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Show me that winter camping in shell

Discussion in 'Tonneau Covers, Caps and Shells' started by TacoDDS, Dec 14, 2020.

  1. Dec 14, 2020 at 4:41 PM
    #1
    TacoDDS

    TacoDDS [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Anyone camp out of a shell mid winter?
     
    boston23 likes this.
  2. Dec 15, 2020 at 6:59 AM
    #2
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

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    It looks the same as the rest of the year except I have Reflectix panels cut for the windows and I can hang/tent a wool blanket over the sleeping area.
     
    Blackbeard83 likes this.
  3. Dec 24, 2020 at 2:33 AM
    #3
    chrslefty

    chrslefty Well-Known Member

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    What's the purpose of hanging the blanket?
     
  4. Dec 24, 2020 at 3:28 PM
    #4
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

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    The fiberglass shell is essentially uninsulated and single pain glass is a terrible insulator with the average shell having lots of glass basically sucking the heat out. Tenting the blanket over me accomplishes several things, it adds a layer of insulation along with creating an air space between me and the shell that will have reduced air movement (since I always leave at least one window cracked for fresh air). It also reduces the space that my body is trying to heat or that I'm warming if I use something like a candle lantern before going to bed (obviously I'm not going to sleep with a lit candle in the back). Think about pictures, recent and in olden days, of folks draping blankets or skins over their tents.

    It's just part of a system to help make it more comfortable when it's really cold. I have a carpeted floor with foam padding and an insulated sleeping pad that I normally use but I also add a wool blanket under me and a piece of fiberboard with carpet on one side and Reflextix on the other for the head of the bed- anything to help insulate and reduce contact with that cold plastic bed. I bought a couple of those heavy wool Italian military surplus blankets several years ago when they were like $15 and love them for camping.
     

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