Perfect timing - we took our new (to us) van out for the first time at the weekend and it dipped to -5 overnight and our daughter had to give up and come down. This looks ace and easy
I also have a thermal wrap from Daren pucer screens, they are superb they go on the outside, fit perfectly and retain the heat within the van nearly as good as a solid top. Really useful if it’s raining heavy as when you remove it your pop top material is bone dry, and you just shake the wrap off and pop it in its storage bag, about £165 I paid, your also getting a product made in the UK that’s creating jobs, and it looks good!
There are some great outside insulation wraps out there and if we were keeping the van for longer I think we would invest in one but we are hoping to swap vans for next winter. Our children are keeping the van so if they start to use it more for winter camping it might be something they invest in 🚐 Thanks for the tip 😊
Nothing wrong with inches. I still miss the 'old' money. I had a go at one of these some years back, even working in the garden but it was difficult dues to the size of it. I messed up anyway. I may have another go, after watching yours.
Both our brains still work in the old system 😂 We have been in an apartment for the week with our family but are down in the valley from tomorrow so will get a chance to test out the new insulation - forecast is for -2 degrees so a good test 🚐 Will keep you all posted how it works 😬
An excellent idea and presented in true Blue Peter style - although I was disappointed not to hear ‘and here’s one I made earlier’ 😉 Have seen folk using external wraps and they look a bit of a faff and aren’t cheap. Now need to give this a go. Thanks.
thats so great ! we all need to remember the generation who just had a go at making things rather than throwing money at a problem. My dad used to make all sorts and spray it all 'Inca yellow' which was from a drum of paint he snaffled from somewhere. Brilliant. I've just got my new vw California and am loving it, although taking a little time to adjust to a smaller van. Thanks for all your content
Thanks for the lovely feedback- you are quite welcome! If you hadn't realised, we absolutely love what we are doing at the moment and the community that is building around the channel. I need to get me some "Inca Yellow" paint😂 Thanks for the comment👍
Brilliant idea! Watching during our lunch hour & Simon was giving me the side eye. As soon as I said "Hun!" he laughed and asked what evening was he doing this.😂😂 Fingers crossed it will be amazing 🤞
Love this Julia! Glad that someone else lives in a house like ours😂 It worked well on our night away in the 0 degrees Lake District. Only time will tell in the Alps. If Simon was interested, they have been loads of other suggestions in the comment about additional DIY insulation projects (sorry Simon😂). Thanks for the comment👍 R
Great job that. I used the same bubble insulation for doing the inside of the windows in the rear of the van. Cut slightly oversize and then push up against the windows. Just pull your blinds down over the top, a lot warmer and no condensation on the inside. Did the same for the tailgate too 👍
Thanks for this Warren- someone else mentioned this in the comments and Jackie now wants some producing before we set off for France...in a few hours time! It sounds a really sensible solution and we cannot fathom out how we have not thought about it after 7 years of van ownership. The tailgate and condensation is the bane of our lives in winter...dont get us started!😬 Thanks for the help👍
@ hope you’re enjoying the snow today! I posted a video on Facebook group Billy Snow Mates showing what Arc 1600 looks like this afternoon. Plenty snow but visibility is poor.
Great solution, I wasn’t going to spend a fortune on an outdoor one which seem like a pain to put up and take down, especially if it’s raining! We did the same but with 4 sections, one for each side a front and a rear. 2 years in I have now added some garden canes taped down the front and side panels for rigidity as the material was getting weak where it creases and not holding itself up anymore. Also keep mine rolled up when not in use to reduce the creases in the material which helps. We usually air it out during the day by rotating and dropping a panel for an hour or so if away for more than a few days and never had a condensation issue. Oh and I measured it up before buying the material so made sure the size I bought was tall enough without having to double up 😜
Hi Lee- thanks for this. I like the idea of the garden cane mod as I fear that the material may well soften up in time. Will look up what "garden cane" is in French just in case I need to buy some out on the road😂 I also like the idea of being able to drop the cover down for better ventilation...perhaps something for v.2. Thanks for all the support and tips. Very much appreciated👍
I literally laughed out loud about the measurements in inches problem 😂 Also some other feedback I recently used the bamboo shower rack/mat you recommended in one of your other videos. Absolutely brilliant solution to muddy campsites.
We use the bamboo shower thingy too with a plastic mat in top for muddy boots. Drilled holes in the rubber mat so water would drain through and glued to the bamboo rack 😊
Brilliant - Great Job!! 👏 And with ur accent you make a great Simon Groom sound alike (from Blue Peter of course) “What a beautiful pair of knockers” 😂
works great, I did mine last year. I did mine in three pieces , two sides with back and one for the front with an overlap. There is a bit of condensation, but it does help to keep it warm. ATB
Great minds clearly think alike John- keeping fingers crossed for when it gets really cold- but the test run trip went well. Will keep an eye on the condensation, particularly when we are parked up at the campsite for 4 weeks. Thanks for the comment👍
Hi both, we did the same about 15 months ago. Complete game changer for winter camping in the van. Love NT Langdales. You tried NT Eskdale another great NT campsite. Have also cut some of this insulation to put over the van side windows between the glass and the curtains/blinds. Reduces the condensation a little and improves insulation again. Enjoy the Alps :) Look forward to your videos in the Alps.
Thanks for this Peter. We like the changes it made to our first winter effort, granted it wasnt the minus 18 of the Alps but it was a good testing ground. We absoluetly love the NT sites in the Lakes- particularly in winter as they make such good bases for adventures in the winter mountains...along with the luxuries of kit drying rooms and hot showers with underfloor heating😉 We are definately going to try out your hack behind the blinds...but we are running out of time before we depart....may be another need for "bodge it and scarper"😂 Thanks for your support and kind words👍
I love cheap DIY solutions like this, it will be interesting to hear how it performs. My wife prefers to sleep in the poptop for the extra space, although she doesn’t sleep up there when it’s cold I do worry that she may get cold although she always tells me that she hasn’t been cold. Just in case anyone is wondering why I don’t go up there instead, it’s because I have a disability.
Your wife is clearly braver than us. We have never really used the pop-top to sleep in as we found it fearsomly hot in summer and baltic in winter. It is however an amazing space for storage- particularly when we are in one place for so long doing an activity like skiing that requires so much stuff. I also love a cheap solution😉
@ I have so much to be grateful to my wife, she saw me through some dreadful times and is so understanding of the changes and challenges that life threw at me. My wife is so clever and skilled, she made us her version of a Duvalay which are amazingly comfortable and warm which I think helps her up in the poptop.
Pucer screen works well for us on our VW. Bit more than £30 mind! The narrow panel at the rear is deliberately left uncovered to ensure decent ventilation which personally I think is important to maintain.
I have made internal screens for my pop top in three pieces . I have reflectix sandwiched between two pieces of fleece. They are attached to the roof, each other and base of the pop top with velcro. They keep the heat in in winter and out in Summer. Also makes it very dark for sleeping upstairs. I did find it got stuffy so cut windows in there , using velcro rather than zips ,so they can be rolled down to let in air and light. I have been using these for many years. I also made screens for the outside some using waterproof material ,again in three pieces and velcro, but this would come loose in the wind. Made a set like yours ( in one piece for the outside ) but taped and sewed heavy duty polythene windows in there, with the option to close using velcro. This worked well in combination with the internal screens also, but is much harder to install on my own. I would only go to that much effort if I was staying somewhere at least a couple of days .However sleeping upstairs with both sets of blinds ,my electric blanket and my webasco heater means I am nice and toasty. Using just the internal blinds is super easy for just an overnighter. I didn't spend alot of money on this project as I already had the fleece ,waterproof material and heavy duty polythene.
Wow Elizabeth...this puts my Blue Peter effort to shame. It sounds an epic DIY solution that I could only dream of. Thanks for sharing, it has already sparked some thoughts if I need a v2 solution...although I'm not sure I have the skills for windows and vents. 👍
You could always add windows /flaps to your screens by cutting half moon shapes and then sealing the cut with duck tape after making sure you have added some extra volume to it. Then use stick on velcro so you can close these flaps again. I found by using fleece as well as reflectix I don't get any condensation, it adds extra warmth and it really cuts down the noise. I did find it very stuffy in the Summer which is why the side flaps were a later modification. ( My net windows are in the side as my van has a rear kitchen and pops from the front) My large plastic window is in the rear, I had already incorporated a flap in that portion of my home made screens, using buttons from my old duffle coat I used to go to school in. 😂 Yes I'm the generation, that keeps everything just in case, and finds ways of doing it ourselves. Hope you stay warm on your trip.
Our ceiling has insulation in already and Richard couldn’t work out how to keep it up there and still be able to roll it up to store it - will get a proper test tonight on our drive down to the Alps
@ thanks and good luck. I am still preparing my suv, but have bought a few 2m*2m double sided mats for about 5 euros (what Ali E refer to as a picnic mat) and some double sided Velcro strips and pads, hopefully that will stay up and insulate my ceiling.
Hi Boz- the campsites that are open in the Alps are all pretty good and fully winterised. We stay at Camping Huttopia in Bourg St Maurice in France- it had fully heated facilities blocks, washing up areas, a laundry, boot room, a club room with wood burning stoves and sofas, all the comforts of home really.👍
So we are hooked on your Thailand trip….to the point we are booking flights & accommodation for 21 nights x Can I ask what camera you film your Vlogs with please
Love this Samantha...and we are sure you will love Thailand. We didn't know what to expect at all, having never traveled to SE Asia before, but we obviously loved it and are working out how and when we will return. We use iPhone 11 Pro's for most of our footage. For the action type stuff (and the wide angle images) we use a DJI Action 3 which is an amazing bit of kit at a great price. Having done extensive research, it has so many benefits over the GoPro and is a fraction of the cost. There is an Action 4 and Action 5 out now, but the Action 3 perfectly meets our action cam needs. Hope this helps? 👍
Hi Lisa- we havent tried it out as yet as we are with our kids in an apartment for the first week. Will report back as soon as we get onto the campsite👍
Perfect timing - we took our new (to us) van out for the first time at the weekend and it dipped to -5 overnight and our daughter had to give up and come down. This looks ace and easy
I also have a thermal wrap from Daren pucer screens, they are superb they go on the outside, fit perfectly and retain the heat within the van nearly as good as a solid top. Really useful if it’s raining heavy as when you remove it your pop top material is bone dry, and you just shake the wrap off and pop it in its storage bag, about £165 I paid, your also getting a product made in the UK that’s creating jobs, and it looks good!
There are some great outside insulation wraps out there and if we were keeping the van for longer I think we would invest in one but we are hoping to swap vans for next winter. Our children are keeping the van so if they start to use it more for winter camping it might be something they invest in 🚐 Thanks for the tip 😊
Nothing wrong with inches. I still miss the 'old' money.
I had a go at one of these some years back, even working in the garden but it was difficult dues to the size of it. I messed up anyway. I may have another go, after watching yours.
Both our brains still work in the old system 😂 We have been in an apartment for the week with our family but are down in the valley from tomorrow so will get a chance to test out the new insulation - forecast is for -2 degrees so a good test 🚐 Will keep you all posted how it works 😬
An excellent idea and presented in true Blue Peter style - although I was disappointed not to hear ‘and here’s one I made earlier’ 😉 Have seen folk using external wraps and they look a bit of a faff and aren’t cheap. Now need to give this a go. Thanks.
Ahhh- I'm kicking myself now missing out on the "here's one I made earlier" catchphrase😬 Glad that you found the video of use👍
thats so great ! we all need to remember the generation who just had a go at making things rather than throwing money at a problem. My dad used to make all sorts and spray it all 'Inca yellow' which was from a drum of paint he snaffled from somewhere. Brilliant. I've just got my new vw California and am loving it, although taking a little time to adjust to a smaller van. Thanks for all your content
Thanks for the lovely feedback- you are quite welcome! If you hadn't realised, we absolutely love what we are doing at the moment and the community that is building around the channel.
I need to get me some "Inca Yellow" paint😂
Thanks for the comment👍
Brilliant idea! Watching during our lunch hour & Simon was giving me the side eye. As soon as I said "Hun!" he laughed and asked what evening was he doing this.😂😂 Fingers crossed it will be amazing 🤞
Love this Julia! Glad that someone else lives in a house like ours😂 It worked well on our night away in the 0 degrees Lake District. Only time will tell in the Alps. If Simon was interested, they have been loads of other suggestions in the comment about additional DIY insulation projects (sorry Simon😂).
Thanks for the comment👍 R
Great job! From experience, our external cover was brilliant for both insulation and condensation. Well done to Bodgit and Scarper😂😂.
Thanks Alan...it's a mantra that I live by😂😂😂
Great job that. I used the same bubble insulation for doing the inside of the windows in the rear of the van. Cut slightly oversize and then push up against the windows. Just pull your blinds down over the top, a lot warmer and no condensation on the inside. Did the same for the tailgate too 👍
Thanks for this Warren- someone else mentioned this in the comments and Jackie now wants some producing before we set off for France...in a few hours time! It sounds a really sensible solution and we cannot fathom out how we have not thought about it after 7 years of van ownership.
The tailgate and condensation is the bane of our lives in winter...dont get us started!😬
Thanks for the help👍
It took me 8yrs, a lockdown project 😂
Perfect, thanks Richard we'll be giving this a go. Great instructions for someone DIY challenged like myself.
I fellow DIY incompetent- I love how the RUclips community brings us together😂
Glad I am not alone out there😉
I’m currently in Bourg Saint Maurice and the snowfall has been good at Les Arcs, so you’ll definitely be enjoying the slopes!
Yay! We arrive on Friday for one night before going upto arc 1950 with the family for a week - then we’re back in the valley 🚐❄️⛷️
@ hope you’re enjoying the snow today!
I posted a video on Facebook group Billy Snow Mates showing what Arc 1600 looks like this afternoon.
Plenty snow but visibility is poor.
Great solution, I wasn’t going to spend a fortune on an outdoor one which seem like a pain to put up and take down, especially if it’s raining! We did the same but with 4 sections, one for each side a front and a rear. 2 years in I have now added some garden canes taped down the front and side panels for rigidity as the material was getting weak where it creases and not holding itself up anymore. Also keep mine rolled up when not in use to reduce the creases in the material which helps. We usually air it out during the day by rotating and dropping a panel for an hour or so if away for more than a few days and never had a condensation issue. Oh and I measured it up before buying the material so made sure the size I bought was tall enough without having to double up 😜
Hi Lee- thanks for this. I like the idea of the garden cane mod as I fear that the material may well soften up in time. Will look up what "garden cane" is in French just in case I need to buy some out on the road😂
I also like the idea of being able to drop the cover down for better ventilation...perhaps something for v.2.
Thanks for all the support and tips. Very much appreciated👍
I literally laughed out loud about the measurements in inches problem 😂
Also some other feedback I recently used the bamboo shower rack/mat you recommended in one of your other videos. Absolutely brilliant solution to muddy campsites.
We use the bamboo shower thingy too with a plastic mat in top for muddy boots. Drilled holes in the rubber mat so water would drain through and glued to the bamboo rack 😊
😂 The duck boards are great - especially when it is muddy or sandy!
Brilliant - Great Job!! 👏 And with ur accent you make a great Simon Groom sound alike (from Blue Peter of course) “What a beautiful pair of knockers” 😂
Thanks Ollie...I used to love Blue Peter as a kid- a true child of the 70's😂
Happy days👍
works great, I did mine last year. I did mine in three pieces , two sides with back and one for the front with an overlap. There is a bit of condensation, but it does help to keep it warm. ATB
Great minds clearly think alike John- keeping fingers crossed for when it gets really cold- but the test run trip went well. Will keep an eye on the condensation, particularly when we are parked up at the campsite for 4 weeks.
Thanks for the comment👍
Hi both, we did the same about 15 months ago. Complete game changer for winter camping in the van. Love NT Langdales. You tried NT Eskdale another great NT campsite. Have also cut some of this insulation to put over the van side windows between the glass and the curtains/blinds. Reduces the condensation a little and improves insulation again. Enjoy the Alps :) Look forward to your videos in the Alps.
Thanks for this Peter. We like the changes it made to our first winter effort, granted it wasnt the minus 18 of the Alps but it was a good testing ground. We absoluetly love the NT sites in the Lakes- particularly in winter as they make such good bases for adventures in the winter mountains...along with the luxuries of kit drying rooms and hot showers with underfloor heating😉
We are definately going to try out your hack behind the blinds...but we are running out of time before we depart....may be another need for "bodge it and scarper"😂
Thanks for your support and kind words👍
I look forward to your update on how effective this option is. Might give it a go myself if it’s a success! Fingers crossed
Thanks Ricky...we are holding our breath to see how it holds up under winter Alpine conditions🤞
I made something similar and it definitely makes a difference.
Thanks Claire- glad to hear it. A pop-top should be for year round use so we are 🤞
Cracking job Rich
Thanks Richard👍 Glad that you enjoyed!
I love cheap DIY solutions like this, it will be interesting to hear how it performs. My wife prefers to sleep in the poptop for the extra space, although she doesn’t sleep up there when it’s cold I do worry that she may get cold although she always tells me that she hasn’t been cold.
Just in case anyone is wondering why I don’t go up there instead, it’s because I have a disability.
Your wife is clearly braver than us. We have never really used the pop-top to sleep in as we found it fearsomly hot in summer and baltic in winter. It is however an amazing space for storage- particularly when we are in one place for so long doing an activity like skiing that requires so much stuff.
I also love a cheap solution😉
@ I have so much to be grateful to my wife, she saw me through some dreadful times and is so understanding of the changes and challenges that life threw at me.
My wife is so clever and skilled, she made us her version of a Duvalay which are amazingly comfortable and warm which I think helps her up in the poptop.
Get a purser screen for the outside very easy to put up and not to expensive and will keep the Pop top canvas dry.
Thanks for this Paul- I have never heard of these- I will look them up👍 Cold, wet, and often frozen tent canvas is no fun😬
Pucer screen works well for us on our VW. Bit more than £30 mind! The narrow panel at the rear is deliberately left uncovered to ensure decent ventilation which personally I think is important to maintain.
I have made internal screens for my pop top in three pieces . I have reflectix sandwiched between two pieces of fleece. They are attached to the roof, each other and base of the pop top with velcro. They keep the heat in in winter and out in Summer. Also makes it very dark for sleeping upstairs. I did find it got stuffy so cut windows in there , using velcro rather than zips ,so they can be rolled down to let in air and light. I have been using these for many years. I also made screens for the outside some using waterproof material ,again in three pieces and velcro, but this would come loose in the wind. Made a set like yours ( in one piece for the outside ) but taped and sewed heavy duty polythene windows in there, with the option to close using velcro. This worked well in combination with the internal screens also, but is much harder to install on my own. I would only go to that much effort if I was staying somewhere at least a couple of days .However sleeping upstairs with both sets of blinds ,my electric blanket and my webasco heater means I am nice and toasty. Using just the internal blinds is super easy for just an overnighter.
I didn't spend alot of money on this project as I already had the fleece ,waterproof material and heavy duty polythene.
Wow Elizabeth...this puts my Blue Peter effort to shame. It sounds an epic DIY solution that I could only dream of.
Thanks for sharing, it has already sparked some thoughts if I need a v2 solution...although I'm not sure I have the skills for windows and vents. 👍
You could always add windows /flaps to your screens by cutting half moon shapes and then sealing the cut with duck tape after making sure you have added some extra volume to it. Then use stick on velcro so you can close these flaps again. I found by using fleece as well as reflectix I don't get any condensation, it adds extra warmth and it really cuts down the noise. I did find it very stuffy in the Summer which is why the side flaps were a later modification. ( My net windows are in the side as my van has a rear kitchen and pops from the front) My large plastic window is in the rear, I had already incorporated a flap in that portion of my home made screens, using buttons from my old duffle coat I used to go to school in. 😂 Yes I'm the generation, that keeps everything just in case, and finds ways of doing it ourselves.
Hope you stay warm on your trip.
We may need to make some modifications if we get condensation on the inside of the canvas so will keep your adaptations in mind 😊
👍 @@earlyretirementwanderlust
Hi, am interested something similar, just wondering why you didn't also cover the ceiling?
Our ceiling has insulation in already and Richard couldn’t work out how to keep it up there and still be able to roll it up to store it - will get a proper test tonight on our drive down to the Alps
@ thanks and good luck. I am still preparing my suv, but have bought a few 2m*2m double sided mats for about 5 euros (what Ali E refer to as a picnic mat) and some double sided Velcro strips and pads, hopefully that will stay up and insulate my ceiling.
What are the camp site options like in winter? Are there still toilets & showers available on site? Cheers
Hi Boz- the campsites that are open in the Alps are all pretty good and fully winterised. We stay at Camping Huttopia in Bourg St Maurice in France- it had fully heated facilities blocks, washing up areas, a laundry, boot room, a club room with wood burning stoves and sofas, all the comforts of home really.👍
Nice DIY job and a saving of over £400 on a commercial product (Brandrup ISO Top)
Thanks Alan...didn't realise they were that pricey...we were just too slack set up to hit the ordering deadline window before we ship off to France.😂
I’ll be interested to see how your hack performs.
So will we 😬 It got down to -15 ish last year in January!!!
So we are hooked on your Thailand trip….to the point we are booking flights & accommodation for 21 nights x
Can I ask what camera you film your Vlogs with please
Love this Samantha...and we are sure you will love Thailand. We didn't know what to expect at all, having never traveled to SE Asia before, but we obviously loved it and are working out how and when we will return.
We use iPhone 11 Pro's for most of our footage. For the action type stuff (and the wide angle images) we use a DJI Action 3 which is an amazing bit of kit at a great price. Having done extensive research, it has so many benefits over the GoPro and is a fraction of the cost. There is an Action 4 and Action 5 out now, but the Action 3 perfectly meets our action cam needs.
Hope this helps? 👍
@ brilliant thankyou x
How is the insulation working out in France? Hope you guys are cosy? Lisa x
Hi Lisa- we havent tried it out as yet as we are with our kids in an apartment for the first week. Will report back as soon as we get onto the campsite👍
good job hope it works for you.
I hope so too 😊
I can’t see any reason why it won’t be fine. I’ll keep and eye out the successful results.
🤞