Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

One end has a ball valve or something that closes when it's disconnected. Figure out what end it is. I then hang this end from the drifter somehow while packing up. I usually either hook it onto the window latch with the rear window open and let it dangle down. I have also swung it around while spinning in circles a few times. This seems to force the gas out of the hose and then I can immediately pack it up. Just don't hit someone in the face with the other end of the hose.

This doesn't work very well for my stove - there is still a lot of gas in the hose that doesn't get pushed or pulled out after turning off the main propane tank and trying to let it burn off. It helps a little, but doesn't solve the issue.

I have a combo Smoke/CO in my Drifter. I don't cook inside or have a heater, so I'm not worried about propane leaking while in there. I store the propane in the truck bed when driving, but pull it out at the destination when setting up camp and things air out if it had been leaking.

 

I do this and it works great! Jason (above) mentioned it doesn't work for him. Perhaps it depends on the stove.

 

It's either that or the regulator my stove comes with. JetBoil Genesis Basecamp.

 

Same issue with my Camp Chef two burner. You could try to find a small valve closest to the stove/heater and shut that down. Still leaves you with a full supply line though. Besides lots of NG/propane plumbing you might just be stuck emptying the line whenever you need to take it apart breaking down camp.

 

Now that's odd, because I use a Camp Chef Mountaineer two-burner stove. I always shut the tank off first, let the stove burn out, then shut the stove off. Disconnect the hose with minimal propane smell, if any. On the rare occasion I've forgotten to shut the tank off first and just turn off the stove and disconnect, I've experienced a heavy propane smell.

 

@joeydurango highly like i forget to open both burners or don’t give it enough time. I’ll try to remember to check it when I go out this weekend.

 

i just shut the tank off, burn whatever's in the line. vent everything else to atmosphere. it dissipates quickly when it's windy, a little less quickly when it's not. either way, no big deal.

what's the actual issue? y'all just don't like the smell of the methyl mercaptan or something?

 

Not a big deal when outside, which is most of the time for me. But it's also just good practice to get into in case you do cook inside (bad weather, whatever). Also, I hyper-conserve my propane, so I try to finish cooking on a shut tank rather than waste even a line's worth.

 

9 months with a Drifter and my Dakar Extra Heavys are now inverted lol. Whelp time for Deavers

 

And people wonder why I say hard pass on the OME heavy duty...

 

yeah, it's pretty funny. i don't know of a single person who's used ome who didn't complain about it. But at least if you go w/ deaver, they can re-arch those old springs so they can be resold.

 

From what I've read, this is normal for OMEs.

 

They claim that the "W" is part of their design.
I ditched my HD Dakars (put them on the wife's 2013) when I upgraded to Stage 3 Deavers.

 

Looking at them does not tell the entire story. Is your ride height affected and are sagging? If not its normal.

 

FWIW, I broke a leaf in my HD Dakar pack. They reluctantly replaced one side's full pack under warranty, but it still happened and wasn't enough IMO to support the weight I had before the Drifter was added.
So far the Stage 3 Deaver packs have been great.

 

Sounds like Deavers have been good, but I'll throw my vote in for Alcan custom springs in addition. Been running them for four years and they're in great shape.

 

Yes they are about 1.5" lower than where they used to be. My old pair of Dakars did the same thing too haha. I'll shove another leaf in there in a bit just to hold it some more.

 

I've had the Icon leaf pack on since I got my drifter, almost two years ago. They've held up great, though I'm guessing my truck is a bit lighter than many of yours.

edit: Oh god...Icon, not the dreaded Ikon corporate ski overlords!

 

I have the Icons too and they've been on my Gen 3 with the Drifter (with interior buildout) for a year now and still look and feel good.

 

2nd gen OEM Toyota leaf springs + the progressive Icon 3-leaf add-a-leaf pack was fine on the empty truck and with just the Drifter, fridge, 4x Maxtrax and BedRug. On a loaded trip (adding gear/food/water, no interior build-out) with 2 mountain bikes hanging off a hitch rack leaves 1" up travel.