Window treatments

[tdn2100]

Hi everyone!

I just bought an 88 Concourse and it is missing all the window treatments except for the back door. I am looking for ideas and suggestions for the best and/or most cost effective way to address that. I will need window coverings (preferably thermal/blackout curtains) for the cab, as well as the two large windows on either side of the coach.

Thanks!

[Skillet]

I'm looking to replace one of the large ones and have been doing some research. The cheapest I could find (and that includes going to Lowe's) are these 2:
https://www.blindschalet.com/
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... ades/1869d

Hope that helps and if you find something cheaper, post here!

[tdn2100]

is there a style at blindschalet you like? they all seem to cost upwards of $100. I have never bought blinds of any type, but that seems too expensive.

the one at camping world looks nice, but is too small.

[Skillet]

Sorry, didn't see you replied until now. If you're still out there, I was looking at this one currently on sale: https://www.blindschalet.com/day-night- ... hades.html
From my internet shopping experience you're lucky to get something under $150 so at this is a pretty good deal. If you miss the sale don't worry, they always run 'em.

Both of the sites I listed let you put in a custom size so you should find one in your size. I'm looking at replacing the large picture window blind behind the driver seat. My current sized broken one is 62"x29". Both sites have it available. What's holding me up at this point is how close will the color of the blinds be to what I've got. I don't want it to be obvious but I also don't want to replace *all* my blinds just because of one. Then again, it's just me and the dogs...

[Blue~Go]

I'm not saying these are the way to go (I'm not particularly fond of them, and they are not "blackout" by any stretch of the imagination), but just sort of for the record, since we are talking about them, the original day/night blinds in my '99 have the label of the maker on the bottom of the lower rails. It is "Specialty Window Coverings, Inc." in Elkhart Indiana. These are the pleated shades wherein two sets are on the same strings. First set to come down is a "day" shade (translucent) and the second part that comes down is a "night" shade (but not totally 100% private).

I've been thinking about what to put up instead. Contenders are flat panels with blackout fabric on outside, "nice" fabric on inside, just snapped or common-sense-fastenered to wall. But then they have to be taken down and stored during the day. Or similar panels but on a curtain track so they can be slid out of the way to the ends. Or something else...

[Skillet]

I didn't think to look for a label. I'll have to do it tomorrow if I remember. I like what was originally put in. It's nice to have a day screen and have light come in and semi-privacy. My night blinds work great and you cannot see in. I'll be looking for the type like what I have now.

[Blue~Go]

It'll be interesting to see if you have the same ones or not. Mine have a subtle pattern of... I guess I would say it is diamonds. Kind of like a white-on-white shirt, not obvious. Mine seem like they are private at night, but if you have lights on and then go outside, you can see shadows inside (like if a person were moving around) and you can definitely tell there are lights on inside. It is also possible to peer through the holes where the strings are. If I'm at a Rest Area or Wal-Mart, I want to KNOW no-one is looking in. Otherwise, for more casual purposes, they are "private" at night. I do agree that the function is good, and they are out of the way completely during the day. Oh, there are two other minor things I don't like. One is that you can't easily pull them aside to peek out (like you can a curtain), and the other is that you can't easily just open them an inch or two to let the cool air from an open window come in (since they open in the opposite plane).

Still though, I won't be taking them down till I come up with something better, because they are very functional. And no strings have broken yet (they did on my past rig - they can be re-strung but on that rig there were valances all the way around so the truly evil part was getting the danged blind back IN).

[Concourse]

See this thread for contact info of the original shade manufacturer. Call Specialty Window Coverings and ask them what info they need to quote you for new shades. Specialty is in Elkhart, IN which is THE town that houses most RV parts manufacturers, many RV companies, and even the RV museum.

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index. ... ic=47617.0

[Manitou]

Are they doing some roller type day/night shades in the new RV's these days? I'm not a fan of the string type we have, but they get the job done.. For now.

[Blue~Go]

Are they doing some roller type day/night shades in the new RV's these days? I'm not a fan of the string type we have, but they get the job done.. For now.

The popular thing nowadays is MCD shades. There is one similar/competing brand of which I cannot remember the name. Maybe Auto motion or something like that. But it seems the MCD are probably most popular. A friend of mine with a larger Class C just got them and installed them, so I got a good look.

Basically they are improved, more-sophisticated versions of the good old roller shade (like you would have had in a house). There are a few variations but the basic one is two rollers (one stacked above the other), one of which has a perforated black shade (cuts down sun/glare), and the other of which has a light blocking light-colored shade. You don't pull them down to make them fly up like the old ones, but rather just pull them to wherever you want them and they stop. Then you release them and they go up slowly, all civilized like.

You can also get them in a single roller, with either the perforated shade or the privacy shade. You can also get electrically operated ones with a remote.

I think they would fit behind our valances depth-wise, but I'm fairly sure that the two-roller version would hang down below the bottom of the valance (of course you can make a deeper valance, but that would block more of the window). The single roller version seems like it would fit, and with our tinted windows, maybe just the privacy ones would be fine.

A couple of things I didn't like about them: One, a vinyly smell, although that dissipates. Two, there is no provision for holding the bottom down, so with a window open/breeze they bang and flap around. I imagine they would do that if driving with them down as well. Sure, you can rig something up to counter that, but these are not inexpensive, so why have to (of course many rigs have side valances that are upholstered, so maybe not an issue for them, although I would think they would still clack on the window frame unless something like felt were added). Three, I just wasn't that fond of the material options. I will say that the black perforated shades are pretty slick (but I wouldn't want just those, because no privacy at night).

All in all, I can see why a lot of people really like the MCD shades, but I'm going to do some sort of curtain combination, most likely.