The top of Westy can get hot. Also, when the sun is high, the sun can be too bright through the closed or open skylights (I Plasti-Dipped.the big skylight white and AutoCamp painted his).
A portable rooftop shade system would be nice. It'd.have to be lightweight, portable, and easy to put up and remove. Also, big gusts of wind should not cause damage to the Westy. The material should not flap against the Westy.
With height clearance, the skylights could be opened.
Could also be used to hide.from satellite surveillance.
Has anyone designed or have any thoughts?
Here are some ideas.
1. Framework
A. Awning and Translift Brackets
The Westy has screwhole inserts for the awning brackets and the Translift Sherpa surfboard/kayak carrier.
Westfalia also issued an instruction sheet on how to install a third awning bracket.
Folks on the James Cook Friends Forum have modified the awning brackets to hold additional items.
http://forum.james-cook-freunde.de/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5906&start=15
The awning brackets can be used as supports (an umbrella holder) or as tiedowns.
B. Framework
One blue Westy owner has made a framework around the Westy top.
http://james-cook-freunde.de/start/kajak-traeger.html
Side covering could hang from that rooftop framework all around and be tied down/staked to the ground.
C. Front Bumper Support
A Northern California owner has a Westy whose prior owner installed a support framework in the front bumper. Telescoping poles could be inserted into the framework to hold a canopy. Can't find a photo but the group photo.at the Westyfest Colorado Camp.Hale may include.
D..Magnetic Holddowns
Magnetic holddowns could be used on the Sprinter sheetmetal.
E. Boat Cleats
Westy owner Win has various cleats on his Westy to hang.or tie things down. A couple of cleats on the top.of the fiberglass top could be used to tie down some beach shade tents on top.
Could also use more flush pull rings.
F. Rails or Pipes
If one added roof rails at the top of the roof or pipes alongside where awings would be (using awning brackets), one could attach things. Maybe something like greenhouse hoops with canopy attached to the hoops. Like
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/31/86/7d31867aada9aeaf9909b70de3369a86.jpg
https://thegrownetwork.com/diy-hoop-house-greenhouse-alternative/
2. Covers
A. Tarps/Sunshade/Canopies
Tarrps, sunshade material, and canopies may be too heavy. They also need some form of support. Aluminet reflects heat.
https://aluminetshadecloth.com/aluminetshadecloth/
If sleeves were made into the material, lightweight foldable elastic cord tent poles could be used to provide a structure.
If the main purpose is heat rejection, the aluminet could be used like a car cover with swimming noodles to provide ventilation.
B. Portable Beach Sunshades
There are.a variety of portable beach sunshaddz which are lightweight and might work.
https://www.otentik.com/
https://www.shibumishade.com/
https://www.beachshadow.com/page/418977
They could also be used at the beach.
Here's a simple one like those foldaway circular window shades, a Shade Shack. You could.figure out a way to tie down on top of roof.
http://www.demcoincorporated.com/
C. Umbrellas
Beach umbrellas would probably be too heavy for the rooftop but would work for the front bumper structure.
A portable rooftop shade system would be nice. It'd.have to be lightweight, portable, and easy to put up and remove. Also, big gusts of wind should not cause damage to the Westy. The material should not flap against the Westy.
With height clearance, the skylights could be opened.
Could also be used to hide.from satellite surveillance.
Has anyone designed or have any thoughts?
Here are some ideas.
1. Framework
A. Awning and Translift Brackets
The Westy has screwhole inserts for the awning brackets and the Translift Sherpa surfboard/kayak carrier.
Westfalia also issued an instruction sheet on how to install a third awning bracket.
Folks on the James Cook Friends Forum have modified the awning brackets to hold additional items.
http://forum.james-cook-freunde.de/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5906&start=15
The awning brackets can be used as supports (an umbrella holder) or as tiedowns.
B. Framework
One blue Westy owner has made a framework around the Westy top.
http://james-cook-freunde.de/start/kajak-traeger.html
Side covering could hang from that rooftop framework all around and be tied down/staked to the ground.
C. Front Bumper Support
A Northern California owner has a Westy whose prior owner installed a support framework in the front bumper. Telescoping poles could be inserted into the framework to hold a canopy. Can't find a photo but the group photo.at the Westyfest Colorado Camp.Hale may include.
D..Magnetic Holddowns
Magnetic holddowns could be used on the Sprinter sheetmetal.
E. Boat Cleats
Westy owner Win has various cleats on his Westy to hang.or tie things down. A couple of cleats on the top.of the fiberglass top could be used to tie down some beach shade tents on top.
Could also use more flush pull rings.
F. Rails or Pipes
If one added roof rails at the top of the roof or pipes alongside where awings would be (using awning brackets), one could attach things. Maybe something like greenhouse hoops with canopy attached to the hoops. Like
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/31/86/7d31867aada9aeaf9909b70de3369a86.jpg
https://thegrownetwork.com/diy-hoop-house-greenhouse-alternative/
2. Covers
A. Tarps/Sunshade/Canopies
Tarrps, sunshade material, and canopies may be too heavy. They also need some form of support. Aluminet reflects heat.
https://aluminetshadecloth.com/aluminetshadecloth/
If sleeves were made into the material, lightweight foldable elastic cord tent poles could be used to provide a structure.
If the main purpose is heat rejection, the aluminet could be used like a car cover with swimming noodles to provide ventilation.
B. Portable Beach Sunshades
There are.a variety of portable beach sunshaddz which are lightweight and might work.
https://www.otentik.com/
https://www.shibumishade.com/
https://www.beachshadow.com/page/418977
They could also be used at the beach.
Here's a simple one like those foldaway circular window shades, a Shade Shack. You could.figure out a way to tie down on top of roof.
http://www.demcoincorporated.com/
C. Umbrellas
Beach umbrellas would probably be too heavy for the rooftop but would work for the front bumper structure.
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