M
muttley
Guest User
Having recently purchased an ISOTOP, and trialled it over a couple of rather cold nights, here is a quick review which I hope may be helpful for anyone considering this product.
Fitting is certainly rather fiddly, and the instructions aren't particularly clear. It seems to fit fairly well now, though (as I have seen mentioned before) the front does billow out a little, although this doesn't impede access through the hatch.
Obviously there is a balance to be struck between insulation / protection and ease of use. The big plus point of this product is that it can be left fitted when the roof is closed, but of course it will never provide as much insulation as an external cover. My personal view is that it really doesn't make much difference to the internal temperature on a cold night, but it does block the little vents in the bellows - so you don't get icy blasts of air on your face on a windy night! Of course you can open the windows in the ISOTOP on warmer nights. It should also prevent any rain penetration getting onto the bedding, which is important for us, as our pillows and sleeping bags were soaked on a stormy night when we hired a Cali for the weekend.
Overall I would say that this is a good quality, useful product. Is it worth the money that Brandrup want for it? No, as it is at least twice the price it should be, but it does make a cold night 'upstairs' more pleasant. I am very cautious about folding the roof down now, in case the extra material causes the roof to catch in the hinges, but so far it has folded cleanly with no problems.
Simon
Fitting is certainly rather fiddly, and the instructions aren't particularly clear. It seems to fit fairly well now, though (as I have seen mentioned before) the front does billow out a little, although this doesn't impede access through the hatch.
Obviously there is a balance to be struck between insulation / protection and ease of use. The big plus point of this product is that it can be left fitted when the roof is closed, but of course it will never provide as much insulation as an external cover. My personal view is that it really doesn't make much difference to the internal temperature on a cold night, but it does block the little vents in the bellows - so you don't get icy blasts of air on your face on a windy night! Of course you can open the windows in the ISOTOP on warmer nights. It should also prevent any rain penetration getting onto the bedding, which is important for us, as our pillows and sleeping bags were soaked on a stormy night when we hired a Cali for the weekend.
Overall I would say that this is a good quality, useful product. Is it worth the money that Brandrup want for it? No, as it is at least twice the price it should be, but it does make a cold night 'upstairs' more pleasant. I am very cautious about folding the roof down now, in case the extra material causes the roof to catch in the hinges, but so far it has folded cleanly with no problems.
Simon
Last edited by a moderator:
fits well with slight deviation/mod from final fitting instructions. The top front end if you use the hooks as per the instructions hangs quite badly?. Added a cable tie round the top of the front centre batten & 2 further ties from it quite 'loose' About 100mm long loop, 1 to each side to take the front 2 hooks on the elastics on each side of the Isotop. Pulls the front end up in a much neater order fitting closer to the bellows & works perfecly well opening & closing the roof with the isotop in place. Certainly holds the heat been in autumn nights brief lows of 0'c & survived without trauma. Never used without but still not sure its worth thick end of £500? Maybe consider others, but this works. 
