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Old 01-30-2009, 01:24 PM   #1
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Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

Hi there Sportsmobilers.

I am wondering what will be warmer for me and my two boys, individual sleeping bags or blankets. We have pretty good bags, and are usually fine with them, and were pretty much always warm with them when we were tenting it. Last trip out, though, in the bed, we were a little cold with sleeping bags and a blanket. I'm wondering if combining our body heat in the bed under blankets might give us more warmth for this next trip. We're heading to a place that was freezing last year. Oh ya, we don't have a heater. Any thoughts?

Another question I have is how much stuff, if any, can we leave up in the bed, when we close up, and put the top down? I haven't left anything up there, but have wondered if I could leave the bedding up there, (maybe minus the pillows.) Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Maura in SoCal with a 2007 Ford E150 passenger van with just the penthouse top...but they told me at Sportsmobile that still makes us part of the family

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Old 01-30-2009, 01:36 PM   #2
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

I'd highly recommend reflectix: http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=18697

You can't leave much stuff up there, and pay attention to your celing- there is more space where the lights/PH bar covers aren't.
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Old 01-30-2009, 03:38 PM   #3
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

We use a down comforter and have had it as cold as 18 degrees inside and were comfortable in bed. Getting up to turn on the heater wasn't much fun, but it was warm under the down.

We have 2" memory foam pad on the bed and we leave sheets and a thin blanket up there. The top sheet and blanket have to be folded to lay in the middle of the bed, away from the lights and penthouse bar pads. We fold the sides in to be as wide as the bed, keep it about a foot away from the back end of the bed.

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Old 01-30-2009, 04:58 PM   #4
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

No aux heater here either. I will be going the Reflectix route, but I'm also considering a 12V electric blanket (make sure you have a nearby outlet if you go this route).


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Old 01-30-2009, 08:05 PM   #5
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

Sleeping together and combining body heat is warmer. You will need bedding around each individuals shoulders and neck to prevent/reduce heat loss. Something to serve the function of the collars cold weather sleeping bags have to prevent heat loss at the opening.
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Old 01-30-2009, 10:13 PM   #6
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

we use a sleeping bag and reflectix to insulate. It works good. For colder times, I'm thinking of making a PHT cover with this matterial http://www.RadiantBarrier.com that I can invert for hot or cold. we also use a memory
foam mattress. I'm wondering how much reflectix people are putting up? mine is just in the windows.



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Old 01-31-2009, 02:15 AM   #7
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

We use sheets (sewn together at the bottom for easier setup), a blanket, a synthetic comforter, and a down comforter. All together, this works in the penthouse down to 20°F or so (no furnace).

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Old 01-31-2009, 08:33 AM   #8
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

We use flannel sheets, a fleece blanket, and down comforter and stay warm even when it is down to freezing. However, whether you use blankets or sleeping bags, what you wear to bed is extremely important. Lightweight PJs are fine in the summer months but when it is cold, you need to make sure that you aren't getting wet from sweat (yes, even when it is cold) while conserving warmth; cotton is out. Thick wool or fleece socks will keep your feet warm while Patagonia expedition weight Capilene underwear tops and bottoms (REI and others) will wick the moisture away from your skin while keeping you warm. Since your head sticks out, a fleece ski hat will keep you from losing heat from your head.

My wife and I sleep together in the penthouse and thus share each other's body warmth. Otherwise, sleeping bags would be better but they should be mummy bags since the shape conserves heat more, especially at the feet which don't produce as much heat.
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Old 01-31-2009, 09:34 AM   #9
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jlrray
we use a sleeping bag and reflectix to insulate. It works good. For colder times, I'm thinking of making a PHT cover with this matterial http://www.RadiantBarrier.com that I can invert for hot or cold. we also use a memory
foam mattress. I'm wondering how much reflectix people are putting up? mine is just in the windows.



JOe
This sure looks like the Reflectix material I'm thinking of, and have used in my house (bought at either Lowes or Home Depot, can't recall). It also looks like the same material that my windshield and front door window shades (Heat Shield brand) are made of.
http://www.radiantbarrier.com/bubble-fo ... lation.htm

Jage's shows pictures of the reflectix he has in his PH and his van body windows. Looks the a complete solution to me.
viewtopic.php?p=18697


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Old 01-31-2009, 10:15 PM   #10
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Re: Penthouse top bed - sleeping bags or blankets?

This is something I was looking at in the future.
http://www.cetsolar.com/thermalfabric.htm

I think going with a good bag like from Marmot Mountain Works or similar would be nice. Maybe they can make a custom comforter for you.

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