cold weather

[ckent323]

RicoV,

My take is that you have to install/remove this every time you raise or lower the top.

I have several questions:

How much hassle has that proven to be?

How many times have you used this (trips, # set ups/removals)?

How has this external insulation worked out for you?

Have you used it in conditions that would normally cause condensation and do you think it helped reduce or eliminate condensation?

How has the material held, up any regrets?

Would you do anything differently if you were making one now?

I commonly camp in places where nightime temps can drop into the single digits. Do you think the reflectix is adequate or should I consider something with better insulating qualities

Thanks to MarkBC for steering me to this post.

Regards,
Craig

 

[RicoV]

@ Craig: An exterior reflectix solution would likely be a hassle if you were moving around daily. Since our own winter trips in the low desert are generally 3- or 4-day-per-stop setups, the roof never gets lowered during a stop, so it's fine for that app. We've used it about 5 times so far, 3x winter and 2x summer, and consider it to be a reasonable surrogate for the arctic pack even though I've never had any experience using the latter. It's a fair bet that condensation is far less of an issue with an exterior wrap solution than for any type of interior wrap, just from a simple thermal transfer standpoint. The reflectix is amazingly rugged even when dealing with the gusty winds we've occasionally experienced with it, and the material is light enough that you could even consider the possibility of customizing a 2-layer-bonded version (?) exterior wrap to address those single-digit temps you mentioned. In short, our exterior reflectix wrap has been a useful item for us during some (but not all) of our trips in the cooler and warmer months.

 

[Ramblinman]

My new personal cold record in the Hawk is -22C or -9F - I think this might be the farthest edge of coldness for me. The FWC did not like popping up. The furnace and Generator ran all night. I set the thermostat for as low as it would go 50 - I think - it only shut off once during the night.

This said we were still comfortable inside.

I did not use reflex stuff just the Polar Pack.

Whats cool is - I only used 2.70 CDN dollars to refill the propane - We used about 1/2 a bottle for 2 nights - the first night was significantly warmer. I think a fancy coffee at Starbucks cost more!

 

[flinchlock]

A roll of Reflectix 2' x 25' is about 10" in diameter... where do you store something that huge?

We (the wife) made an arctic pack following ski3pin's great article, but messed up and used warmcompany.com/products/warm-home/insul-bright. (It was on sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics.) That stuff sticks to the Velcro hooks like crazy! After about 52 uses, the Insul-Bright is showing signs of shredding/ripping. The shredding/ripping is not where it was sewn, but where it stuck to the Velcro hooks. As such, I find it a pita to roll up/down to lookout the camper windows.

I am probably going to just order the real Arctic Pack from ATC and be done with it.

Mike

 

[daverave]

I see in your picture (front view) that the Reflectix is above the black rubber seal that runs around the front of the camper.

A somewhat off-topic question but I was reading this thread while admiring my new Hawk and noticed that rubber seal that camper101 mentioned. I am curious as to why this seal is just on the front of the camper and stops at the end of the cabover section. Does anyone have a reason/theory/opinion? Not important, just curious. Thanx.

 

[MarkBC]

A somewhat off-topic question but I was reading this thread while admiring my new Hawk and noticed that rubber seal that camper101 mentioned. I am curious as to why this seal is just on the front of the camper and stops at the end of the cabover section. Does anyone have a reason/theory/opinion? Not important, just curious. Thanx.

I've always assumed it was there -- only -- to prevent water being forced in by driving speeds. And that need would only be in front, where the impinging force is great while driving.
...but I don't know that that's FWC's reason.