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07-11-2003, 03:25 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member 
1999 25' Safari
Edina
, Minnesota
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 180
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Need more sleep...
I travel with two small kids that have a habit of staying up later than normal on our weekend trips. The nice white drapes in our Safari do not block out much light in the morning and the kids wake up early, mom wakes up early...everyone crabby...you get the idea.
I am looking for creative ideas on how to install some sort of opaque window treatments/ shades/covers, etc. without spending a fortune or eliminating the existing drapes (which LOOk nice). Any ideas on how to get the trailer dark inside? We already have shades for the Fantastic Fans, but need something easy for the windows.
Thanks!
Jace
__________________
1999 Safari 25C
2009 Yukon Denali
WBCCI #2369
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07-11-2003, 03:28 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 

1956 22' Safari
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,332
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What about the Day/Night shades they use on newer Airstreams...I think they would do the trick...& they look nice & clean!
Shari
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07-11-2003, 03:35 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member 
1999 25' Safari
Edina
, Minnesota
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 180
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Shari,
I had the same thought and I've checked them out, but I would have to rework the current drapery tracks quite a bit to get them behind the existing drapes. Without the drapes, they are not as attractive.
Jace
__________________
1999 Safari 25C
2009 Yukon Denali
WBCCI #2369
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07-11-2003, 04:54 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master 

1956 22' Safari
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,332
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True...hmmm, I'll keep thinking
Would you have the same problem with mini or micro-mini blinds?
Shari
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07-11-2003, 06:44 PM
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#5
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Rivet Monster

1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,173
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Jace,
What about those stick on carshades, the ones with the goofy cartoon characters on them? Some of them use suction cups and I believe some are just static cling. Might not look too "vintage" from the outside but they would serve the purpose. But you can take them down when everyone wakes up. Best part is they don't require any modification to the existing windows, curtains or hardware.
Aaron
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07-11-2003, 06:55 PM
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#6
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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styrofoam
when i had my trailer in florida a while back, i noticed alot of the trailers there in "storage" had inserts in the windows made out of foil faced building insulation.
nice and dark on the inside, and silver on the outside.
a 4'x8' foot sheet of that stuff would blank alot of windows.
you could treat the edges with quality aluminum foil tape to make it look nice.
cheap to boot!
john
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07-11-2003, 07:08 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 

1956 22' Safari
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,332
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We use that stuff during winter storage, it's like silver bubble wrap...really blocks out the light! What do you do with it during the day though...it's kinda bulky?
Shari
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07-11-2003, 07:17 PM
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#8
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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dunno?
stuff it in a closet i guess.
i just saw it used in resident trailers.
thought it was a neat idea.
john
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07-11-2003, 09:28 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master 

1956 22' Safari
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,332
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Yeah I guess that works in a larger trailer...we don't have closet space to spare ~
Shari
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07-12-2003, 12:10 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master 
Aurora
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 645
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Foil backed insulation panels
Foil backed insulation panels can be bought at Home Depot. I comes in a variety of thicknesses, but I use 1/2 inch panel. They are a styrofoam type of insulation. One side has a thin aluminum foil and the other some kind of plastic. You can buy them in 4x8 sheets or 2x4 sheets. As suggested above the edges can be covered with aluminum tape for looks and durability. Cost is very reasonable.
As you might expect they are very light weight. We travel with panels in all the side windows to keep the sunlight from cooking the interior. That also protects the shades from fading. In the winter it helps prevent heat loss through the windows. The front and rear windows I keep clear so that I can see into and through the trailer while towing (one of the original features Wally Byam wanted for his trailers).
In addition, depending on the type of window you have the panels can be attached to the glass of an open window and then you have an awning. When they are placed in all the closed windows the interior is so dark that a light is needed even in mid-day. The down side is that they block ventilation when kept in the window frame, and of course they are a bit bulky. We just store them flat in the bed of the pickup.
Forrest
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07-12-2003, 06:08 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 240
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I would think the suction cup idea, brought up previously, would be worth looking into. You can probably find a variety of different sized ones at a hobby shop. Then select a dark material that would look good with your current drapes. They could be put up in the evening, prior to going to sleep, taken down in the morning and folded up and stored in a drawer some where.
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07-12-2003, 10:35 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master 
Aurora
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 645
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Insulation panels
Here's a couple of photos of the panels I wrote about. This one is what the non-reflective side looks like and shows the manufacturer.
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07-12-2003, 10:39 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master 
Aurora
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 645
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Insulation panels
Here's another photo showing the reflective side of the panel cut to size with the edges taped and inserted into the window opening.
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07-13-2003, 06:00 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 63
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my window glass is on the outside of the wall, then a frame about 2" deep, and then my screens are screwed to the frame on the inside of the wall. please see the attached image.
therefore, if i understand this setup with the rigid insulation, i'd have to take out my screens to put in the insulation. Or, i would have to put in the rigid insulation from the outside, while someone on the inside closes it, thus being a two person job.
is yours different?
it is an interesting idea, and i just want to understand it.
thanks,
christopher
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07-13-2003, 09:54 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master 
Aurora
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 645
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Insulation panels
Yes, they are put in from the outside, but it needn't be a two person operation. I like part of the idea from nds about suction cups. The panels are so light weight that attached suction cups would probably hold them in place. Anyway, here's another photo for demonstration.
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07-13-2003, 10:11 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 71
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Bubble wrap insulation with Velcro tape around the edges with the mating Velcro on the edge of the screen....if tape doesn't stick well enough....sew it with a sewing machine to the bubble wrap....newer Velcro has a glue side opposite of the "sticky side" of the Velcro.....available in colors at a sewing/fabric store.....my next project-when I get to it....geof
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07-14-2003, 07:47 AM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member 
1999 25' Safari
Edina
, Minnesota
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 180
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What a gift!
I post a thread, camp for the weekend, come back and...viola! A load of great ideas. Thanks, everyone....you've given me some ecellent hints that I will likely blend together for the final solution.
Much appreciated!!!
Jace
__________________
1999 Safari 25C
2009 Yukon Denali
WBCCI #2369
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07-14-2003, 10:36 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master 
1959 22' Caravanner
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,197
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Hit wally world or target. Look in the auto depratment and find the auto sun shades that and the loop of spring steel in them. they will sort of conform to the shape of the window. Some have a reflective side and they will cut down the most light.
__________________
1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
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