Tarp Mod

[Pooneil]

Per request from dryflycaster. And welcome to the forum.

It's sunny out now, the calm before the storm as we await the rain-pocalypse in Houston tonight.

The PVC pipe is attached to the tarp by aluminum pop rivets through stainless fender washers. Its hard to see in the side photo, but the spreader pipe has insulation to act as padding so the pipe does not sit directly on the camper. It sits just in front of the roof fan.


Tarp Front by b2220128, on Flickr



Tarp Side by b2220128, on Flickr


Tarp Back by b2220128, on Flickr

[Pooneil]

My main concern about the white cover is that it doesn't cool the roof as much as I'd hoped. The white is probably better than a dark tarp facing the sun, but it the roof is still hot to the touch in the afternoon. Maybe a dark layer underneath would provide enough shade. What I need is a point and read thermometer to measure the roof temp with various configurations.

[chaviva7]

Good to know there's another from Houston area. We keep our AF in storage usually covered. But right now it's open. Hope y'all made through "Uncle Bills water works." Lol

[Pooneil]

The rain-pocalypse didn't slow me down. But I wish I'd had my kayak on the Guadeloupe river this weekend instead of a tube. We could have had a great white water experience rather than a short fast float.

I'd love to have a hard cover for my camper, but am unwilling to kick my TV out of the garage. So I am trying to "perfect" the tarp system.

[Swampweasel]

Hi Tom
Do you think a silver tarp would reflect more sun than the white tarp? I would like to try this tarp mod on my A192HW A-frame.
Thanks,
Joe in NH

[Pooneil]

Don't think it would reflect more, but it would provide more shading. That is, the silver tarp, itself, would probably get hotter than the white one. Rather than the white tarp which seems to let too much light and IR pass through. The trick to this, I think, is to keep the tarp off the roof and allow some air circulation to prevent heat buildup underneath. We've had so much afternoon rain since the major brunt of summer started about a month ago that I've not been able to tinker with this.

[Newbies to Aframe 2015]

Perhaps you can buy the swimming foam noodle from Homedepot or walmart ( kids use those) for under the tarp to help air circulation. These foam noodles tend to also have holes in the center for rope use to secure further?

[DobeFanatic]

I still have my Gizmo silver covers from the popup a few years ago and I have started using them to cover the window areas from the Florida sun.