Front curtain

[Darkhematite]

Getting ready to take the plunge.  My girlfriend and I will be moving into a 2000 extended ford econoline.  Plans are slowly coming together, but we found we were stumped by the curtain between the seats and the cabin.  Something so simple I thought I wouldn't have a problem building it, but after looking at it for about a hour last night I still didn't have a idea I liked.  A quick google search this morning and I didn't find an easy way to block the light from coming from the cabin.  So, I thought I would ask the professionals.  This model, even with the passenger seat all the way forward it still is in the doorway of the cabin door.  And with the cabin door and passenger door so close together, almost all the space is taken by the seat belt.  We thought of attaching Velcro across the top and sides to hang the curtain.  With the seatbelt, this doesn't seem feasible.  We also thought about reflectix in the front 2 windows and a sun screen in the windsheild.  But I'm concerned that will leak light out the windshield and kill stealth.  Any body done this out of a econoline?  Or Know of pictures that I missed?  

 

[James AKA Lynx]

NO light showing?? That is a real challenge. <br><br>To have more room. Do the front windows and move the seats backwards. 4 nuts and a turnaround.<br><br>Getting no light to show is total blackout conditions is hard but It can be done.<br><br>However, after a night or 2 in one location the locals will know you are living in the van. <br><br>Best to use small LED headlights that do not put out much overall light.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[Darkhematite]

Thanks James. &nbsp;I'm mostly hoping to block out the LED glow of a laptop, and a small phone. &nbsp;The idea now is to get ready for bed, drive to where ever we will be sleeping and go to bed, then get up and drive away, but I'll need some down time once I lay down. &nbsp;It won't look like a summers day inside, just some small screens on. &nbsp;<br><br>I'm not sure what you are getting at with "4 nuts and a turnaround" &nbsp;I hope to swap the passenger seat with a rotating chair from a yard eventually, for boondocking. &nbsp;Is that what you are reffering to, or did I miss the point altogether? &nbsp;<br><br>I most likely won't be using the same sleeping spot 2 nights in a row without express permission from the owner. &nbsp;Friends, co-workers, the like. &nbsp;So I'm not really worried about raising any alarms, Just trying to minimize the chances of having a run in with the law during the week.&nbsp;

 

[James AKA Lynx]

The "4 nuts" is referring to the nuts underneath the chairs. for one person you can leave the chair turn around as long as you can see the outside mirror. A lot cheaper than paying for the revolving pedestal. <br><br>Sitting in the chair backwards is so much better for me than sitting any other place.<br><br>What you are trying to do is not easy. There is a person who put slides for the material to make a light and vapor seal. He says that it is much cooler. <br><br>I put Velcro for a bug screens on my boat. I put small screws in them after sealing them in. <br><br>Best.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[Van-Tramp]

We do not have the same van, but maybe my way will be helpful?<br><br> I bought some <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eclipse-K...ficient-Curtain-Panel-Denim/13968556?t=1&amp;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">‘blackout’ curtains from Walmart</a> ($20), a <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Sew-Snaps-with-Tool/19757792?t=1&amp;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">few snaps</a> ($5) to mount it all, and I have curtains that do not let light in or out. Great for privacy and a thermal barrier in the winter. As you can see from the picture, the side windows do still have a little gap that the curtains do not cover, but my next revision I will add some additional length to fix that.<br><br>I use the snaps as the velcro's glue backing kept melting away in the heat. Snaps hold everything much better.<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/captains-chars-1024x682.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[Van-Tramp]

Personally, I think any <span id="post_message_1278515525">reflectix in any window is a huge neon-light advertising that someone is sleeping in the van/vehicle. For all my windows I use 1" think foam inserts cut to each window's size and shape (buy at fabric stores for cheap). The foam is then inserted into a dark pillow case (also cheap at Walmart) so anyone looking at or even into the van sees only black. The foam will seal up nicely and keep light from glowing out as well as keep the cold out.<br><br>Point is, reflectix is NOT stealthy at all.<br></span>

 

[Darkhematite]

I was hoping that with the tinted windows in the dark, that the reflitix wouldn't show the tin foil through, but, I really like the foam/fabric idea. Does that just pop in, or do they have to be attached some how? As for the front, I love the snap idea. I was wondering what I was going to do to get the velcro to stick.

Also, I like that overhead shelf.

 

[Van-Tramp]

My foam inserts just popped in for a few months, but as the foam takes on the shape of your windows they do begin to start slipping out when driving, so this past winter I use some velcro to hold them in place. Now the heat is melting that velcro of course, so I will have to fin a different way to keep them in place.<br><br id="tinymce" class="mceContentBody ">

 

[MrNoodly]

I think you just need to make your curtain with enough extra fabric to allow it to wrap behind the seats.<br><br>There are molding strips at home improvement centers that are about 1.5" x 3/16" and made from plastic. They are very flexible and can follow the contour of the roof. Attach the curtain to that leaving lots of pleats or gathers. Make the curtain plenty long so it more than reaches the floor. Leave flaps on the side that can reach to velcro on the the two sides of the van.

 

[Guest]

At the back, and between the seating and back, &nbsp;I've been using black plastic cardboard (corflute) with a stick on magnetic strip on the back of it. &nbsp;Works well where ever i get a flat surface. Haven't tried heating and molding it for the curves, but know that this can be done. Two rear windows: I've left it up constantly, but found the other day that the magnets are rusting, staining the van paint. Heat is also affecting the adhesive on the magnetic strip. Still thinking what to do about that.&nbsp;

 

[Darkhematite]

These are all really great ideas. &nbsp;Thank you.&nbsp;

 

[nowhhs]

I second the use of snaps rather than velcro. Velcro will eventually peel off when you're removing the curtain. Use the snaps that mount with a screw and screw one side into the space between doors, and mount the other half of the snap into the fabric. That being said, my van is a lot smaller than yours, so I wanted to block the entire front of the vehicle, not just behind the seats. I found some THICK black fabric and cut one piece to curve around and block both front side windows as well as the windshield. I mounted it with snaps and it's almost completely light-proof. I should have made it longer, and then it would be. A little light leaks around the bottom of the curtain.

Van-Tramp: Have you considered using hot melt glue to hold your foam in place? As long as you NEVER intend to remove it, I've found it works very well.

Norm

 

[Guest]

hello all <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; I'm new here, but am mentally working out the details of our own campervan conversion so I've thought a little bit about the window/light issue but haven't put it all into practice yet.&nbsp; I'll share my ideas anyway in case something is shareworthy.<br><br>I do know that <span id="post_message_1278518216"><span id="post_message_1278515525">reflectix </span></span>product and I am thinking I will use it in all windows except for the front ones.&nbsp; My van I think I will just have to worry about the 2 rear windows and one sliding side door window. For those windows I will cut to fit and cover one side of the <span id="post_message_1278518216"><span id="post_message_1278515525">reflectix </span></span>with black duct tape so that it is covered completely in black, and then just leave the other side alone so that it will retain it's reflecting properties. One side of the reflectix gives me that black out effect, but I could also turn it around and use it to reflect sun. I hope those will stay propped up into the windows ok but if not I'll work out some way to attach them.&nbsp; Additionally I will fashion additional curtains of that black out variety like Van Tramp did.&nbsp; I want the both in place for insulating issues as well as blocking light from getting in or out. I've read that there is a high heat version of duct tape? I'll be looking into using that. <br><br>Regarding the front of the van, we are looking at cargo vans that have that cage that separates the driving cabin from the cargo area, and I'm contemplating just leaving that in place and then additionally using reflectix again covered halfway in black duct tape and then attaching that so that it completely blocks off that cage. Then additionally I'll get the black out curtains to cover the interior part so it will look nice. I will have a section that will be cut out so that we can remove it while driving so we can still see out of the back windows and side windows, but that I can put it back in place for when we are settled in the living quarters. This is both for light blocking and also insulating the cabin area. This seems like a stealthy way to work with what we got.<br><br>Oh! and I just saw someone (lol, I can't for the LIFE of me spell that name!) mention the magnetic strips... I have also considered those, we will see what ends up being the best way to get all that set into place, but I second the use of trying out those magnetic strips <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br>

 

[ilovemyvan]

I'm still experimenting but I'm thinking clothes pins:<br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 24px; top: 40px; width: 576px; height: 432px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAEzqY/rYJRds86WHU/s576/DSCN0159.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><br><br><img class="bbc_img" style="width: 576px; height: 432px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAEzqQ/vPVwqpA0h7o/s576/DSCN0158.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br>It looks pretty bad&nbsp;when I try to&nbsp;wrap it around the front, I'll think of something&nbsp;<br><img class="bbc_img" style="left: 24px; top: 40px; width: 576px; height: 432px; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAEzqg/xVgSvyWNc6c/s576/DSCN0160.JPG?gl=US" rel="lightbox"><br><br><br>Nicole