looking for old thread on insulating a portable?

[ktjig]

I'm looking for a thread I saw a month or two ago about guys adding insulation to their portables. I'm wanting to give it a try and would like to refresh my memory. Or should I say copy others efforts. Thanks

ktjig

[JohnMickish]

Refletex I believe it's called. Basically it's a silver bubble wrap. I picked mine up at Menards. Comes in 12,24 and 48" widths. I unstrapped the canval from the frame, put the stuff between the frame and canvas, cut holes for velcro straps and your done.

[marine_man]

Here's a thread for you:

Insulating Portable

marine_man

[caster]

I'm not sure if this is the correct way to do the link, but here you go:

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=660365&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

This is the best thing I have done to my portable. It is very easy. I like the way it holds the heat. Because the foil gets warm, you don't get the moisture above your head as you do with the fabric. I hang wet gloves, towels, etc. near the ceiling and they dry out. I like how the fabric folds up and it worked great as a rain barrier a few weeks ago. One roll will do two large flip over portables. Get the 48" wide and run it from side to side not front to back. Fit in place and cut slots for the velcro tabs.

The full roll at Fleet Farm was $29. Anybody in the so. metro that needs some, let me know. I have extra.

[ktjig]

Hey caster-

Why do you put it from side to side instead of front to back? Do you you have to cut two sheets for that? Doesn't the bubble wrap sag in between the posts? I work in Plymouth, if you have some extra, for the right price I would be interested in taking your extra. Can't drive to Lakeville though, probably easier to get my own. Thanks a ton for the link guys. I'm taking the wife on our annual Valentines Day trip to LOW and I'm going to treat her to some heat this year. What a guy huh? Thanks again

[nytelyter]

i bought the 24" roll and cut it in half, for my otter den, and taped the seam. no left overs here, and i do agree. heat and light reflection are the real benifits of this project. i did mine from back to front as well. i think this would be the only way to do an otter. ... paul

[caster]

KT, I have an Eskimo Kwik Flip III and the 48" width spans from the front bar to the center bar. The back piece I left long and it hangs down the back wall maybe 10". This leaves one seam at the peak running side-to-side which I sealed with the foil tape. I have very little sag and the support poles stretch it tight. I don't always use the support braces, only when it is windy. I could have used the 24" stuff but I didn't want a lot of seams. I only had to cut two pieces about 71" long. I'll try to take some pictures.

[picksbigwagon]

a buddy and I were on mille lacs yesterday and we were just talking about how I could insulate my voyager. I would love to see pictures. I need a summer project, because I know that next winter will be a lot colder than this one, at least it better be.........

[get-the-net]

I wish my digital camera hadn't crapped out because I'd post some pictures of my insulation job. It worked out very well. I have heated the house with a coleman lantern the past few outings. Hopefully I can get some posted soon.

[metrojoe]

I'll try and take a few pics the next time I'm out. It's not a big project. I did mine, along with some other modifications, in a couple hours.

[marine_man]

I'm pretty sure reflectix is on sale at fleet farm this week.. it was in the flyer.. page 3

marine_man

[koochiching]

There's another DIY thread in the FM forum Equipment > Expert Information section, entitled "experimental results"...

lars0926 has an excellent post on his tests confirming the insulating ability of the bubble material.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=680362&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

kooch

[koochiching]

I purchased a 2005 Frabill Ranger Solo portable late last year, and installed the bubble insulation in the unit after I read the Expert Information section posting by lars0926 (see my earlier post on this thread). Initially, I installed the insulation only on the back wall and roof of the portable, terminating it just above the zipper door on the front wall of the unit. I described how easy a task it is to do this in a post on lars’s thread…

Frabill uses a coated nylon tenting material for the walls and roof of its portable unit, and while the material used in the 2005 model seems to have a thicker waterproof coating than earlier models, it is still much lighter than the canvas used on Otter portables, and it often “flutters” in strong winds… much like a flag on a flagpole in an open area.

Early this year I spent a wild night on Mille Lacs in severely gusting winds, sometimes so strong I considered installing a tie-down anchor unit to prevent my portable from sliding across the ice… I finally packed up and left, before this was necessary.

But I did notice that the only part of my portable that was “fluttering” was the front wall area, even though the zipper door was securely closed. Frabill offers a set of adjustable support struts – they call them ‘telescoping shelter poles’ – to minimize “flutter”, but I hadn’t used them… The 48” wide sheet of bubble insulation running up the back wall and across the roof had so strengthened the structure that the support struts weren’t required…

I had unused bubble insulation material on hand, so I cut a new section a bit longer than the distance between the roof support tubing just above the front wall door panel and the support tubing at the bottom of the front wall door panel. I overlapped this new piece of insulation with the existing roof piece on the support tube above the door, as the Velcro tapes were more than long enough to accommodate the extra thickness.

Using 2” diameter nylon washers and aluminum pop rivets, I pop-riveted the new piece of bubble insulation to the front panel of the unit in about 12 places (could add about 6 more…). Then I carefully cut a slit in the sheet of insulation to match the “U” of the zippered door opening. I taped the ends of the slit (someday I may get around to taping the edges), and I can now use the zippered door when the portable is set up…

Bringing the insulation down across the front door panel will probably eliminate “flutter” in that front panel. It should also add a little more light and warmth… I can’t really say yet, because I haven’t been out in extreme winds or cold weather… This past month I’ve been able to heat my portable with just a Coleman single mantle propane lantern, or – when it gets a bit colder – with just an older Coleman propane tent heater.

PS: I’ve also been using an inexpensive Coleman battery-powered tent fan, with plastic blades so it won’t hurt you when you stick your hand into it… Very small, yet it is sufficient to keep the warm air from collecting just under the roof, while your toes get cold… It makes a real difference.

Good fishin’

kooch

[trollingforeyes]

How do you guys attach the reflectex to the bottom of the tent on a Voyager?

[JimmyC]

I found the old Posts but was never able to find any pictures of portables with the foil wrap or insulation.

Any help would be appreciated.