Almot
Vancouver
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Joined: 03/02/2010
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landyacht318 wrote:
When I first got my conversion van with the raised fiberglass roof, I added one of these.
Which works pretty nicely and adds about 2 inches to the overall height of the van.
It started making clicking noises after 7 years, especially when cold. I wound up covering the mini solar panel, and removing the battery and then built a 4.75" to 4.0" step down ring, and put a variable speed Muffin fan ...
Roof fan with its own solar panel? Adding solar panel is another thing that I'm thinking of, though I thought of larger 80-120 Wt panel and a substantial deep-cycle AGM battery (without pop-up roof, naturally). These things have developed incredibly in the last decade.
Incidental question to the rag-top topic - there were some canvas extensions or vestibules to low van (or even a regular car) with rear door. It's attached to the rear door, height is the same as the vehicle's height (say, sloping from 80" to 70"), so you can stand there, eat, sleep if needed. Properly staked, it should withstand heavy winds well enough. Any experience or observations with those? There were some for old VW Westy too, only attached to the side.
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landyacht318
Near a large body of water
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Joined: 07/11/2007
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I used to camp on a bluff next to the ocean for weeks on end in Baja. I would set up my own tarp shelter. It would continuously evolve, as the tarps stretched and winds varied in strength and direction.
I used to joke that I could pull a tarp tighter than a guitar string, and it had endures rainstorms with winds gusting to 50mph.
It's all about not having to move, and having lots of attachment points on the van's roofline. Lots of rope, and good quality ground stakes, bungees, 2 inch spring clamps and extendable poles, and the knowledge to use it all.
I have no knowledge of the ones designed around specific vehicles. Some people would get some quality pop up shade shelters and affix tarps to the sides, and a lot of guy ropes, so they could drive away from camp. I have used this method as well, but the shelter attached to the van, using the van as a windbreak was a better, quieter shelter.
Needless to say it took over an hour to set up and take down, so trips into town for supplies were unlikely.
So I added solar, and a dc compressor fridge, so I would not have to worry about replenishing ice or driving the van to charge the batteries.
Then on my last trip down there I no longer felt safe enough camping solo on the beach in my usual spot, with all the meth heads running around all night looking for their next fix, and have not yet returned for that and other financial reasons.
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Almot
Vancouver
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Joined: 03/02/2010
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Yeah, Baja has changed. Sorry for off-topic. In the past it was just poverty, now there are local meth- and crack-heads there. Not too many yet, but leaving stuff on a secluded shore even for a few hours isn't safe anymore. OTH, staying for months in the same rusty camper permanently anchored at the same campground looks boring to me (plus, many such camps either have no beach, or no view, or it sucks in some other way). OK, will figure out something...
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bar_20
Somewhere West of Laramie
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Joined: 05/22/2003
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Have you looked into pop-up pick-up truck campers. There are some made for smaller type p/u's and are low profile. Just a thought. Google pop up truck campers.
Steve & Donalee
2010 Heartland North Trail 28RLS
1994 27ft Winnebago Brave
2008 Lincoln Mark LT
2005 PT Cruiser Convertible
1998 Honda Gold Wing GL1500 SE
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