Pop top heating

[bikermike87]

Hey, I'm looking for some advice on heating the pop top bed on my westy atlantic.

Downstairs is roasting hot, but it's cold in the pop top.

I'm not not fussed on getting a thermal wrap screen for the pop top, it's just an extra thing to carry and it won't generate heat just contain heat that doesn't exist..

It's a factory eber and downstairs is getting too hot!

Any ideas?

[Kent Joker]

I have a thermal wrap for mine and heat rises, you will find it way warmer, not to mention the heat loss is massive without.

[lloydy]

The thermal wrap does work, we find it a bit of a pain though and rarely use it. A company called Fanchers does a great internal quilt, one day i may get one
http://fanchers.com/267/Vanagon%20Inter ... hermal.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bikermike87]

Thanks, I didn't realise a wrap would make such a difference. It just seems like another thing to fiddle around with. The quilted option looks ideal, especially in colder, wetter climates.

Does upstairs still take ages to heat up though?

[keith]

The wrap makes a huge difference and fits in the void at the back of the top bed when its folded.....

[AdrianC]

I'm not not fussed on getting a thermal wrap screen for the pop top, it's just an extra thing to carry and it won't generate heat just contain heat that doesn't exist..

Heat rises, so the heat definitely does exist - it's just that it's continuing to rise, because nothing's stopping it from rising. The factory Eber in our Club Joker hightop gets the whole van - upstairs and downstairs - toasty in next-to-no-time, not that you need it much, even with snow on the ground, because there's not much heat being lost.

[trucker]

It's always colder/noisier in the pop-top, cooler especially with the bed board pulled forward, the wrap does help but not solve it.
Just the price we pay (or rather my kids pay ) ) for having a tent with a plastic roof up there...
On the plus side it's cooler in summer and doesn't make my eyes bleed when I look at it

[Ralf85]

On the plus side it's cooler in summer and doesn't make my eyes bleed when I look at it

You're referring to the hot dog/ice cream vans I guess.

What I do without kids in tow is drop the pop top at night when it's cold. Problem solved. Less space to heat up than an ice cream van then too.

[bikermike87]

I'm not not fussed on getting a thermal wrap screen for the pop top, it's just an extra thing to carry and it won't generate heat just contain heat that doesn't exist..

Heat rises, so the heat definitely does exist - it's just that it's continuing to rise, because nothing's stopping it from rising. The factory Eber in our Club Joker hightop gets the whole van - upstairs and downstairs - toasty in next-to-no-time, not that you need it much, even with snow on the ground, because there's not much heat being lost.

I know, I guess I was just sceptical up stairs would easily be warmed up with a thermal wrap. I will buy one and find out. I suppose convection will start occurring at the front of the pop top, circulating air to the read on the pop top bed. Thanks for the reassurance.

[CJH]

What I do without kids in tow is drop the pop top at night when it's cold. Problem solved. Less space to heat up than an ice cream van then too.

I had a table top made to fill the pop top hole, and with the upstairs bed cushions on top of it it's almost as good as having the top down. It allows me to use the pop top for storage at night. My pop top is a little different from most though - it's a Viking roof with a push out section and a hinged flap above the kitchen area - the table only needed to fill the space left by the push out section.

The table was made to order from proper melamine-faced ply, with rounded corners and a plastic edging strip - not cheap but it makes a good sized camp table when used with one of those tripod legs.

[kevtherev]

On the plus side it's cooler in summer and doesn't make my eyes bleed when I look at it

You're referring to the hot dog/ice cream vans I guess.

Ironic isn't it, my high top would melt ice cream in minutes, and because I can stand up it would melt even quicker.

[trucker]

On the plus side it's cooler in summer and doesn't make my eyes bleed when I look at it

You're referring to the hot dog/ice cream vans I guess.

Ironic isn't it, my high top would melt ice cream in minutes, and because I can stand up it would melt even quicker.

[Kent Joker]

On the plus side it's cooler in summer and doesn't make my eyes bleed when I look at it

You're referring to the hot dog/ice cream vans I guess.

Ironic isn't it, my high top would melt ice cream in minutes, and because I can stand up it would melt even quicker.

As long as you can get in the height restricted parking Kevin

[kevtherev]

Not that old chestnut!
Never had a problem here and I have never seen a height barrier in Europe (where I buy my gelato)

Let's face it high tops are just more practical, pop tops just look better in your eyes.
Happy freezing tent dwellers!

[Jeavsy]

I can vouch for the benefit of the thermal wrap. With a bit of practice it really doesn't take long to fit (couple of minutes). When it is really cold and if you are on hook up, then adding a leccy blanket works a treat. Kids on top of that in sleeping bags and then with a duvet over the top to hold the heat in = super-snug! We've used that combo in snow and had no complaints from the nippers.