Insulating a Pop-Up Camper

Insulating a pop-up camper is important for summer and winter. Many people are hesitant to camp in the winter in a pop-up camper, but it can be done in the short term. If you plan to live in your pop-up full-time, I recommend heading to a warmer destination such as Florida or Texas for winter. Insulation is important and beneficial for your RV in all seasons. In this article I would like to share how to insulate it, what products are available and the benefits.

Gizmos

We recently went on a week trip to a State Park then onto another week at a private resort. During our stay the camper became quite hot despite our use of an air conditioner. At camp we had minimal shade and even though it was only Spring we were experiencing temperatures near ninety. At one point the thermometer read eighty degrees inside the RV. At this point I knew it was time to insulate the camper. There are many ways to insulate but the most effective way is to purchase Gizmos. Gizmos can be costly but are worth the investment. They can bring down the inside temperatures by ten to fifteen degrees. Do it yourself (DIY) enthusiasts could make their own with silver lined tarps or space blankets/all-weather reusable emergency thermal blankets clipped on with tarp clips or bungee cords found on Amazon. Tarp clips can be found at most office supply stores or at your local dollar store. Depending on your budget, the look you want and ease of set up will depend on which way you want to go; either buying the Gizmos for a higher price and easy installment or doing it yourself cheaper but assembly may take longer. Gizmos go over the bunk ends and with proper care can last you a lifetime of camping. Why use a Gizmo? For security for one it will make your camper feel more solid, tolerate the winds better and give it a cozy feel inside. Protection and sound are other reasons for using them; by protecting your canvas it will make it last longer and it acts as a sound barrier because let us face it you can hear everything in a pop-up. If I can hear my neighbors, they can hear me. One of the biggest advantages is keeping the heat in and the cold out.

Reflectix Insulation

Reflectix is A reflective insulation consisting of two outside layers of reflective film, adhered to two layers of heavy gauge polyethylene bubbles. It is used to insulate your pop-up camper windows. You will need to cut it to size to make it fit but trust me the time and effort is worth it. Like the Gismos it keeps the heat in and the cold out. Another advantage is if you are not a morning person and want to sleep in late it will provide that opportunity by reflecting the suns rays. You can still let the breeze in and if boondocking it will save on propane to heat the RV.

Related Read: Keeping Cool in Your RV When the Weather is Hot

Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains

By installing thermal insulated blackout curtains you can be fashionable and smart. They are easy to install, easy to clean and do the same thing for your windows as the reflectix. They are thick and because they come in pairs you can easily pull them back to let in light. There are different designs, styles and colors available. You can purchase or make your own single panel as seen in this video.

Camper Bed End Garage

One product I found does double duty and that is a camper bed end garage. Not only is it useful for storage for toys, lawn chairs and grills but it adds a layer of protection from the weather. It will cut down on the breeze on the underside of the bunks as they act like trailer skirting. They are easy to install and work with most campers.

Pool Noodles

Something else that does double duty is pool noodles. I have a grandson who I love to take camping in my pop-up camper, and I want to make it as safe and fun for him as I can. He is a rambunctious toddler and one thing that can happen is if a toddler or a dog gets too close to the side or ends of the bed they can fall through. While personally my child has not fallen through, I have known pets to. So, we use pool noodles to line the sides. Like the camper bed end garages pool noodles add an extra layer of weather protection.

Related Read: 4 Useful RV Hacks with Pool Noodles

Winter Benefits

The benefit to insulating your RV in the winter is it will cut down on drafts, wind and keep the cold at bay. You can do additional things like use electric blankets, wear additional clothing or use the thermal blankets found at most stores. We have used small electric heaters but please keep safety in mind when doing so. Our camper has a propane furnace and after we insulated our camper, we barely had to use it. Again, it will depend on what the outside temperatures are, but you will benefit from insulating your RV because you will cut back on propane costs. RV windows lose a lot of heat so insulating them will keep that warmth inside.

Related Read: Winterizing Your RV for Travel- Surviving the Winter

Summer Benefits

The summer benefits to insulating your RV is that you could do some boondocking and not need to run the air conditioner by electric or generator. This could be a winter benefit as well in not needing to use so much propane or electric but still stay warm. I know many people who love to boondock, so insulating is a plus for anyone who is adventurous.

Conclusion
One thing to keep in mind when Insulating your pop-up camper, you do not want to seal it so airtight that there is no circulation because then you will get condensation. If you use the suggested tips above you can still let in air, stay cool in summer and stay warm i