Hi everyone, just a very quick question before we pick our first van up in a few weeks:
When you aren't using the van do you keep the blinds down and / or curtains closed? We are storing it locally (ie not at home) so wondered what to do when not using it? The initial thought was keep the curtains closed to keep the sun out and prevent the furnishings fading but thought it best to ask some advice!
We keep ours at home and if it's sunny we close them to avoid fading, but if it's going away for the winter ( which it very rarely does) we keep them open, I've heard that it can stress the fixings if kept closed for to long, but I may be wrong .
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Blinds down in storage. The sunlight can just so fade the upholstery and curtains etc. It also means that no one can see if anything is worth pinching!!!
Also draw the roof light blinds across
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 04/8/2011
Blinds down in storage. The sunlight can just so fade the upholstery and curtains etc. It also means that no one can see if anything is worth pinching!!!
Also draw the roof light blinds across
Phil
Don't ever close the roof blind completely ,if you look closely there will be a warning notice telling you to only close it 3/4 (1/4 mesh screen) to avoid heat lock and cracking your roof light .
We draw the curtains in storage to avoid fading, but leave the blinds up as the handbook says to leave them down for long periods can strain the spring. It also says not to fully close roof blinds as the heat build up between the silver side of the blind and the plastic roof light over long periods can damage the plastic of the rooflight ( and presumably the windows too ? ) There was someone a little while ago said their rooflights had crazed due to the heat build up whilst they were in France I think.
Warned against storing with blinds down - ruins mechanism. So we use a huge bit of cardboard on the inside of the fron windows. It concertinas up and goes under one of the seats when not needed.
There is a warning diagram on the windows of my van showing the blinds maximum 2/3 drawn in sunlight to avoid overheating and it also states it in the handbook.
Hi dazzer252, As said Bilnds down will take tension out the springs, Maybe you might consider a breathable caravan cover, around £70, especially if storage site has trees, would keep van clean and free from all the dirt, leaves, black streaks and keep birds from scoring the roof.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Hi dazzer252, I use one, mine is a Maypole cover, is not made to fit as my van is only 12foot 6inch body length could not find one. The one I have is to fit van 12 to14foot and grey coloured, and is breathable, got it from the caravan shop Great Western RoadGlasgow, here is the link
Click on Mapole Covers and you will see two photos, click one one and you will get a list of the prices and van sizes the cover will fit. Hope that helps.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
In order to save the springs on your blinds and the curtains from fading you could obtain a quantity of cardboard ( computer carriage boxes are ideal) and set to making a template of the windows.
Cover them in either kitchen foil or insulation (PVA Glue works well as an adhesive) and put them in your windows each time you store the 'van.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
We leave the blinds up (down in the case of our van!) but close the curtains when the van is in storage to avoid fading the upholstery and to stop people looking in. We also close the roof blinds but not all the way.
Leaving the blinds closed on a caravan when in storage may cause the tension in the springs to loosen, but it is quite easy to readjust them if they do.
I would rather have loose blinds that can be rectified, than a faded interior.
I have no such warning on the blinds to only close 3/4 of the way.
Steve.
------------- Some days I am the statue - others the pigeon.
My windows are polyplastic and were all replaced last year due to the problem with them delaminating,The new windows have a small graphic on them showing a caravan in sun with the blinds down crossed out and another with the blinds half closed and a tick against it.
I am wondering whether they are blaming the delamination on the overheating caused by the blinds closed in sunny conditions.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Blinds / Curtains when in storage?
