Pop top and a potential wet week

[Black Forest]

2023 Beach Camper (I've read the leaky roof threads...). No furniture inside.

Will be sleeping up in the roof for 5 days in La Punt Chaumes while working to deliver a mountain bike race: https://www.epic-series.com/races/swissepic
Had a few nights so far but all have been dry so no potential issues, it's all good.

We'll be sleeping upstairs for the duration, no downstairs option as the bench is out of the van. That's a given and the bench isn't going back in. Appreciate downstairs would be better but it's going to be upstairs. No need to move the van while sleeping in it. No cooking inside but we do have the diesel heater.

Would welcome any tips or tricks for multi day wet or damp upstairs sleeping that people have:
Leave the top up, or lower during the day?
Solid roof angled into the prevailing wind (obvs, I think)
Organisation inside? Vents etc...
Packing a wet canvas and care after returning home with it wet...
Pre-treatment with waterproofing products before we go?

Many thanks.

 

[dspuk]

Have you done the hosepipe test on your drive? I believe getting it wet also helps shrink the holes and thread slightly to aid waterproofing as well. So maybe several hosepipe / dry cycles.

 

[WelshGas]

2023 Beach Camper (I've read the leaky roof threads...). No furniture inside.

Will be sleeping up in the roof for 5 days in La Punt Chaumes while working to deliver a mountain bike race: https://www.epic-series.com/races/swissepic
Had a few nights so far but all have been dry so no potential issues, it's all good.

We'll be sleeping upstairs for the duration, no downstairs option as the bench is out of the van. That's a given and the bench isn't going back in. Appreciate downstairs would be better but it's going to be upstairs. No need to move the van while sleeping in it. No cooking inside but we do have the diesel heater.

Would welcome any tips or tricks for multi day wet or damp upstairs sleeping that people have:
Leave the top up, or lower during the day?
Solid roof angled into the prevailing wind (obvs, I think)
Organisation inside? Vents etc...
Packing a wet canvas and care after returning home with it wet...
Pre-treatment with waterproofing products before we go?

Many thanks.

Just purchase a Roof Topper.
No worries about rain, leave it up all the time and no wet canvas to pack away or dry at home.

 

[Baldrick]

We have a 2017 Ocean the roof of which has been up in dreadful conditions without any leakage.

As you say, keeping the rear of the Van towards the prevailing weather is the best solution if possible. If you have solar panels it may make this less effective.

As to putting it away wet, if it is waterproof, the water on the surface beads so tapping it looses a fair bit and anything reachable can be wiped much drier. Put it back up as soon as the rain stops to dry it out properly. The diesel heater is also a good help to start with.

I saw a lot on this forum a while back about leaky pop tops and think I recall tent type waterproofing spray being talked about as the solution. Worth a good search on here and make your own mind up. Folks with direct experience of the issue on here will be better placed to advise you. You may decide to test a small area before hand and see if a small amount of water bounces back off and just beads or you do have an issue and can dry that out easily.

I also thought, if you remain concerned, a Cali Topper may be the perfect quick fix. Various options available, I believe, to take into account things like solar panels, windows/light, etc. They take up very little space, although take a little time to get on properly - until it becomes second nature - from what I’ve read on here.

Hope you have a great time - it looks an absolutely awesome event!