Top-down use: how often do you sleep in/use your FWC with the top down?

[Escapepod]

I anticipate (won't have our new Grandby until mid-March) leaving the FWC top down in windy conditions, or when trying to discreetly sleep overnight on occasion. Anyone else want to share their top-down use experience?

 

[ETAV8R]

Took a nap inside at a church parking lot after picking up the camper. I'd driven from the LA area to San Diego then to Scottsdale AZ and heading back to LA.

Only other time was on a high perch in Death Valley during a wind event. The top was up but it was so bad that I did have some concerns so I brought it down. I've been in some good winds where I wasn't worried about it.

 

[longhorn1]

Been in high winds and never felt threatened.

 

[Cayuse]

Never felt like winds were an issue and I've been in 60+ gusts. Several people on the board have driven down the road for a ways with the top up with no apparent ill effects so while the noise might be unnerving there isn't really a danger of collapse.

I have slept with the top down on a number of occasions, typically when in stealth mode in an urban environment, after years of sleeping on a Thermarest or other pad I have no problems using the couch as a bivy location for a night, just need to find a coffee shop first thing in the morning since you can't use the stove with the top down.

 

[Ronanmd1]

Never felt like winds were an issue and I've been in 60+ gusts. Several people on the board have driven down the road for a ways with the top up with no apparent ill effects so while the noise might be unnerving there isn't really a danger of collapse.

I have slept with the top down on a number of occasions, typically when in stealth mode in an urban environment, after years of sleeping on a Thermarest or other pad I have no problems using the couch as a bivy location for a night, just need to find a coffee shop first thing in the morning since you can't use the stove with the top down.

Same here. Also on ferry crossings ...

 

[CougarCouple]

Hello Escapepod
Welcome to WtW, we have a Cougar, which is similar to the Grandby. We picked up ours in Reno last January when there was that big snowstorm. Drove to Fallon and stayed in it with the top down. I was concerned about raising and lowering the top as it would be the first time. Also how the cold would effect doing it. Stayed warm no problem sleeping. Wife likes to sleep back there when I'm driving sometimes, I'll turn heater on wen cold no problem.

Russ

 

[klahanie]

For us, mostly top down would be for cold weather - that includes the effect of wind chill on the exposed vinyl. So if the air temp is coolish and we're camped in a exposed spot and anticipate strong winds, we might drop the top for sleeping to keep the interior warmer. Speaking of wind, we try to consider wind direction when positioning the truck for camping (smoke, mosquitoes, minimizing camper wall exposure). And are cautious when raising or lowering the roof in high wind or gusty conditions, especially with the door open. That concern alone can make us keep the top down overnight or make us get up at night to drop it, while the going is still good.

Also top down is quieter - with noisy neighbours.

Also top down on occasions when we want to break camp quickly in the AM, say for the final day's drive home.

All and all it's great to have the option - if you can manage it with your camper and family.

 

[Yukon]

I, like ETAV8R, took it down in a sand storm in Death Valley and slept on the floor. Not just the wind, but also concerns about dust getting in.
There was another guy in Death Valley that weekend who had a different brand of camper and the roof was ripped off.

 

[JaSAn]

I built my interior with the bed down across the front, mainly because I get up 3 or 4 times during the night to pee, so I am sleeping in my bed with the top down.
My reasons for keeping the top down are:
- If I know we are getting a heavy, wet snow overnight I will leave it down.
- Less rocking and wind noise with top down in high or gusty winds.
- Smaller area to heat if the temperature drops precipitously overnight.
- Stealth camping or just pulling over to take a nap.
Usually happens four or five times a year.

jim

 

[MarkBC]

The only time I lowered the top and slept in the camper, top-down, was in very high winds while camped on the crest of the White Mts, eastern California. Gusts over 70 mph.

It was October, 2016, I was in the White Mts, parked/camped for the night near the top of the Silver Canyon road at about 10,400 feet elevation. I was awoken mid-night by the roar of wind and feeling the pressure against the pop-up part of the camper -- inches from my face. I was kept awake by the sound...and worry that at some point the structure could fail. The winds were not abating...
So, after more than an hour of worry I decided I had to get the top down. The truck was facing dead straight into the wind. It was a big struggle -- I thought I'd break it before it came down. Not only was I pulling against the usual initial-resistance of the gas struts, but I was fighting Dr. Bernoulli, too! When I managed to get it down and clamped the soft-side fabric was sticking out all over -- Bernoulli's work -- but that was good enough.

Before I bed down on the couch I went outside with my really-cool anemometer -- a type that plugs into my smartphone.

In a few seconds of measurement (while trying to not get blown into Nevada) I measured average winds at 45 with gusts of 70+ mph. So, there were likely stronger gusts, but I didn't measure them.

The next morning -- winds still high but less -- I drove down the lee side of the of the ridge to get out of the wind well enough that I could re-raise and properly lower the top, tucking in the fabric. I was pleased that there'd been no damage from the major yanking I'd done to get it down the night before.

"file photos":
They make a version of this that communicates with the phone via Bluetooth -- for those phones that have abandoned the 3.5mm audio jack/hole.

 

[klahanie]

... at about 10,400 feet elevation. I was awoken mid-night by the roar of wind and feeling the pressure against the pop-up part of the camper -- inches from my face. I was kept awake by the sound...and worry that at some point the structure could fail. The winds were not abating...

yes this, ha ha !

Mountain tops and passes. Another favourite, microwave towers...

Ever notice the size of the anchors they use at some of these places. But so tempting with their views ... (the main road center left)

This spot started out okay but the wind picked up overnight. We dropped the top - while we could - then the wind picked up and howled !! Very disconcerting with the truck rocking. We moved further down but were done for sleep til morning.

To the OP, don't let this worry you. It's all part of the adventure !

 

[Escapepod]

["This spot started out okay but the wind picked up overnight. We dropped the top - while we could - then the wind picked up and howled !! Very disconcerting with the truck rocking. We moved further down but were done for sleep til morning.

To the OP, don't let this worry you. It's all part of the adventure !"]

Thanks, David. I agree, the adventure makes it all worthwhile!

 

[craig333]

Just for naps. Never felt in danger enough to lower the top due to winds. May have slept better a few times if I had.

 

[Roaming_Eagle]

Only if there is going to be a load of snow overnight.

 

[idahoron]

I sleep in mine down actually quite often. Mostly naps when I am just so tired I am a danger to my self and other. My wife and I have stopped in parking lots, parks, stores, and rest areas for mostly naps many times.
My wife runs. Some of the races are set up to start early and "no camping" rule is to keep people from setting up tents and 5th wheels with sliders. I go to these and leave the top down and have never had a problem.
I have also left the top down in wind. Not really because I don't trust the top in the wind but I do it more to keep from having to deal with putting the top up and taking it down in the wind.

 

[ntsqd]

When solo I almost never pop the top. Stays warmer inside and sometimes I'm close to friends who lack a heater in their tents. Letting mine run at night seems like rubbing it in their faces so I don't run it. Top down makes that much more comfortable.

Conversely my wife has never slept in the camper with the top down. I always pop it up when she is on the trip. We haven't camped in winds like Mark's experience, but we have had some windy nights. I've never been worried by it though on two occasions she was.

 

[dharte]

It would be hard to sleep in Front Dinette models with the top down-I've never tried it. I think that's the single biggest advantage of the roll over couch model. I can't even sit in my camper with the top down. Speaking of winds, one time in Capitol Reef the wind was strong enough to pop the top without me having to lift!

 

[abqbw]

It would be hard to sleep in Front Dinette models with the top down-I've never tried it. I think that's the single biggest advantage of the roll over couch model. I can't even sit in my camper with the top down. Speaking of winds, one time in Capitol Reef the wind was strong enough to pop the top without me having to lift!

I have owned both rollover couch and front dinette Hawks. I think it is much easier to top down sleep in the front dinette. You just crawl in, roll-out some bedding and go to sleep in the front dinette. (Assuming you travel with the dinette in bed configuration with the table down and cushions in place as a bed, which I do.). It's easy to go in and out of camper if you want to go to the bathroom or anything else.

With the rollover you have to roll the back of the couch over to have the bed. This is difficult with the top down. As you roll it over you run out of a place to be standing because it fills the aisle. Once it's rolled over it's blocks the door and it is difficult/dangerous to get in/out of the camper.

That said, In the Hawk model the roll-over is wider than the front dinette and would be better for two people. But for one person the front dinette is easier to use, in my opinion based on owning and using both styles.

 

[hoyden]

I have the side dinette and have taken naps in it often with the top down. When campering, I haven't sleep in it with the top down, tho in retrospect, there were a few times it would have been much easier to have done so.

As far as winds go... I've been in some pretty strong winds and mostly it just sucks cuz everything is rocking and with the top up, it's hard to escape getting hit by the soft sides while trying to sleep. That said, my first time experiencing high winds was camping at Muley Point in Utah. High up on a ledge! I considered moving, but it was pitch black outside and the gusts made me concerned to try to pop-down.

I was so scared, I spent a good portion of the evening on my cell phone (4G up there!) researching incidents of trucks and campers being blown over by winds. I kept picturing being blown over, then pushed over the edge of the cliff (which was actually not terribly close, but only slick rock and shrubbery in the way! ha!) What I found was that it's super rare and winds have to be near tropical storm speeds for it to happen.

 

[klahanie]

As you roll it over you run out of a place to be standing because it fills the aisle. Once it's rolled over it's blocks the door and it is difficult/dangerous to get in/out of the camper.

... or use the porta potti ...

That said I'll take the side bench model over any camper that needs the top up to sleep. From my seat in the peanut gallery I see the FWC FB layout as having the best solution for top down sleeping.

I was so scared, I spent a good portion of the evening on my cell phone (4G up there!) researching incidents of trucks and campers being blown over by winds. I kept picturing being blown over, then pushed over the edge of the cliff (which was actually not terribly close, but only slick rock and shrubbery in the way! ha!) What I found was that it's super rare and winds have to be near tropical storm speeds for it to happen.

That's hilarious !

Rare yes, but you know, chicken little only needs to be right once ...