What is your set up for winter camping with a pop-top? - Page 2

Christopher Thwaites · 07-09-2008, 04:32 PM

Just had my top installed. It came with supports mounted in the corners. They are held up by a "C" clip and pivot dowm for use. They could be made as in the prior post or from broom handles. Permanent mounts are not necessary.

yvrr · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

While wood or aluminum tubes can obviously be used for these supports, hanging them from the penthouse ceiling gets them out of the way and eliminates the need to store them. Here is one of the supports in the stowed position, clipped to a "broom" clip:

Here it is folded down:

Greg In Austin · 07-09-2008, 05:38 PM

Jack,

Very nice! Did you make these?

Chris,

Are yours similar to Jack's?
Was your top installed at SMBW?

Sheesh.... now I either have a project, or some negotiating to do, or some money to spend....

Thanks,

.

yvrr · 07-09-2008, 05:48 PM

I'm sure that they are the same. I got mine from SMB Fresno when I purchased a portable electric penthouse lift. I just installed them myself.

Greg In Austin · 07-09-2008, 06:02 PM

My wife is pretty handy with a sewing machine and has already made us a two piece (upper and lower) privacy curtain to seperate the front of the van from the back for when changing or using the potti.

She has also made us small fabric shades that velcro in place on the top of the two cab door windows using the same velcro as the heat shades; these act like a sun visor and worked very well in decreasing glare and increasing shading on our recent trip.

So on the topic of winter camping (on this 95+ degree day) , one of the things we talked about is that there are already snaps along the top of the Penthouse where the shade curtains attach to the top. We are thinking about creating a thicker insulating curtain that would snap onto the existing snaps and velcro front half to back half where the canvas is attached to the lifting mechanism.

Has anyone done anything like this yet?
Thoughts?

Skywagon · 07-09-2008, 08:15 PM

Daveb-
When you get around to getting a sleeping bag, check out www.butlerbags.com We just got two and they are incredible!
Bill

sdwindansea · 07-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvrr

I'm sure that they are the same. I got mine from SMB Fresno when I purchased a portable electric penthouse lift. I just installed them myself.

Jack, thanks for posting the pictures. I took mine today but hadn't uploaded the pictures yet. What Jack showed is exactly the same as what we have if that helps at all. There is one support post in each of the four corners of the penthouse.

**daveb** · 07-10-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywagon

Daveb-
When you get around to getting a sleeping bag, check out www.butlerbags.com We just got two and they are incredible!
Bill

Thanks Bill. Can you stow the bag folded in half on top of the PH bed and lower the top?

Right now I can keep my cheap bag that I use more as a blanket along with a fleece sheet type bag on the top bed. There is enough room with the PH down to fit this setup. I use the fleece bag as something to lay on (easy to remove and keep clean).

It is so nice to lift the top then just flip the bags over and the bed is made that quick. Nothing to get out or stow away except a pillow.
Thanks
Dave

Christopher Thwaites · 07-10-2008, 11:47 AM

My top was installed at SMB Fresno on 7/1. The supports were included. I'm sure SMB would sell a set and as you can see the install would not be difficult.

Skywagon · 07-10-2008, 07:41 PM

Daveb-
The Butler bags are so heavy-duty and thick and wide that if you parked on a side-hill with the bags in the penthouse roof, the whole SMB would probably fall over! (BUT, you'll be warm and cozy!) Storage down below, I imagine, is mandatory. We got the really HD bags, but if I were to do it again, I'd get the next grade down. They also cost about half again as much as a new house! (But they are cool!)
Bill