Hi all,
I'm considering buying a camper van again after a break of several years. I'm thinking of going for a pop-top roof this time due to ease of parking and use as an everyday vehicle. We're a family of three, so our daughter will probably end up sleeping in the roof bed. One of the things I love about having a camper is the ability to camp out of season, but I'm wondering how feasible that would be with a canvas pop-top? Would it be comfortable enough in the roof bed area on chilly nights? I imagine we would need to run a night heater.
We have previously owned an Autosleeper Trooper which had a solid pop-up roof, but we were only two people at the time so could easily close the roof down overnight if it got cold. That won't be an option with three of us!
I'd be interested if anyone has experience to share of camping in a pop-top in autumn/winter.
depends on the age of your daughter but if it got really cold surely you would put her in the middle of you both? personally i think the opposite is going to happen, seeing as heat rises and that she will be really warm upstairs
I don't have a pop top, however, I am an ex-tenter and had camped in winter, and it will be cold as there is just a layer of fabric separating the pop top and the elements!
You can buy aftermarket additional insulation though, something like this:
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 25/9/2023
depends on the age of your daughter but if it got really cold surely you would put her in the middle of you both? personally i think the opposite is going to happen, seeing as heat rises and that she will be really warm upstairs
Thanks. She will be 13 in January, so I don't think her sleeping downstairs with us will be an option!
wow DK that is blooming expensive! i would say go the b&q and go the the insulation section, you can buy the stuff you put down the back of radiators on a roll (silver backed bubble wrap basically) that would do the same job and not cost £400 for doing it
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 25/9/2023
I don't have a pop top, however, I am an ex-tenter and had camped in winter, and it will be cold as there is just a layer of fabric separating the pop top and the elements!
You can buy aftermarket additional insulation though, something like this:
Thanks DK - the pop top wrap looks interesting. To be honest I think we will probably have to rely on a heater and/or warm sleeping bag and see how it goes. Ideally I'd prefer a high-top van, but practical considerations mean a pop top will suit us better at the moment.
Never used a pop top, but it's little different to a tent on top of the van with it's thin fabric walls, with exception that heat rises, so any heat in the van is likely to be in the pop top roof!
From what I understand, campers/MHs can be chilly anyway, it's mostly that virtually uninsulated cab area with vast expanse of single layer glass that leaches all the heat out, so chances are you'd ALL want the heating on!
I've got a well insulated 4 season rated caravan with double glazed windows and roof vents, probably much better than a camper in terms of insulation, and I use the heating on chilly nights, I was away in Aug this year and overnight outdoor temps plummeted to 7-8C a few nights - the heating was put on! Been away a few times in Nov, and it was definitely necessary to have the heating on!
But interesting thing is, in bed at the lower level it's only just comfortable, if you stand up, the top of van at head height is stiflingly HOT! - suspect the pop top will be similar, albeit with a bit more heat loss out of fabric walls.
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 25/9/2023
wow DK that is blooming expensive! i would say go the b&q and go the the insulation section, you can buy the stuff you put down the back of radiators on a roll (silver backed bubble wrap basically) that would do the same job and not cost £400 for doing it
Indeed expensive, and I have seen DIY jobs for a lot less, just need some foam mats, a tape measure and duct tapes!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 25/9/2023
Never used a pop top, but it's little different to a tent on top of the van with it's thin fabric walls, with exception that heat rises, so any heat in the van is likely to be in the pop top roof!
From what I understand, campers/MHs can be chilly anyway, it's mostly that virtually uninsulated cab area with vast expanse of single layer glass that leaches all the heat out, so chances are you'd ALL want the heating on!
I've got a well insulated 4 season rated caravan with double glazed windows and roof vents, probably much better than a camper in terms of insulation, and I use the heating on chilly nights, I was away in Aug this year and overnight outdoor temps plummeted to 7-8C a few nights - the heating was put on! Been away a few times in Nov, and it was definitely necessary to have the heating on!
But interesting thing is, in bed at the lower level it's only just comfortable, if you stand up, the top of van at head height is stiflingly HOT! - suspect the pop top will be similar, albeit with a bit more heat loss out of fabric walls.
Not sure how well insulated is my van, however, the roof top air con can also provide heating as well as cooling, and I have a Webasto heater/hot water system.
The van is designed with a Tambor door between the living area and kitchen/bathroom area, and there is a second set of thick black out curtains separating the cab and the living area (the first set is only down to the seats in the cab for privacy purposes and not floor-length).
This way, the volume that requires to be heated or cooled is minimised to the living area only and not the entire van.
The van is cosy when the heating kicks in during chilly nights, normally set at about 15 degC as I don't like it too warm.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I used to sleep on the bunk bed up in the pop top of my parents’ VW camper in the mid 60s. This was at all times of year, because we went with my dad whose job needed year round travel at weekends. It wasn’t cold that kept me awake, but we did live in a house by the Clyde with no central heating. What took a few nights to get used to was the bar along the length of the hammock - it was just a narrow piece of canvas that rolled out & hooked open, then got rolled away in the morning. If it’s comfy up there, with warm bedding plus a hot water bottle, I think it’ll be fine. If not, Daddy can man up and swap places next night.
1) We camped in a Transporter all through last winter (waking up to ice inside the van windows some mornings) but we were always nice n cosy at night, without heating, albeit in the main part of the van.
2) Bit of a wild card idea...if she struggles with the cold as we move towards winter then what about a (very small) one man tent, if you can find one to fit the pop top dimensions? Or a bivvy bag to go over her sleeping bag?
I have the diesel heater, but with EHU tend to use my low wattage electric heater with thermostat cut out - heats the van up fast. I am also looking at the thermal wraps for pop top, but might take the advice here and make my own. A friend takes her electric blanket. I always take hot water bottles for everyone.
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Topic: Pop top roof in cold weather?
via mobile 25/9/2023 at 9:43pm
