Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

10/10 rather use a bed mat. Literally idiot-proof tracing and cutting it out haha Just made a base for a buddy today and took me all 5 minutes to trace and cut.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone! I’ve got a herniated disk that I can usually push for a couple hours so if I do DIY the more measurements and info = less crawling around a truck bed irritating it haha

A buddy of mine does some drawers for Jeep owners in town and might have time to help me out. If that doesn’t work out I’m going to just tackle it myself. Should know this week!

 

how do you guys secure the baseplate onto the bed? is it just just screwed in?

 

I think most folks who have made their own baseplate just use the bed bolts to secure it. As long as you don't use wood thicker than 1/2" there is plenty of length w/ the factory bed bolts to do this.

 

Looking for input on the insulation option. I plan on only having a slider window on the driver side for the dog and the passanger side bare for storage. With that in mind insulation should be worth it as it would not be negated by windows/hatches rendering it somewhat pointless.

The factory option looks clean and would be easy to clean and keep from getting smelly like carpet. It seems like the factory option is 1inch foam board with some sort of white plastic sheeting over it.

I'm handy enough to tackle some DIY build outs and at $375 the factory insulation seems expensive when compared to DIY materials costs.

Does anyone have the interior wall demensions for a long bed tacoma drifter?

Anyone have have pros/cons from their factory insulation or DIY insulation?

Thanks! Drifter order #150 1 year and 2 weeks and counting and still no order finalization call/email... the wait continues

 

On my '17, the rear bed bolts weren't long enough with the baseplate.
https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/11113278

 

I wish I had the factory insulation option, and I'd consider it worth it. The really clean look is very appealing, I'm not super happy with the way my DIY insulation turned out. That said, it does the job. I'm stoked on the rest of my DIY build, but for some reason I just had a hard time with the insulation.

I believe (could be wrong) they use ACM (aluminum-foam hybrid panel, just like the ceiling) over the 1" foam board to finish the interior walls.

 

Yep, I've cut my hand on both the ceiling panel in a corner as well as on the side insulation panel when I was moving the switches from passenger side to driver (as the PO wanted them on the passenger originally).

 

Interesting that only the rear ones weren’t long enough.

I actually didnt end up mounting the base plate with the most rear bed bolts because the bed stiffeners occupy them.



For anyone wondering, the remaining 4 bed bolts (on a short bed anyway) are sufficient in holding the baseplate down.

 

I have the factory insulation and the install is very clean. It took VO a while to install and line everything up on the windoor side. I believe that is part of the reason for the cost.

 

Another finished product by tacoburn’s “pretty close” custom fabrication.

 

Mine was 1 year and 2 months so you are probably super close!

 

The GG baseplate comes with supplied bolts that you drill through the composite bed be secured so you could do the same with a home made baseplate. I also tried the factory bed bolts but didn't feel comfortable that I was getting enough turns to safely secure all that weight to the frame.

 

Seeing everyone’s builds and having sone spare time lately to think had me wanting to rebuild my interior. Thankfully playing around with the current set up rejuvenated my contentment with the set up. I made it as modular as possible and this reminded me of why!

Pulled the cooler off the slide and stick it up front with the short floor leaf in bench mode above the cooler, flips up to access. The cabinet that’s there normally get moved to the right side bench top and can be slid from the forward to the back. Standing hight table top, cook surface, or more recently a baby changing station. Whipped up a little platform to span the fridge slide area to get the toilet at “seat hight” and two front runner cub packs that normally reside in the front cabinet stack nicely next to it. Th slide becomes some what useless, but I’m sure I’ll find something to throw there.

I considering this “summer mode” once the baby is older and sleeping on her own below, I will end up taking everything out and building a more “four wheel camper” style 8020 interior with a narrower isle and a little sink etc.

But for now I’m still stoked lol



My slide in the back was build to hold our fridge, Sonia will also fit where the cooler is right now but currently it resides in the cab, summer requires more storage for beverages

 

For you guys looking for water tanks, I am going with a 15-gallon on the floor of my Tundra bed when the Nomad arrives. Surprisingly compact and every size you could want. If you are putting it under the truck, they have long thin ones. Mine is going under a 65" x 24" bench seat that will be on one side of the Tundra 5.5' bed. For off-roading, opt for the thicker wall ones. I am just using nutserts, right angle brackets, and nylon webbing to strap to the floor.

https://www.ntotank.com/rv-fresh-water-tanks

 

Not really. A 7 gallon is 24" long x 11.5" wide by 6" tall. https://www.ntotank.com/rv-fresh-water-tanks

 

Nice toilet. Love my PETT!!!

 

https://sherpaequipmentco.com/shop/animas-vagabond

so these are live, i think for the price, i might just go without one lol

 

@Sharkfrog

 

Holy rip off