Bris31
Adventurer
Thanks DzlToy. Haven't seen 0C (32F) in Brisbane yet. But in winter traveling in middle of Australia (Simpson Desert) or S. Australia, often we got 0C or below. Then it gets to 25C (77F) in the middle of the day.
A camper worth waiting for
- Thread starter flossandfredsadventures
- Start date
Thanks DzlToy. Haven't seen 0C (32F) in Brisbane yet. But in winter traveling in middle of Australia (Simpson Desert) or S. Australia, often we got 0C or below. Then it gets to 25C (77F) in the middle of the day.
SkiFreak
Crazy Person
Except in summer, where it can often be in excess of 40 degrees Celsius!
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Don't remind me, you'll make me want to stay in the UK...
gait
Explorer
yeah, Aus is a terrible place really ....... far too much sunshine ..... can't imagine why I left UK .......
Some fabric suggestions from my notes on soft tops:
For durability, you should find a fairly robust 100% Olefin fabric. Don't pay extra for a higher double rub number and don't expect the fabric to be soft. For that, you might consider a 100% polyester that has been treated with a Crypton fabric finish, which is THE gold standard for water/stain proofing.
Generally, 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is considered to be the gold standard for Sunbrella waterproofing treatment, and we agree. (this is also an anti-mildew treatment. Make sure that it does not decrease breathability of the fabric.) Compare this to OEM Hydro-Max coating from WeatherMax 80.
Flexible Radiant Barrier:
http://www.radiantbarrier.com/temptrol.htm
For durability, you should find a fairly robust 100% Olefin fabric. Don't pay extra for a higher double rub number and don't expect the fabric to be soft. For that, you might consider a 100% polyester that has been treated with a Crypton fabric finish, which is THE gold standard for water/stain proofing.
Generally, 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is considered to be the gold standard for Sunbrella waterproofing treatment, and we agree. (this is also an anti-mildew treatment. Make sure that it does not decrease breathability of the fabric.) Compare this to OEM Hydro-Max coating from WeatherMax 80.
Flexible Radiant Barrier:
http://www.radiantbarrier.com/temptrol.htm
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Cheers DzlToy, that sounds like a great place to start. I had already hoped to do something along the lines of what you've just mentioned but hadn't looked into the exact products that are out there. I doubt I'll be breaking new ground in this area so I appreciate the experience of one that's already been there. Even this pop top is going to be warmer than our current (brand new) motorhome which is riddled with holes and vents for gas safety. The blown gas heating has to come on alot at night through the winter.
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Agreed, but being able to control when and where that ventilation is coming from will be a welcome change.
Does anyone have a recommendation of a fan forced roof vent that you've installed? As much as I'd like a roof that was fully insulated all the way along, I think it would be prudent to include some form of extraction over the hobs.
We have a Camec range hood above the hot plates ( not having any desire to travel abroad ) I have LPG cooking , my wife liked the idea of having a vent above our bed for some reason don't know why ! Our pop top sock is a plastic canvas type material which is white and doesn't seem dark and oppressive like some of the cream or gray socks tend to it has zip covers over four windows with fly screens in then which on the hot nights we leave them open with the windows and door Ross
Oka 374
Member
We've got a Fantastic vent in the roof doubles as an extractor fan when cooking, get the top of the line one with remote and rain detector. The rain detector means you can leave it open on a hot day when parked and unattended and it will close itself if it rains. The version with remote allows for infinitely variable fan speed and the ability to set a temp and the fan will maintain it, again this is great if you have to leave the vehicle locked up anywhere.
Ozrockrat
Expedition Leader
We run the Maxxair ones. The best part is that they have a built in rain cover and when open are not as high as the Fantastic fans. It theory you can go down the road with them open. Given their extreme price I am not going to try that on purpose.
The height it open to was a factor for us due to the possibility of shading of the solar panels.
I have had a couple of the rain sensing Fantastic fans and they both failed. I still have one in the garage that I am considering using as a vent fan for the electrical/electronics cabinet. That area has a lot of heat buildup when cranking out solar charging as well as using the inverter. (A tip for builders. As much as it is nice to have all your controllers, inverters etc easily accessible from inside they produce a lot of heat).
The height it open to was a factor for us due to the possibility of shading of the solar panels.
I have had a couple of the rain sensing Fantastic fans and they both failed. I still have one in the garage that I am considering using as a vent fan for the electrical/electronics cabinet. That area has a lot of heat buildup when cranking out solar charging as well as using the inverter. (A tip for builders. As much as it is nice to have all your controllers, inverters etc easily accessible from inside they produce a lot of heat).
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Thanks guys. I had been looking at both the Fantastic and Maxxair lines already but I wasn't a fan 
rolleyes of how proud they sit when in the closed position. Roof height is fairly critical for containerisation and with all these models the roof fan will be the highest thing by far (around 130mm for the Maxxair). I think for weight purposes on the pop top I will go with flexible solar panels (approx 50kg less) and even when mounted with a small gap for air flow underneath, these will be much lower than a vent. Although it doesn't include a fan, perhaps another option could be a double glazed acrylic marine hatch (Lewmar seem common) with a blind and mosquito screen fitted inside? These sit about 30mm above roof level or can be flush mounted with a suitable recess. They somehow manage to be even more expensive than a thermostatically controlled fan unit though! Perhaps the pop top will simply provide the ventilation we need and when it's down/closed up, the side windows and hob extraction can make up for the lack of a roof vent if I decide to not include one.
Those Camec range hoods look excellent and I'd be able to duct the air out the side.
Also, 100 posts and 4000 views! Thanks to everyone once again for the first hand reports and recommendations, there's alot more to come on this thread yet...
rolleyes of how proud they sit when in the closed position. Roof height is fairly critical for containerisation and with all these models the roof fan will be the highest thing by far (around 130mm for the Maxxair). I think for weight purposes on the pop top I will go with flexible solar panels (approx 50kg less) and even when mounted with a small gap for air flow underneath, these will be much lower than a vent. Although it doesn't include a fan, perhaps another option could be a double glazed acrylic marine hatch (Lewmar seem common) with a blind and mosquito screen fitted inside? These sit about 30mm above roof level or can be flush mounted with a suitable recess. They somehow manage to be even more expensive than a thermostatically controlled fan unit though! Perhaps the pop top will simply provide the ventilation we need and when it's down/closed up, the side windows and hob extraction can make up for the lack of a roof vent if I decide to not include one.Those Camec range hoods look excellent and I'd be able to duct the air out the side.
Noted. I'll see what I can come up with to combat the issue.
Also, 100 posts and 4000 views! Thanks to everyone once again for the first hand reports and recommendations, there's alot more to come on this thread yet...
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Didn't think this was worth starting a new thread for so I figured I'd just put it here -
A nice tidy pop top by Styromax on a spring mounted sub frame.
A nice tidy pop top by Styromax on a spring mounted sub frame.
flossandfredsadventures
Member
Well so much for 'A camper worth waiting for'...
2010 FG84D MWB 140000km. Bullbar, winch (only 9500lbs), UHF, upgraded heavy duty radiator, loads of spare filters, belts, water pump etc. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up at A$27,000. I just came across it on TruckSales but as it turned out he was a friend of a friend, small world. Almost all highway miles as he was a landscaping contractor for an energy company and also for Telecom. It's all well looked after and in great condition with no rust at all.
A second opportunity came up not long after to purchase a complete set of workshop equipment at a great price from a retiree in outback QLD. It used to restore steam engines but I think it will work just fine for building all things adventure truck in the hands of a machinist. The lathe is pretty wild and from 1926...
I've recently been having several more issues with my motorhome that I bought new over here in the UK with skylights leaking and battery isolators failing. This has reinforced my confidence in the fact that we've made the correct decision to build out this truck instead of taking our current motorhome anywhere other than areas where warranty work can be carried out...
I can't wait to get started.
2010 FG84D MWB 140000km. Bullbar, winch (only 9500lbs), UHF, upgraded heavy duty radiator, loads of spare filters, belts, water pump etc. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up at A$27,000. I just came across it on TruckSales but as it turned out he was a friend of a friend, small world. Almost all highway miles as he was a landscaping contractor for an energy company and also for Telecom. It's all well looked after and in great condition with no rust at all.
A second opportunity came up not long after to purchase a complete set of workshop equipment at a great price from a retiree in outback QLD. It used to restore steam engines but I think it will work just fine for building all things adventure truck in the hands of a machinist. The lathe is pretty wild and from 1926...
I've recently been having several more issues with my motorhome that I bought new over here in the UK with skylights leaking and battery isolators failing. This has reinforced my confidence in the fact that we've made the correct decision to build out this truck instead of taking our current motorhome anywhere other than areas where warranty work can be carried out...
I can't wait to get started.
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