Wedge Campers & Assorted Oddities

Hahaha. Apparently you used a very similar thought process. Seems very fair and I’m really looking forward to seeing more. Thanks for checking in Phil.

 

Where are the V2 being made? California?

 

That’s Phil, but lately they’ve become one entity know as Phiggy, so

 

But they help pay for new toys!!!

 

Yes. The Drifter is made by Vagabond Outdoors in California.

 

Drifter? Is that the official name?



I love it.

 

It is

http://vagabondoutdoors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/vagabond_outdoors

 

I’ve seen The Drifter in person as well and am stoked on the build quality for the price. This thing is STOUT(see what I did there Phil, that was just for you). I am looking forward to the upgrade in quality time spent camping versus the setup and tear down of a tradition RTT. More time spent staring at the burning embers of a nice campfire and less time crawling all over the sides of my truck attaching rainfly poles...

 

subbed

 

I've really been thinking of building something like this once I get moved and setup, adding up all the parts, time, and mistakes (I've been known to make a couple in my life) these prices are pretty attractive. anxious to see some of these in person over the next couple years. I like the idea of not having to remove crap from the roof, being able to run solar panels up there, more "live in" capable for long excursions or in bad weather... and staying within the vehicles foot print so not worry'n about anything but head room.

 

the search function works!

 

What would you call mine?? I just call it a pop-top camper?

No "sleeping platform". Just a shell with pop up roof. I reclaimed my friends old drawer as a sleep platform.

It still needs the canvas to enclose the roof and it will be going back under the angle grinder for updates/upgrades next week.

 

Did you use AluCab windoors on yours? Looks nice!

I think that any sleeping setup which cannot be accessed (entered/exited) through the bed does not belong in this thread. That makes it a RTT, not a camper. There are already plenty of online comparisons between and reviews of RTTs, including wedge-style ones.

 

Can you buy these windoors somewhere? I would be interested to look into them.

 

I'd go further to also say it needs a hard-panel roof, specifically to eliminate the AT Habitat from this thread, which I feel also doesn't belong due to being all canvas/fabric.

The AT Habitat is realistically a fancy hybrid/middle-ground between a tent and a camper. It does provide an interior entry/exit (camper-style), but the amount of fabric involved is what makes it a tent in my eyes.

To me, a camper is something that has interior entry/exit, pops up very quickly, and has minimal fabric so it can be used in very cold (like, -30C cold) and very wet (PNW weather) climates. It can be used in those conditions while maintaining comfort and the ability to quickly and painlessly pack up and move on (this is where I think the Habitat will not be practical). That's what makes it a camper. Everything else is just another take on a tent.

 

That's all me. Fabbed the entire thing myself.

 

You have major skilllz!

 

Thanks, but i'd call it patience and practice versus skill. Build was well over 100 hours. Most everything was cut with a metal blade on a circular saw and shaped with an angle grinder. Also had to learn to TIG aluminum and TIG with a foot pedal, during the build which took a ton of time. Again, patience/practice.

 

What's the rest of your spring under setup? What length shocks are you running? I'm getting a Vagabond and am currently running All Pro Expo's w/ custom valved 2.5" Icons. I'm trying to decide between going SUA or just adding BAMF shackle hangers and shock relo kit.

 

For those asking earlier about the Flippac, there is a reason that I only owned my 2015 Flippac (mint condition with NO modifications improperly installed) for 4.5 months... I camped in it once and the rest of the time I was constantly worried about the future of fixing fiberglass cracks, chips, rusting of the mild-steel framing inside the lid, the hinges rusting and breaking, not being able to camp in the snow because of the accumulation on the large and flat lightweight tent roof and so on. Then in January, I moved into an apartment building and I had 1/8" of clearance going under the garage door. It took me 10 minutes to get in/out of the garage. I ended up never even posting it for sale because someone REALLY wanted it and drove 2000 miles to pick it up.

In my opinion, the Habitat solves almost all of the problems with the Flippac as others have mentioned, but not being able to handle a real storm load of snow on top and overhanging the rear of the truck make it not an option for me. Tall people will hit their head under the "built-in awning!!!!!111111", you have to empty the roof rack and you can't use it in places that parking is not very long (like most of the bicycle races I have been to or for your sportsball fans - tailgating).

The wedge style campers should handle 4 seasons - snow will slide down onto the front of the truck (don't forget to put your wipers up when you park!) and hopefully the canvas/tent walls are connected in a way that when it's pouring rain, it doesn't drain into the inside.