RE: Extremely simple solar cover mod.

[Red neff Barchetta]

 
Thought I d throw this out to the pack and let you all embrace or shred it.  I ve tried it twice with excellent results and will be using it again on Friday.  For me, this is a temporary mod. until I can get to the terrific (& much more intense) one that " Bart/Everybody Hauls"  invented.
 Mine however, is so simple and cheap that I thought I d pass it along like I said.  In fact, if my small brain can t comprehend Bart s, then I will stick with mine (with a sewing addition).
 I have the outstanding PopupGizmo s, but I guess this would work on any set of solar covers;
 I used velcro and affixed it to the solar covers and then put the velcro mate on the underside of the roof. When at the cg, I will then crank up the roof about a foot and install the 3 solar covers (I have a slide-out). Then I will finish raising the roof and after the shepherds poles are in place on the beds and slide, I ll just have to clamp down the three open sides of each cover.
 I used 4"  pieces of velcro and used 4 pieces for each cover.  The velcro on the underside of the roof I affixed to a plastic track that is located right where the canvas is attatched to the roof.  The velcro on the covers is affixed mostly on the hem with a little bit stuck to the cover material itself.  If I make this a more permanent mod., I will then sew the velcro to the covers through the hem of the covers.  Also, if I decide to keep this mod. and the velcro starts to seperate from the plastic on the roof, I will affix new 4"  velcro pieces with contact cement as well.  They are pretty steady at the moment.  Finally, I would also affix velcro to the opposite side of the covers so the covers would work in this fashion when reversed and you want to keep the heat in the PU.
 Btw, there is still plenty of solar cover material hanging over the 3 open ends of the bunk for the clamps to hold on to.

[Joe Gleason]

 Red neff Barchetta
I use the cheap Blanket wraps ($3.00)
 
 Use clothes pins to put them on - where needed...
 
 Putting them on before Trailler is up - make to much sense - Thanks for the good idea!
 
 Depending on conditions - direty wet etc.. I usually pitch them...  
 
 Mostly use it on 3rd slide out!

[griffsmom]

 Red neff Barchetta

 

ORIGINAL:  Red neff Barchetta
 
 Thought I d throw this out to the pack and let you all embrace or shred it.  I ve tried it twice with excellent results and will be using it again on Friday.  For me, this is a temporary mod. until I can get to the terrific (& much more intense) one that " Bart/Everybody Hauls"  invented.
 

 Here is the link for Bart s solar cover mods: http://softsmart.com/popup/HeatingCooling.html

[Red neff Barchetta]

 Red neff Barchetta
Thanks for the link Lori.  Didn t realize that I forgot to post it.
 
 Well, this mod. worked perfectly this w/e!  I am very happy with it.
 I wanted to mention a bonus feature that comes with this mod.;
 It rained last night and as all of you who have solar covers know they also keep the roof canvas dry when it rains.  Anyway, when I removed the clamps on the 3 open sides of the covers and then removed the shepherd s poles, the solar covers then instantly became tarps completely protecting the bunk-ends and slide-out until I pushed them in.  The velcro held perfectly and once I lowered the roof down to within a foot or so of closed, I then removed the covers and finished lowering the roof.  It wasn t raining while I popped down, but if it had been the bunk-ends and slide would have been covered the whole time.  Now if it had also been windy, then the side walls of the bunks would still have been wet, but they were only slightly moist.