Why do I want a topper?

[GrannyJen]

I have seen a couple of adverts for these products and a lot of discussion on the various merits.

Why would I want one?

It may seem an obvious question but surely, if I buy a cali I buy one with a durable lid? Or is not that the case?


Jen

 

[DavidofHook]

We have had a Cali for over 10 years now, first a T4 and now a T5 and we have never had a topper.
But, we don't sleep in the top and we try to avoid cold places!
When the canvas has got wet we have never had rain come in, it's like a tent after the first use.
If it comes home wet then you must dry it but, again, that has never been a problem, you just put the roof up for a while.

David

 

[Californiaman]

We find it a lot more comfortable/warmer with a topper on - but we are very much all weather campers. We also use ours if there is a strong chance of rain and we won't have an opportunity to properly dry the bellows before we have to move on and/or park the van up somewhere.

If you're not camping in the winter, are moving on every day and/or you are able to dry the bellows easily (or not put the roof down when wet) then you probably don't need one.

The heat thing probably warrants additional comment:- the heater in the Cali is VERY good. You'll be able to camp in very cold conditions without a topper but with the heater going. You'll just have to accept that all the heat'll escape quickly! With a topper on, we very rarely need to use the heater.

For heat retention, if you sleep downstairs, you can always pull the bed down and close the hatch at night. It saves putting the roof all the way down but helps retain the heat.

Get the Cali, see how you get on. Decide if you need a topper later!

 

[GrannyJen]

Thank you David and Caliman.

I understand now, packing a tent when it's wet explains everything.

I will be all-weather camping and using the downstairs so thank you for the advice on heat retention. I think for now its really do without and then see, my new Cali is arriving in the beginning of January so it's maiden voyage will be a good test

I do like those optional extra's californiaman, the wine especially


Jen

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

I camped in -25 degrees earlier this year in the alpes. Bitter cold winds and loads of snow, and I think the cali topper made all the difference for my son and i sleeping upstairs. My children sleep upstairs the most, normally, and it just helps keep the elements out in the colder months. A very worthwhile purchase, and they are very popular on our rental fleet

 

[GrannyJen]

Thank you Oli, it is making sense in my head now.

At first it seemed a bit like buying a car and putting a plastic top over the roof, I was beginning to wonder just what poor frail fragile thing that I was buying! Now it makes sense as a versatile accessory the value of which is entirely down to how the van will be used.

Thank you for shedding light

 

[KernowLad]

Our little girl (18 months old at the time) got soaked upstairs in a sudden heavy downpour in Mull = the evening was sunny so we left our Pucer roof cover off; drying the mattress is a real pain.

With it on, you can "survive" the heaviest rain and wind - while the Cali roof resists fairly heavy rain, if you have a strong wind too, it won't keep that rain out.

Not been as hardcore as Oli but we've slept in zero degrees in ours with the heater on and roof cover fitted.

Two essentials for a Cali are a mattress topper and roof cover/topper. Oh and a hook up cable. And a Euro adaptor plug. And and and and... :lol:

 

[malc]

I have just bought a mute cap. Not cheap but 1 folds up small enough to go in the tailgate with the chairs. 2 is easy to put on ...ve light. 3 keeps you warm and dry in the winter and cooler in hot temps. 4 we folded it away wet ...well all it took was a good shake and most of the water fell off. 4 three windows. Chuffed Malc

 

[GrannyJen]

Well, from the above, I think comfortz might soon b getting an order

Thank you everyone


Jrn

 

[igmac]

Hi Jen, sounds like youve made your mind up. Bought my cali about six weeks ago had four seperate really good nights in the lake district. I've just also bought the cali topper from Nick at comfortz, mainly to make it a little more cosy upstairs as my wife and I sleep up there all the time with our two Labs downstairs. We are off to Samoens for Christmas and hope the topper will make all the difference. Nick did me a really good deal with insulated screen cover bought at the same time.

Ian

 

[Pistolknight]

I think people want toppers, because there are loads of threads about which one is best, and most versatile etc, and it's something to add to the list of extras that people want. For me, the truth is this, unless you're doing an "Oli" and staying out in -25, then you simply don't need one. These vans are built to live in, no extras required.


:smile

 

[frigorifix]

I totally disagree. If it rains, it's definitely very useful.
I've also had a previous experience trying to dry the upstairs mattress and roof fabric... A real pain in the ...

 

[Freeley]

I agree with all those recommending a roof topper of some kind.
When we were in the pyrenees recently we had a tremendous thunderstorm which lasted all night and all the following morning.
We were nice and cosy with our vanarak on - I dread to think how wet it would've got without one.
It's one of those things you think aren't necessary until the first time the rain comes in!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

I think people want toppers, because there are loads of threads about which one is best, and most versatile etc, and it's something to add to the list of extras that people want. For me, the truth is this, unless you're doing an "Oli" and staying out in -25, then you simply don't need one. These vans are built to live in, no extras required.


:smile

Im afraid I have to disagree with this as well, its definitely very worthwhile from October through to March April time, really keeps the chill and elements out from upstairs

Obviously I have taken it to the extreme, but believe it or not, all we had to do heater wise was leave it on 1 the whole time

 

[sdes]

I'm reading this with interest, just back from our first trip in our California - to Cornwall for the last week. We ended up sleeping downstairs for the last three nights because it was just too wet up top - thankfully only the two of us so the bed swap was easy - 4 up would not have been great.

It was fairly high wind and rain admittedly, but we just couldn't prevent a duvet & pillows touching out on the wet canvas and getting pretty sodden overnight. A bit disappointed with the waterproofness - feels like on a £40k + vehicle VW could have splashed out on a bit of Goretex and made it properly waterproof given it only has one skin - ie no 'flysheet' as on most tents.

So either "Pistolknight" is lucky enough to have a different 'tent' material (ours is 2007 - does anyone know if they have changed the spec?) or perhaps hasn't used in what I would describe as "blustery" as opposed to extreme conditions.

So, which is the best one?

Stephen

 

[Californiaman]

The bellows material does get better with use - by 'with use' I mean by getting wet! (Apparently the weave gets closer together)

What is the best topper is a matter of personal preference and style of use. We have had a Vanarak, a Pucer and have settled on a Mutze. There is no simple answer!

 

[Ambler]

Another potential purchaser here.
Am I correct in assuming that with the roof down the Cali. is totally waterproof?

 

[Californiaman]

Yes!

I should add to my post above that I would probably buy the Comfortz leisure topper if I were to do it all again, knowing what I know now. I haven't tried one but imagine that it is the best price vs functionality option available.

 

[GrannyJen]

For those not of venerable years, unlike me

Pre goretex, with fabrics like Blacks ventile and other dense-weave cotton fabrics for tents etc, getting wet certainly did improve it's resistance to both ingress and wicking.

Goretex would be horrendously expensive on such a roof, repairing it after accidental damage could also be quite problematical. As I am unlikely to ever use upstairs but do want some additional protection I have now settled on the lightweight comfortz top. For £250 to protect part of a vehicle that will get quite intensive use seems cheap to me, especially as I will not be static for any length of time so if it gets wet during the night then it will just have to be lowered wet.

 

[Ambler]

A couple of points.
1. How easy is it to place the topper on the roof. Do you need to carry a ladder?

2. I am amazed that a 45-50k vehicle is not waterproof. Ok it usually is, but the dealer said it can not be guaranteed. Amazing bearing in mind the high quality of the rest of the vehicle.

 

[calikev]

No you dont need a ladder I am only 5Ft6 and I can manage easy enough

 

[GrannyJen]

A couple of points.


2. I am amazed that a 45-50k vehicle is not waterproof. Ok it usually is, but the dealer said it can not be guaranteed. Amazing bearing in mind the high quality of the rest of the vehicle.

It now makes sense to me, as much sense as buying a top of the range mountain tent and then buying a flysheet for it.

The fabric is a compromise. Humans living and cooking in a small space generate a lot of water vapour so a porous fabric is quite a good idea if you do not want the interior to resemble a steam bath with water dripping everywhere.

Materials such as goretex are horrendously expensive, even when produced as lightweight layer fabric to be used with other layers, and the use of goretex type permeable but waterproof fabrics in specialist mountain tents has also been a mixed experience, cold to the touch and condensation being the main complaints.

A naturally permeable fabric will be waterproof in most circumstances but there are circumstances where moisture ingress will happen so it has to be described as not totally waterproof, sensible. Rubbing on the inside causing capilliary wicking is the main cause of ingress so if people are sleeping upstairs in rain or even high ambient moisture conditions then it will get damp or even drip when people or bedding rubs against it.

I am quite comfortable with what I am buying. It will not represent a steam bath when I am cooking or have other breathing mammals in with me, such as my doggies, it will in most circumstances keep the rain out and if I feel that I need a second skin for both moisture prevention and insulation then a topper is not expensive.

 

[Ambler]

Well thank you Gran.
That is comprehensive and useful reply.

 

[Helen&Martin]

Totally agree with the "pro-topper" posts - although as some have also said, slightly disappointed to have to do so! Simple fact is that any "canvas" which becomes wet will leak if it's touched..and it's impossible to avoid touching. Toppers work on the "fly sheet" principle i.e. that the wet outer is separated from the dry inner.

We discovered this the hard way last year when after a week of dry days it rained very heavily + strong wind (this was in the Outer Hebrides!) Result - wet bedding and matress. I was amazed and quite annoyed that nobody had seen fit to mention this.

We love our Cali but have to conceded that this is a glaring weakness. Do VW expect that peple will only use them in dry weather? Sadly, as far as we're concerned, the VW Cali is NOT complete "as sold" and DOES require a topper of some sort.

Our Comfortz lightweight Cali Topper has done the business for us in Scotland this year and we're pleased to recommend it.

 

[KernowLad]

It is annoying having to spend more on a topper/cover AND a mattress topper too but I guess they can't cover all bases.

Best to just get both and enjoy the Cali more.