dutchwoman Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 We have an Eldiss Autoquest on a Peugot Boxer cab and want to get some thermal blinds for the cab section. Seems to be a minefield and not sure if we should get those specifically for a Boxer or a universal fitting. Also we live in the north of Scotland and can't actually go and look at any. Travelling down the A1 to Newcastle next week so any recommendations would be very welcome. Many thanks from a chilly first winter motorhome owner
Mel B Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Hi and welcome to the madhouse that is the forum!!! :-D I'd highly recommend a set of external insulated screens, Taylormade and Silver Screens are the main 2 companies, the former in my view is the better, and actually, cheaper version. External screens are much better because they keep the glass warmer which in turns reduces drastically the amount of condensation you'll get - internal ones don't stop this at all so you'll end up mopping the dashboard each morning. You could also have a look at eBay as well as on the 'Buy and Sell' section above (top left) as they are often for sale on there.
tyreman Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Dont buy the inside blinds,total waste of time,they never fit properly with those silly sucker things and dont stay tight enough to the screen,have a look on ebay or in the magazines and pay a bit more for proper external screens,they do make the world of difference...i bought mine off ebay for about £65 and they have a gauze screen under the middle section so it can be folded down and you can see out but people cant see in
Derek Uzzell Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 These are a couple of earlier forum threads that may help you to choose a supplier. http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=15009&posts=10 http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=17238&posts=4 I don't think I've seen "universal" blinds advertised, but - even if they are available - you should opt instead for thermal blinds specifically designed for a Peugeot Boxer. (This will be true whether you choose to have internal or external blinds.) Also make sure, when you order the blinds, that you state your Boxer's exact year of manufacture.
Guest Tracker Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Do be aware that external screens are quite bulky and something of a handful to fit, remove and get back in the bag in the morning and when it's cold wet and/or windy and dark it all adds to the fun? We don't bother with them as I consider them to be more trouble that they are worth but the consensus seems to be that they do help keep the van warmer and the external ones do seem to help reduce window condensation. If you stay in one place for several nights maybe fitting, removal and storage is less of an issue but for us just notching up the heating if it's very cold, using warmer bedding and carrying two very good microfibre towels for window mopping duty works well enough. But I think that maybe this view is in the minority on here - which don't make it wrong - just different!
Derek Uzzell Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 External screens provide effective insulation - internal screens offer privacy, some insulation, and convenient fitting/removal. As Tracker says, if you park for long periods, or plan to go where it's really, really cold (like on a skiing trip), and can tolerate the risk that the weather will be atrocious when you are fitting/removing the screen, then the external type will be the clear winner insulation-wise. As a habitual 'One-Night Stander', I'm not prepared to mess about with an external screen and I accept that I'll usually need to wipe the interior of the cab-glass in the morning before driving the vehicle. (Treating the glass surface with Rain-X seems to reduce the amount of condensation that forms and definitely makes wiping off the condensation easier.) Traditionally, curtains were used for motorhome cab privacy, but their bulkiness and the tracks required for them to run on made the simpler concept of 'stick-on' internal blinds attractive. I would guess that, statistically, few motorcaravanners opt for an external screen and I've seldom seen them employed abroad.
Brock Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 We use external blinds when we think the temperature is going to drop or it is going to be hot during the day (they reflect heat). Bit of a pain to fit single handed but only a few minutes if there are two working in harmony. Often use them for wintry overnight stays. They do need to be fitted properly if it is windy and raining - the type of weather conditions that make it harded to do! Go for a specific Boxer set. They are bulky so we use an external locker (we have a double floor). If they are wet when we take them off, I might give them a wipe down with a towel or I might just stand them on end in the shower compartment. When packing away, I am careful to pack them to make it easier to put them on again. You can make your own but given the cost of buying ready made, new or second hand, I don't see the point. Keep your van 5 years and a new set will cost you less than 5p a day.
emmbeedee Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 Our van came with internal screens & we found them u/s. Admittedly, we only used them for one night & it WAS freezing. The condensation in the morning had to be seen to be believed. As fast as we wiped it off it just formed again so we couldn't drive away. It took ages to get going, so it's external ones for us. We bought ours from here: http://www.silverproducts.co.uk/ Good price & excellent service, run by the son from Silverscreens. I fit them by myself, quite easy once you have the hang of it. I find it easier to start with the driver's door so as to minimise problems fitting around the radio aerial on the passenger side mirror housing. Two or three minutes max. to fit/remove. They roll up easily to store in the bag supplied.
eljay Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 ( . . . . . I would guess that, statistically, few motorcaravanners opt for an external screen and I've seldom seen them employed abroad.) Sorry to contradict you, slightly, Derek. I was at a rally of French vans last week-end near Tours and, just as an estimate, I would think that at least 20% of the motorhomes had external thermal screens fitted. I would agree that internal screens are much more effective that internal. I would also suggest that UK-produced thermal screens are more effective than the rather thin-looking French versions. J
Guest Tracker Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 External screens were very much in evidence on many of the 120 or so multi nationed vans at the Nordkapp in June last year when the midnight sky cleared and temperature plunged! We just turned the stat up a bit!
lennyhb Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 We have the Taylormade the long version that covers the heater intake grills. I can put them on in less than 2 minutes single handed, when in use do not get any condensation on the cab windows at all. Use them in the summer to keep the heat out & they are much better as a black out if you sleep better when it's really dark, hardly ever use the Remis blinds it's quicker to fit the external blinds than close the Remis ones. The Taylormade's are thicker, bulkier & heaver than the Silver Screens/Silver Products ones but you won't go far wrong with either.
Mel B Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 External screens Best in colder climates or where the temperature is likely to plummet at night. They do keep condensation at bay and once you've put them on and off a few times you soon get the knack. A quick wipe down with a good towel/chammy, and then leaving them to dry in the shower compartment, or even flopped on the bed, soon sort them out. Internal screens Better in warmer climes, ideal for keeping the heat, rather than the cold, out during the day. Absolutely useless for preventing condensation! We have both - the internal set that came with our van and the external Taylormade set which we already had for our Fiat which I've adapted quite easily to fit our Ford (just putting an extra bit of material internally to extend the inner 'velcro' tabs). The screens are at least 6 years old now and virtually as good as new. If we're travelling to somwhere and using an aire we tend to put on the internal ones for ease, unless it's gonna be a really cold night in which case the external ones go on. The internal ones really do come into their own though on a really hot day as they do stop a heck of a lot of heat coming into the van - even good thermal lined curtains still let quite a bit of heat through, and we've found that the internal screens can make a lot of difference - important when you've got doggies! I've also made a screen out of some strong sun screen type mirrored card/material, the type that they make car reflective screens from, which can be clipped to the Heki when it's open as it's surprising how much heat can come in from the slightest bit of sun 'creeping' in - it can be attached/adapted to suit whichever angle is needed so we can still have the Heki open but not let the sun in. I've also used some of this reflective stuff to make panels for the double glazed windows too for winter use - they fit between the window and the blind and make a lot of difference, especially since I sleep right next to a large window and can feel the chill coming off it. They fold down very small so don't take up much room at all. I've found that having some good thermal backed curtains makes a lot of difference, I got some from a car boot sale and have adapted them to make some nice long ones that fit round the front of the cab seats and round to where the cab joins the rear (the original ones were too short and didn't meet property as there wasn't enough width ... very skimpy!). This along with the external screens makes it nice and snug.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.