Community Forums

beeker6 · 10-27-2015, 11:11 AM

Does anyone have good suggestions for a company that sells reasonably priced, quality blackout shades that will not bang against the sides of the camper when driving? We have accordion style day/night shades, which I am not sure the reason for having the 2 options of a day shade and a night shade since they let just about the same amount of light in either mode. They are also in some horrible places for getting crushed by kids in beds so some thing durable and non crushable. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

dennis45 · 10-27-2015, 11:42 AM

We took all of our pleated shades out and replaced them with MCD shades. Money well spent.

MCD Innovations

Mr_D · 10-27-2015, 11:55 AM

We replaced the day/night shades in the 2000 Dutch Star with ones that had a light blocking fabric on the night shade. It wasn't really expensive and we upgraded the fabric too.
When we ordered the '02 Dutch Star we had them add the light blocking fabric to the order.
I'd like MCD's all around on the present rig (windshield and both front side windows are MCD now) but the electronic controls wouldn't work for them although we could go to the wireless remotes.

Willowleaf · 10-27-2015, 08:10 PM

I sewed blackout shades for our first camper using the cream colored fabric that you can buy at Joann Fabrics (they often have it on sale for half off). I cut them the size of each of the windows, hemmed the edges and stitched Velcro loop around the perimeters. Then I attached the peel-and-stick soft velcro pile around the window frames. My ex was an ER doc who sometimes worked overnight shifts at a hospital out in the mountains and he would take the trailer to stay in -- he had to be able to sleep during the day. This blackout fabric completely blocks all light. With these covers mounted over the windows it was as dark as night inside in daylight. I also made a full length divider curtain with bungee elastic in the top hem so it could be stretched across the bedroom area between hooks attached to the wall so that just the sleeping area could be kept dark.

This type of darkening shade is very durable, even machine washable. Might be too "home made" for some people but it is inexpensive and effective.

GL1800rider · 11-09-2015, 08:04 AM

We ordered the MCD blackout pull down shades on our Forester. It was the first unit built with them and now they are standard so I guess we started something. We really like them. As for staying in place, the shades have Velcro on the corners at the bottom and all I had to do was add the other piece on the wall where I wanted them to stay. Works pretty well and they appear to really make a difference on the amount of heat transmitted thru the windows.