Need for thermal screens this Spring
We are planning a trip to Brittany in about four weeks. I'm wondering if I can save a bit of space by leaving my TaylorMade Screens behind. I already have Heki blinds so privacy is not an issue. Anyone like to hazard a guess whether I'll lose too much warmth through the cab at night? As we anticipate staying on a fair few Aires for the odd night, it'll make life a bit easier as well.
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I would take them, CY. We've needed ours in July before. Not in France, admittedly but Brittany's not that far away.
We keep them tucked under a bunk and they don't take up that much room. Also, it’s not unheard of for cab blinds to break and I always think "what if....".
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I'd leave it behind. By early May onwards the temperatures should start to rise in Brittany. We're off to Italy next week via Poland (long way round!) and I don't plan to take the Silverscreen.
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Middle of May, leave them at home...
you can always turn the heating up if it's cold....other than at night (when you're tucked up) you probably won't need to heat the van....
itll be light till goodness knows what time then (an hour ahead of us) and with a little luck youll be outside most of the time....
if it's hot, the cab blinds will keep most of the sun at bay....keeping the inside of the van cool.
we much prefer to have an open view out of our van hence the reluctance to use exterior screens.
yes, you could be unlucky and get a cold snap....just put the gas heating on....
in winter, in France, yes I would say take them, but we never use them in Spain on the coasts in winter, and France in mid May should be as warm as that.
youre obviously thinking about 'space' and 'faff' otherwise you wouldn't have posted
leave them at home and bring back more wine...
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There you go, CY, flip a coin.
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As you really haven't got an answer CY, can I ask how much benefit you all get from the screen covers as I have never used them. We do tour during the winter and I know it gets cold and a lot of condensation in the cab area but do the external covers really make a difference ?
Thanks. Gerry
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Yes they do make a terrific difference, Gerry. They need to be good quality exterior screens and both Silverscreens and Taylormade insulate the cab windows and stop the dreaded condensation.
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I reckon our external silverscreen is one of our top purchases. In use all the time, we have an older motorhome with cab curtains, a bit of a faff. If we're away in the colder months no condensation on the front screen from cooking or breathing. It's great in the warmer weather for ķeeping the sun/heat out. We have an opening flap so we get light in and open aspect when it's down. If we bought again I'd add the privacy screen which stays up when you pull the flap (in our case full screen width). You can also get longer versions to cover the vents, but we just closed the vent 😉
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We use our Taylormade thermal screen all year. In the winter it helps keep in the warmth in the van and in the summer, if it's hot, it helps keep the van cooler. Another advantage of using a thermal screen in summer is that with the much longer days it helps reduce the amount of light coming into the vehicle early in the morning which might wake you up if that is an issue for you.
David
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Cannot really guide you about Brittany, CY -- never been there so don't know the climate.
BUT back from Old Hartley, nr Whitley Bay after 5 nights over last w/end and my TM screens were worth their weight in duvets !! Wednesday night in a howling gale the 6kg bottle ran out, but I honestly could not open the mo'vans rear doors to change over due to the weight of wind, so I was without the built in heating. I had taken a tiny fan heater 'cos it was the first runout of the year and who knows what will fail !. But after a nice warm brew it was quite warm enough under the duvet & next morning there was nary a sign of condensation anywhere. After the bottle was changed & service restored there was no real difference over the rest of the nights tho' they were a lot less windy & rather warmer outside .
So I reckon you should Take Them & if need be store 'em under the van when on site, & in some handy spot ( Shower Compartment ?? ) when travelling.
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I suppose the responses could be construed as a 'balanced view'. Thanks for your thoughts folks. I am, as they say, none the wiser but better informed.
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I don't see your problem with room CY surely as soon as you stop, out it comes from where ever you have placed it for travelling and on it goes on the screen. I would never travel without ours, its just stuffed in its bag and thrown in some convenient space, usually the overcab, until we arrive and then it is almost immediately put to use. I have blinds as well but hardly ever use them, they do not stop condensation.
peedee
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We only get condensation if there is a mismatch in temperatures, so a small amount of heating overnight when it's cold usually solves the problem. If it's hot we use the blinds etc. Personally we just don't like them and like to keep the van windows clear, one less job too.
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We don't use ours when touring in France/Spain in the spring or autumn never felt the need for them the cab blinds are more than capable of doing a good job. Even if its chilly its not going to be freezing so the norm for us is to have the skylight open a touch or the kitchen window on the first catch to allow fresh air to circulate.
Wouldn't be without them in winter though over here. Taylormade long ones for us.
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Ah TG, but you're from Scotland. I'm a soft southerner.
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Same for us Brie, we like to be able to look out all round....it's one of the reasons we have a van with large open glazing...
i still think that Brittany, mid May won't require additional insulation..
phew, it's about 70 here at Cirencester and it won't be anything like Brian's Old Hartley experience....more like T-shirts and flip flops...
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Yes but your view is out the windscreen and side windows isn't it. I would feel the same if we had that layout.
With the rear lounge we always face that to the view (if any) which means we can, when required leave the silver screens on the windscreen. We have on occasion just dropped the front down a bit to let light flow through the van.
Totally agree though I don't think they will be needed in Brittany in May.
Did you get the email I sent?
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TG, sorry, nothing lately, I've just sent something to you though...
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Our silver screens split into three sections. I just stuff the screens (wet or dry, they will be on the screen when stopped) into three dustbin liners and use them as anti rattle padding.
when parked up, I have no rattles !
if it's not cold, it's hot , and they get used as sun blockers.
rgds
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You're real cruel you are BB
!!Might I make a point here about my 'Screens' Please :-
I have the longer variety by Taylormade, which came with a central section held in place by hi-grip velcro or similar. BUT there is also a secondary mesh section which can be placed under the centre. This allows a good degree of visibility OUT, reduces the excessive sunlight IN along with adding a fair degree of privacy as well.
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Hi CY
In my opinion external screen covers do exactly what they're designed to do, but as you suggest they do take up space. In the warmer months I use some external covers by a company on ebay called Fuel-Lagoon. They are a lightweight nylon type material, fit externally in two minutes and do provide a level of insulation. The bonus for me having a pvc is that they fit in the glove box when travelling. They're decent value at around £40
JK
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