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whynotvw Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 1322
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:39 pm Post subject: Fanchers pop top insulation |
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has anyone used the R8 or the less expensive R4 pop top insulation that snaps on the inside of the pop top made by Fanchers? I wanted get ready for some winter camping. Any feedback would be appreciated. |
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bac914 Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2008 Posts: 112 Location: Denver
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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I have the outside wrap and use it frequently. It absolutely provides a more comfortable environment for cold weather camping. We also have a heater to compliment it and they work well together.
Anyway, I would expect that the inside insulation is good as well. The fit and quality of the wrap I have is very good. It was easy to install as it just velcros on. I see the inside one requires installing snaps in the pop top. As their site says, it would be convenient to install it inside when the weather is bad or you have a site with limited ability to walk around the outside of the van.
I'm pleased with it.
Brian. |
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purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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I just got a nifty setup off another member here made by him, i'll report back when it gets colder |
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whynotvw Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 1322
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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they no longer make the outside insulation version. they replaced it with two versions for the inside. R8 which is thicker and R4 which is thinner and less priced. i wanted to see if the thicker one the R8 is worth the extra $140. |
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Jon_slider Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:09 am Post subject: |
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for those interested, here is the link to the products Fanchers makes
http://fanchers.com/267/Vanagon%20Internal%20thermal.htm
They do very high quality work.
The outside wrap would keep your canvas dry, the inside one wont.. If you camp in rain or snow, I suggest you ask Fanchers to begin making the outside wrap again..
I have not tried their inside wrap, I sold my outside wrap because I no longer snow camp. I also never static camp, I move every morning.. imo top insulation is most suited for people who setup camp and dont move the vehicle for a few days..
As to whynotvw's question whether the thicker inner insulation is worth the extra expense, I dont know first hand, but, I would go with the thin one. Because imo, most of the effect of a top insulation is to stop the canvas from breathing.. this retains a lot of heat for cold camping, IF you are generating heat inside with a Propex or other heater. Keep in mind you must be attentive to any condensation buildup, and give the canvas an opportunity to dry periodically. Same caveat applies to the windows, which in cold camping will inevitably be wet on the inside in the morning, unless you run a heater all night..
fwiw, I also had JustKampers window insulation, which I did not find useful.. they might reduce heat use, but, they also increase frozen condensation on the windows.. I have not tried Fanchers outside window covers.. but they would be a better choice imo..
here are my old posts reviewing the window pads from justkampers
http://tinyurl.com/3a3xske
here is my review of the pop top wrap, and I look forward to purplepeopleeater's review..
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=290213
btw, for diy, be forewarned that bubble wrap sheds its foil and will mark up your canvas, that is why the foil face is outwards on the photos in the link I gave above, of the original VW wrap.. otoh, Fanchers products do not have this problem, their attention to quality is excellent! |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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bosruten Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2011 Posts: 544
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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Does the insulation need to be removed everytime you lift/retract the poptop? _________________ '87 Syncro Weekender |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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JeffRobenolt Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1513 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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I'm picking mine up at BBTB.
Jonce does some high quality work.
Jeff _________________ --------------------------------------------------------
jfats808 wrote: |
Most, some, few is not all. You can always learn something from everyone , even the fool. |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Perfect night to try out the new poptop insulation, rainy cool and damp. Got the insulation up and the Mr Heater Buddy
blasting. I'd have to report that the insulation works in this Spring time unsettled weather very well.
Big difference in the feel of the Westys interior, quite warm without the heater, really warm with it! Glad I made
the purchase! Hope it keeps the Westy cool in the Summer as well as it keeps it warm in the Spring!! _________________ '15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary
http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee |
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purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Well I forgot about posting my review on this,
Winter temps outside around the upper 20's and with only a 900watt electric heater it kept inside temps at a decent level.
Summer temps this puppy also is quite useful, it keeps the temps at a decent level and also doubles as a rain block.
I'd buy one again if they where still sold/made |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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purplepeopleeater wrote: |
Well I forgot about posting my review on this,
Winter temps outside around the upper 20's and with only a 900watt electric heater it kept inside temps at a decent level.
Summer temps this puppy also is quite useful, it keeps the temps at a decent level and also doubles as a rain block.
I'd buy one again if they where still sold/made |
Hi Mike
You must be talking about something else, the Fanchers poptop insulation kit goes inside the poptop canvas and it is available, just place an order and they will put a kit together for you. _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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madspaniard wrote: |
purplepeopleeater wrote: |
Well I forgot about posting my review on this,
Winter temps outside around the upper 20's and with only a 900watt electric heater it kept inside temps at a decent level.
Summer temps this puppy also is quite useful, it keeps the temps at a decent level and also doubles as a rain block.
I'd buy one again if they where still sold/made |
Hi Mike
You must be talking about something else, the Fanchers poptop insulation kit goes inside the poptop canvas and it is available, just place an order and they will put a kit together for you. |
I have the one Jon mentioned above (in fact...the one He had) its an outside verision, franchers doesn't make them any longer. |
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mare1219 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Fremont, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:41 am Post subject: |
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Tim,
Did you buy the R4 or R8 pop top insulation from Franchers? How does it do in Winter temps? Snow Camping? We definitely want to buy, just trying to decide, but are leaning toward R8.
Mare
87 Vanagon GL Westfalia |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:15 am Post subject: |
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I have the R8. We have a three year old and a one year old so I figured the R4 might not be enough for our family during winter camping. I'm glad I went with the R8. No regrets, money very well spent. We have a Propex and as you know hot air raises so this kit does a great job at trapping this air up top. This also means you need to make sure you properly insulate the glass windows and windshield. We have the Just Kampers kit for this (silver window insulation kit sold by BusDepot) but I feel there is room for improvement, not too happy with it. I called Fanchers a while ago and asked them to look into it, maybe they can design their own window insulation kit. _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:29 am Post subject: |
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I bought the R4 kit, plenty enough for me as I don't camp in the Winter with my Westy.
Well unless you call driveway camping...Camping? It is actually a nice kit for keeping out the
heat of summer too! I camped two weeks ago in full sunshine (solar panel requires it) and the
Westy stayed quite cool compared to the mid eighty degree days outside, also double duty with
a cool and rainy day. Westy stayed dry and warmer that the outside temp and none of the damp
feeling you expect inside the van. I think that the Fanchers' kit when used with the GW Wasser stopper,
your Westy will perform as you expect it too! _________________ '15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary
http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee |
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mare1219 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Fremont, CA
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:50 pm Post subject: Fanchers Pop Top Insulation |
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Well, I ordered the R8 as I am a big baby about the cold. 10 years in S. Florida has my blood so thin I freeze when it is in the low 60s and breezy:) Will also keep in mind the window insulation but my main heat loss seems to be at the pop top canvas and I typically run the heater before bed so I am not cold when I crawl into the sleeping bag. We don't currently snow camp but that might be fun and Tahoe gets cold at night in high elevations (it was in the 30s in Truckee a few weeks ago at night) even in August. Also, this insulation seems useful for summer temps, which we experience frequently here in Northern California. I am also getting the screen replacement kit (our canvas is good but screen not great) and rainfly. Very excited to get those:)
Mare |
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mare1219 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Fremont, CA
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: Here is pic of my 87 Westy before pop top insulation |
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86syncrowesty Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2010 Posts: 115 Location: Colorado Front Range
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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We very rarely camp without putting the insulation up, kiddo sleeps on top so it is a must for the high country. It also helps keep temps stable in the full Colorado sun during the day. Very pleased with the quality, fit, function. _________________ 1986 Vanagon -- Syncro, Westy
2.5L Subaru |
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mare1219 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012 Posts: 12 Location: Fremont, CA
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Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 7:24 am Post subject: Pop Top Insulation |
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Good to hear. We want it for both Sunny and Winter Weather or Sunny Winter Weather here in Northern California and trips out to Tahoe, etc. Other than windshield, driver, and passenger front windows, we have dark tinting, which helps a bit with the sun but certainly not on super hot days. I am excited to receive this in 4-6 weeks. We have a pre Thanksgiving campout with our local VW Camping Group, so we will test it then. In the meantime, I have also ordered the screen replacement for our pop top and the Long Rain Fly w/Bungees. Will keep everyone posted on those as well. Thanks again everyone for your input!
Mare |
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