Roof Toppers comparison

[WelshGas]

That is the Ocean. I don’t know what the roof load is for the Beach, but I don’t think that I pull down 50 Kgs. 20 Kgs perhaps?


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I think @B J G was referring to the “ Roof Load “, How much weight the Aluminium Roof can carry, not how much the roof weighs.

The T5.1 California Beach has a Roof Load Limit of 50 Kgms. Cannot see the T6 being any different.

 

[Amarillo]

I think @B J G was referring to the “ Roof Load “, How much weight the Aluminium Roof can carry, not how much the roof weighs.

The T5.1 California Beach has a Roof Load Limit of 50 Kgms. Cannot see the T6 being any different.

Yes - I had misunderstood. For some reason I thought he was referring to the load that could be left on the roof and the roof raised and stay up! Quite why I assumed that I cannot fathom.

 

[Meerkat1234]

So this is what I'm thinking after the above.. the Brandrup is good and stays on, but the arms are exposed.. but I'm still not clear if this exposure, even though they're galvanised, is actually a potential problem? Enough to steer away from a Brandrup? No need to take on and off which is great. Not sure about condensation.

If we went for an external topper (it'll be roofless if we do I reckon now), it covers the arms. I'm not sure if it's more waterproof and protective than the Brandrup though. Have to put on and take off each drive we drive off which is a hassle. Not sure about condensation. End up having a big wet cover to dry out (we have space to do this at home) and also wherever we are (but they come with waterproof bags?).

Hmm... still not sure to be honest! Would still like your experiences of Rainbow/any other branded screens too.

 

[Amarillo]

So this is what I'm thinking after the above.. the Brandrup is good and stays on, but the arms are exposed.. but I'm still not clear if this exposure, even though they're galvanised, is actually a potential problem? Enough to steer away from a Brandrup? No need to take on and off which is great. Not sure about condensation.

If we went for an external topper (it'll be roofless if we do I reckon now), it covers the arms. I'm not sure if it's more waterproof and protective than the Brandrup though. Have to put on and take off each drive we drive off which is a hassle. Not sure about condensation. End up having a big wet cover to dry out (we have space to do this at home) and also wherever we are (but they come with waterproof bags?).

Hmm... still not sure to be honest! Would still like your experiences of Rainbow/any other branded screens too.

An external topper, Comfortz or Rainbow, will keep the outside of the bellows dry. We've camped in some very stormy weather and have never suffered a leak from the roofless topper.

With the external topper you will need to dry it out after wet weather use.

With the internal topper you will need to dry the bellows after wet weather.

 

[B J G]

One extra advantage of the internal topper is that it darkens the interior which gives a 'cosier' feel, slight sound reduction and acts as a light/sun filter in the summer months making it easier to sleep a little longer after sunrise.

 

[sapto]

We went for the external calicap (just because we did not know there was an internal one). If I’d buy again I would go again for the calicap and add an internal for holidays up north/in winter.

 

[Amarillo]

One extra advantage of the internal topper is that it darkens the interior which gives a 'cosier' feel, slight sound reduction and acts as a light/sun filter in the summer months making it easier to sleep a little longer after sunrise.

That is an advantage with both toppers. Camping in the Arctic the summer before last we had no problems sleeping overnight in the midnight sun.

I think the Comfortz topper can be specified without windows if you want it even darker.

I don’t think that the Rainbow topper can come with windows.


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[flying banana]

You can get a Rainbow screen with a front window. Unfortunately I rang them this week and they are so busy the daffodils will be here before your order. Good news for their company though.

 

[Georgiegirl]

We ordered a rainbow screen at the NEC show in October (hopefully a pre Christmas order but beginning to wonder now after the previous post)
We went for it after seeing the Bus and Beyond video. It just looks easier to fit than the comfort one and we are hoping it will get less wet in the rain given it doesn’t cover the top of the roof. It’s also a bit thicker so we think it might be warmer and let less light through (although the comfort one does do this to a certain extent). I’m not worried about the roof mechanism getting wet as that is what it is designed to do and many people make do without any topper at all. Hopefully we will be able to give you a proper review after usage soon

 

[WelshGas]

One extra advantage of the internal topper is that it darkens the interior which gives a 'cosier' feel, slight sound reduction and acts as a light/sun filter in the summer months making it easier to sleep a little longer after sunrise.

I think you’ll find the External Topper does exactly the same. Darkens interior, mutes sound and acts as a light/sun filter in summer.

 

[Mr T]

I have had the roof topper and recently changed it for the Rainbow screens insulated cover, along with screen cover to match.
I ordered at Busfest show in September and luckily had it delivered within 6 weeks, but I know since the NEC Darren at Rainbow screens has been inundated with orders, hence the now long leadtime.
It is a quality bit of kit, it is custom made specifically for your roof (he came out and measured mine at Busfest), apparently the position of the front window various quite a lot from Cali to Cali.
It is very bulky to store, tricky to put on but like most things gets easier with practice. I am very happy with mine. Couple of pics showing it off on a frosty weekend in Devon. Slept upstairs with heater on 1 and was too warm.

 

[Meerkat1234]

That's all really helpful.

Say if it rains and we have an internal topper on/nothing extra, Amarillo you said you have to dry the bellows out. Does that mean we can't lower the bellows and drive off for any trip until they've dried out (does that end up soaking the mattress if you don't?), or do you mean eventually need to dry them out?

 

[Bellcrew]

That's all really helpful.

Say if it rains and we have an internal topper on/nothing extra, Amarillo you said you have to dry the bellows out. Does that mean we can't lower the bellows and drive off for any trip until they've dried out (does that end up soaking the mattress if you don't?), or do you mean eventually need to dry them out?

We have an Isotop and have never had problems with damp on the mattress, we have left many sites after heavy rain and just closed the roof as normal.
Of course when we get to the next site or home, the roof goes up and any moisture on the bellows is allowed to evaporate if the weather is dry.

 

[flying banana]

That's all really helpful.

Say if it rains and we have an internal topper on/nothing extra, Amarillo you said you have to dry the bellows out. Does that mean we can't lower the bellows and drive off for any trip until they've dried out (does that end up soaking the mattress if you don't?), or do you mean eventually need to dry them out?

The internal one has a waterproof membrane I believe so the wet bellows shouldn't make the mattress wet when lowered. But obviously the bellows will still be wet.. Just common sense to dry the bellows when you get the chance if they're wet. Like anything wet. How may wet times can wet say wet in one wet sentence?

 

[kaf2546]

So this is what I'm thinking after the above.. the Brandrup is good and stays on, but the arms are exposed.. but I'm still not clear if this exposure, even though they're galvanised, is actually a potential problem? Enough to steer away from a Brandrup? No need to take on and off which is great. Not sure about condensation.

If we went for an external topper (it'll be roofless if we do I reckon now), it covers the arms. I'm not sure if it's more waterproof and protective than the Brandrup though. Have to put on and take off each drive we drive off which is a hassle. Not sure about condensation. End up having a big wet cover to dry out (we have space to do this at home) and also wherever we are (but they come with waterproof bags?).

Hmm... still not sure to be honest! Would still like your experiences of Rainbow/any other branded screens too.

Used Brandrup for 2 years and no condensation issues, whole set up easier to adjust for temperature and ventilation too as opening the inner vents allows a bit more air through from the outer tent which is ultra breathable on the T6 Cali

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

 

[andyinluton]

Another Brandrup fan here, if its wet enough to need a topper you get wet putting it on / taking it off.

With the internal toppers you can open the windows for ventilation when its hot, or more light if you need it. I don't know of an external one where you can open them.

Don't get too hung up about getting the roof & mechanism wet - its what its designed for.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Never had a topper and I can’t see the need.
It’s another item to pack, unpack and store.
Invest in a decent down sleeping bag with a hood.

I’ve slept in the alps in winter this way and it worked fine.

At a push, if I really convinced myself I needed one. I would go for the brand-up as it’s stays in place and therefore is a no brainer.
The only reason I can see for an external, is heavy snow. In that situation I would keep the roof closed whilst it passes.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

How may wet times can wet say wet in one wet sentence?

My other half went to see Wet Wet Wet at a festival but I didn't go I find the music as described frankly, a bit wet and i'm glad I didn't it rained so much she didn't just wet she got really wet wet though from some of the pictures I saw, I missed out on some involuntary 'Wet Wet Wet', wet t shirt competitions because it was so wet.

 

[Amarillo]

At a push, if I really convinced myself I needed one. I would go for the brand-up as it’s stays in place and therefore is a no brainer.

Yet another in-out debate. Is there no middle way we can agree upon?? Perhaps a waterproof, opaque membrane within the bellow fabric that can be deployed or retracted at the push of a button? Until that technology is invented we will all have to temporarily, for an indefinite period, drive around in Marco Polos.

Shall we have a poll?



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[Vwcaliforniajapan]

Anyone tried to leave the rainbow pop top screen on when lowering the roof ?

 

[pjm-84]

Very happy with our Mutze.

I slept out a few times (a lot) in the wilds. I think -16 in a storm tent is pretty good considering this temperature was elevated due to the 4 people in there at the time.

The Mutze doesn't seem to offer much thermal improvement but does cut out the wind whistling through; the rain and reduces light bleed.

I see my Mutze as a Goretex bivvy bag for the pop roof

 

[wilde1]

I have had a comfortz topper for about 3 years and use it every time and it works fine and nothing ever gets wet, we have a routine when setting up and if it is wet when we take it off it gets folded up and put straight into a large Coleman dry bag, we move on to the next site and then straight back on, easy, other benefits is that it does store in the back rear seat section, in really cold weather we don’t think it is a very good insulator and can blow about a bit if it’s windy which is a bit noisy, in October our rainbow screen cover arrived after watching a bus and beyond review, arrived just in time for our weekend away, the quality is good, we found it a bit fiddly to put on but we did with the comfortz topper to start with so practice hopefully makes perfect.it looks good and it felt a lot warmer and quieter upstairs so all good, the only down side we experienced was we suffered with condensation which we have never had, we are going away for new year so will try it again and hopefully will be fine as we did find it a lot warmer and quieter than the comfortz

 

[DrJuanKerr]

I too "was" facing the same quandary; whether to go external or internal. My candidates were the Mutze Calicap [https://shop.vwcamper.de/calicap-8482-wetterschutzhauben/calicaps/359/calicap-ii-wetterschutzhaube] or Brandrup Iso Top [https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/p...ation-vw-california-se-ocean#woocomerce-tabs3]. Both similar prices if the Calicap is equipped with windows.

My mind was made up yesterday morning.

While breaking camp on Saturday morning the weather was hideous. It was blowing a gale and horizontal rain. A couple opposite were removing an external topper from their vehicle. It only took them about 3 to 4 minutes to remove it whilst squelching about on the grass either side of their quite narrow hard stand.

Once removed, the chap stood under his tail-gate, eagerly trying to stuff the sodden piece of fabric into a bag before fumbling with the zipped tail-gate bag. After 1 to 2 minutes he gave up and threw the bag into the vehicle.

All-in, it took circa 6 to 7 minutes to perform the task. During that time however, both he and his wife were completely saturated.

Concomitantly, as well as the wet bag in the back, they now had two wet coats, muddy foot wear and carpets as well as soaked jeans.

I will order the Brandrup Iso Top

 

[Jason wallace]

Very happy with our external...roofless and never had an issue taking it down in all kids of weather.

My feeling is there each has its pro's and con's as discussed a few times on various threads. So at the end of the day its choosing which one is right for you.

 

[DrJuanKerr]

Having found out that the IsoTop is waterproof, I fail to see the advantage of an external apart from stopping the bellows getting wet and prevents snow build up. Much akin to putting an event shelter over a tent