Installing your Madix Drift camper is an exciting milestone. It’s the moment your truck officially becomes adventure-ready. To help the day go smoothly, here’s a simple guide on what to expect, how to prepare, and a few helpful tips from the Madix team.
Before Install: How to Get Your Truck Ready for a Camper Shell
A little prep goes a long way. Here’s what we recommend before your install appointment:
1. Remove Bed Covers or Racks
If your truck currently has a tonneau cover, camper shell, or aftermarket bed rack, go ahead and remove them beforehand. This ensures we can place the Drift directly onto your bed rails without delays.
2. Clear Out Your Truck Bed
A tidy truck bed makes for a clean, efficient install. Remove loose gear, tools, and anything that might roll around or get in the way.
3. Clean Your Cab Windows & Bed Rails
Not required — but helpful. Giving your truck a quick wash before install keeps dirt from getting trapped under the camper.
We recommend wiping down your cab windows and bed rails specifically, since these won’t be as accessible once the camper is mounted. You can remove the back sliding window later if you ever want to clean your cab windows again, but it’s easier to take care of now.
During Install: What Happens Step-By-Step
Depending on if you're getting a camper for your Tacoma, Gladiator, F150, or another truck model the install varies slightly but for the most part, installing the Drift is as straightforward as it comes.
Install Time Expectations
The physical install itself typically takes less than 30 minutes — the Drift is lightweight and easy to mount.
However, we usually spend around an hour total with the customer to make sure everything is aligned, secured, and that you feel fully set up and confident using your camper.
Positioning the Camper on Your Truck
With 3–4 people, the Drift is easy to lift and set onto your bed rails since it weighs around 285 pounds. We’ll place it gently and begin the alignment process.
Visual Alignment
We take a few passes around the truck to make sure the camper is sitting perfectly on your bed rails. This is a visual process, and we double-check alignment from multiple angles before securing anything.
Secure the Camper with C-Clamps
Once alignment is dialed, we install the heavy-duty C-clamps that anchor the Drift to your truck.
Clamp Requirements by Bed Size:
- Short Beds Truck Campers: At least 3 clamps per side.
- Long Bed Truck Campers: At least 4 clamps per side.
These clamps keep your camper stable on the road and on the trail.
We Provide All Tools Needed
You don’t need to bring anything.
We handle the full installation process and bring all clamps, tools, and equipment needed.
Full Walkthrough
After the camper is mounted, we’ll walk you through the entire setup — features, operation,. how to use the passthrough access, best practices, and answers to any questions you might have. We make sure you leave feeling confident and ready for your first trip.
After Install: Final Steps Before You Roll Out
Connect the Third Brake Light
The Drift’s 3rd brake light connects directly to your truck’s rear brake light wiring. Madix does not perform this connection to protect your vehicle’s warranty.
We recommend having a certified shop or dealership complete this wiring so everything stays compliant with your truck’s factory requirements. Most shops quote around $50 - $100 to wire the third brake light in your camper.
Organize Your Gear
Once you’re home, load up your essentials, dial in your setup, and organize your storage the way you like it.
Break-In Checklist
As you drive, the camper will naturally settle into its gaskets. This is normal and expected.
We recommend:
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Checking clamp tightness weekly for the first month
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Tightening each clamp a half-turn at a time
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Stop tightening when the clamp no longer moves by hand
This helps the camper seat properly and ensures long-term stability. Over-tightening the clamps can cause the camper mounting rails or your truck bed rails to bend or cause damage so make sure they are snug, but not as tight as you can get it. We highly recommend using hand tools only.
Enjoy Your New Truck Tent Camper
That’s it — your truck is officially adventure-ready. Whether you’re headed out for a quick weekend campout or a long-haul trip, your Drift is built for wherever the road (or trail) takes you and elevates your truck bed camping experience.
FAQs
- Can I install the drift camper myself? If you have something like a gantry crane, you may be able to install the drift yourself, but we highly recommend having at least 3-4 people as the camper weighs 285 lbs. Although it's a lightweight camper, having an extra set of hands during the install also helps with lining up the camper to sit exactly how you want it on the bed rails.
- Can I add solar? Yes! We offer 200 watt solar panels that include mounting hardware that mounts directly on top of the rooftop tent.
- What models does the Drift truck bed camper fit? The Drift truck bed camper fits a wide variety of full and mid-size trucks such as Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Gladiator, Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and more. We also design custom truck campers for most other models as well.
- Where do you install the camper? We currently have install locations in Fayetteville Arkansas and Denver Colorado, but we are more than happy to help get you a camper and install it closer to wherever you are! Contact us before purchase and we will be happy to let you know the process and closest location!
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