Camping in winter

[spanner]

what topper is best for winter camping? Keeping us warm aswell as wet out! I was looking at the Mute but i think it is too thin? What about the iso top? Too many choices

 

[PaulBishop]

I've just been to Busfest and bought a Pucer. Paid £125 for it. There were others there, but at £195 I thought that a bit to high. Yet to use it in Winter but it's thick and insulated.

http://www.darenpucerscreens.co uk/

 

[TwentyOneThirtyFive]

We use something like the Pucer (From Brickwerks, so could be a Pucer) and it works very well. Is bulky to store though.

dan

 

[Californiaman]

The Mutze is brilliant for us. We've used it regularly in all weathers, down to about -6. I had a Vanorak and it was fine but bulky when packed. The Mutze is easily as good. I also had a Pucer for a while but didn't like the lack of windows, found it a bit more of a fiddle to fit (the Mutze is an easy one man job even when windy) it gave less weather protection too (albeit only a tiny bit...) I got it with the intention of it being much quicker and easier to bang on for a single night away and in reality, I didn't find it to be so.

 

[slowcoach65]

My vote's for the Pucer. Its easy to put on and insulates well. We've used it in torrential rain and it kept use perfectly dry. Just one thing, you need to cover the rear section, we use a car silver sunshade.

We also have a Kyham Cosi but stopped using this as we it ripped and nearly buckled the pop-up roof. To be fair to Kyham, they repaired the cover free of charge.

Andy

 

[jts46]

The Mutze is brilliant for us. We've used it regularly in all weathers, down to about -6. I had a Vanarak and it was fine but bulky when packed. The Mutze is easily as good. I also had a Pucer for a while but didn't like the lack of windows, found it a bit more of a fiddle to fit (the Mutze is an easy one man job even when windy) it gave less weather protection too (albeit only a tiny bit...) I got it with the intention of it being much quicker and easier to bang on for a single night away and in reality, I didn't find it to be so.

That is what i have very good value for money, also just ordered a new silver screen windscreen cover as old one wearing out
john

 

[KernowLad]

Another Pucer fan; ours has kept out the wildest Scottish weather.
Cheap, effective, easy to fit, can still use roof bars.

 

[Bigbud]

are these better than the toppers from Comfortz then ?

I want a topper to keep the rain and wind off the bellows and help keep the heat in but need to be able to fit it on my own :crazy

Jim

 

[KernowLad]

are these better than the toppers from Comfortz then ?

I want a topper to keep the rain and wind off the bellows and help keep the heat in but need to be able to fit it on my own :crazy

Jim

Well it does all that for a lot less money! Stick the roof up, wrap the cover around the canvas (under the roof arms) and hey presto, weatherproof, warm cover.

We've slept with kids upstairs in zero degrees - all fine.

This is when it was new - the creases have now come out!

 

[muttley]

It's a simple job to make your own topper out of insulating foil, if you have a couple of hours to spare.

We used that and an isotop last winter, and were pretty snug. The isotop has been very good, especially for keeping out heavy rain, but it is simply too expensive to recommend.

Simon

 

[ejmoore]

Now there's an idea! The stuff is £15 a roll from Wickes (you'd need a couple of rolls I should think). What do you use to stick it together - ducktape?

I could make a set of window blinds while I'm at it.

 

[muttley]

If you search for 'homemade roof cover' you will see the original post. Ours hasn't fallen to bits yet, and has been well worth it.

Simon

 

[choplee]

Set yourself a budget and then look at the options .....as people are saying there are now a good few types out there from just over £100 upto around the £500 mark .

 

[malc]

Anybody got a Brandrup iso top insulation? Product review? A lot of dosh but does it work. Being v lazy I like the idea of leaving it in the roof.....

 

[a21daloa]

Cali Topper all the way for me, fits in 5 mins. I even fit it on my own now. It's warm and dry folds up small and stores easy plus it looks great. We used for Ski Trip here in Norway last winter in -15. We will do so again this year. Most excellent service from Nick at Comfortz too !

 

[slowcoach65]

Great photo. What's with the water carrier outside :?: Presumably you didnt want to risk freezing the Cali water tank :?:

Andy

 

[muttley]

Anybody got a Brandrup iso top insulation? Product review? A lot of dosh but does it work. Being v lazy I like the idea of leaving it in the roof.....

The ISOTOP is a very different product to an external roof cover. It certainly won't offer anything like the same level of insulation, but the trade off is that it can be left in place all the time.

The major benefits are as follows:
1. Some additional insulation, but not much benefit in freezing conditions.
2. On breezy days it stops the air blowing through the vent holes onto your face. I am sure hardened campers won't mind all that fresh air, but in winter it can be annoying.
3. It stops water ingress through the roof fabric. When we hired a 'test' Cali for a weekend, we had a big storm, and water got through the roof fabric (I assume it wicked through as we leaned against it in our sleep) resulting in wet pillows and sleeping bags. We have never had a repeat of that with the ISOTOP.

The disadvantages are the unjustifiably high price, and the fact that fitting can be a little fiddly. If you search for ISOTOP REVIEW you will find more details and comments.

Simon

 

[malc]

Thank you Simin and the review is useful. Bit of a faff to fit it would appear . SMG kindly sent to fitting details. Like the idea of keeping dry. So it looks like I'm talking myself into it.... Malc

 

[Andy]

Just bought a mutze cali-cover from ebay, so I will now be able to sleep upstairs in winter.

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Pollychops]

Another Pucer fan; ours has kept out the wildest Scottish weather.
Cheap, effective, easy to fit, can still use roof bars.

When it's windy does it flap around and disturb your sleep if you sleep upstairs?

 

[gatvol]

the pucer makes the upstairs quieter and darker (which I like), but you lose the windows, though that suits me fine.

I have had no trouble with the pucer. It rolls up when you store it, but is essentially semi rigid once installed on the van. and I have never experienced any flapping as it is tailored to the bellows as per the photo.

Another benefit is that if it gets soaked, you can dry it relatively easily by wiping it down as the bulk of it does not absorb water - only the canvas edges do. I hate damp things in the van

It's a different strokes, different folks scenario. As ever, it might be worth going to a meeting so you can see a few options before opening your wallet. Biggest drawback is its size when rolled up.

 

[Andy]

shouldn't as pucer fits tight against bellows.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[ejmoore]

We saw a nice cover on a German Cali last autumn in Switzerland. It was a Cali-Cap. Has anyone got any experience of this type? I'm not sure if it's the same thing as a Mutze.

 

[calikev]

No the cali ..cap comes in three individual panels and can be left in place with the roof down

 

[ejmoore]

Thanks Kev - are you sure? It looked like one of those throw-over covers that fastens with nuts in the awning rail and some bungee/suction hooks on the windscreen. Maybe I've got the name wrong.