree awnings like that one which are available from commercial manufacturers - but which have screen or full canvas walls to create a full enclosure ?

 

It looks like your truck fits in the garage. Does it fit?

 

https://www.alu-cab.com/product/270-shadow-awning-side-panels/

 

If you drive through St George hit me up! You can find me on Instagram and shoot me a DM, it’s the same handle as my username here.

 

Hahaha, unfortunately this truck doesn't fit in the garage anymore. It barely fit before if I bumped the front to the wall but you couldn't get around it with the garage door closed so it was very impractical anyways.

 

Things are finally close to done! Painted and installed the bumpers and sliders, and the power system is dialed in. Made some Rotopax mounts for the FrontRunner doors. Drilled one set of the Smart Touring awning brackets to create a HiLift jack mount. I have a few things I'll revisit - removing the airbags I used for my FWC (keeping the Alcan custom leaf pack), potentially redoing the insulation so that I like it better, maybe upgrading the shocks (again), odds and ends - but mostly I'm set for summer in the high country.

 

Does the hi-lift prevent the frontrunner door from fully opening?

 

First step into my electrical work I need to get done as parts slowly trickle in. Ran into two questions for those of you who have done your electrical & any input is appreciated.

Where does everyone feel is the most convenient spot to mount your safety hub inside the Drifter in terms of connecting into the fan, lights, etc. system? I have seen them in the front corners, in the rear corners and places in between, but want to be set up for maximum ease when we show up for installation. The only thing I will have is two cables to egress into the bed to an Anderson plug, to a breaker, the safety hub & battery monitor.

The second question is just for those using a Redarc (or maybe other DCDC charger). Does anyone know how you confirm if you have a variable voltage alternator or not? I have a 2013 V6. Signs point to it not be based on what I can find, but just wondered if anyone new for sure.

Hope everyone is having a good wkd!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wackyhackys-2013-tacamper-build.626371/page-2#post-23526129

 

Yeah, yeah... you're right. Already looking at different suspension setups after 20 miles of washboard today...

Nope! There's plenty of clearance between the jack and door. There is a little interference with the jack when I have the Rotopax mounted, but that won't be often, only long desert missions with no fuel stations...

By "safety hub", do you mean the fuse box? If so, I mounted mine to the removable aluminum panel inside the Drifter in the driver's front corner. Stays in the truck when all the cabinets and bulk of the power system are removed - that way there's just one Anderson connector to the fuse box, rather than multiple connectors to all the auxilery loads.

As for the VV alternator... I'm not sure how to tell. I think I just searched for my truck's year and found out that way. (My 2015 is VV.) I suppose you could put a volt meter on the alternator while someone revs the engine and turns on different loads, and see if it varies significantly...?

 

Because I am utilizing modular and portable things, I built a portable box. It has solar, alternator, and AC inputs. Have 2 each USB and accessory ports. I wired the Drifter to it using an accessory port and move it back to cabin battery when I pull the portable. On this maiden voyage I have the box in the passenger front corner of the bed. So far so good. I’m sure tweaking will never end.
I am quite sure my 2012 is not VV. I think I found some YT channel that explained it using a volt meter. So far the Redarc seems fine.