Solar bunk end covers from casualty blankets

[austinado16]

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.

[He Ruide]

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.

[austinado16]

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.

[He Ruide]

Todd, Given that I have a slide out my costs are somewhat higher:

[list=1]

• 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.

[flyfisherman]

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

[He Ruide]

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?

[flyfisherman]

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?

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

[He Ruide]

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

[austinado16]

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

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.