|
|
09-15-2017, 12:15 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 14
|
Smells/Odors with penthouse top up
Hi folks, please excuse what may seem an ignorant question. We're motorhome folks new to what life might be like with an SMB. As the SMB we're going to get will be more a travel vehicle as opposed to a camping vehicle. My wife has concerns about spending the night in a Flying J type place in the SMB that, while the PH top is up, she's going to get a lot of diesel fuel smells and other unpleasant odors in the van. Is there any validity to that? My contention is that with the windows zippered in you'd be isolated from that type of stuff.
Also, if there's a thread on this somewhere that would be helpful. A search didn't produce much.
|
|
|
09-15-2017, 07:36 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 4,198
|
As long as the windows are zipped up, you're well sealed and shouldn't be any more susceptible to smells than in a "hard" vehicle. Now, noise is another story altogether. When we camp in a truck stop (not very often) we usually keep the top down to keep things quieter. My wife and I sleep downstairs all the time anyway (our son sleeps in the PH), and when the top is down he just sleeps on the floor downstairs.
|
|
|
09-15-2017, 10:17 PM
|
#3
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 63
|
If you're going to be more of a road warrior thank backcountry camper, I would really suggest a high top model instead of the penthouse. I've tried to sleep in the penthouse at RV parks next to the interstate and it's just awful. I imagine a truck stop is even worse. You are going to hear every movement, door slam and conversation while you are trying to sleep. Plus the poptop is a dead giveaway that you're staying overnight, so it rules out any stealthy camping you might want to do in an urban area.
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 01:39 AM
|
#4
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 14
|
Thank you. That was her other big concern. Noise. I'm a heavy sleeper and not that troubled by noise. She, on the other hand....
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 08:30 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kltk1
Thank you. That was her other big concern. Noise. I'm a heavy sleeper and not that troubled by noise. She, on the other hand....
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
|
If she's a light sleeper she isn't going to be able to sleep at a truck stop. Constant noise, people coming and going 24/7 and they aren't concerned with being quiet. I'm quickly lulled to sleep by the hum of idling diesels but many aren't. It can be pretty loud. Anyway, it's not odors that will bother her probably but light and noise. Why not a rest area instead? That's always our choice. There's always separate parking for cars from trucks and we usually manage to find a dark, quiet spot.
If you aren't aware I would recommend downloading the Ultimate Campgrounds app for your smartphone which will put you on lots of free/cheap non commercial camping areas in places you might not expect. A rest area and certainly a truck stop are always our last resort.
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 09:24 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 4,198
|
AllStays is another great camping app. We've used it for several month-long trips and it has lots of free spots listed.
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 09:58 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 2,552
|
If it's just you and your wife, I would suggest a high top. Its nice to be able to stand up in the van at all times. If you pull over to make lunch, no need to pop the top, just walk back. The pop top is nice if you need to sleep more than 2 people, but sleeping 2 adults in the penthouse can be tight in a smb penthouse.
__________________
2005 E350 Chateau - V10 - Agile Offroad 4x4
2012 CTS-V Wagon - For the baby...
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 12:26 PM
|
#8
|
Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
|
I'd suggest getting in both, a Voyager type and a pop top with the top up. See how they feel to both of you. And since this has become about which top there are several threads on the site like this one:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/for...-ph-13295.html
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
|
|
|
09-16-2017, 05:29 PM
|
#9
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morris County, NJ
Posts: 14
|
Thanks everyone. As prior motorhome owners, truck stops aren't a problem from a noise perspective. At least not in the motorhome. Rest areas are a great fit too. We just like having as many options available as possible.
That said, this seems to be a debate for us. And we all know, if momma ain't happy...... While it's not a necessity, I like having options available. Thus, I, like the penthouse top. As we'll be traveling occasionally with kids (now 8 and 12), it would be nice if we had the option to sleep four on occasion. From what little I gathered last night, a Voyager top "might" be able to work on the rare occasion the 4 of us will sleep in the SMB. Fortunately, for us the RB50 is very popular and will be easier to find. In the end, we'll likely wind up with a used cargo van and will have SMB build what we want.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
|
|
|
09-17-2017, 08:37 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
|
I have a motorhome too. We sleep everywhere in it with no noise problems. I've had both an SMB and a CCV pop top and they are MUCH louder. It's essentially like setting up a tent wherever you are. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way but imagine setting up a tent in or near a rest area or truck stop. That's what the noise will be like. I don't think you'll have an issue with odors though.
Do your homework on what SMB will work on before you buy a van. They will not do much to older vans and they aren't doing much to Fords anymore at all I don't think. Also, they all have different rules for this but I'm sure you might be working with SMB North.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|