2,000 Miles with the Madix Outdoors Drift Camper: Field-Testing My New Tacoma Truck Camper Setup
I had the Madix Drift Camper installed just one day before taking off on a 2,000+ mile trip from home to the mountains of Ouray, Colorado. With basically no time for dialing in storage or doing test runs, I packed the essentials, loaded the truck, and hit the road before sunrise.
What followed was a week of long highway stretches, rough off-road trails at 13,000 feet, and some of the absolute best nights of truck camping I’ve ever had.
TL;DR: My Quick Take on the Madix Drift Camper
Surprisingly efficient on the highway. My gas mileage matched or beat my old RTT setup.
Setup is stupid fast: 30 seconds up or down.
Super insulated, secure, and comfortable even in the 40s at night.
No side access doors, but I never felt like I needed them.
Ideal for Tacoma owners (or any mid-sized truck), weekend warriors, and full-on overlanders.
Verdict: The Drift Camper is a high-quality, overland-ready truck camper with premium components, comfort features, and a killer price, perfect for Tacomas or any mid-size truck bed.
Why I Picked the Madix Drift for My Tacoma Build
I was chasing a clean, secure, turnkey camper that didn’t kill MPG or overcomplicate my truck build. I looked at Go Fast, Four Wheel, and others, but Madix stood out with its all-aluminum build, simple design, solid insulation, and incredible price point with no extra cost for what I would consider basic features like front and rear windows.
The Drift fit my 3rd Gen Tacoma TRD Off-Road perfectly (even with a roof rack) and gave me peace of mind that my gear was dry and protected.
Build Quality, Storage, and Everyday Livability
Let’s start with the construction: it’s extremely solid. The welds are clean, seals are tight, and there’s absolutely zero flex or rattle, even on rough terrain. The tent uses a heavy-duty fabric with three windows and built-in bug screens. After setting it up once or twice to get used to it, the setup takes about 30 seconds.
Inside, the passthrough floor panels are gas strut-assisted, which means you can keep the floor open hands-free, which is huge for organizing gear or even using it as a changing room. The headroom is great for a midsize truck camper, and I never felt cramped when inside. It even has built-in LED lighting on the top of the tent for seeing around at night.
Even better: the mattress is actually really comfortable. Even after a week camping throughout dispersed campsites, I still slept great. I would still highly recommend getting some leveling blocks to make sure that your truck and sleeping platform are level. The camper is lockable, so I never felt worried about leaving gear behind when heading into town or leaving my truck unattended at camp.
Performance Review: 2,000 Miles with the Madix Drift
I left early in the morning and drove 16 hours straight to Colorado, only stopping for gas and food. A lot of the later part of that drive was into headwinds, but I really didn’t notice a lot of difference in driveability even with the camper. In fact, my fuel economy was slightly better than my old bed rack and rooftop tent setup.
Once I made it to Colorado, I climbed to 13,000 feet, hitting everything from rock crawls and deep washboard roads to extremely dusty trails. Through all of it, the Drift camper stayed bone-dry and rattle-free.
Camping temps ranged from 70s in the day to low 40s at night. I stayed warm inside, even on the coldest night, and the insulated walls meant I didn’t dread crawling out of bed in the morning. The best part is that I could make coffee, change clothes, and get ready, all without stepping outside.
Bonus: The roof of the tent made an awesome platform for stargazing or sightseeing over the mountains.
Is the Madix Drift Camper Worth It? My Honest Verdict
Everything I loved:
Super fast and easy setup
Strong, weatherproof build
Comfortable sleeping platform
Secure and lockable storage
What I’d improve:
No side access doors (but honestly, didn’t miss them as much as I thought I would)
To put it simply, I am amazed by this truck camper. It’s a fantastic fit for Tacoma builds and anyone wanting a simple, reliable truck camping setup.
Madix Outdoors Camper FAQs
Q: What trucks does the Madix Drift fit?
A: It’s designed for midsize trucks like the Tacoma, Colorado, Ranger, etc, but Madix is looking to branch out to full-sized trucks soon.
Q: How much does it weigh?
A: The full weight of the Drift camper is 285 lbs, which means it even works with stock leaf springs.
Q: Is it insulated?
A: Yes, the walls and roof are insulated. It holds warmth well even into the 40s overnight.
Q: Can you install solar or a heater?
A: Yep, you can install solar panels on the roof or run a diesel heater into the tent.
Q: Where is it made?
A: It’s built right here in the USA and can be installed in Denver Colorado, and Fayetteville Arkansas, with more locations in the future.
Final Thoughts
I’d add a few more internal storage mods and maybe run a small solar setup for longer stays. But the core setup? Absolutely zero regrets. The Madix Drift delivered exactly what I wanted: security, comfort, and speed without sacrificing off-road capability.
If you’re building a Tacoma (or any midsize rig) for real adventure, this camper deserves a hard look - P.S, tell them Overlandaholic sent you.
