Are internal roof toppers the real deal? (or pants)

[julianjdj]

I have the insulated outer pop-up cover - it works brilliantly!

https://urbancraftuk.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/thermal-topper-for-t5-popup-roof/

 

[zerofour]

To be frank, on a £40-50k campervan I think the roof canvas should be made of a more thermal, breathable and weather resistant material in the first place

 

[Tetley2]

I agree, it is a looser fit than I was expecting but It is quality material, warmer, less early morning light penetration and no draughts just the necessary ventilation.
I am not overly fussed on the velcro fixings but don't see how else it could be done without permanent fixings. I wonder should I have spent the extra £150 and gone for the Brandrup, probably not.

 

[larrylamb]

Camping in Devon at the moment, first outing for the internal topper and very impressed with the retained warmth, draught free and darker in the mornings too. Off to celebrate Blackpool FC promotion

 

[Fast Freddie]

I have the insulated outer pop-up cover - it works brilliantly!

https://urbancraftuk.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/thermal-topper-for-t5-popup-roof/
View attachment 22238

Hi - how is it fitted?

 

[soulstyledevon]

Are you sure you really need either? Having now spent the combined equivalent of about a year sleeping in ours, since we bought it new in January 2014, almost always sleeping upstairs, we've never felt the need for one. Even in sub-zero temperatures, above the snow-line, when the wind has been blowing hard, the van is well enough insulated to be comfortable without the heater on all night (although we don't turn it off till we are cozily under the duvet and additional faux fur "wolf", and we certainly don't get up till its's been on for a while). It's not at all as cold as a tent can be - presumably the insulation in the roof panel helps reduce heat loss. I worried at first that the canvas would leak in Yorkshire / Scottish horizontal rain but it's not been a problem so far.

Spot on.
OP stop being a soft Sally and invest in a decent sleeping bag. I did the Alps this year in Feb, no topper and heater only used 30 mins before bed and again before getting up.
Surely a topper is just another thing to store, erect and pack away.

Your be wanting a drive away tent next

 

[B J G]

Hi - how is it fitted?

I had a look on their site and found the Forum had a very limited guide, couldn't find any video guide.

One point I noted was that it quotes no moisture in - no moisture out. That would suggest lack of ventilation and condensation problem. Cali breathes through the top in the main.

http://forum.darenpucerscreens.co.uk/forum.aspx

 

[Borris]

Spot on.
OP stop being a soft Sally and invest in a decent sleeping bag. I did the Alps this year in Feb, no topper and heater only used 30 mins before bed and again before getting up.
Surely a topper is just another thing to store, erect and pack away.

Your be wanting a drive away tent next

Well we now have a very cosy drive away awning, an internal liner and an external topper which we may or may not take with us and deploy on trips away. We have even been known to take a convection blower heater to warm up the awning if the weather is a really cold. We don't bother with the freezing cold morning dips in the buff or beating our selves with birch switches afterwards as that doesn't sit well within the Cali glamping dream and it would probably frighten the horses as well but each to there own.
But being serious for a moment I do draw the line at damp or even wet bedding from the wet canvas roof. So the internal liner is a must for us. The rest are merely options to suit different types of trip away.

Mr and Mrs S Sally.

 

[Mervyn kennedy]

I'm weighing up my choice of topper. Having just sold my hard top van, I guess I'm going to feel a bit exposed going back to canvas. I'm well versed in the general arguments between the two types, but have a specific question.
I'm drawn to the convenience of the internal models....but most of the photos of them fitted they look at a bit 'pants', particularly the club / comfortz ones... Gaps at the top, baggy sides, areas where there is too much / not enough material which suggests they touch the original canvas or lean into the sleeping area. So based on the photos i'm not convinced they do as good a job as the external ones, which seem to maintain a proper gap all around.
I'm 6'4" tall so well equipped to fit an external topper but often travel alone, and am also a bit of a lazy ar*e so if the internal ones are better than they look, that might be best.
The photos of the brandrup ones look better, but are approaching silly money and when fitted by a Brit may look equally 'pants'.

Your thoughts appreciated.....

The brandrup one is the one to go for .to fit it correctly will take about 5 hours if you haven't done one before .there is no bagging ,sagging messing with ours and if it didn't look and operate right it would go straight in to the bin .everything has to be right for me .the dearest is not always the best but in this case it most definitely is .we have about 3 to 4 thousand spent on brandrup items on our t6 .we have changed pockets to different locations and they work better this way .we are just after getting 4 of the insulated square pockets and fitted two of them different to where they are ment to go .post pictures soon so every one can see .the isotop is as I would expect if it came from the factory .if money is the issue then that's a different story and option .

 

[kave]

I would very much like to see the Brandrup bags setup. I am also thrilled with all Brandrup stuff we gpt.

 

[Glamper Gladys]

Hi - how is it fitted?

I'd like to know how this one is fitted too ( we're no wusses and are toasty in the top but I do draw the line at wearing a sleeping cap even though our heads do get freezing!)

 

[Glamper Gladys]

I have the insulated outer pop-up cover - it works brilliantly!

https://urbancraftuk.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/thermal-topper-for-t5-popup-roof/
View attachment 22238

would love to know how this one is fitted, looks neat and easy, just the job!

 

[5i1ver8ack]

This is interesting.

My own Ocean is on order and my only experience of using any form of campervan was the long weekend hire of an Ocean last October.

I have camped (no tent, tiny tents, small tents, large tents, trailer tents) most of my 50+ years.

Those of you who find sleeping upstairs cold... What are you sleeping in? Sleeping n bags? Duvets? Other?

Wouldn't investment in some decent sleeping bags be cheaper and more convenient than any of these topper alternatives?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Glamper Gladys]

This is interesting.

My own Ocean is on order and my only experience of using any form of campervan was the long weekend hire of an Ocean last October.

I have camped (no tent, tiny tents, small tents, large tents, trailer tents) most of my 50+ years.

Those of you who find sleeping upstairs cold... What are you sleeping in? Sleeping n bags? Duvets? Other?

Wouldn't investment in some decent sleeping bags be cheaper and more convenient than any of these topper alternatives?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Happy waiting game for your cali! it does come round sooner than you think!

We sleep with a 13.5 tog duvet tucked in at the end (otherwise you feel the cold from the exterior metal where it lifts near the tailgate). We are nice and warm except for our heads which feel really cold (even with the diesel heater on or a small oil filled electric radiator). Admittedly we've only had 5 trips ( 2 to 3 nighters) since we got it in January and pretty cold wet weather for each trip but still, there's a marked difference in body temperature and head temperature!

We don't do sleeping bags. The morning/evening light doesn't bother us. Cold, and baggy pants (!) definitely bother us!

 

[calimera]

This is interesting.

My own Ocean is on order and my only experience of using any form of campervan was the long weekend hire of an Ocean last October.

I have camped (no tent, tiny tents, small tents, large tents, trailer tents) most of my 50+ years.

Those of you who find sleeping upstairs cold... What are you sleeping in? Sleeping n bags? Duvets? Other?

Wouldn't investment in some decent sleeping bags be cheaper and more convenient than any of these topper alternatives?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

I don't usually like sleeping bags .We tried duvets when we first slept up top, side got damp when pushed against canvas. Also bulky despite compression bags.

Then bought vango aurora double sleeping bag ,its amazing ,so cosy .The top part can be taken off. It's like sleeping on a duvet with duvet on the top. Bulky but use plastic large compression bag with a hoover or hand pump. In March only our heads were cold ,so wore our ski hats.

 

[Wayne]

Mmmm ....... I'm not sure how or why someone buying a new Cali is being put off a top notch aftermarket product on cost grounds? Should've bought a 20 year old transit
I bought a Brandrup isotop and it's ace. Easy to fit.....and forget. Keeps you cool in the sun and warm in the cold - a no-brainier?
Get a 10 tog feather/down mix duvet and you'll be toasty. We have been all winter in sub zero.
Bought an external foil too for Alpine winter trips but thinking I won't need it for the warmth - just to keep the weather off.
Go on......treat yourself to another best-of-the-best product (again). I reckon you won't regret it.

 

[julianjdj]

Hi - how is it fitted?

Very easy and simple to fit. I store it rolled up. After unrolling I simply place one end at the rear of the bus and work my way around the sides and front until I get to the back again, using a long brush to push the cover into place. There is a gap of about 1 ft. at the back and you clip the two ends together with a short bungie cord. If very wet I place a small tarp in the gap (see picture).

 

[julianjdj]

I'd like to know how this one is fitted too ( we're no wusses and are toasty in the top but I do draw the line at wearing a sleeping cap even though our heads do get freezing!)

Have now replied to Fast Freddie's request post.

 

[5i1ver8ack]

Mmmm ....... I'm not sure how or why someone buying a new Cali is being put off a top notch aftermarket product on cost grounds? Should've bought a 20 year old transit. /QUOTE]

Don't misunderstand. I'm not put off a product on cost grounds. I'm simply interested in how it is that people using the upper bed are cold. It can't be too different from sleeping in a small tent.

 

[Speleo62]

We have the Cali cozi from nick. It's brilliant. Keeps us warm and cool and blocks the light. T6 canvas is extremely light. It's a bit of a faff fitting but it's well worth the effort and reduced cost. Not seen a brandup one

 

[CaliCrazy]

Mutzi cap for us and a Vango double sleeping bag. Had the Mutze for 9 years and it is still like new and it has been used a lot! Takes minutes to chuck it on protects canvas. Not a great fan of sleeping bags but you can easily unzip sides if hot and it feels super comfy with the extra layer beneath you. Each to their own I suppose!

 

[kave]

Its all a matter of comfort. If it is the same as a tent why get the cali in the first place? I have wild camped with friends this spring who used tents. In the morning they admit they and their children havent slept at all in the frost. Me and the kids slept better than home thanks to the Isotop and heater. Would not be without it. Children sleeping with bags up top. If it was just down to "manage the cold" nights we wouldnt get a comfortable and warm Cali in the first place.

 

[5i1ver8ack]

.... Same as a tent..... As in temperature.

But I guess we all consider calis for for a whole variety of reasons. Some because we like camping. Others because we dislike camping. Some because our families are fit and healthy. Others because our families are not.

My question was simple. What are people sleeping in to feel the cold?

I'll crawl back under my stone.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Petegreg26]

Has anybody tried the brand up iso insulation for the pop top , I am thinking of getting one , As there are expensive I would like any feed back from owners that have fitted one of these. To provide extra insulation and noise reduction.
Thankyou.
Pete G.

 

[hirsty]

Loads of previous posts on this one Peter - do a search for Isotop or topper, endless debate on pros & cons of inner vs outer etc.

But in summary, it's very good if very pricey. Biggest fans are those with smaller children desperate to keep it a bit darker a bit longer ... Most effective in a T6 where the pop top fabric is lighter than previous.