Day/Night shades are history!!!

[loranimal]

Finally couldn't take it anymore, Went out to the rig Sat to start getting ready for the upcoming rally and couldn't get the shade by the table to stay up. After about five minutes of fussing with it, I took a knife and cut it to pieces. Barb was laughing real good by now. Was going to order shades from MCD but couldn't see spending $500. Went to wallyworld and got 4 roll up shades and 4 yards of material and made new shades. They came out looking real good. Makes the rig look more like a home. 4 windows for less then $100 and about 2 hours sewing/install time. And yes, "I" sewed them myself!



Carl

[loranimal]

Finally couldn't take it anymore, Went out to the rig Sat to start getting ready for the upcoming rally and couldn't get the shade by the table to stay up. After about five minutes of fussing with it, I took a knife and cut it to pieces. Barb was laughing real good by now. Was going to order shades from MCD but couldn't see spending $500. Went to wallyworld and got 4 roll up shades and 4 yards of material and made new shades. They came out looking real good. Makes the rig look more like a home. 4 windows for less then $100 and about 2 hours sewing/install time. And yes, "I" sewed them myself!



Carl

[Camelot Camper]

Any photos for us?

CC

[Las Vegas Rambler]

Hi Carl

Yes, please take and post some photos - sounds really nice.

Notice you are at St Paul Island AK - are you heading south anytime soon - might want to put an eyeball on them...

John

[loranimal]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Las Vegas Rambler:
Hi Carl

Yes, please take and post some photos - sounds really nice.

Notice you are at St Paul Island AK - are you heading south anytime soon - might want to put an eyeball on them...

John </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I will try to get some pics tomorrow.

I am in Fallon NV right now. Hoping to get back to AK next spring/summer. I bounce around a lot.

Carl

[MonacoMama]

I am sure he will get photos up- BUT if he doesn't- I promse you I will have the camera at the rally and I will take some then!

MM

[nodine]

Has anyone tried the new shades from MCD that replace the string/fan fold type?

Bob

[Renegades]

Carl,

All you had to do was tighten the strings on each side. They probably became loose. Had it happen to me and all I had to do was tighten the strings. Works every time, until the string breaks, then I have to restring them. But do post the pictures, I might be interested to make a change in my coach also.

Jim
Retired RV tech

[rvtips]

What was the 4 yards of material for?


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by loranimal:
Finally couldn't take it anymore, Went out to the rig Sat to start getting ready for the upcoming rally and couldn't get the shade by the table to stay up. After about five minutes of fussing with it, I took a knife and cut it to pieces. Barb was laughing real good by now. Was going to order shades from MCD but couldn't see spending $500. Went to wallyworld and got 4 roll up shades and 4 yards of material and made new shades. They came out looking real good. Makes the rig look more like a home. 4 windows for less then $100 and about 2 hours sewing/install time. And yes, "I" sewed them myself!



Carl </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[loranimal]

I had tried to adjust them to no end. When I got the first one down, I noticed that the installers tightened the screws to much and bent the top causing my string problems.

The material was to make new shades. I got the cheap vinyl ones just for the roller bar and added my own material to match the inside.

Working on pictures, but ran into a keyless control problem (different topic)

Carl

[jspande]

Another option is [URL=www.cellularwindowshades.com] Cellular window shades.

These are not cheap, but they actually bring the insulation value of windows up to r=5! These shades are a double honeycomb design with an optional plastic guide along the sides (a plastic blade which fits into a groove cut into the edges of the shade) which prevent air (and light) from leaking around the sides and holds the shade from banging against the window when traveling. Being able to ease the load on the air conditioner when outside temps get in the 100's by simply lowering the shades on the big windows is a big advantage.

One caution - if you have dual pane (Thermopane) windows and hot weather, check with window manufacturer. Insulating this well can lead to higher temperatures on the inside pane than some dual pane windows can stand, rupturing the seal.

Another advantage I found was that I did not need the "Day/Night" version, just the "light filtering" ("room darkening" model in bedroom). Since the shade consists of 3 fabric layers each separated by about 1/2 inch, they diffuse light much better than the single layer of a "day" shade, and so give better privacy. My old "Day/Night" shade took up about 5 inches at the top of the window since they're actually 2 shades in one. These new shades give my an additional 2 inches or so of view at the top of the windows.

[Digital Boy]

Our first rig had day/night horizontal pleated shades. I hated them No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to raise or lower them and have those pleates look level. They always ran downhill from one side to the other.

Our present rig has mini-blinds. I love them. They always look level: easy to raise and lower. And, yes, the do make the rig look more like a house.

[NLOVNIT]

Ours always look crooked, too. Plus, most of the time when raising them, they don't fold up neatly & I spend my time trying to pinch the folds into place. I dispise them!

The more expensive Fleetwood coaches now have this type of shade. They look like they'd work better, but only time will tell.

Lori-

[loranimal]

Here are a couple pics of the shades. Need to adjust one a little bit.