Blinds and curtains while driving

[ollycaravanmad]

I have always thought why some people travel with curtains or blinds closed.
i always thought I have nothing to hide so I leave them open that way It's less likely to be, broken in too but I understand why people do as you don't want people starring at your belongings.

Also what is best for storage blinds down, curtains closed or open so it gets light.
Any views would be well appreciated

happy caravanning

 

[Damian]

Blinds open or closed while travelling..........simply a matter of personal choice.
Blinds or curtains open or closed in storage:
Depending which type of bind you have,,,,if you have the concertina type then it matters not whether open or closed.
If you have the sprung loaded retractable type, then leaving in the closed position does stretch the spring and weaken it, which means you then have to re tension it , which can involve partially removing the blind cassette to get to the tensioners.

Curtains,,,,,,,not all curtains cover the windows, some are just for show, as the blind provides the blackout condition at night.

Alternative.....make some cardboard or thin plywood templates of the windows and position them to keep the sunlight out of the van, saving bleaching of curtains and upholstery but also saving the springs

 

[Surfer]

Depending which type of bind you have,,,,if you have the concertina type then it matters not whether open or closed.

Damien this may be incorrect advice, however I am unsure. On the window of our caravan is a small sticker showing that the blinds should be left halfway open to prevent heat build up.
See here;

 

[Damian]

You are quite right about heat build up with any blind, however I (wrongly) assumed the owner would have read all the information about his or hr caravan and what precautions to take for various items, including the use of blinds.

What I meant to infer is that concertina blinds do not have tensioning springs, they are an interference fit.

 

[Surfer]

It seems that this label has only appeared on newer caravans with concertina blinds. Surely the windows shoudl be able to withstand any sort of build up of heat? Does it mean that they are unsuitable for use in Spain.
In summer we have the blinds fully up to keepo the caravan cool as the roof fan does not keep it cool plus we have ALDE heating so no fan like on the Truma heating to circulate cool air at a lower level.

 

[Raywood]

Having the front blinds open when towing should help if yopu have not closed a door properley as a couple of times we have set off and spotted doors swinging open through the inside mirror.

 

[ValA.]

Our front window was heat damaged by leaving our blind down all the time. The caravan was stored with the large front window facing south, and the heat build up must have been huge. The window started to craze, and it was diagnosed as heat damage. We had another window made to measure, and it wasn't as expensive as we thought it might be, but beware heat damage can actually happen.