| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 113 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 70.61.17.72  Rating: N/A |
as you can see by my profile pic, am currently using foil-backed bubble wrap...was short term solution, but works great...really keeps heat out...however wife thinks it is tacky and wants a decent privacy curtain with track etc. Have checked camping world but saw bad reviews. Suggestions please | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 819 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.3.173.51  Rating: N/A |
Another option is what we did. We purchased 2 room darkening window shades and had them cut to the right width. Installed one on each windshield (driver's and passenger's) For track, might check the surplus places in Elkhart area. | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 114 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 70.61.17.72 Rating: N/A |
Jack....good idea. we already have day/nite levelor blinds for side windows...might do same or similar for front...DUH on me but am still open to more ideas...thanx for quick reply. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1348 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.66.19.227  Rating: N/A |
On the home brew front... Why not pick out some nice material to make covers or sew onto the bubble wrap? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 892 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 206.53.144.94  Rating: N/A |
I use bubble foil while parked at my home for long periods and although I thought they kept the heat out I was told by a professional window shade "maker" who is a close busnut friend that I was actually doing more harm than good! Seems the heat from the rays gets trapped between the foil and the glass ultimately drying out the window seals and rubber trim. Ask for florida sunscreens made by Bill and Brenda Phelan. They frequent this board often and should respond to correct me if wrong! See Bill, I DO listen when you talk even though I may be yawning! ;) Ace | ||
| James Robinson (Jjrbus)
Registered Member Username: Jjrbus Post Number: 155 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 70.10.8.0 Rating: N/A |
I use curtins and shades! I have a track mounted curtin, it is a thin, gauzy, see through material, eaisely made by anyone with basic sewing machine skills. During the day we can see out but people cannot see in. I also have room darkining shades on the side and windshields, I pull these down at nite for privacy. The room darking shades also act as "sun visors" when driving. I have had this set up for many years and am very happy with it!! | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 271 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 76.246.254.144 Rating: N/A |
James, Can you go into more detail on "darkining shades"? Are you referring to a totally opaque shade? How do get it to adhere to the windshield slope while driving? For the "gauzy" sun screen material, do you have it on a separate roller from the darkining shade for each window? Thanks. | ||
| Keith Wood (Ft6)
Registered Member Username: Ft6 Post Number: 36 Registered: 8-2008 Posted From: 71.198.253.223 Rating: N/A |
Take a cue from the big trucks (go to a local Freightliner place and take a look). They mount curtains on an aluminum rail about an inch or so behind the windshield, bent to wrap around the sides far enough back to cover the side glass and to stow the curtains without blocking the view to the sides. They use opaque curtains, because the objective is to make the inside of the cab dark enough to let the driver get some sleep during the day. | ||
| Bill 340 (Bill_340)
Registered Member Username: Bill_340 Post Number: 69 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.211.10.28 Rating: N/A |
levelor makes a celluar shade that has foil inside the cells, stops 100% of light from entering, For light its the best, sold By lowes and stocked at some, will cut to fit free, absolutely no light can pass thru, we can make our bedroom black in the middle of the day, Aprox $70 ea, | ||
| James Robinson (Jjrbus)
Registered Member Username: Jjrbus Post Number: 156 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 70.10.174.48 Rating: N/A |
Just regular pull down window shades! Opague is good word. They do not adhere to slope when driving, just hand stright down. Contrary to what common sense dictates they do not flop around when driveing, there is almost no movement. The curtin is seperate it is just standard RV type track with material attached to rollers. These start behind the driver and passenger and terminate in the middle. The curtin is between the shade and windshield, no need to open curtin to pull down shade. (Message edited by jjrbus on August 31, 2008) | ||
| David B. Sweet (Sweets4104)
Registered Member Username: Sweets4104 Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 71.195.101.200  Rating: N/A |
We used cotton duck on a track which was existing when we got or 4104, it gives privacy and slides back out of the way for travel. The side shades were also in the bus, all we did was paint the outside white to reflect heat and repainted the interior to match our new decor and color scheme. Blessings, David | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 115 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 70.61.17.72 Rating: N/A |
Wow...thanks to all for the great responses...I have lots of options to consider. Ace...never would have thought of that...makes total sense that the trapped heat would have negative effects. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 453 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 208.100.193.121 Rating: N/A |
Frankly we don't bother with shades. In a campground THE OTHER coaches usually button up tight and for most of our evening activities were wearing clothes. We enjoy the view of the scenery and stars , the other wrapped up campers cant share. Biggest hassle is the few campgrounds with Stalag 17 lights. that shine into the BR. The car shades with suction cups take care of the temporary need to block some light. FF | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 893 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 206.53.144.75 Rating: N/A |
Hey hey Fred and I agree on something! No wonder its a holiday! We never use window shades on our front windows while camped. I too like to look out and see who is active if nothing else, to see the stars! Besides, this is one reason why I decided to re-do my LR so everything looks forward so to speak! Like I said earlier, the ONLY time I use shades on the front is when its parked at home looking into the sun. To each his own! Ace | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 209 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 216.168.120.28  Rating: N/A |
We have four Roman blinds, which we hang on small brackets when we are parked. We can raise or lower them as we like to provide privacy or block the sunlight. The two front blinds are 48" wide, the other two are for the the driver's side window and the door window and are 24" wide. DaveD | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 116 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 70.61.17.72 Rating: N/A |
Dave... I like that idea of removable...thanks. | ||
| Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member Username: Fakeguy Post Number: 117 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 70.61.17.72 Rating: N/A |
Thanks to all for sharing insights and preferences. My biggest reason for the using is blocking sun during the day for temperature control. My current set up keeps bus a lot cooler while parked. We take down at night at times for reasons stated above...depends on where we are. I appreciate all the great feed back since I am looking for different options...Happy busin' | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 724 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.66 Rating: N/A |
I decided I didn't like the idea of all those curtains folded up around the sides of the windshield or installing all the curtain tracks on my 4104. I use a curtain straight across just behind the driver's seat. This curtain is in three separate pieces from about a foot below the ceiling to the floor. These tab type curtains are hung from a decorative rope strung through the tabs to hooks on either side and hooks on the cabinet bottoms. The curtains are taken down and rolled up while moving. Easy and quick. Takes three minutes to set up. They don't wrinkle when rolled. We found that the center one which was a solid color had to be lined because it could be seen through at night. The two side curtains are striped so no can see through. The curtains came from JC Penny and are color coordinated with the bus interior. This leaves the front of the bus open to the windshield but we don't use the stepwell and driver areas anyway. Since they don't go to the ceiling we can still see well out the front. No front curtains are ok in a tall bus but a 4104 is too low for that. I really don't want any people to go into shock seeing my old nude person!! | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 456 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 208.100.193.14 Rating: N/A |
. My biggest reason for the using is blocking sun during the day for temperature control. To keep the inside of the coach cool, you must mount the covers outside , so the heat from insolation can dissipate in the air. FF | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 825 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.3.173.51 Rating: N/A |
As FF mentioned, for heat rejection, mounting on the outside is better. If you feel how hot the glass gets during the day, most of this heat is transferred to coach interior. Installing the insulation on the outside prevents the glass from getting as hot. Of course, depending on material used, this may effect visibility, available light inside and privacy. We use the mesh screens on the outside for heat rejection and we can still see out during the day, with slightly less available light inside. The downside is that at night, with lights on, people can see in (that is why we also have the window shades on the inside). Jack | ||
| c.w Van Hagen (Van)
Registered Member Username: Van Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 72.193.19.183  Rating: N/A |
I think i'll blinds for the late night 21 blackjack games ,don't think I'll be able to keep the noise down unless I sound proof the interior(hee hee) | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 254 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.190.202.130  Rating: N/A |
We did pretty much the same as Gus except ours mount behind the driver seat and its a one piece white canvas (from a boat canvas guy) on a track so we slide it on or off and also roll it. ours also has a zipper door in the center for winter summer use it helps to keep the heat or cool in or out at night but the "door" rolls up out of the way or we fold it over the driver seat in the daytime. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 725 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.65 Rating: N/A |
Definitely better to have screens on the outside but we seldom stay more than one night at any one place so that is too much of a pain for me. I have an outside w/s cover, but that is the only one. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 631 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.230.106.59  Rating: N/A |
Jim - For our RV (and later the 'unfinished bus'), I used the fabric-type "temporary shades" that they sell at Home Depot, and the fabric places, etc. They're pleated/folded, and were designed to hang like a normal shade. Usually, they have a sticky end, that adheres to the top molding. You manually raise and lower them...... I drilled a hole on one end, and used a thin metal rod as a track, and hung them to be closed sideways, rather than lowered. Two, fully covered the bus windshield from side to side. And they looked like the $100+ ones from Camping World! The tempo shades run around $5 - $10 each, depending on where and when. Just another way..... (Message edited by John_mc9 on September 21, 2008) |