Normally when the caravan is in storage I keep the blinds down, but yesterday I decided that I would lift them all up, so that any sun will hopefully warm the caravan up a bit I don't think the sun is strong enough to fade the upholstery.
A subject that we have had mixed reports on. We did originally keep the blinds down to avoid fading, but when we delivered our caravan for its service last year, the man said not to keep them down as they then have a tendancy to break with the extra tension on the springs and they will be costly to replace. So ours are now all up. Maybe we should close the curtains instead, but that will probably get the neighbours talking as they will think someone is living in it as its on the drive at the moment.
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My reason for lifting them up is purely to allow some heat into the caravan, and to hopefully eliminate any damp. I will keep them down or curtains closed in Summer, to prevent fading of the furniture/upholstery.
I always thought that damage to the springs would only occur if you tow the van with the blinds down as they will move about etc We keep ours down while in storage but lift them before we move the van. The sun can be surprisingly bright in winter and it is the brightness not the heat that causes fabric to fade!
I think its the ultra violet light in sunlight that causes the fading. It fades the exterior as well, particularly the graphics. Maybe worth thinking about a caravan cover, although they may rub the paint and must be a pain to put on & take off each time.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 04/1/2010
I think its the ultra violet light in sunlight that causes the fading. It fades the exterior as well, particularly the graphics. Maybe worth thinking about a caravan cover, although they may rub the paint and must be a pain to put on & take off each time.
We do have a cover but didn't cover it because we were going to be using it
but then the snow came and we cancelled. I took the decision to lift the
blinds just so the caravan can get some sunlight and warm the van in
winter I am surprised why everyone keeps them down, when you need to
prevent it being cold and damp, but you have a means of warming it
we keep the blinds open in storage so as not to put excess strain on the mechanism. We shut the curtains instead. It's the only time we do shut the curtains though.
We have a cople of pieces of that silver foil type loft insulation that we wedge into the two sunroofs so we can avoid having to close those blinds too.
No one commenting on keeping the upholstery in the van at this time of year then or am I the only one who takes it indoors?
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Hi,, I always keep blinds up to keep the tension in the springs,they do get weak when down for long periods, I just draw the curtains or cover the upholstery to stop fading, at end of my touring season, I take out upholstery, to let them dry out completely from the moisture, from when they are used as the bed, and makes it easy when doing any service in van, when upholstery out no need to worry about marks or fabric being torn.
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Topic: Blinds up
