Blinds....again....

[John316]

We are looking at getting blinds for our bus, finally . For the windows we are probably going to get the remote controlled motorized blinds.

I am looking for advice on the sunshade for the windshield. Really we would like a motorized sunshade for that too, because then the driver can adjust everything himself. What do you guys use and like?

Any thoughts?

God bless,

John

[JackConrad]

For our windshields, we kept it simple. We used 2 window shades. They can be pulled down part way to block sun when driving and can be pulled down all the way for privacy when parked.  Jack

[John316]

Jack, Great to hear from you. I hope that you are enjoying the time.

So you mean that you just purchased regular window blinds for the front? Then you just mounted them straight,  so they would be out just a bit because of the curve...Right?

God bless,

John

[JackConrad]

    Maybe I  need to expain my terminology, so everyone understands what I am talking about.  I use the term shades to describe the sheets of vinyl that roll up on a spring loaded roller and blinds for the thing that has a lot of slats that can be tilted or raised to allow a wide open view.
   I installed the blinds on the bottom of an overhead cabinet above the windshield, near the top of the windshield. When pulled down for privay, the bottom of the shade is about even with the back edge of the dash (front edge of the stepwell).  Jack

[luvrbus]

John, you can buy the front power shades from MCI,Prevost,Setra or Van Hool  also the ones from Camping World may work for you I didn't like theirs because of the side rails  good luck

[cody]

Has anyone priced out the power shades? I'm kinda curious on the cost.  What we had done was to get 2 nice thermal insulated drapes in a pattern that went well with our interior, that were 8ft wide and had them shortened to 36 inches and mounted a track along the top over the windshield, when they are closed they cover not only the side windows but the entire windshield and have a certain amount of thermal protection because of the lining.

[luvrbus]

Cody, I priced out the Hunter-Douglas not worth it me over 600 bucks ea and up  buying at a discount through a buddy.
Most of the power shades come in 110v only the little motor that they use is non serviceable and relpacement cost is 300 bucks. 
A friend of mine has the battery powered ones in his Prevost that uses 8 batteries FWIW he is not a happy camper replacing the batteries ever month or so    good luck

[cody]

Wow, thats a lot of money, I think I can continue to pull them together manually. lol

[John316]

For the side windows, the blinds were going to be about 400, with the power option.

God bless,

John

[luvrbus]

What brand John and are they top mount or vertical and day- night or one shade you can buy the RV type cheaper but they have more problems least the ones I had in the Prevost were.      

good luck

[Jeremy]

Regarding the power sun shade (to prevent the driver being blinded by the sun) I'm planning to make my own system using a couple of electric window mechanisms from a car, mounted upside down above the windscreen. I've already planned out how it'll be arranged, and it's actually very simple to do. Everything will be hidden behind a panel, with the sunshade itself just dropping down when required. The plan at the moment is to make the shade itself from some thick clear plastic sheet that's been bent up into a curve to match the windscreen, then covered with the familiar coloured translucent film. A simpler solution (it. flat plastic, or fabric/vinyl etc) would probably be equally good.

To totally block the windscreen whilst camping I'm currently planning on using a curtain running on a curved track around the whole of the front (ie. covering side windows as well). This is partly because I think it will be an easier solution than blinds given the curve of the windscreen, and partly because some time ago someone posted photos on here showing their front curtains, and I thought it made the inside of the bus look really cosy and warm.

Jeremy

[John316]

Clifford,

They were Hunter Douglas blinds. Top mount, and I don't remember whether they were blackout or not. Lowes website is where we priced them.

Thanks for the ideas Jeremy.

God bless,

John