Building an Arctic - Cold Weather Pack

Just read Ski's last entry.I like the fact that the new cold pack had no condensation on it.Thats what I am mainly after.We don't do cold winter camping so my interest is in the times like at Yellowstone when the spring/fall night temps get into the mid to high 20's.We don't run the heater while we sleep.It's the condensation where my concern is.Even on our trip last monday down the coast,the night temp wasn't cold but we still had condensation.The long way here is that I like the fleece it will keep the moisture off the liner and fold up with it.Got to keep it simple.

Thanks Mark for starting this thread and the experimenting.

Frank

Thanks Mark for starting this thread and the experimenting.

Well, this is ski3pin's thread, actually. But I know what you meant.

Well, this is ski3pin's thread, actually. But I know what you meant.

Yeh got carried away.Ski has done a great job as well as you on the research.Lots of info to ponder over.His fabric or the fleece would both serve my needs.

Thanks to both of you.Keep the info coming.

Frank

Here's some more seat of the pants data after four more nights.

Overall, we love it.

Things we learned. It provides a warm pleasant feeling fabric on the inside. There still is condensation occurring on the interior surface of the sideliner under the arctic pack. We would do a little wiping when we opened the window flaps.

The Lady does not like closed in spaces and loves windows to be able to see out, especially while sleeping in the cabover. Three nights the arctic pack windows flaps were open in the cabover area with the clear vinyl closed. Those mornings the interior temperature was the same as the temperature outside - MarkBC, thanks for the info on inside outside remote thermometers. I would say this was equal to not having an arctic pack. One night it snowed, dense cloud cover, and dark as death outside. We kept all the flaps closed this night. In the morning it was 41° inside and 32° outside. so it is evident it does help to retain heat.

Here's some more seat of the pants data after four more nights.
Overall, we love it.

There still is condensation occurring on the interior surface of the sideliner under the arctic pack. We would do a little wiping when we opened the window flaps.

Thanks for the update, ski.

Yeah...no matter what insulation we use on the inside, there still will likely be condensation on the vinyl walls inside...unless somehow you have insulation that seals the inside from the walls -- insulation that keeps interior humidity from contacting the walls at all.

The only way that I can think of to prevent condensation (other than just having more ventilation) is to put the insulation on the outside, so that the vinyl is on the warm side of the insulation so won't be cold enough to condense interior moisture.

Much information we got through searching the forum posts here although photos of the finished product were hard to come by. I found four small photos on FWC’s website which I cannot find now to provide a link for you.

 

While cleaning up an old desktop PC, I found this old email from Ben dated 7/27/2008 11:30 AM EST.

 

Mike,

Attached are some photos of the arctic pack. On your camper the length of the arctic pack on each side is 158".  It is 25" in height and the windows have a 38" wide opening. The material is a polypropylene that is water repellant, breathable, mildew and rot resistant.

Sincerely,
Ben Burnett

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Mike

 

P.S. I did not get the Arctic Pack.

Edited by flinchlock, 02 August 2013 - 01:26 AM.

Ski that is some great work. I know this thread is a few years old but it resurfaced so I had to see what you two/four accomplished. Looks great.

thought i would bring up the cheap way we did our "arctic"pac

when we had our fw camper eagle.

we had a spare queen size comforter cut it to size,added velcro,

camper came from factory with velcro already installed,do not know if they do now.

 

worked great and when rolled up in a stuff bag worked as a pillow.

 

might have to make one for our north star pop up.

 

Les,lqhikers

I sure wish I had some sewing skills.

The bottom velcro strip is 2 inches on the insulation and only 1 inch on the wall? Does this make it easier to install?