Pop up Gizmos

[Hargus]

Hi everybody,
                  I was getting the pu ready for another season and I noticed on my Gizmos that some of the reflective silver coating is coming off.  I only have used them for one season and I was kind of surprised. I stored them in the pu off season and nothing has been rubbing on it.
I enjoy the Gizmos and I think it is a useful product but if I loose the reflective material I'll be out of luck.
Anyone have a similar problem with them?

Thanks.

[PattieAM]

Mine are still looking pretty new - used them two seasons, and they've been washed off a few times (bird poop and tree sap), but still look healthy.

[MJohn]

Hey if anybody else has had any experience with these bunkend covers please post them good or bad as they aren't exacely cheap. We were just on the websight and fixing to order some but I do not want to drop $85 on something thats gonna start falling apart soon after purchase I need them to last much longer than that.

                                      MJ

[austinado16]

May I suggest you contact the folks at Popup Gizmos and let them know what happened?  I'm sure they'll take care of you.

For those not wanting to spend the tall dollars, these are just "sportsmans blankets" aka "military casualty blankets" as sold on ebay under the later name, and on camping and outdoor websites like Campor, Cabela's, REI, Moose Jaw, etc.

I bought 6 of them on ebay last year for $32. It took 2 sewn together to make my front (King sized bunk) cover, and 1-1/2ish to do the rear (queen size bunk) cover.  I went to Staples and bought a couple of their containers of large "Binder Clips" and those work perfect to clamp the covers to the seams of the roof.  These cover's are not thick, probably about like 6 or 8mil plastic sheeting, so they are easily and quickly cut and then sewn together using regular scissors and an average sewing machine.

Here's the thread with photos, detailing how I made mine:
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=64367&highlight=bunk+covers

I did some temp testing with mine and they do make a big difference.

Here's the nice looking blue/silver ones at Campmor.  Currently priced at $13ea.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___81284

[MJohn]

Hi everybody,
                  I was getting the pu ready for another season and I noticed on my Gizmos that some of the reflective silver coating is coming off.  I only have used them for one season and I was kind of surprised. I stored them in the pu off season and nothing has been rubbing on it.
I enjoy the Gizmos and I think it is a useful product but if I loose the reflective material I'll be out of luck.
Anyone have a similar problem with them?

Thanks.

Hi Hargus,

     Noticed your also pulling with a Freestar. Just wondering how well
your mv has done for you all, as ours has done much better than expected!
We are however pulling a slightly heavier camper this year and are going from apx 2150lbs to almost 2300lbs and thats just camper weight. Needless to say we make an effort not to pull in areas we know will be really really steep. By the time we are all loaded we are anywhere from 3200-3450lbs. Ofcourse our weight limit being 3500 it's a bit unnerving. Have to say when we unexpectedly had to pull through some pretty steep stuff @ apx 3300-3400lbs the mv did much better than expected! No wining or stuggling at all! Just curious....

                                                                MJ
2005 Ford Freestar
2007 Fleetwood Westlake :morning:

[Hargus]

May I suggest you contact the folks at Popup Gizmos and let them know what happened?  I'm sure they'll take care of you.

Thanks austinado16. I plan on reaching out to Pop Up Gizmos. I wanted to get a feel from some other campers that have had the Gizmos much longer than I've had.

Quote-MJohn Noticed your also pulling with a Freestar. Just wondering how well

We're happy with the Freestar but I am very aware that it is not the best type of tow vehicle. I'll be in the market for a new tv soon and I'm hoping to make a better choice.That being said it tows well. My camper may not be as heavy as yours but I try to be aware of the weight I put in it. We don't do much dry camping so I don't have a battery. I usually don't tow with a full tank of fuel and I have installed bumpers (I'm sorry the brand name escapes me now) under the frame of the vehicle near the rear axle to keep it from bottoming out. (I never did before I had them, it is just a precaution.). I feel the same way after we get loaded. But I have to work with what I have now. I can get the name of the part if your interested.

[spicyville1]

I bet if you contacted Gizmos they would send you replacements. They are a very reputal company. I love mine!

[butterflyfish]

We have the gizmos and I think they work (DH thinks I'm crazy), but we had the PUP set up in the driveway while we did some work on it.  We did not have the gizmos on.  The PUP was in full sun or a few hours and it was early April, so it wasn't all that hot yet.  When it came time to packing it up, I went inside to take the poles off the bunk ends they were so hot to the touch I almost couldn't touch them!  When the gizmos are on they do not get that hot.  That is our experience with them.

[kampingkoge]

This is my 2nd season with them, No problems yet.  Love e'm, they work really well and also they keep the canvas clean on the bunk ends.  We keep our pup setup on a wooded lot with lots of tree droppings for a large amount of time in the summer months.

[spicyville1]

We have the gizmos and I think they work (DH thinks I'm crazy), but we had the PUP set up in the driveway while we did some work on it.  We did not have the gizmos on.  The PUP was in full sun or a few hours and it was early April, so it wasn't all that hot yet.  When it came time to packing it up, I went inside to take the poles off the bunk ends they were so hot to the touch I almost couldn't touch them!  When the gizmos are on they do not get that hot.  That is our experience with them.

With us being in Texas we go to Galveston State Park alot. There are no trees whatsoever where you set up on the beach. They literally keep us from "baking" in the sun! Thank goodness for them.

[wernstriumph]

I've had mine for three years and they were used when I got them so I don't know exectly how old they are. I've used them a lot in the past 2 years and had no problem with the reflective stuff coming off until I started using them to keep the heat IN (reflective side down to warm the bunkend on chilly nights). I've noticed the reflective side wearing off where it rubs on the bunkend roof (just in spots) but they still seem to work great.

[spicyville1]

Hi everybody,
                  I was getting the pu ready for another season and I noticed on my Gizmos that some of the reflective silver coating is coming off.  I only have used them for one season and I was kind of surprised. I stored them in the pu off season and nothing has been rubbing on it.
I enjoy the Gizmos and I think it is a useful product but if I loose the reflective material I'll be out of luck.
Anyone have a similar problem with them?

Thanks.

Hargus, just wondering if you have tried contacting Gizmos yet, thnx

[tlhdoc]

had mine since the company started making them.  Not sure how many years ago that was.  I have lost a little of the silver on mine (I used to put them on upside down in the winter) and I leave them on the tenting when I pop down.  They have held up very well and I would get them again without a second thought.

[BootheBunch]

We got our at least three years ago and have had no problems with them...my husband loves them.  I am sure if we needed to replace them, we would go through Pop Up Gizmos again!

Lisa

[Hargus]

Hi Everyone,
                I was in contact with Bob at Pop Up Gizmos. He was very cooperative and will send me a new set. Bob explained that sometimes the material doesn't get an even coating of the reflective material when they are manufactured. They are aware that this does happen and they try to keep an eye out for it.
Great customer service and a great product.