Thermal screens for Kombi side-windows.
- Thread starter Cuzz
- Start date
Hi there, So you have the front external screen and the internal ones too? We had a great wknd but the night got v cold & condensation was a problem... looking for a solution to this!
Do you have the poptop cover too?
Is it me or does the site not work for rainbow?
No, we have external screens for the front (covers windscreen plus driver/passenger door windows) and rear (covers the tailgate window) - both are thermal and work very well - they are thicker than most, if not all, others you will find. We get zero condensation on the windows that are covered and they do keep the van a lot cosier.
We also have curtains fitted all around which we used when we first got the van last October but we always awoke to lots of condensation - we still use the curtains for the windows not covered by the thermal screens, and they still get plenty of condensation, but leave open everywhere else.
So far we have not gone for the pop top thermal wrap - we have considered it but my son is perfectly happy sleeping up there without (even when it got down to minus 4 one night) so probably wont bother.
As for rainbow screen's site, yep it is pretty poor - best to either ring or email him (or link up via Facebook) - response this week might be a bit slow though as they are at the NEC show (I think most of their business comes via the shows which they seem to be regular attendees at).
Are the thermal pop top wraps properly waterproof? I’m not really in need of the heat insulation but when I was in the Hebrides, the horrendously strong driving rain and wind forced water through the canvas and it soaked into the sides of the bed which was a bugger to get dry before being hit again the following night. An actual waterproof outside layer would have stopped this.
Probably not but an extra layer, especially one several times thicker than your canvas roof, has got to help.
That said, so far at least, we have not had any issues with rain being driven through our canvas.
We’ve had our pop top up in some pretty serious winds and driving rains without issue but there is no way I would of had it up during the weather earlier this week (camping now and put the roof up yesterday lunchtime - winds were still strong but worst had passed).
Thanks, was pondering whether it's worth carrying another bulky item but probably not. It was really just one occasion, the weather in Uist was extreme, battering gales with torrential rain all night every night. There were four of us with pop tops and it got us all but I was the only one daft enough to persist as I much prefer sleeping up top. The T5 Cali next to me made the mistake of putting its broad end on to the wind and they got drenched the first night, I was narrow end on but it soaked through on the third night and never dried out until I got home. It's like tent canvas, it can withstand up to a certain pressure and then gives. Never understand why they don't make them out of properly waterproof material but there must be a good reason, presumably not flexible enough.
Our tent’s (Karsten) canvas is pretty bomb proof and never let any water through unless you left something touching the side of the canvas.
Same should be true of the pop-tops but the weak point will always be the seams and/or around the windows. Anything touching the canvas such as bedding or sleeping person’s limbs will also lead to water coming through.
We have had our SCA up in some pretty serious and persistent wind/rain but maybe not quite as extreme as you describe. Time will tell how well it holds up.
Same should be true of the pop-tops but the weak point will always be the seams and/or around the windows. Anything touching the canvas such as bedding or sleeping person’s limbs will also lead to water coming through.
We have had our SCA up in some pretty serious and persistent wind/rain but maybe not quite as extreme as you describe. Time will tell how well it holds up.
Yes it wasn't just the force of the rain but the prolonged onslaught. Don't know the makes of the other two rooves but it came through all of them in areas away from the seams and with nothing touching. The Cali leaked first but like I said, they'd positioned the van broad side to the wind the first night and it came through the material above the window and ran down the insides. They moved it the 2nd night and then left, the other 2 left theirs down on night 3 and that's when mine started leaking at the sides near the front. In reality I'm probably not going to be exposed to that sort of storm again, and if I am I'm coming home earlier, it was no fun!
Seem to remember reading that 5.1 Californias had a few problems with leaky roofs - @Polzeylad ??
Sparky63
New Member
Hi
I’ve just received my blackout thermal screen from vanshades seems a really good fit ,can’t wait to try
Made my own internal ones with insulation from Screwfix. Cost £30 for a rill and I double layered them. Just back from a week in the Alpes at 2100m and they worked a treat. No external ones though but might invest when we go skiing again next year.
You can use the same stuff to make an internal pop top thermal line no help with rain ingress though in Hebridean storms.
You can use the same stuff to make an internal pop top thermal line no help with rain ingress though in Hebridean storms.
Sparky63
New Member
Wow camping in the alps!
I bet that was awesome
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