Isotop, is it needed?

[Syuile75]

Hi,

We have a 6.1 Coast on order, so spending most of my free time looking at what goodies to buy!.

Top of the list is the Isotop, mostly for ease. The main reason we’re looking at a topper is to keep it nice and dark for my 4 year old daughter, I don’t want her to wake at 4am due to the sunrise! Therefore, does it make it notably darker up there, we’ve optioned the dark grey panoramic canvas, is this good enough without needing the isotop?

Thanks


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[Baldrick]

Congratulations, hope (& sure!) you'll all love it !! We have an isotop and it does makes it warmer/cooler and also a few shades darker, although not blackout dark. We've a '16 Ocean which came with a light grey goretex type pop up roof and added Isotop from '17 which a similar shade, so the material specification sound different from yours.
Just to clarify, a topper is external, which is put on each time the roof is raised.
An isotop is internal and put on once (it's a bit of a pain - best done on a cool shady day - my Wife did it on a hot sunny day and says she lost half a stone during the process, and she's very dextrous, but I digress).
The best way to keep the inside dark in the early hours is to pitch facing West, so the rising sun to the east will be behind the Van.
An external wrap for the windscreen & front doors like Silverscreen or Comfortz would also assist greatly, as does internal window shades/insulation.
Hope this helps, although someone with the same spec newish 'van should be able to clarify further.

 

[Defender90]

Hi,

We have a 6.1 Coast on order, so spending most of my free time looking at what goodies to buy!.

Top of the list is the Isotop, mostly for ease. The main reason we’re looking at a topper is to keep it nice and dark for my 4 year old daughter, I don’t want her to wake at 4am due to the sunrise! Therefore, does it make it notably darker up there, we’ve optioned the dark grey panoramic canvas, is this good enough without needing the isotop?

Thanks


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Hi yes it makes the van feel loads warmer and darker it’s the best thing I have bought for the van expensive but defo worth it

 

[Ocean Spirit]

It's your best hope for additional darkness and insulation that I'm aware of. I was sceptical because of the cost and you could debate that forever but it's a noticeable improvement in every respect. Remember, the roof space is basically a tent so it's a very welcome addition.

 

[calibusje]

I bought it here: https://www.thaissl.fr/en/boutique/campervan-accessories/pop-top-thermal-insulation/
If you need it? Yes: darker, warmer, cooler, all true.
Greetings

 

[TheDoc]

Isotop has helped my young nippers sleep in longer plus as I camp year round it’s made it a lot warmer - my guessing is it may help to keep it a touch cooler in the summer but I’ve yet to see much sun since I fitted it…

 

[Trudi]

Wait till your van arrives.
I've a 6.1 coast arrived July 2021. The poptop is thicker and darker than previous vw poptops. I would be surprised is anyone would get woken with the sunrise. Its thicker than my home blackout lined curtains . This is mid afternoon in July. Look how dark it is behind my kids.

Or if you can view a new 1 before yours arrives then do. In sunshine. You maybe surprised.

If you want it for warmth that's different.

 

[Syuile75]

Thank you everyone, really appreciated. So took the plunge and ordered one, it’s not due until after the van (well hopefully!), so if I find it dark enough I could always cancel it


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[Nich]

We have just "installed" the Iso-top VI in our T6.1. Yes makes it much darker and insulates very well. We just spend a weekend in -6 C° frost but with the parking heater set for 14 C° we slept well.

 

[Geoff York]

Hi,

We have a 6.1 Coast on order, so spending most of my free time looking at what goodies to buy!.

Top of the list is the Isotop, mostly for ease. The main reason we’re looking at a topper is to keep it nice and dark for my 4 year old daughter, I don’t want her to wake at 4am due to the sunrise! Therefore, does it make it notably darker up there, we’ve optioned the dark grey panoramic canvas, is this good enough without needing the isotop?

Thanks


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[Geoff York]

Save your money
Ball ache to erect and take down particularly in inclement weather
Takes up space and pack away wet is another drawback

 

[TheDoc]

Save your money
Ball ache to erect and take down particularly in inclement weather
Takes up space and pack away wet is another drawback

I think the OP is talking about the isotop that fits internally and is permanently fitted so takes up no space and does not get wet.

 

[Elly Swanson]

If you mean the internal Isotop it makes a world of difference. With the windows zipped up it’s lovely and dark. It’s warm too, keeping out wind and rain. You can close a wet/damp roof without the bedding getting wet. It also baffles a little outside noise.

It makes you feel lovely and cosy.

Not tried it in really hot weather so can’t comment on it’s ability to insulate against heat.

It’s a real game changer and so convenient. Best thing I‘ve bought for the van. Worth the money and a little faffing around installing, but once it’s in, it’s in .

 

[Renaissance-Man]

Being a relative newly to the California Ocean (and Campervan's more generally), I have now tried both the Isotop and prior to that, a topper. Slept with both in +4 to -2c in November and February respectively.

I much preferred the Isotop as no hassle to put on and seems to regulate;ate the temperature better than the topper. Air still comes in but much less and the temperature was nice a stable all night.

The Isotop has a soft internal lining that makes the whole space less 'tent-like' and a little more luxurious.

I shall be keeping the topper for the time being but my vote goes to the Isotop.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Being a relative newly to the California Ocean (and Campervan's more generally), I have now tried both the Isotop and prior to that, a topper. Slept with both in +4 to -2c in November and February respectively.

I much preferred the Isotop as no hassle to put on and seems to regulate;ate the temperature better than the topper. Air still comes in but much less and the temperature was nice a stable all night.

The Isotop has a soft internal lining that makes the whole space less 'tent-like' and a little more luxurious.

I shall be keeping the topper for the time being but my vote goes to the Isotop.

Good to use the external topper in addition to the isotop if you’re in torrential rain perhaps Or in snow, so the pop top struts don’t get iced up.

 

[Stu@rt]

Check out Will's YT vid here.....................

At 12:42 he shows you that it will still let the rain through, if it is driving hard enough.

 

[andyinluton]

At 12:42 he shows you that it will still let the rain through, if it is driving hard enough.

I don’t know why his was leaking but I’ve had a theis & 2 different isotop internal liners & never had a drop through any of them.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Check out Will's YT vid here.....................

At 12:42 he shows you that it will still let the rain through, if it is driving hard enough.

Being that it's an internal fitting, I'm not sure the Isotop even claims any waterproofing quality. Reduction of dampness is one thing but hours of driving rain where water has wicked through the gaiter is something different.
Plus it then has to contact the isotop despite the gap. Sounds like either the 2 materials clashed or the water was pooling rather than draining and wicked up the isotope from the bottom.
This indeed is where an external topper would have helped.

I had a 6 hour thunderstorm while camped at Lake Geneva and couldn't see 100m let alone have a view. The external topper did its job and this defines the difference between the 2 items.
External Topper (with PVC windows) = Waterproofing capability and provides slight air gap insulation.
Isotop = Provides insulation by design and some due to the same air gap but with comforting inside face material and heat reflective outside face. Retaining the ability to shut out additional light.
What the video illustrates to me is that the claim it will protect bedding from a wet gaiter could be dubious.
Touch wood I have never been in a situation to find out.

 

[andyinluton]

Sounds like either the 2 materials clashed or the water was pooling rather than draining and wicked up the isotope from the bottom.


Isotop = Provides insulation by design and some due to the same air gap but with comforting inside face material and heat reflective outside face. Retaining the ability to shut out additional light.

Looking at where the roof was leaking in the video, it would appear that the water was pouring in through the roof vents. Given that both the sides of the Isotop ( they have a black water proof layer on the reverse) and the roof material are waterproof at some point something has to give once the water starts ponding in the gap between the two.

Using a bellows bungee makes the isotop less effective as it pulls the roof inwards to make contact with it.

The T6 onwards roof materials are more waterproof than the earlier ones & shouldn't in theory need any topper internal or external, but when you stand inside in daylight you can see that as well as the vents, the stitch holes & the zips let in daylight so you would assume some water will get in as well.

 

[Neilos]

We’ve camped in lots of rain and most of the time the standard T6 fabric is ok. When you get driving rain with the wind some wetness comes in through the vents. That doesn’t give a nice cosy feeling, it feels draughty and damp at times. The isotop improves this significantly. I do miss the light during the day, but our kids sleep in better since the isotop and I feel happier knowing it’s warmer and less draughty for them upstairs. I think eventually rain would get past the isotop if it was really coming in through the vents. I’ve had no issue with damp beds since fitting and have closed the roof wet when I’ve had to. Expensive but I think worth it. Main advantage is. Fit and forget. 95% of the time it’s going to improve the internal conditions and it’s always fitted. An external topper will be great for really bad whether, but you’ll get soaked putting it up if you can be arsed to go out and do it, and taking it down soaking wet too to store. Plus isotop no blowing about in the wind. Just a shame they’re so expensive!


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[Defender90]

Hi,

We have a 6.1 Coast on order, so spending most of my free time looking at what goodies to buy!.

Top of the list is the Isotop, mostly for ease. The main reason we’re looking at a topper is to keep it nice and dark for my 4 year old daughter, I don’t want her to wake at 4am due to the sunrise! Therefore, does it make it notably darker up there, we’ve optioned the dark grey panoramic canvas, is this good enough without needing the isotop?

Thanks


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Hi see the picture attached taken today early morning,it shows the light difference between the existing fabric and the isotop

 

[Syuile75]

Hi see the picture attached taken today early morning,View attachment 90372it shows the light difference between the existing fabric and the isotop

Ah that’s really useful thank you!


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[PudnBob]

Hi. We had a T6 and now have a T6.1 and the fabric upstairs is completely different. Darker, thicker and warmer to sleep under. I would also be aware the if you put anything inside, the roof may not come down cleanly as the fabric is so much more sturdy. In the old Cali we could bring the roof down with a thin mattress topper and a fitted sheet left on, with the T6.1 we can’t.

 

[soulstyledevon]

NO…!!!

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Hi. We had a T6 and now have a T6.1 and the fabric upstairs is completely different. Darker, thicker and warmer to sleep under. I would also be aware the if you put anything inside, the roof may not come down cleanly as the fabric is so much more sturdy. In the old Cali we could bring the roof down with a thin mattress topper and a fitted sheet left on, with the T6.1 we can’t.

Wow,
With no disrespect @Trudi I wondered if what she had said was incorrect now we have 2 observations (sorry Trudi)