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Vagabond Drifter Camper Buildout and Mods

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

  1. Aug 1, 2021 at 10:49 AM
    #5761
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I've only set it up once, so not practiced yet, but I'd say it was approximately 15-20 minutes with staking. It's worth doing if you are camping for at least a couple nights and have a need for the additional shelter/privacy. It will be great for doing outdoor showers when in a group setting. I know from experience using the wall kit with the Oz Tent setup that it's also great for when the weather turns wet / windy/ cold, or you want extra shade when the sun is getting under the awning.
     
  2. Aug 1, 2021 at 1:58 PM
    #5762
    alldownhill

    alldownhill Well-Known Member

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    You may be better off just setting up a ground tent near your awning. The rooms are definitely great when setup but it's just one more thing you have to take down before you can move your vehicle. We have a inexpensive instant cabin tent that we setup if we're going to be anywhere for a while. It's easier to setup than an awning annex and can stay put at camp.
     
  3. Aug 16, 2021 at 9:06 PM
    #5763
    CrashN'Burn

    CrashN'Burn I used to have a life

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    so I'm still breaking in my drifter but I'm starting to realize it's not so fun wheeling with this thing on my truck. has anyone figured out a solid way to remove them for trips?
     
  4. Aug 16, 2021 at 9:33 PM
    #5764
    Iggy

    Iggy Vagabond Outdoors

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    Check out the build
    it can be done with the help of some friends. 4 people should be able to do it.

    2 drifters have been rubicon tested. ;)
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CSoxuqyHjz1/
     
    anomalyTRD, POOLGUY, rob1208 and 10 others like this.
  5. Aug 16, 2021 at 9:42 PM
    #5765
    TacoS2017

    TacoS2017 Peruvian_yota

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    to many
    He seems to have fun with it.

    Screenshot_20210816-213844_Instagram.jpg
     
  6. Aug 16, 2021 at 9:43 PM
    #5766
    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    Haven’t noticed any difference wheeling with or without the Drifter. I was really expecting to feel the difference in off camber spots, but it wasn’t the case.
     
  7. Aug 16, 2021 at 10:38 PM
    #5767
    jimlangfordphotography

    jimlangfordphotography Well-Known Member

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    I hear ya. I had an upside down ice chest and a wet floor!
     
  8. Aug 17, 2021 at 8:21 AM
    #5768
    joeydurango

    joeydurango Nightfall Overland

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    Trips are exactly the times I want my Drifter on the truck!

    I don't wheel hardcore, but for the high country 4x4 roads and passes I do, the Drifter is a huge improvement over the old FWC.
     
  9. Aug 17, 2021 at 9:18 AM
    #5769
    CrashN'Burn

    CrashN'Burn I used to have a life

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    yeah I definitely wasn't on the best lines this weekend and its very possible I'm not as skilled a driver as some.

    I'm not only concerned about the off camper stuff but also the weight strain on the frame and axle.

    Testing it at deer valley in a few weeks, that should give me a better idea of what I can handle with the drifter on it.
     
  10. Aug 17, 2021 at 9:30 AM
    #5770
    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    654B3F39-E0C8-4EEF-A922-8E32439D2142.jpg Deer Valley is fun.
     
    anomalyTRD, d.shaw, MJonaGS32 and 6 others like this.
  11. Aug 17, 2021 at 9:59 AM
    #5771
    CrashN'Burn

    CrashN'Burn I used to have a life

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    yeah it really is, I ran it a few years back from strawberry through deer valley. it's a great trip.
     
    916TacoTruck[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Aug 17, 2021 at 10:24 AM
    #5772
    CrashN'Burn

    CrashN'Burn I used to have a life

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    it's sort of my benchmark for how challenging of a trail I'm interested in running.
     
  13. Aug 17, 2021 at 11:17 AM
    #5773
    Bentrodder

    Bentrodder PeeRunner Fanboy

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    Kings and a TW DECAL!!!
    Maybe a little less skinny pedal Hotrod! :eek::D
    https://youtu.be/eDCILrL64MI
     
  14. Aug 17, 2021 at 11:22 AM
    #5774
    joeydurango

    joeydurango Nightfall Overland

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  15. Aug 17, 2021 at 11:24 AM
    #5775
    Twizted

    Twizted 1GR FE

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    America
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    stock af, but hover if you think you disagree... RV living: Vagabond Drifter (6' bed) Custom bed cabinet buildout 175w Renogy solar panel 40a Rich Solar MPPT solar controller 1000w Wagan Pure Line inverter Lavaner Pro 2kw diesel heat exchanger Suspension/wheels: Toytec Aluma 2.5 front shocks with resis 13x700 coils (soon 14x700) Toytec Aluma 2.5 rear shocks SPC UCAs Deaver Stage 3 rear leaf springs Wheeler's 3 degree axle shims Wheeler's U-bolt flip Wheeler's Super Bumpstops 18"x9" XD Monster (x5) 275/75/18 Cooper ST MAXX (x5) EBC Stage 3 pads/rotors Electronics: Kenwood DNX773S iDatalink - Maestro RR Stubby Antenna No-name Switchback LEDs Hella Sharptone horns (no relay) Relocated backup camera w/DIY bracket Armor/recovery: BruteForceFab Rear HC w/swingout BAMF Sliders (DOM, 10 degree w/kick out, rattle-canned) BAMF IFS Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF Mid Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF TC Skid (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF LCA Skids (BAMF powder-coated) BAMF Rear Diff Skid (early model, powder-coated) BAMF CMC Plates US Offroad Winch Bumper Smittybilt X20 10k synthetic rope winch Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners ARB compressor w/air-up kit DIY cowl snorkel ARB rear air-locker Interior: Husky Floor Liners (F&R) Rear 40% seat-delete Hinged fridge platform in place of rear seat Exterior: CaliRaised Low-profile Ditch Light Brackets CaliRaised Side-projecting LED pods CaliRaised Faux TRD Pro Grille Morimoto amber LED fog lights One-of-a-kind 1GRFE plate (second iteration) Removed: OEM Bed Mat CaliRaised bed molle panels
  16. Aug 17, 2021 at 8:42 PM
    #5776
    OG_BajaTaco

    OG_BajaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I finally got a lot of the electrical work completed. I still have more to do, but this is a good start.

    The aux. battery sits up front in the engine bay where the starting battery used to be (it was relocated to the right side). I wanted to add a couple circuit breakers and clean up the cable connections to the battery. The best (only) place I could find to put the breakers was right on top of the OEM fuse box. So, I made a mounting plate and fit them into that spot. One of the breakers is for the connection to the isolator / combiner and the other is for the power lead to the camper.

    IMG_20210718_162359.jpg IMG_20210807_191125.jpg

    I built a "power hub" with disconnect switches and circuit breakers for the solar, inverter/charger, and aux. battery. It also has the solar MPPT controller, bluetooth module for the solar controller, a relay and switch for the air compressor, a couple fuse blocks for camper circuits, a negative bus bar, and some USB / 12V charging ports.

    IMG_20210801_133552.jpg

    I got the solar panels (100W each) mounted up on the roof. I had Vagabond pre-wire the roof for this, and I highly recommend you have them do it because the cables are neatly hidden and routed inside the fixed overhang that is above the cab, and then routed down into one of the access panels inside the camper. This made hookup super easy.

    IMG_20210814_094630.jpg

    Some of you may recall that little space I had when you flip up the Drifter window on the driver-side, that was just inside the back of the galley cabinet. I thought I might use that space as a place to store easy-grab items. But, that ended up being the most logical place for the power hub to live, so that's where I put it. I also mounted my air compressor in there just below the panel.

    IMG_20210814_104711.jpg

    I also added some dimmable RBGW LED lights inside the channel that wraps around the lower part of the Drifter. This is super nice, both for function and ambiance. You can dial it in with a wireless remote to suit the need or mood.

    mood_blue.jpg mood_pink.jpg

    I still plan on adding a switch panel with more charging ports, probably at the back of the Drifter, in the channel just above the rear hatch. I'm going to add another dimmable LED light circuit and put them inside the cabinets and under the toe-kick. The lights in the cabinets will operate with door switches, and then the idea is to have a master switch for those on the switch panel.
     
    anomalyTRD, BertH2O, Eazy.E and 15 others like this.
  17. Aug 17, 2021 at 9:06 PM
    #5777
    smelly621

    smelly621 Well-Known Member

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    It's DLX son!
    This build puts me in the mood
     
  18. Aug 18, 2021 at 9:47 PM
    #5778
    migx333

    migx333 Well-Known Member

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    How do you feel about the windoors?
    im torn between the windoor or the gullwing doors
     
  19. Aug 18, 2021 at 10:25 PM
    #5779
    Asphaltcowboychip

    Asphaltcowboychip Well-Known Member

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    A lil this a lil that.
    :kona:
    that fireplace though!
    :kona:
     
    OG_BajaTaco[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Aug 19, 2021 at 8:17 AM
    #5780
    nudavinci64

    nudavinci64 Robert @ Holy Horsepower

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    Boosted Money Pit....
    I have been rocking the Milwaukee shop fan. Uses their rechargeable batteries and they last a long time too. That fan is awesome!
     

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