Blinds up or down?

[cobbers]

recently took my new van back to the dealer to have a couple of minors snags sorted. One of them was the front widow blind which wouldn't stay down.

When I picked it up I was asked whether we keep the blinds down when we store the van. I was told that keeping them down can affect the tensioners on the blinds. problem is that the alternative is either to leave them open and get faded upholstery and the security aspect that everyone can see in. Or, close the curtains and let them get faded. seems to me closing the blinds is the least worst option. What do others do?

 

[Dexter1]

Cobbers, I'd suggest that the blinds are left down when the 'van is not in use. If required the springs can be re-tensioned simply by tightening the spring holder at the top. If a blind won't stay down check the alignment of the guides as it's more probably not locating properly in the hooks.

Gordon

 

[Steve_374341117]

My van is stored on my drive alongside the house. Because it's quite well shaded I leave the blinds up. I do put a windscreen sunshade in the front windows to protect upholstery.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

If you do decide to draw your curtains then push them behind the window catches which keeps them nice and tight and therefore the light off the cushion fabrics.

 

[Paul_5064559]

cobbers

A service engineer once advised me not to lower blinds when in storage but instead to buy a roll of the silver faced material sold at diy stores for insulating the wall behind radiators. This can be easily cut with scissors to each window shape and if placed with silver side out makes a good opaque and reflective temporary blind and can be reused each year over and over.

You will need two sections to cover your front windows horizontaly and I just support the top section with short pieces of gaffer tape from the plastic blind housings and inside the curtains. In fact I dont need to attach to any of the other windows as the material is quite stiff and if cut oversize will wedge into to blind track. Been using the same material for 6 winters now. No fading and all blinds are relaxing on their holiday!