External insulated screen covers

[Brianandbarbara]

Any one got any views/advice on external or internal screen covers and where to get them. We have a rapido A class

 

[DP+JAY]

External are better & greatly recuce A class condensation but not easy to find for the Rapido.
A friend has a 2004 & bought some for a Hymer which were easily modified to fit.

 

[Brianandbarbara]

External are better & greatly recuce A class condensation but not easy to find for the Rapido.
A friend has a 2004 & bought some for a Hymer which were easily modified to fit.

Thanks for the advice,will look into it,seems strange with the amount of rapidos
Out there now someone is missing an opportunity.

 

[JeanLuc]

External screens are a 'must have' in my view - particularly for an A-class. We got ours from Silver Screens (for a Hymer) but give them a call.
http://www.silverscreens.co.uk/

Alternatively, many people have Taylormade screens so google them too perhaps.

 

[JayDee]

Externals work much better at reducing condensation but should never be used if you are wild camping or in an aire - if you need to get out in a hurry you won't be able to get your screen off. In that case internals are much safer, but not as effective.

There are other manufacturers but these are the people we have used in the past.

http://www.silverscreens.co.uk/

http://www.taylormade-covers.co.uk/


John

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[lunarman]

I have just bought an external screen for my A class from http://www.vancomfort.co.uk/. They were the only people I could find that make them for A class vehicles. Both Taylormade and silver screens told me they no longer make them.

John

 

[pappajohn]

external screens are generally padded and retain heat in the van

internals are reflective to reflect the suns rays keeping the van cool and have little thermal insulation quality

 

[The Dudess]

Silverscreens - why the rush?

"Externals work much better at reducing condensation but should never be used if you are wild camping or in an aire - if you need to get out in a hurry you won't be able to get your screen off."

Hi JayDee,
Under what circumstances would you need to get your external screen off in a hurry - bears? wolves? inbreds playing banjos?
Made me a little bit scared about Aires now.

 

[canopus]

We bought an external screen for our Rapido A class from Silverscreens in Cleckheaton. They came down to us and measured up as the one from stock didn't quite fit. Screen fits like a glove and its a essential piece of kit, especially if you use your van in winter.

We bought our current external screen for our Concorde from Van Comfort. The windscreen on the Concorde is massive and the insulated screen takes a bit of putting on - step ladders required. As before wouldn't be without it.

 

[dewaltman]

I have a rapido 997m and bought my external covers from silver screens about 3 years ago very easy to fit excellent product worth giving them a ring

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[JeanLuc]

Whilst I would still try Silverscreens first, here is another possibility - I know nothing about the company or its product, but it looks pretty good.

http://www.minsterproducts.co.uk/polar.htm

Regarding the use of external screens, don't forget that they can be very useful in the summer when they will keep the inside cool. If the outside temperature gets up around 30ºC or more, life can be unbearable without them.
So far as security is concerned, whilst it is good advice to be wary if wild camping, I would not go so far as to say never use them. It should depend on your own assessment of the risk of likely interference and the possibility of needing to beat a hasty retreat. We have certainly used external screens on aires in winter and even on a car park in St Omer one New Year's Eve. If we thought that there was a risk of needing to get away, we probably wouldn't use that particular location in the first place.

 

[canopus]

Whilst I would still try Silverscreens first, here is another possibility - I know nothing about the company or its product, but it looks pretty good.

http://www.minsterproducts.co.uk/polar.htm

Regarding the use of external screens, don't forget that they can be very useful in the summer when they will keep the inside cool. If the outside temperature gets up around 30ºC or more, life can be unbearable without them.
So far as security is concerned, whilst it is good advice to be wary if wild camping, I would not go so far as to say never use them. It should depend on your own assessment of the risk of likely interference and the possibility of needing to beat a hasty retreat. We have certainly used external screens on aires in winter and even on a car park in St Omer one New Year's Eve. If we thought that there was a risk of needing to get away, we probably wouldn't use that particular location in the first place.

This is the company who make stuff for Van Comfort :thumb:

 

[JayDee]

"Externals work much better at reducing condensation but should never be used if you are wild camping or in an aire - if you need to get out in a hurry you won't be able to get your screen off."

Hi JayDee,
Under what circumstances would you need to get your external screen off in a hurry - bears? wolves? inbreds playing banjos?
Made me a little bit scared about Aires now.

Hmm, interesting picture that makes. I know there are a few ulelele players in Fun but I wouldn't say they were inbreds.

Seriously though:
The Aires that I was thinking about are those that are off the motorways and major trunk routes. There have been reported instances of motorhomes being targetted by local 'yoofs', and the best way to avoid damage to your pride and joy is to be able to get the hell out. If you have an external screen on you wouldn't be able to; and if you had ramps, tables and chairs left out you would have to jettison them. Many people have stayed on these aires without problems, but, as I said earlier, there have been reports of trouble so best not to take the chance or if unavaoidable, be prepared to do a runner. Wild camping in some of the less frequented parts of a town could also be risky for similar reasons, but some do it anyway.

The Aires that we all know and love are fine and rarely have reports of hooliganism, etc. so there's no need to be overly concerned there (though how vulnerable you want to make yourself when staying on a car park with no security is, of course, your decision).

I'm sorry that I worried you with my first post.:Blush: It wasn't my intention; more of a heads-up about something you may not have thought about. :Cool:
Enjoy your MH and go where your mood takes you; just exercise a bit of care about where you go and what you do.:thumb:


John

 

[Spacerunner]

Externals work much better at reducing condensation but should never be used if you are wild camping or in an aire - if you need to get out in a hurry you won't be able to get your screen off. In that case internals are much safer, but not as effective.

John

Total bosh!!

Its quite easy to use external screens internally.
Just slip the door triangular bits on from the inside and push the front up to the screen using the sun visors to keep the screen in place.
Not pretty but perfectly do-able.

 

[JayDee]

Total bosh!!

Its quite easy to use external screens internally.
Just slip the door triangular bits on from the inside and push the front up to the screen using the sun visors to keep the screen in place.
Not pretty but perfectly do-able.

So why is what I said "Total Bosh!!". :Angry:

You've said it in your post - "Its quite easy to use external screens internally."

My warning was, as I am sure most people understood, against using screens externally - if you read further you would see I also mentioned furniture and ramps.

Still, you're free to interpret anything however you wish. But to call my post total bosh is a little intemperate, don't you think? :Sad:


John

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[haganap]

Total bosh!!

Its quite easy to use external screens internally.
Just slip the door triangular bits on from the inside and push the front up to the screen using the sun visors to keep the screen in place.
Not pretty but perfectly do-able.

If you don't agree, is quite easy to say so without being so rude and aggressive about it

In regards to safety? It's as Jean Luc says really, you know where you've parked, you can assess as appropriate.

If you are stuck for deciding on external or internal, I would get a set of external's made up. They wil be far more use that internal's as can be used both winter and summer. Although you can use internal's in winter, they won't be as effective in a sub zero climate. Some people do actually make there own by the way. If your'e that way inclined. :thumb:

 

[Philcott]

Snip..... Some people do actually make there own by the way. If your'e that way inclined. :thumb:

Haggers, what, where, how? I'm inclined!

I would be keen to make my own (I can run up a seam without too much trouble! ) but what fabric do you use, where do you get it from, and what is the best way to 'fix' it on the van? Bet you didn't expect so many questions from that remark now did you!

 

[GIBLA53]

In winter we used to use both internal and external screens - anything to help to keep warm !!!!!!

Alan

previous posters gave a reasonable assessment of the merits of each , btw. i would only use the internal one if "on the move" and wanted a quick early getaway the next day however the screen could be heavily misted up.

 

[haganap]

Haggers, what, where, how? I'm inclined!

I would be keen to make my own (I can run up a seam without too much trouble! ) but what fabric do you use, where do you get it from, and what is the best way to 'fix' it on the van? Bet you didn't expect so many questions from that remark now did you!

Materials can be purchased from Ebay etc. If you have a google there will be other suppliers too. Ive not made my own, but you can make them in much the same way as the ones you buy. Industrial strength velcro for attaching doors to window sections seems to be the order of the day.

Next time you see a van with some, have a look, learn, and then do them. it's not difficult if your ok with a sewing machine. Although the material is generally quite thick.

 

[veevee]

We bought external Silver Screens and used them for 3 years fulltiming. We did end up in a few odd spots not always of our choosing and in that circumstance fitted the external screens inside.
To use inside we sewed tape on a few places and tied them to the sun visors and at the rear of the side windows I attched a P clip or two to hold them at the back.

Sorry, but you never know 100% if a stop is good or bad, and if in doubt we always wanted the ability to drive away without going outside.

Last, have to say that we never had to drive off in a hurry, but there were a couple of times we were happy we at least had the option and we do/did use motorway aires quite a lot.

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[philk]

external blinds

External blinds do not stop condensation, they simply stop your screen from being the coldest thing in the van so the moister goes somewhere else. Our last two Hymers and present Pilote A Class all have rear bedrooms, vented properly we have never steamed up.

 

[Brianandbarbara]

Thanks everyone, great advice, have contacted a couple of recomended suppiers and waiting for prices,Jaydee and Spacerunner, sorry didn't want to start trouble,i think you might need to meet up and buy each other a beer (any excuse is a good one) Happy m/homeing.

 

[JayDee]

Thanks everyone, great advice, have contacted a couple of recomended suppiers and waiting for prices,Jaydee and Spacerunner, sorry didn't want to start trouble,i think you might need to meet up and buy each other a beer (any excuse is a good one) Happy m/homeing.

Not your fault. No need to be sorry. You received some good advice here.


John

 

[stcyr]

Here, have a laugh: when we had Alice, our old MB608, we used double layer of bubble-wrap, carefully trimmed, tailored and edged with gaffer-tape. Used small velcro strips to attach it to the screen and side doors. It kept us condensation-free and cosy over two separate winters on the side of a hill in Wales, in snow, once down to -22.
The cover was ultralight, easy to position, let daylight through, and to remove quickly if necessary a tape attached to one end and through the opposite side window just needed a tug and the whole caboodle could be pulled inside just by opening the window a few inches.
When wet a quick shake got rid of most of the water or snow, then rolled up and chucked in the bathroom -
This cover is still being used by the new owner 5 years later. It's had one patch on it where he caught it on a wiper blade once.

Cost? Next to nothing as we had a 100m roll of bubble-wrap off ebay for about a tenner and a roll of pound-shop tape. Still got loads of the b-wrap left despite two of our sons using it to insulate the windows in winter in two static caravans... :thumb:

 

[Sidney]

I thought I'd dig this back up again...

I want a screen cover for my 2013 ducato that also covers the vents.

I had a silverscreen version for my 2004 ducato but disliked it quite a lot - it seemed to leave milky white marks from condensation or rain.

I also want one that fits better than this!

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or this...

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Any suggestions please?

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[Sidney]

Hey David, What about this one...

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Honestly I'd been looking for weeks and then tripped over this!

 

[Sidney]

Wait! David I've found it . for under £80!!!

 

[maz]

Hey David, What about this one...

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Honestly I'd been looking for weeks and then tripped over this!

Is it insulated tho'? Looks kind of thin and blurb only mentions blocking out the sun; no mention of padding.

 

[maz]

I want a screen cover for my 2013 ducato that also covers the vents.

Covering the vents makes no difference to any draughts you might be getting in the cab. Make sure the heater is switched to 'recirculate' before parking up - that makes a big difference. I use a standard SilverScreen on my 2010 Ducato cab and it's a lovely snug fit. I only cover the vents when there's snow - and I just use magnetic vinyl cut to size which is cheap, easy and works a treat.

 

[knokinonabit]

Covering the vents makes no difference to any draughts you might be getting in the cab.

One mans meat is another mans poison.
Covering the vents on our Fiat Auto-Trail makes a big difference with our Taylormade external cover.
Must say, I never thought of switching to recirculate though.
I'll have to go outside now and give it a try :thumb:.
Thanks for that tip

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