It's the middle of Autumn and the touring season for many of us has sadly come to a close or soon will be so it's time to reflect upon some of the questions that appear from time to time on the forum. One of these questions is whether or not to sleep with the roof up or the roof down especially when it's raining heavily. In reply reference is often made to the fact that we are not sleeping in an airtight box; plenty of ventilation points around the van remain open, whilst others make mention of the build up of CO2 and that we'll most probably all die in our sleep should the roof be lowered.

So, this short page might well prove to be an eye-opener. http://kimberlymoynahan.com/2012/04/frid...-airtight-room/

It is a question that is always guaranteed different responses, I take my lead from the manual which states that when in the van the roof must be up...

Poptop.PNG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

2875766_600x600@2x.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Which really goes to show what rubbish is sometimes put in these manuals. In the latest Hymer brochure they are actually now selling covers to specifically completely cover all the pop-top canvas for insulation purposes so if that is not blocking off the roof vents then I don't know what is.

Quote: Deeps wrote in post #3

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Which really goes to show what rubbish is sometimes put in these manuals. In the latest Hymer brochure they are actually now selling covers to specifically completely cover all the pop-top canvas for insulation purposes so if that is not blocking off the roof vents then I don't know what is.

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Yes I appreciate that but as the topic concerns the lifting of the roof for ventilation purposes with the mention of lifting the roof in the text quoted in your post then it has to be assumed that Hymer are also referring to the need of lifting the roof for ventilation purposes.

Quote: Deeps wrote in post #5

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Yes I appreciate that but as the topic concerns the lifting of the roof for ventilation purposes with the mention of lifting the roof in the text quoted in your post then it has to be assumed that Hymer are also referring to the need of lifting the roof for ventilation purposes.

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One of the main problems I find is not so much ventilation, but rather condensation on the thin aluminium band running round the rim of the roof between the roof panel and the canvas. When the weather is cold that band forms condensation like rain. Having the roof down helps - it also helps reduce heat loss.
Given the eyeball freezing downdraught from the fixed rear roof vent suffocation is way down the list.................banging your head on the midnight toe freezing wee run is another matter altogether.

We just came back home from C&CC Barnard Castle. While we were there the weather turned and the wind got up with gusts over 50 mph.
I would not tow my Troll at 50mph with the top up. So it's top down in anything over a gentle breeze. Plenty of ventilation in the van particularly from the vent over the bed.

Quote: Skoderiba wrote in post #8

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I would not tow my Troll at 50mph with the top up.

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Quote: Deeps wrote in post #10

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Quote: Skoderiba wrote in post #8

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I would not tow my Troll at 50mph with the top up.

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Not too sure that any of us would.

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i Don’t know why people stress about this. When you put the pop top down, what you have is a small conventional caravan. Funny how you never hear about people dying of CO2 poisoning in them...

Quote: Kheadatstbees wrote in post #13

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i Don’t know why people stress about this. When you put the pop top down, what you have is a small conventional caravan. Funny how you never hear about people dying of CO2 poisoning in them...

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Unless you've got the gas on and it's defective in some way, where is all the carbon monoxide coming from? Perhaps it's Pepe le Pew's farts! We use an oil filled radiator, close the roof and put a couple of windows on vent and Bob's ton oncle.