Bunkend Solar Covers

[PopUpMomma]

We are thinking about buying the bunkend solar covers for our popup.  Any opinions?

[mike4947]

Ever climbed into a bunkend for a nice lazy afternoon nap and felt like some had switch the trailer to the broil setting on an oven? The bunk end cover will do a really good job of removing the radiant heat.  Just one weekend having to set up on a sunny site IMHO pays for the covers.

A couple of other pluses for the covers are: They keep the bunkend roofs clean, a great help camping under "drippy trees" and you can even flip them over when it gets cooler outside to help prevent condensation on th bunkend roofs and they also help keep them warmer.

[Papaso]

Buy'em, you'll love'em.

[Tim5055]

We are thinking about buying the bunkend solar covers for our popup.  Any opinions?

Yes, I have and opinion and it is very positive.

Originally many pop up campers (meaning the people who camp in pop ups ) began buying "Reflectix" and cutting/splicing it to size for their bunks end roofs.

From the Reflectix web site:

Reflectix

[Gone-Camping]

If the price at PopupGizmo's scares you away, take a look at THESE at Cabela's.... buy 3 of them, one for the smaller rear bed, the other two for the front bunk. Know someone with a sewing machine? Then you could get them to sew two together for the front bunk. Same material as Gizmo's by the way!!!

[gsm x2]

If the price at PopupGizmo's scares you away, take a look at THESE at Cabela's.... buy 3 of them, one for the smaller rear bed, the other two for the front bunk. Know someone with a sewing machine? Then you could get them to sew two together for the front bunk. Same material as Gizmo's by the way!!!

I believe that PopupGizmo provides a 10% discount to ArveeClub members and also includes the clips with the covers.  So for a little more expense, you get custom fitted solar covers. Like someone else said, they are useful for more than just heat...they help on cold nights, under sappy trees, and I've even seen them used to keep a bunk end dark in a lighted campground.
 
Whever ever you get, you won't regret.  But if you get the cheap space blankets, you'll wind up replacing them very quickly---thereby BUYING TWICE, which is the most expensive way to buy anything.
 
gsm x2

[Miss-Teri]

I like my PUGizmo's covers.  It took about 2 years to get myself to buy them (better than the 7 or so years to decide we could part with the money for a PU, lol!), but I am sooo glad we did.  I used to use the cheap reflective covers but would come across two problems - 1)they didn't cover completely and 2)they are pretty much one use only before the reflective stuff starts flaking away.

His customer service is superb as well.  He got our order to us before our camping trip, and I didn't think that was going to be possible.

[tlhdoc]

I also give PopUpGizmo's solar covers a big thumbs up.  I had posted here on PUT that we were going on a trip and I hoped the covers would come in time.  Bob read the post and said he would make sure I had them for the trip.  He didn't have to do that.  I waited to long to order the covers, but we had them and I am very happy with them.

[CampNfan]

Do what I did. Buy the cheep solar covers and see if it is what you want. Then after that you "WILL" buy Popup Gizmo's Bunk end covers. I put them on and keep them on even when poping down. They are made of strong material and the holding clamps are of high quality as well. Hope you enjoy your Bunk end covers as much as we do!  

[SactoCampers]

I like them and still use them on  my hybrid even though they are too big for the bunk ends. Only problem is they were one more thing I had to do while setting up the popup so sometimes I was too lazy to do it. Others have designed a system for them stay on while opening and closing the bunk end.

The material is fairly high quality, but I found on the clamps the tip protector would fall off and has potential to scratch vinyl tenting. Best thing about them besides reflecting heat is they keep your bunk ends clean.

[labontefan]

I'll give 'em a thumbs up too! I used them on the bunk ends when camping at the Bristol race last August. We kept most of the windows zipped down because it was pretty warm. You would expect the interior of the PU to be the same temperature or possibly even warmer than on the outside. However, the interior of the PU stayed noticeably cooler than the outside.

Also had 'em on when we camped at Charlotte for the races this past May. The temps were in the upper 80's to low 90's almost the whole time--and we had NO shade. But with the PU Gizmo solar covers on, you could stretch out on the bunk for a nap in the afternoon without feeling like you were in a sauna.

If the covers deserve a thumbs up, then the customer service from PU Gizmos deserves two thumbs up! The site said to allow a couple of weeks for delivery, and since you have to mail a check or MO for payment that adds additional time. I was leaving on a camping trip in about 10 days when I decided to order them. I emailed Bob at PU Gizmos and asked if there was any way possible to have the covers in time for the trip--even offered to pay extra shipping if necessary. He e-mailed back promptly and said that wouldn't be a problem. I got the covers in time for the trip, he didn't charge me any extra shipping, and I got my PUT discount!  

[Camping Coxes]

We just got back from vacation one week ago and used our bunkend covers for the first time.  I held off getting them, but after a few full-sun campsites and a bunk topped by bird droppings on our last weekend, DH and I decided they were worth a try.  I E-mailed Popup Gizmos and explained we were leaving and I'd like them before then, and as others have said, he E-mailed back saying no problem.  I got them in plenty of time.  They were easy to install and made a big difference.  We noticed our bunks stayed cool in the morning sun, and we had the added benefit of it keeping our bunks darker than if they weren't in place, allowing us to sleep later (if the neighbors would keep the noise down!)

I'm really happy we bought them.  They take up so little room that it's not a big deal to find a place to keep them.  We had a mishap on the trip up (liquid laundry detergent + bunk-end covers + high altitude = one big mess when you unpack:yikes: ) and I just took the covers to the bathroom and rinsed the soap off, dried it with a paper towel and we were ready to install them.  They wipe clean pretty easily.

[vjm1639]

Another positive reply!  We love our solar covers too.  After all the reading I had done on here the first things we bought for our popup were the BAL leveler and the solar covers. Both awesome purchases!  Keeps the pu cooler and the tops cleaner (no more leaves, bird droppings or sap on the bunkends, and also keeps the top dryer if it rains!

[mikewilley]

We are thinking about buying the bunkend solar covers for our popup.  Any opinions?

We love our PopUp Gizmos solar covers.  BTW, during the winter we flip them upside down and they seem to help keep the heat in as well!

cheers,
mike

[SkipP]

I'm one of those that went the Reflectix route...... did it well before PopUp Gizmo's (Bob) wisely saw an opportunity and ran with it. Either route you take, it'll make quite a difference in the bunk-end temps. Just for kicks, I put a cover on one and left the other "naked" and checked the temperature difference. With the windows open and no A/C, there was a 17 degree difference three inches from the canvas. When these Refletix covers are finished, I'll be giving Bob a call.

Why camper manufacturers don't find a way to use this concept on their pop-ups and hybrids, I have no clue.