Drapes for the windshield

June 26, 2019, 01:40:36 pm

We got rid of pleated accordion front shades a long time ago. While effective at providing privacy in a campsite, they were a pain to deploy. They were also stained, and I had taken apart the spring loaded rewind mechanism to fix them a couple of times. We found a set of large sunshades that have an outer spring that contracts into a circle about the size of the steering wheel when stowed, and they worked pretty well except on the outside corners and at the bottom center overlap. Still far from ideal! I want to put in MCD shades or the like, but budget priorities being what they are, it has to wait awhile longer yet. Also, I want separate passenger and driver's side shades, both sun blocking and the dark mesh type, but I have read that MCD doesn't install those anymore. Anyway, Tys came up with a plan to make some curtains and I came up with a way to hang them. We got the curtains from Costco and Tys cut them down, hemmed them, and added a strip at the top for the hooks. Ikea had curtain rods that extend from about 6' to over 9' (don't remember the exact numbers). They were available in three different overall diameters, and we got the middle sized ones in order to have the lowest profile that would span the required distance. Like most adjustable curtain rods, these came in two pieces, a smaller diameter nested inside the larger. I bought two sets of the rods and cut each of the outer sections down to about 44 ½" and used one of the smaller diameter sections to join them in the middle so that there wouldn't be a bump that the hoops could catch on while closing them. The outer sections of the rods are about ¾" diameter. We got matching sized rings and hooks at Ikea as well as the mounting brackets. I modified the brackets so that the rod could be removed without rubbing against the speakers. The two outermost brackets were mounted to the valance by removing the two outside vinyl covered snap caps and removing the screws that were used to secure the valance and replacing them with the brackets underneath. I added a snap in the center for a bracket because there was no snap conveniently placed dead center. This way, when the drapes are removed for shade installation, there won't be any sign that they were ever there. There are also snap caps conveniently placed on the vertical trim pieces on either side. Up in the overhead cabinets, there are several Ozite carpet covered caps that hide various wire/air line penetrations through the roof that were used for the Hadleys and TV antenna etc. Replacing the snap caps on the vertical trim on either side of the windshield with the Ozite covered snap caps from the ceiling gave an easy place for Tys to sew on some patches of the part of velcro which grips the little patch of Ozite on the snap caps on the vertical trim.

The drapes can be taken down easily and laid on the bed for travel days, or we may even use bungie balls to hold them up on the rod. They will fit completely up behind the valance... We haven't had a travel day since putting them up so we will see what works best. Using drapes up in front have the added advantage of providing improved heat retention on the cold nights, or if we don't mind blocking the view out the windshield, reducing the greenhouse effect on hot days.

Edit to add: Total cost, less than $50 US.

Re: Drapes for the windshield

Reply #1 – June 26, 2019, 02:33:27 pm

Neat. For a vertical windshield. Won't work on our sloped GV, tho.

Re: Drapes for the windshield

Reply #2 – June 26, 2019, 02:55:02 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – June 26, 2019, 02:33:27 pm

Neat. For a vertical windshield. Won't work on our sloped GV, tho.

We've still got the old funky drapes. but these go on quick and work well! RV Windshield Covers & Window Covers | Enjoy a Cool Environment

Re: Drapes for the windshield

Reply #3 – June 26, 2019, 03:30:29 pm

We did something very similar last year while sat over night at a home depot. Got a curtain rod and brackets, But we went with blackout curtains that have the large grommet holes. Works great. But it is more of a pain than Don's as the black out curtains are bulky and won't bunch up enough to allow for full visibility underway. So we pull down the rod & curtains. Even that only takes a minute to do. So hasn't been problematic for us. But as they are easy & cheap as chips to buy and mount. We may have another go and improve.

We just don't see the need for a $1,000 motorized solution. It's already hard enough to stay active.

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