Cab blinds

[mikeyb]

Hello folks, having had curtains,and not being too keen on that, and not wanting to store the bulky insulated screens whilst not in use, we thought we might try some Remis Concertina windscreen/ side window blinds. Has anyone any comments on these please? For example, their effectiveness in keeping out the light/prying eyes, ease of use, reduction in viewing area, rattles when driving etc etc. Any comments would be most appreciated, it's quite an expense just to go ahead without looking at the pros and cons. Van is a Transit based panel van conversion, and we use cab area as storage at night so don't want to close off this area completely. Thanks, Mike.

[rupert123]

mikeyb - 2008-11-20 11:20 AM

 

Hello folks, having had curtains,and not being too keen on that, and not wanting to store the bulky insulated screens whilst not in use, we thought we might try some Remis Concertina windscreen/ side window blinds. Has anyone any comments on these please? For example, their effectiveness in keeping out the light/prying eyes, ease of use, reduction in viewing area, rattles when driving etc etc. Any comments would be most appreciated, it's quite an expense just to go ahead without looking at the pros and cons. Van is a Transit based panel van conversion, and we use cab area as storage at night so don't want to close off this area completely. Thanks, Mike.

 

We have these on our Fiat and they are great, much better than curtains. They give the van a more open feel than curtains when closed and keep out light very well. They look a bit flimsy but if treated properly are fine, we have had no problrms with them in 9000 miles. They do not however stop condensation or insulate, we are happy to do without silver Screens or similar but some will still advise using external ones.

[mikeyb]

Thanks Rupert, you say they're better than curtains ,but that they still allow condensation. Fair enough (although I find this to be a complete pain in the doodahs nearly every morning) but are you saying that you found no difference at all ? Thanks, Mike.

[Derek Uzzell]

A couple of earlier related threads that may be of interest:

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8322&posts=12

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12682&posts=16

[Usinmyknaus]

Hello Mike,

 

We have that type of Remis blinds on our Renault based Knaus and they have been fine. There is sufficient clearance between the Remis frame and the glass windows for us to insert Van Comfort silvered screens and we use the two in conjunction during the winter and in the height of summer. We find this combination makes a significant difference to temperature in the cab - but does not eliminate condensation. (If you do a search on internal and external screens you will see it is a subject that has been explored on here a number of times and there is lots of argument for and against each type.)

 

Our Remis blinds, on their own, provide a very high degree of privacy and eliminate much of the light when required. We also close them when we leave the van for the day, both for security from prying eyes but also to reduce heat build up. They have never produced rattles when the van is on the move. In our case, there is a tiny reduction in visibility for the driver, principally to the left and right so a more conscious degree of scanning is needed. Of possibly greater significance is the small intrusion into field of view directly ahead owing to the position of the surround over the windscreen. My seat has good adjustment in height so I can counteract almost all of this but it is something which you will need to consider in your specific vehicle if you want to avoid a stiff neck..

 

We have found the Remis blinds very easy and quick to use and the only niggle has been that the adhesive on the magnetic strip fixed to the A pillar at the front on each side occasionally comes loose and the smaller blinds pop open. Gluing the strip back on fettles it for a while. Eventually I'll find a permanent solution.

 

As has been said already, they do feel very flimsy as they are made to be lightweight but we have used them for 18 months and 106 nights away and apart from the glue issue, they have shown no wear and tear.

 

Just an aside, the blinds came complete with a warning sticker informing us that we should open the blinds before driving the vehicle, we thought that was very funny.

 

Bob

[rupert123]

mikeyb - 2008-11-20 1:12 PM

 

Thanks Rupert, you say they're better than curtains ,but that they still allow condensation. Fair enough (although I find this to be a complete pain in the doodahs nearly every morning) but are you saying that you found no difference at all ? Thanks, Mike.

 

Not sure if any differance, our current van had them already fitted but would not think so, external screens properly fitted are best for this but we can never be bothered. They take up to much room and we are warm enough without.

[Mr. Grumpy]

Our van came with Remis blinds fitted, personally I think they are a waste of money I'd rather have £400 off the price of the van. We use external Silver Screens. They are a bit bulky but take only two minutes to fit or remove and we have never had any condensation which we always get if we use the Remis.

[mikeyb]

Thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to reply. What a mixed bag of opinions. Have to admit that I'm disappointed at the blinds ineffectiveness in combating condensation, although do like the convenience and neatness.

However, I'm now tending towards a purchase ONLY if I can find some at a greatly reduced price. As several people have mentioned, not just on this forum, £400+ is a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't do everything I had hoped it might. Any further comments still appreciated. Bye for now, Mike.

[Derek Uzzell]

Mike,

 

You haven't said which version of the Transit your motorhome is based on, but the Remis blinds fitted to the small front 'quarter-light' cab windows on my 2005 Mk 6 are VERY tricky to extend and retract and, unless one is really careful, can easily be damaged.

 

I've seen blinds on the quarter-lights of Mk 7 Transit-based motorhomes that have a sort of metal stiffening frame to add rigidity, but I don't know if this is specific to blinds that are only suitable for a Mk 7 or just a redesign of the blind mechanism and could also be used on Mk 6s.

[mikeyb]

Bit older than yours Derek, being a 2002, but obviously the same model. In view of your comments, and "flimsy" has been mentioned by several respondents, if you had to buy some as an accessory, would you, in hindsight, do so ?

[Keith T]

They were fitted (included!) in our Burstner, and we've used the van for over 320 niights away over 18 months, in all conditions. On previous vehicles we had the internal insulated screens, and found these did not stop condensation though the coldest of weather, but by use of an external uninsulated cover, this helped. It was also used during verynhot speelsin the south of France in the summer, and kept the motorhome much cooler.so were interested to see how we would get on with the blinds.

In practice,through most of the spring and summer,we used only the internalblinds, and found these remarkably efficient, with much less condensation than with the internal insulated pads.

For the coldest part of the winter - we were living in the van on a long term basis - we did use the external covers as well, which we 'insulated' by attaching the internal pads to them,and this worked a treat.

Onlyin the hottest part of the summer (yes really, it was hot, in the south of France!) we did put the uninsulated external cover as well when we were staying long term on a site, as the front of the motorhome was facing due south, but had we been only there on a short term, the blinds would have sufficed.

As far as privacy and cutting out light was concerned, they are very effective, and like an earlier posting,we do put them across whne parking up off site, for example at 'shopping stops', They are far easier and simpler to use than either curtains or pads. It will be interesting to see the durability, but so far, have had no problems.

[Brian Kirby]

Remis do not claim any insulating properties for the blinds.  However, if you want privacy, ease of use and blackout, they are very good.  We had them in a Fiat based Burstner, and now have them in a Mk 7 Transit based Hobby.

If you want to reduce condensation in cold weather, you need external, insulated blinds.  Internal blinds cannot be as effective against condensation as external, as they allow the windscreen to become cold, whereas the external blinds keep it warmer.  Tinted windscreens tend to run cooler at night than non-tinted, so will exacerbate any condensation problem.

For summer comfort it is also better to have the insulation outside, as this keeps the windscreen cool: internal blinds allow the screen to become hot (again, especially tinted screens), when it will radiate heat to the van interior.  The point here being that with internal screens, that radiant heat is trapped inside the van.  Best of all, of course, is park in the shade of trees!

Warm screen in winter and cool screen in summer = least condensation and greatest overall comfort.

[Patricia]

I have had a set of Remis blinds for several years now and think that they are absolutely wonderful. They may look fragile but mine are in an excellent condition after all this time. Remis discourage leaving the blinds closed for long lay-up periods though. Mine pull up, not across, as they were prototypes and one of the first sets produced. The only slight problem is that they do not quite reach the top of the windscreen because of the reversing camera. The small gap is easily covered. Even though I am quite small I do not find any problem with a restricted view.

 

Although I have an external blind as well, I do not put it on every night as I find it difficult to reach (I'm just 5') but I certainly use it when in hot climes. I also have internal curtains but the dog keeps opening them so not a lot of privacy. I am sure on the earlier threads where these blinds were discussed that Don madge also has them.

[Guest peter]

Remis blinds + External insulated blinds = Total solution for privacy and comfort without condensation.

[Derek Uzzell]

mikeyb:

 

"if you had to buy some as an accessory, would you, in hindsight, do so ?"

 

The blinds on my Hobby were an option that, I think, cost around £200 (this was when the Pound-to-Euro exchange rate was very different from today's). At that price I'd probably still choose to have them, just for their 'privacy' function. At £300 I'd probably not bother.

 

Don't forget that, if you want to use internal insulating pads on the cab window-glass, then the normal one-piece pads that are marketed for Transit side windows won't fit behind the mounting-frames for the Remis blinds.

[Goldie]

Whilst 'doing the rounds' looking for our next motorhome, once I see these blinds fitted, I take no further interest in a vehicle. Having had Remis blinds, as standard, in our new motorhome 4 years ago, I soon realised how much they reduce the visibility and was glad to say good-bye to the vehicle after a few weeks, not just because of the blinds, though. Also, when cleaning or drying the inside of the windscreen and cab side windows, the process is more difficult and less satisfactory because of the restrictions of the framework round the concertinas. Why not stick to curtains which are maintenance-free? And there are plenty of options of insulated blinds. I'm all for low-maintenace!

 

Just a bit of friendly advice, despite all the positive comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Don Madge]

Hi,

 

I have the original Remis Blinds from five and a half years ago. They do an excellent job far better than curtains.

 

As for the blind spots try moving your head and the problem is solved.

 

I appreciate for an inexperienced driver who is not use to driving a motorhome it could be a problem but with a bit of thought and patience it can be over come.

 

Don

[maggyd]

O.H. fitted remis blinds to our van and I love them, they keep the van cool on a hot day, they are much neater than curtains, and to prevent any rattles we made a few straps from black elastic with velcro fastenings. In the winter when we dont use the van we leave them fastened back and put the exterea blind on.

[Derek Uzzell]

Problems with visibility will very much depend on the make/model of the base-vehicle, the particular design of the blinds and an individual's physique and driving position.

 

I own a left-hand drive Ford Transit Mk 6-based motorhome, have the original design of Transit-suitable Remis blinds, am 5' 6" tall and have removed the swivel on the driver's seat that's standard for my model of Hobby.

 

I'm quite keen on seeing where I'm going and I don't find my vision impeded. However, it's easy to believe that taller people driving Mk 7 Transits with a seat-swivel in place and having the bulkier, posher-looking, later-design Remis blinds-system could have serious visibility difficulties. In fact, this is mentioned in Column 3 on Page 130 of September 2008's MMM.

 

There's been a fair amount of earlier forum discussion on blinds. These are some sample threads:

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=9719&posts=10

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12733&posts=8

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=13367&posts=8

[Patricia]

In support of Derek's comment in his first paragraph, my motorhome is 2001 Fiat base and I have prototype Remis blinds (they go up, not across) and I find the visibility fine. At 5ft I have a better view in that cab than I do in my Citroen C3 car.

[Keith T]

Ours are on the Burstner, fitted onto the X250 (dare I say it!) cab, and although initially i felt they did somewhat impede vision on the window side pillars, I really don't find this to be the case in practice.

On the side cab windows, yes, they may restrict the view to the back of the opening window, but that too is no problem, as it is rarely you would look through that part due both to the width of the body behind, and to the supebr mirrors for manouevering or seeing what is behind you.

There rae some rattles where the side frame is 'loose' and I am currently experimenting with some infill pads to resolve this.

[Don Madge]

Patricia - 2008-11-23 10:03 AM

 

In support of Derek's comment in his first paragraph, my motorhome is 2001 Fiat base and I have prototype Remis blinds (they go up, not across) and I find the visibility fine. At 5ft I have a better view in that cab than I do in my Citroen C3 car.

 

Hi Patricia,

 

I have the same blinds, do you drive with the front blind side guides up or folded down?

 

Mine are still going strong after 56,000 miles of use.

 

Don

[rupert123]

My blinds to are fitted in the excellant X250 Fiat cab. I am 5' 8" and have a swivel drivers seat but they do not obstruct vision in any way. The side window fittings do not overlap the normal window dimensions and the windscreen is hardly affected having only a top runner of about an inch deep which is far out of my line of vision and a tiny extra thickness in the front 'A' pillar. They certainly do not rattle.

[Guest Tracker]

rupert123 - 2008-11-23 12:36 PM

 

My blinds to are fitted in the excellant X250 Fiat cab. I am 5' 8" and have a swivel drivers seat but they do not obstruct vision in any way. The side window fittings do not overlap the normal window dimensions and the windscreen is hardly affected having only a top runner of about an inch deep which is far out of my line of vision and a tiny extra thickness in the front 'A' pillar. They certainly do not rattle.

 

On the other hand - I am a little more than 5'8" and I find the latest sideways folding cab window blinds not to my liking.

The top guide rail on the windscreen blind (not present on the older vertical rising blinds) interferes with my line of vision when a driver's swivel seat base is fitted and the side window blinds very much obstruct my views in the driver's door mirror.

I also find the x250 cab not sufficiently better than the previous model to justify spending that much extra cash (which I can afford!) whilst still taking the chance of getting a duff transmission.

As I often say - there is no right or wrong - just different - so, as with all things, try before you buy!

[Patricia]

Don Madge - 2008-11-23 12:16 PM

 

Patricia - 2008-11-23 10:03 AM

 

In support of Derek's comment in his first paragraph, my motorhome is 2001 Fiat base and I have prototype Remis blinds (they go up, not across) and I find the visibility fine. At 5ft I have a better view in that cab than I do in my Citroen C3 car.

 

Hi Patricia,

 

I have the same blinds, do you drive with the front blind side guides up or folded down?

 

Mine are still going strong after 56,000 miles of use.

 

Don

 

Hi Don

When the blinds were first fitted the guides were always lowered because those were the instructions and in fact if ever forgotten they fell down anyway (with a bit of a crash!). However, now I usually drop the driving side, not to avoid them falling down as they seem very firm now, but because I lean the sat-nav against it. Whether up or down though I don't find they restrict the view at all. Bought my set from Auto-Sleepers second-hand from a demonstration m/home in Oct 2003 and they are still going strong - £189 very well spent.