1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

Discussion in 'Bay Area Metal Fabrication' started by MTNHABITOVERLAND, Mar 27, 2018.

  1. Jul 14, 2020 at 8:12 PM
    #3881
    4wdExplorer

    4wdExplorer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Member:
    #28499
    Messages:
    1,071
    Gender:
    Male
    Orange County, CA
    Its a prop65 thing. They should be allowed to sell that to my zip code, it seems like a website error. Amazon will ship it to me no problem. From their site its about $40 cheaper. All they have to disclose on their site is this item can cause cancer, birth defects, etc etc etc...

    I'll call them tomorrow.

    Need to do my power ASAP. All my lights in the Drifter are off now due to no power in the bed!
     
    Wackyhacky likes this.
  2. Jul 14, 2020 at 8:20 PM
    #3882
    Wackyhacky

    Wackyhacky A Well Known Troublemaker

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2014
    Member:
    #131275
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Keith
    Berthoud, CO
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma DCSB
     
  3. Jul 15, 2020 at 9:48 AM
    #3883
    shmabs

    shmabs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Member:
    #243083
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    New drifter owner here, picked it up used this past weekend and I'm in love.

    A few questions for the collective hive:

    The previous owner supplied a small wiring pigtail to tie into my tail lights for the third brake light, does anyone have a schematic or instructions for wiring that up? I realize its probably just finding the power and ground for the tail light circuit.

    I need to install some aluminum bed rail caps, which I may just end up making myself similar to the relentless units (sadly they aren't offering them right now). If I go with a 1/8th or 3/16th thick bed rail cap to replace the factory plastic caps, how much does that lower the drifter? I'm trying to make the front bed wall, and side walls all one level for ease of sealing. It would have been best to do this before I picked up the drifter, but time was very short.

    What is the preferred storage method for the windows when stowing the camper? Currently I roll the two wide windows in when lowering the roof.

    When stowed, the tent material hangs down, has anyone come with a solution to support or hold the material up and out of harms way? I'm thinking some easily removed webbing/straps. My truck still gets used like a truck a lot, and I don't want to snag the tent material when loading/unloading.

    My drifter was originally intended for a 3rd gen taco so the lower trim piece on the rear flip up window is different than what's required for my 2nd gen. For the time being, I'll probably just make something work to cut down on dust intrusion, I was wondering if someone could post a picture of what the lower trim piece looks like on their 2nd gen?

    I've been chewing through all 195 pages of this thread slowly and sporadically as time allows, my apologies if I've missed these in this thread.

    Mike

    IMG_0175.jpg
     
    Eazy.E, d.shaw, ETALATE and 5 others like this.
  4. Jul 15, 2020 at 10:19 AM
    #3884
    t.hornstra

    t.hornstra Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Member:
    #9957
    Messages:
    5,264
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ted
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    White with 4 wheels
    Little this. Little that 4x4 Swap’d PreRunner
    Send a note to VO. Another user here upgraded trucks from 2nd gen to a 3rd gen and they were able to fit a new seal for the tailgate to accommodate the 3rd gen tailgate. It could very well be done both ways, I’m sure they’d be happy to help.
     
  5. Jul 15, 2020 at 10:21 AM
    #3885
    alldownhill

    alldownhill Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2018
    Member:
    #266862
    Messages:
    163
    Zip the windows up before closing the camper.


    Slide the bed platform towards the back and tuck the tent material above it. By sliding the bed platform back (leave the mattress pushed forward, you have some additional storage space above. I keep pillows up there.
     
  6. Jul 15, 2020 at 11:05 AM
    #3886
    MapJunkie

    MapJunkie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2018
    Member:
    #249153
    Messages:
    314
    Gender:
    Male
    Washington
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma OffRoad w/ Drifter
    Welcome to Drifter land! I am currently parked at 5500 feet in the Blue Mountains of Washington working out of my Drifter. It is a great lifestyle.


    To install the third brake light, you will need to remove the taillight (some photos in my build thread below). I took off the taillight to install my Bed stiffners.

    44E89745-C8A2-497D-82FA-50F4E80B13C9.jpg


    The yellow Drifter brake cable needs to be clamped into the brake light cable coming from Tacoma. I assume there is a ground cable that needs to be screwed into the Tacoma frame. VO did this part of the install for me.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pragmatic-overland-build-vo-drifter.638732/
     
    shmabs[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jul 15, 2020 at 12:14 PM
    #3887
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    Congrats - I assume you picked this up for "$7500" from Tim/OrdinaryOverland, which may have been one of the shortest Drifter ownerships so far. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBetA_hABks/

    Wiring: You'll also need a constant 12V source for the interior light(s). This is not available at the taillight from Toyota - you'll have to add this yourself.

    Bedrail caps / rear window flap
    As another member here stated, send an email to Vagabond Outdoors and they should be able to get you set up with a new rear door piece for your 2nd gen as well as the Relentless Bed Caps (Vagabond is the only one selling these - Relentless doesn't list them on their site).

    Here's the lower flap for the 2nd gen (installed on my 1st gen truck):

     
    MJonaGS32 and shmabs[QUOTED] like this.
  8. Jul 15, 2020 at 12:34 PM
    #3888
    shmabs

    shmabs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Member:
    #243083
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Thanks all!

    I sent them an email last week, and haven't heard back, tried instagram and phone call too. I know they're busy, so I'm sure I will hear back one of these days. It actually looks like I may be able to remount the existing trim piece I have. When I get the bed caps swapped out, it should lower the camper a bit, so that may change things again. I have a steel tailgate skin and cap so I may investigate a rubber seal that has a magnetic strip to hold it against the cap.

    That is the one I ended up with from @ordinaryoverland, Tim was great to work with.

    I'll be working on a rear power supply to tie the aux lighting into, the bussman system makes that pretty easy.

    I appreciate all the quick replies.
     
  9. Jul 15, 2020 at 12:52 PM
    #3889
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    I'm not sure where you're at, but if you're around Colorado, I'm trying to find others to band together for a single shipment of a few sets of the Relentless bed caps...
     
    kbk likes this.
  10. Jul 15, 2020 at 1:01 PM
    #3890
    shmabs

    shmabs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Member:
    #243083
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    I'm in northern CA, so vagabond is about 4 hours from me. Funny part is I drove almost 800 miles north to get this one.
     
    Anderson and Bentrodder like this.
  11. Jul 16, 2020 at 11:49 AM
    #3891
    socalexpeditions

    socalexpeditions IG: @socalexpeditions

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Member:
    #230791
    Messages:
    5,226
    Gender:
    Male
    I think I may have the lower trim piece you're looking for (from swapping my camper over).

    Let me check and I'll send you a DM if I do.
     
    JasonLee likes this.
  12. Jul 16, 2020 at 12:13 PM
    #3892
    shmabs

    shmabs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Member:
    #243083
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike

    That would be awesome, thanks!
     
  13. Jul 16, 2020 at 1:41 PM
    #3893
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2014
    Member:
    #129454
    Messages:
    11,063
    First Name:
    Jason
    Q322+3C Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    15 TRD OffRoad
    TRD Supercharger and more.
    if this works out, I’d take your 3rd gen piece of you don’t want it. I’m looking at newer trucks than my 2003 and haven’t picked one up yet, but with how “cheap” the used 3rd gens are compared to a 2.5 gen... I may end up with a 3rd gen for a few years until the next viable option shows up.
     
  14. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:07 PM
    #3894
    socalexpeditions

    socalexpeditions IG: @socalexpeditions

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2017
    Member:
    #230791
    Messages:
    5,226
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm going to probably be making a custom third gen tailgate piece. I'm unhappy with the way the seal sits on the tailgate and you have to follow this proper opening-closing procedure to not bend the seal upright (which I have done). I'll probably copy the ARE design.
     
  15. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:13 PM
    #3895
    4wdExplorer

    4wdExplorer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Member:
    #28499
    Messages:
    1,071
    Gender:
    Male
    Orange County, CA
    Whats everyone using for USB Power Outlets? Tried searching this thread and did not see much info on what people are using. I want to hardwire something into the fuse block that can be installed up high so it can be reached from the bed.
     
  16. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:49 PM
    #3896
    d.shaw

    d.shaw Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2016
    Member:
    #194653
    Messages:
    1,013
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2012 Silver TRD-OR
    Vagabond Drifter, King 2.5 coilovers, King 2.5 rear, Pelfreybilt front / rear bumpers and skids, rock sliders, Safari snorkel, Smitybilt winch, Baja designs 20in, wide cornering spots, S2 rear. Deaver expedition series stage 3 rear leaf.
    i used a bluesea 2.1A one,

    https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/30/USB_Chargers

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082CXEI8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
     
    Wackyhacky and SenatorBlutarsky like this.
  17. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:49 PM
    #3897
    alldownhill

    alldownhill Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2018
    Member:
    #266862
    Messages:
    163
    I've got a GMC canyon and mine doesn't have a trim piece that contours the tailgate. It just sits on top and its holding up really well and seals up nicely.
     
  18. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:54 PM
    #3898
    ETALATE

    ETALATE Non Sum Qualis Eram

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2019
    Member:
    #311380
    Messages:
    320
    Burlingame, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 DCSB TRD OR
    Beautiful shot of Shasta, just drove through there when I took the 97 all the way back from Portland.
     
  19. Jul 16, 2020 at 3:14 PM
    #3899
    mhshark

    mhshark Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2017
    Member:
    #225632
    Messages:
    884
    Gender:
    Male
    Bend, Or
    Next time you’re in bend gimme a holler. Love seeing other drifters around here
     
  20. Jul 16, 2020 at 8:03 PM
    #3900
    snwbrdr852

    snwbrdr852 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2012
    Member:
    #76081
    Messages:
    476
    Gender:
    Male
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    '17 DCSB OR V6 AT 4WD
    To each his own, but I really don't understand why people choose to run dedicated usb ports.
    I'd much rather have the versatility of a standard 12v port, which I can plug anything I want into ....including a 4+ port usb charger.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top