James' discussion on options to the Popup Gizmos product got me searching around and looking at the "Sportsmans Blankets" sold at campmor, REI, Cabala's, etc.
On another PUP forum someone mentioned having purchased US Military "Casualty Blankets" from a source on ebay. I couldn't get any info on how they compare to the Sportsmans Blanket, so for $15.99 plus shipping, I ordered the 3 pack; 1 for the small bunk and 2 to sew together for the big bunk. I also thought they'd be nice under the bunk mattresses and I liked that one side was Olive Drab, rather than red or blue.
Anyone have the Sportsmans Blanket to offer up a comparison? These casualty blankets appear to be very nice quality-wise, but they are no thicker than one of the nice/thick silver-on-one-side tarps you'd buy at the hardware store.
Quote from: austinado16James' discussion on options to the Popup Gizmos product got me searching around and looking at the "Sportsmans Blankets" sold at campmor, REI, Cabala's, etc.
On another PUP forum someone mentioned having purchased US Military "Casualty Blankets" from a source on ebay. I couldn't get any info on how they compare to the Sportsmans Blanket, so for $15.99 plus shipping, I ordered the 3 pack; 1 for the small bunk and 2 to sew together for the big bunk. I also thought they'd be nice under the bunk mattresses and I liked that one side was Olive Drab, rather than red or blue.
Anyone have the Sportsmans Blanket to offer up a comparison? These casualty blankets appear to be very nice quality-wise, but they are no thicker than one of the nice/thick silver-on-one-side tarps you'd buy at the hardware store.
Thickness has nothing to do with the concept of the "solar reflectors". The whole idea is based around "Reflecting" the Sun's rays. They are not insulating blankets.
Technically, you could do the same thing with aluminum foil. However, it would fall apart. What you are looking for is durability, not thickness.
Quote from: waveryThickness has nothing to do with the concept of the "solar reflectors". The whole idea is based around "Reflecting" the Sun's rays. They are not insulating blankets.
Technically, you could do the same thing with aluminum foil. However, it would fall apart. What you are looking for is durability, not thickness.
I guess by thinking in terms of some sort of thickness, I was also thinking that thickness would provide some level of insulation, since even during reflection of the sun's radiant heat there would be some absorbsion and transfer to the bunk fabric. No?
Quote from: austinado16I guess by thinking in terms of some sort of thickness, I was also thinking that thickness would provide some level of insulation, since even during reflection of the sun's radiant heat there would be some absorbsion and transfer to the bunk fabric. No?
It probably wouldn't hurt to have some insulating qualities but the concept is that the Sun's rays are reflected and not absorbed by the material.
We have the PU Gizmos. I have experimented by putting a cover on one bunk and not the other, on a sunny day. I put my hand on he inside of of the bunk ceiling with the Gizmo and it is cool. I put my hand on the ceiling of the other bunk end and it is hot.
On cold days, the concept is to turn the blanket to the colored side so that the Sun's rays will be absorbed and the heat will be transfered into the inside of the PU. In that case, the insulation would actually be a detriment.
Remember, heat rises and cold falls. On warm days, an insulating pad may tend to keep the heat in, as apposed to allowing it to escape.
Quote from: waveryIt probably wouldn't hurt to have some insulating qualities but the concept is that the Sun's rays are reflected and not absorbed by the material.
We have the PU Gizmos. I have experimented by putting a cover on one bunk and not the other, on a sunny day. I put my hand on he inside of of the bunk ceiling with the Gizmo and it is cool. I put my hand on the ceiling of the other bunk end and it is hot.
On cold days, the concept is to turn the blanket to the colored side so that the Sun's rays will be absorbed and the heat will be transfered into the inside of the PU. In that case, the insulation would actually be a detriment.
Remember, heat rises and cold falls. On warm days, an insulating pad may tend to keep the heat in, as apposed to allowing it to escape.
Great points! Thanks for "tuning me up" on this. I really wanted to spend up and get the Popup Gizmos, but thought I'd take a chance with these and if they were a POS, I'd keep one or 2 in each of our cars "just in case."
So are the Popup Gizmos thick at all? Or just sort of a "nice tarp" or "good canvas" type of thickness?
Quote from: austinado16Great points! Thanks for "tuning me up" on this. I really wanted to spend up and get the Popup Gizmos, but thought I'd take a chance with these and if they were a POS, I'd keep one or 2 in each of our cars "just in case."
So are the Popup Gizmos thick at all? Or just sort of a "nice tarp" or "good canvas" type of thickness?
The Gizmos are extremely thin but they don't tear (that's the important thing).
Just looking at the pic that you posted, those look good. In fact, that dark green will probably absorb more heat then the red that the Gizmos use. I'm not sure what the concept is with the red color. I would think that the more pigment (darker color) the warmer the material would get. Just like a black car gets hotter inside than a red or white car. A white car has little pigment so i reflects most of the Sun's rays.
Quote from: waveryThe Gizmos are extremely thin but they don't tear (that's the important thing).
Just looking at the pic that you posted, those look good. In fact, that dark green will probably absorb more heat then the red...
Yes, these are very nice quality and the silver is "metalized" so it doesn't rub off, like the mylar type finish that comes on Reflectix Insulation (for example).
I'm very happy with them, just didn't know if the Popup Gizmos were insulated and all special inside (same question I had about the Sportsmans Blankets) or if they were a thing "single layer" type material.
Looks like I did okay then purchase wise. Cool (literally)!
Here's a link to the ebay auction where I got mine. I called the seller and talked to him prior to purchase too:
Casualty Blankets on Ebay
Doing a little test today......
I've got one blanket laying crossways on the front bunk which is cooking in the sun.
With my infrared temp gun aimed at the canvas from inside the camper, I get 130*F on the roof in the sun and 100*F on the roof panel that's protected by the casualty blanket.
Not too bad!
Finally got a chance to clamp down, measure, cut and sew two of the casualty blankets together to make the front bunk cover. I bought the large "binder clamps" from Staples for $4/12. Bought 2 boxes, one for each bunk.
I'm working on the rear bunk right now which will need one of the scraps from the front bunk in order to be long enough.
Hi,
I use the 'sportsmen' blankets. They are actually branded 'Space Blankets' - they are not the super small/thin emergency ones. They look similar to your picture - they are sturdy and have grommets. I have been using them for a couple years and have had nothing but success. For $12-14 at REI or Cabelas, they are an affordable alternative to Gizmos for me.
Todd
Looking through the paperwork that came with these, they are actually made by "MPI" the company that makes the ones sold as "Sportsmans Blankets" etc. by the places you listed. I'm glad I was able to do this mod. Spent about $31 including shipping and the clamps.
Couldn't have done it without the info on this site and Popup Portal.
I've got the Popup gizmos for my Niagara and they make a big difference in summer and winter camping. I highly recommend them.
Todd and other Sportmans blanket users,
A word of caution from personal experience. These blankets are highly reflective as shown by the reflection of sunlight off the roof in the middle of Todd's photograph. There is a lot of heat that is concentrated at that point and it can actually damage the roof during prolonged bright sunlight and extremely high ambient temperatures. Under those circimstances, I recommend protecting the roof edge by using a strip of Reflectix attached with velcro.
Quote from: He RuideTodd and other Sportmans blanket users,
A word of caution from personal experience. These blankets are highly reflective as shown by the reflection of sunlight off the roof in the middle of Todd's photograph. There is a lot of heat that is concentrated at that point and it can actually damage the roof during prolonged bright sunlight and extremely high ambient temperatures. Under those circimstances, I recommend protecting the roof edge by using a strip of Reflectix attached with velcro.
Thanks for that tip. Are you saying the "edge" where the blanket is clipped on, or the more like the sides of the camper vinyl where the blanket is touching more?
Todd, I'm sorry I was not clearer. I was referring to the front side of the roof where the light reflects off (see the picture below). The heat that can build up there can actually deform the insulating styrofoam below the roof material and result in a bubbling effect of the roof.
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/heruide/Casualtyblanketinstalledresized.jpg)
Oh, I get it now!
Fortunately for me and my old school Starcraft Nova, she's all metal and wood right there. In fact, that's the section I replaced back in March.
As a little update to the effect these blankets have. Today it was 105*F here and the day started off in the 80's and accelerated rapidly from there. That front bunk is normally baking in the sun until about 1pm.
Today however, it was very reasonable inside the bunk. Instead of the bunk feeling like an oven inside, and the ceiling canvas radiating heat like a skillet, it was just warm, like the air temps outside.
I'm very impressed. As mods go, especially going this el-cheapo route, it's a lot of bang for your buck......and there's no apparent sacrafice in quality.
Ha Ha... just make sure you don't set the roof on fire. That would bring new meaning to a camp fire :yikes:
I made the same cover as you did. However, after totalling up all the blankets, velcro, two different types of duct tape. tarp clips, etc. I think I may have spent more than the real thing... but as you found out they work very well.
Had I bought the sportsmans blankets at $16ea ($48) and then the 2 sets of "binder clips" for $10 with tax, I would have been at $58 and then the add for velcro ($9), so maybe just under $70 plus shipping. Plus the time to clip them on, mark them, take them down, cut them, sew them, run to the store and get clips and velcro, etc.
So I'm glad I was able to score the "casualty blankies" and do it on the cheap.
I'm going to hold off on the velcro for now. We had some big winds here last night, and they survived just fine......and that'll save almost a tenner.
Todd, Given that I have a slide out my costs are somewhat higher:
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- Five sporttmans blankets (two each for the bunkend and one on the slide out) ($75)
- Two rolls of 2 inch wide industrial strength Velcro ($54)
- One roll gorilla duct tape and one roll aluminum duct tape ($15)
- Seven packs of Tarp clips ($28)
Total $172. Now they did withstand some severe winds for 10 days and so I'm sold on the velcro.
Take care.
I've been using the Reflectix since about 2001. In this area the material use to be available at Lowe's Bldg Supply and came in something like 50' rolls (and unless there where at least two going in together, a lot of excess!). But I found an Ace Hardware in my area that sold the stuff by the foot. Since the bunks on my little Starcraft are 48" X 80", the 48" wide Refectix was the perfect width and all I had to do was to measure from top canvas roof seam to the opposite seam, with the bunk end bows in place and I had the length. What a big difference it made for bunk end temps in both warm and cooler weather ... and a big difference in bunk end condensation!
The Reflectix comes in different widths, 4' being the limit. It's a double aluminum bubble foil with polyethylene sandwiched in, maybe 3/8" thick. Mine was cut to measure for each bunk end and I picked up some of those plactic clips from Lowe's to attache to the PU bunk end roof seams. I use to cover the bunk ends (and the Reflectix), using those plastic tarps (5' X 7'). Now, hoever, when staying out for two or three nights I'll cover the entire PU with a larger vinyl tarp (not use the smaller ones) and still have the Reflectix over the bunk end canvas.
Fly
Fly,
I've seen small rolls of Reflectix at Lowe's and one of these days I'll get a roll - but I was going to use to cover the windows in the bunkends.
Now the Reflecyx is quite bulky compared to the sportmans blanket. So where do you store yours? On top of each bed or do you roll yours up?
Quote from: He RuideNow the Reflecyx is quite bulky compared to the sportmans blanket. So where do you store yours? On top of each bed or do you roll yours up?
My TV is a shortbed GMC pick'em-up with one of those low profile fiberglass covers over the cargo bed - kinda makes a very big, deep trunk! And a good thing, too, for all the junk I tote along! Anyway, when closing the PU I'll roll the Reflectix covers into two rolls and place in the pick-up truck "trunk". One thing about Reflectix, the rain water won't hurt it a bit and it will eventually dry out completely. However, does have a tendency to retain moisture even when you might think it's dry. Should you store it on the PU beds (which I have and still do) and it's not completely dry, you'll smell the musty odor when you open the PU next time! So after the Reflectix rolls "cure" in the back of the truck and are really dry, I'll put them back on the bunks of the PU.
Fly
Thanks Fly. One of these days we need to have a shoot out between all the different insulating blankets / reflecting materials. I have a bad feeling with the extra insulation you might beat the rest of us.
Take care
Quote from: He RuideThanks Fly. One of these days we need to have a shoot out between all the different insulating blankets / reflecting materials. I have a bad feeling with the extra insulation you might beat the rest of us.
Take care
As you read, that was one of my questions early-on....should these things have some insulative quality, instead of just reflective?
I'm a huge fan of Reflectix. When it first came on the market I was living in a 30' 1952 Spartanette trailer going to college. With polished aluminum skin, 2" thick walls and single pane glass, it really sucked up the propane during the winter. I made reflectix panels for all the windows and roof vents, and then put a big sheet of it on top of my matress. What a huge difference!
One thing I learned about it, was that the silver rubs off and can stain.
I initially thought reflectix would make great bunk end covers, but then I got worried (and read) that it my stain where it rubbed the bunk roof vinyl. So that's why I went with the blankies.
Imagine sewing together a sandwich of blankie with green side out, reflectix, and then blankie with silver side out, with a nice banded edge all the way around. I think that would be a fantastic bunk end cover, year round.
My next reflectix adventure is to buy one of the 4' wide $43 rolls from the local Home Deep Hole and cut panels for all the windows. Those will store nicely under the bunk matresses and can be deployed as needed.