Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:16:25 -0700
Reply-To: Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Propane heater question - Portable Buddy Heater
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Craig,
I remember hearing or seeing a vanagon site with pics of a guy who did this.
Perhaps somebody from the list can direct us to the site.
I know there are a few folks now who are making cool stuff like rain flys
for the pop top.
One I remember is a simple sheet of a waterproof canvas strung from the top
down to the front of the luggage carrier.
I like that idea for rain and for cold because you could still open your
windows if you want and gain ventilation during the day or night.
The bubble foil is an awesome product. when glued to the inside walls of the
vanagon body behind my fridge I found it to work extremely well
for heat rejection from the dark blue exterior in the sun and no cold
radiates through either. For as thin as it is its very high tech stuff
indeed.
I have had good luck with using small round rare earth magnets from my
hardware store and Goop to secure. I use it on my Dash Mat to keep it from
sliding in my lap from the powerful acceleration forces of the vanagon.
As heat rises and collects at the "top" of the pop top it may do quite a
bit to simply insulate the top 1/3 or 1/2 of the canvas.
I would be curious to see if one could insulate the top and still have the
ability to open the screens for venting and air when you still want it,
cooking etc.
I tend to think in ultimates with designs for the vanagon and multiple duty
from items carried since we have so little room to work with in the vanagon.
I would like to see a "foul weather" pop top boot design developed, complete
with slick attaching hardware of some kind. This would be a high tech
lightweight material
that would provide insulation and rain protection from the outside. This
would allow you to open your windows on the inside of the canvas if you want
AND
access the top of the luggage carrier while completely out of the weather. I
want it to look like The North Face tent company or Best Top built it.
It seems to me a cover like this would install to the front edge of the pop
top, (there is an aluminum rail there) you could use snaps or drill holes
and use hooks.
The edge of the cover should follow the edge of the pop top most, if not all
the way around. It should attach to the front of the luggage carrier, most
likely at the two
front securing bolts. This would make an enclosure around the pop top and
luggage carrier and create a nice sloping roof in front of the pop top for
rain and snow deflection.
You could use magnets on the outer lower edge to secure it to the body near
the rain gutter. It should have plastic windows in it to allow light in from
the outside and have some small vent holes in it . Perhaps ones you could
open and close through the front opening of the canvas near the luggage
area.
The idea of being able to access the luggage area in a protected (vestibule)
would be really cool while camping. It would be like a mini closet up there.
You could also leave your screen open to it if you had the outside cover on.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: Propane heater question - Portable Buddy Heater
> Doug,
> thanks for the information. After pondering life and the change of
> the seasons in my driveway as I observed the leaves changing color and
> falling on the roof of my Westy, I came to the realization that thin
> canvas on the Westy tent isn't much good at insulation. So, I bought
> a 4' by 10' roll of bubble foil from home depot and a 15' roll of
> 2-faced velcro tabe. I realize that I'll need another roll of bubble
> foil, but Home Depot is close to my house and I thought I would add
> the first roll of bubble foil first, then decide on the width of the
> 2nd roll. Do you have any tips for securing the bubble foil to the
> tent? I'm thinking about the exterior tops and bottoms, probably 3
> inch long strips of velcro spaced out.
>
> I'm thinking about four pieces of foil bubble wrap:
> 1) front tent window section and wrap around 2-3 feet on each side
> 2) left side
> 3) right side
> 4) rear skinny piece
>
> I'm probably going to try this with a coleman powercat and see how it
goes.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Regards,
> Craig
>
> On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 22:32:37 -0700, Doug in Calif <vanagon@astound.net>
wrote:
> > If heat is escaping out the top you will not get much in the lower bunk
even
> > if you have a blast furnace going.
> > Top insulation will help and you will be able to get by with a much
smaller
> > heater.
> >
> > Insulating the sidewalls of the vanagon with bubble foil and doing some
type
> > of window treatment, (cold curtains ect) will help allot.
> >
> > Doug
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004 5:51 PM
> > Subject: Re: Propane heater question - Portable Buddy Heater
> >
> > > The Big Buddy is rated at 18,000 BTU and comes with a fan. Think this
> > > more than required? It adds about 3" each to the height, width,
> > > depth.
> > >
> >
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?deptID=&subOf=&skunum=2706
> > 2&src=UPSE
> > >
> > > I have a Coleman Powercat rated at 3,000 BTU and it definitely is not
> > > warm enough.
> > >
> > > I have not put aluminum bubblewrap insulation around the upper tent of
> > > the Westy yet. Someone recommended this. However, I'm thinking that
> > > maybe it will be kind of inconvenient to set up in actual use? Maybe
> > > a big heater will be more convenient?
> > >
> > > BTW, the standard place to put these things is on the main cabin floor
> > > in back of the two front chairs, right?
> > >
> > > I'm kind of deciding between getting a bigger heater and using the
> > > Powercat with more insulation. The advantage of the powercat is that
> > > I think it may be safer.
> > >
> > > Even the Portable Buddy has 3X the heating power of the Powercat. the
> > > Big Buddy has 6X.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 14:12:51 -0700, Sharon Mendonca
> > > <bobonsharo@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > > > While we're on the subject of heaters, has anybody tried one of
these?
> > They say they're safe for indoor use, but you never know.
> > > >
> > > > ===========================================
> > > > Click on the link below to find out more about this product
> > > >
> > > > Portable Buddy Heater
> > > >
> >
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=19573&affiliateid=2
> > 20&kcode=04991
> > > >
> >
> >
