flyscreens

[tomag]

Hi

Has anyone fitted flyscreens to a Chauson Twist or similer which work well and look good

[Derek Uzzell]

Presumably you want information on fitting a fly-screen system to the entrance door of the motorhome's living area?

 

GOOGLE searches on "motorhome fly screen" and "caravan fly screen" retrieve a number of possibilities, but I'm not sure how well any of them would work on a Chausson (or how good they would look).

 

It may be worth saying that a lot of the fly-screen systems I've seen, installed on motorhomes as original equipment, have been poorly designed, didn't function very well and seemed extraordinarily damage-prone.

 

 

[Brian Kirby]

You can buy spring loaded curtain poles that are adjustable for length.  You can also buy, often from the same shops, ready made net curtains, shot weighted along the bottom edge, in a wide variety of sizes, and with a tunnel along the top edge to feed to pole through.  A little time with a tape measure should enable you to assess which pole will work, and where to position it, and what size of curtain would work.  Feed pole through tunnel, adjust length of pole, spring pole into place between high-level cupboards either side of entrance door (provided there are some!) and voilà: a door net that can be removed as required, washed when necessary, has no roller to go wrong, no locks or latches and, if your hands are full, you can just walk through in either direction.  A simple cord loop will keep it to one side when not needed.  Not 100% fly and mosquito proof, but a very effective countermeasure nevertheless.  Hope this helps.

[Derek Uzzell]

There are fly-screen systems specifically intended for retro-fitting to coachbuilt motorhome entrance-doors (eg. Seitz market a side-roller version).

 

Snag is that Chausson Twists are panel-van conversions (PVCs) based on the extra-long wheelbase Fiat Ducato chassis. I don't think I've ever seen a PVC with a fly-screen on its side entrance door (nor on its rear doors for that matter) and I'm doubtful that it would be practicable to fit one that would "work well and look good".

[Mel B]

Now then Derek, don't be defeatest! Looking at the entrance to the Twist, there's the lower kitchen unit with upper cupboards and then the gap for the walkthrough so it wouldn't be difficult to make something which would work, look good in the process and also be easy to remove completely if necessary:

 

A shower/curtain pole across the top of the door (there looks to be space behind the upper cupboard) with a large piece of mesh/netting slotted onto the pole (like a long net curtain). The part which goes behind the kitchen unit could be cut down to the right length and weighted at the bottom, the part which goes across main walkthrough part again could be weighted at the bottom and ideally go a way over the other side of the opening (ie behind the cab seat) so that there is enough overlap to prevent any nasties from getting in the edge. If needs be the shorter piece behind the kitchen unit and the longer piece could be made in 2 pieces so that they can each be tied back out of the way at either end of the door opening when not needed. You could then simply move the curtain out of the way to enter/exit as required.

[Derek Uzzell]

Mel

 

The principle is simple enough, but I'm not convinced about the execution. I can envisage 'draping' problems due to the curve of the vehicle's upper body-side and I'm wary of having curtain mesh so close to the kitchen's gas hob. Might be worth a try I guess and, if it didn't work out, the mesh could always be converted into harem pantaloons.

[bob b]

I bought a set of 'lambs tails' off that Dave Newell. They work well enough...let the fresh air in, keep the insects out and give you some privacy.

As I avoid drilling holes if I can, I attached felcro strip to the apparatus bar and stick it above the door. When I break camp, I roll it up and stow it under the bed.

[Mel B]

Derek Uzzell - 2010-01-12 6:41 PM

 

Mel

 

The principle is simple enough, but I'm not convinced about the execution. I can envisage 'draping' problems due to the curve of the vehicle's upper body-side and I'm wary of having curtain mesh so close to the kitchen's gas hob. Might be worth a try I guess and, if it didn't work out, the mesh could always be converted into harem pantaloons.

 

Some judicial use of Velcro would keep the curtains taut, obviously it would be easier to 'make' them with a van in front of me to iron out any odds and sods (not you Derek! :D ) ... not that I'm offiering you understand!! 8-) ;-)