Thread: Project: Cub Drifter 6

Totally makes sense. Imagining looking at the tire marks after driving on wet sand.

D4 outside to outside at rear. 1860.
My cub. 1820.

D4 inside to inside at rear. 1350.
My cub. 1500.

All good. Thanks.

hi all, i have just joined in to follow this thread...
I bought a drifter 84 about 2 weeks ago and have similar aspirations to bring this very light camper into the modern era - with new chassis, greater clearance, rewire and refit.
hate to say it but i cannot afford the land rover... yet.. its on the list but plans got interrupted. so i am towing behind an old deisel triton which is not troubled at all. 9.8L/100km without vs 10.3L/100km
currently we have a camper trailer - which i can assemble solo - but my wife needs something that she can do on her own - with assistance from boys 2 and 7. so i ended up with a lightweight drifter - good for her to drive with as it is a lot lower than jayco etc equivalents. and easy to setup. now need to sell the camper trailer....
a few points - the annex is awesome - but takes a while to assemble. feeding the ceiling canvas through the rope track was probably the hardest part which required assistance from a keen but easily distracted Zee (7).
Of course when I increase the clearance the annex will float - so will need to have a skirt fitted to accommodate.
Anyway - I would love to see some more detailed shots of the chassis - looks to be 100x50 slotted under existing chassis. I plan to weld up myself so any more infor you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Extended drawbar is a must... plus some bike storage - maybe at the back... also have thought about building a rack for the roof - but i don't really trust the cable system to hold additional weight which means unloading before erecting ??

Gday,
Tested the Cub Drifter last weekend in Bunyip state forest, east of Melbourne. Serious test of whether the camper was waterproof! Rained the whole time, but kept us totally dry and warm. Very happy with the fly ends, kept 99% of the rain off the canvas. Tried out the annex - hard to put up by yourself, heavy, didn't really use it. Will keep it for longer stay's in one spot, but for short trips and travelling trips where i'll be moving each day or two, i think a quick awning will be much better. Thinking about an awning designed to attached to a 4wd roof rack. I'm assuming they are much cheaper than the full-on caravan awnings. Thoughts?

Regarding my list of thoughts and concerns at the start of the thread;
- storage. no problems. heaps of space in the camper. The car was basically empty compared to the past having to carry all the stuff for tent camping.
- fridge. fitted the Engel into the spot where the original 3 way fridge was. Its low enough to not imped the bed sliding in. used some simple brackets to hold it down to the floor. haven't done 12 volt power system yet, so it was an eski for the 2 days. (it was so cold outside, didn't really need a fridge. )
- Lino floor was filthy and completely wet from so many trips in and out with wet shoes. but didn't care. a tent or soft floor camper would have been a huge thing to manage. once back in the city, it dried in 1 day then swept it out. easy.
- cooking. i have pulled out all the LPG and using all butane stoves (a single and double unit). When it rained i cooked inside. When it was dry i cooked outside. Easy to just pick up the stove and walk outside. Worked really well for me. In two full days of cooked breakfast, coffees and dinners i used 2 butane cans. about $4. only issue is the environmental issue of having to bring home empty butane cans. can these be recycled???
- heating. butane heater is awesome! heats up the camper in a few minutes and is so easy. in 2 days at sub 10 degree all the time, used 1 can. $2.


Here are some pics. Ugly unit but very functional and lots of fun for the boys and dad. (Mum also loved having a weekend with some free time. )









See all the blackened trees from Black Saturday Labertouche fires.



Everyone inside, up off the ground. Boys slept at the back end / behind the table where the bed is a little larger. Me at the other end.





Lawson Falls with lots of regrowth after the fires.

Originally Posted by geefix

Anyway - I would love to see some more detailed shots of the chassis - looks to be 100x50 slotted under existing chassis. I plan to weld up myself so any more infor you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Extended drawbar is a must... plus some bike storage - maybe at the back... also have thought about building a rack for the roof - but i don't really trust the cable system to hold additional weight which means unloading before erecting ??

Here you go geefix. Let me know which areas you want more shots.

Rear left corner.


Behind left wheel.


Middle rear.


Left wheel.


Cable disk brake.


Infront of left wheel.


Middle front.


Front left bend to A frame.


End of original chassis welded to cross beam. Bigger chassis below.


Right inside A frame.


Hitch plate.


Under hitch plate.

Looks like a great little unit, i had a similar era sunwagon camper that was a little bit bigger but the missus didnt like it so we sold it .

thanks for the frame photos wombathole - they are perfect. the knockouts in the top of the main 100x50 frame for cabling are interesting - not sure i want to do it that way - was kindof hoping for a better solution...

the drifter hits the road for 2 months out to uluru and back with the love of my life and 2 boys - so I have spent the last few weeks checking and fixing everything - and researching a solar setup which i plan to install this weekend. then . i get a week out there in the middle.

looks like my drifter is possible bit older than yours - the wind up arms are on the outside of the body. it is the only one i have ever seen like this. anyway, when it gets back i can start looking at slipping a better frame underneath and upgrading the suspension and wheels to something similar

thanks again for the photos
g

Hi Geefix. I was also a bit worried when I saw the holes in the frame for the cabling, but after seeing all the welded tabs and seam welds between the 100x50 and the original 50x50, I see it as a 150x50 with a hole in the middle. Not sure if they're weak points, but it feels solid as a rock on road and gravel.

If your camper is a wind up cub drifter but the extendable arms are on the outside, I think that's an after market job on an older unit that would have originally had the scissor push up arms. I saw online a very clean white camper for sale about 4 months ago that was this configuration in Sydney. What is your Config? Any photos?

Enjoy the trip to The centre. Pls send some photos when you get back.

We had a drifter 6 some years ago. I swapped the little nylon sheaves in the roof lift system for chromed brass ones I got from the boat supply shop. If the nylon sheaves get stuck they quickly get flat spots with the weight, and never roll properly again. Also if going on a big trip, be sure you understand how the lift system works and how to fix it if it fails while you're away. (won't do it at home!). I carried spare cable and a set of lightweight props, (lengths of broomstick sized dowel) after seeing someone else's collapse.
Don.