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Wed May 16, 2012 7:09 pm

Any new news on the quality of these recenlty... I am thinking about ordering a set....

Wed May 16, 2012 7:39 pm

Quote: Any new news on the quality of these recenlty... I am thinking about ordering a set....

Suckers don't hold
The blankets don't fit the windows correctly
Suckers continue to fall out of the holes.

They are very poor quality and obviously made by people who don't care about how they turn out, but the bottom line is they are better than nothing. I will continue to use them until something better comes along or I get some curtains made. Hopefully they don't send you the first set I received and returned :twisted:

Wed May 16, 2012 7:48 pm

Same here, I used them 10 days ago in Yosemite. About 30% of the grommet holes are busted to some extent, I had blisters in my fingers after fitting all the suction cups thru the grommet holes, some of the grommets were really deformed making this task difficult. I also have two grommets missing from the blankets because they were so poorly installed they fell off. I also had issues fitting them over the windows, the front driver and passenger blankets are too big for the windows.

Question for those using the blankets, all pics I've seen show people installing then with the silver side facing out and the grey quilt size facing in. I was using my Propex at night and I though it would make sense to have the silver "reflective" side facing in so that they keep all that Propex heat inside, thoughts?

Wed May 16, 2012 8:14 pm

They look like a great product idea. To bad the quality isnt so good....

Does Busdepot still offer a Samba discount? If so they may be worth the purchase...

Wed May 16, 2012 8:28 pm

Put the silver to the warm side. In winter keeping heat in - toward you. In summer keeping heat out - away from you.

FYI, I have fashioned two sets of insulated window coverings from the Home Depot bubble foil with excellent results. About $50 with the clear suction cups they also sell. Get 4 cups per window, 6 for windshield, 2 for triangular vents. They're super light so they never fall down, 100% black dark if you size them right, and roll up into a tube with a bungee and hang from a coat hook (whole roll weighs perhaps 2 pounds).

One set I have used for a dozen nights in my LandCruiser and this set I have used 3 nights in the Van. One night there was ice between the insulation and the window - demonstrating how effective they are. Pretty sure I posted this once before.

With suction cups properly mounted, windows can be left cracked, the vents can be swiveled open, and the sliders can be left cracked.

The heat radiating properties of this must be better than the blankets because these are shiny reflective foil, not just silvery. When outside the van at night there is no light leaking through, which is what I wanted for stealth camping.

DougM

Wed May 16, 2012 8:33 pm

x2 on the DIY reflectix panels.

This thread helped me decide to go that route.

We used rare earth magnets on some attached with foil tape, others are just held in place by the curtains and cords.

Thu May 17, 2012 2:32 am

I guess I have good luck with my window blankets, the fit of a couple of them is not ideal.
When the windows are clean and the suction cups are too, they stick very well. For a little
tighter fit I sewed some velcro to the blankets and used the opposite velcro sticky back
on the doors. The offending windows the got the treatment of velcro are the two fronts and
the slider.

In the picture below shows one of the velcro patches, I have since added velcro to each of the
corners on the front doors and at each corner plus two across the middle top and bottom of
the slider.

Thu May 17, 2012 9:30 am

I have the full set ordered last spring from Eurocampers. I assume they are all from the same manufacturer, but mine fit and function really well. I bought them originally with keeping out the cold in mind. While the difference is noticeable, I really appreciate them in summer for keeping out the heat. They worked great last July camping and underway in the 100 degree heat of Southwest Montana. While driving the rural highways between Bozeman and Boise, I used the sides and the rear (occasionally) and the van interior was MUCH more comfortable with a reduced need for AC! :D

Thu May 17, 2012 9:33 am

I have the full set ordered last spring from Eurocampers. I assume they are all from the same manufacturer, but mine fit and function really well. I bought them originally with keeping out the cold in mind. While the difference is noticeable, I really appreciate them in summer for keeping out the heat. They worked great last July camping and underway in the 100 degree heat of Southwest Montana. While driving the rural highways between Bozeman and Boise, I used the sides and the rear (occasionally) and the van interior was MUCH more comfortable with a reduced need for AC! :D

Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:14 pm

My wife sewed up a prototype window blanket today. One side is some discount rack microsuede material, the other side is reflective mylar (good thickness) faced, 1/8" spun poly stuff. 6 rare earth magnets sewn in to hold it in place. There are pros and cons in using magnets, not as secure as snaps, but easier to work out the swapping of which side faces in feature. The idea is foil out to keep out sun, foil in to keep in heat.

alistair

Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:58 am

Looks nice! Job well done by your wife!

Mon Mar 11, 2013 5:23 am

That looks fantastic. Put me in for a set. lol

Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:00 am

What a bummer these aren't made with the same quality as a few years ago. I have the hatch and two rear side-windows constantly covered (about 3 years, now) with the insulated blankets and those suctions have yet to fail. I've camped in both sub zero weather and over 100 degree weather. The only problems I have with them (the windshield and doors) are getting the suctions to work when it's super cold. What usually helps is to clean either the suctions or where they'll be on the window with some glass cleaner. Getting the dust off and making a damp surface always seems to help.

Hopefully the quality will come back around for these things are invaluable.

Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:16 am

And...it only gets worse, sorry but as the suction cups age they gets even less pliable and will barely stick to anything, i even tried soaking them in hot water and a bubber conditioner, no go.
If someone out there came up,with a true working alternative, they could charge a lot.

Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:43 pm

tschroeder0 wrote: If someone out there came up,with a true working alternative, they could charge a lot.

I sewed magnets around the edges of the three I use most (still need to do the rest), and covered the grommet holes with Reflectix tape. Not a quick solution, but once it's completed it's a hell of a lot better than dealing with those suction cups (not to mention the cups not working with the Westy side window screens).

Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:28 pm

Any Updates on the Insulated Window Blankets.

I was going to order a set from Bus Depot at the upcoming Fall Discount Sale.. BTW, Great event.

Just wanted to know recent thoughts have they improved the items or are they still falling off the windows. Just curious as this is an older topic.

Any Update?

Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:38 pm

I have found that the set that I have. I have had to clean the suction cups to keep them plyable and sticking.
Cleaning them with window cleaner or simple green does the trick and then making sure the window surface
is as clean as possible. I would not leave home without them! I don't even use my front curtain any more,
just the front blanket set works great for me. I like other have had several of the blanket installed on windows
24/7 for what is now years! Buy a set and be your own judge!

Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:47 pm

Used my home made panels a month ago for a 4 day camping trip in BC with my wife. Never fell off, enjoyed being able to sleep with my sliders cracked, and liked the total blackout effect as we stealth camped a couple nights in places we did not want to be bothered. One advantage these have over blanket styles is the light weight which means they're less likely to pull suction cups off. The windshield is sloped enough that this lightness plus the slight "stiffness" of the material helps it stay up and support itself easily. I'd think the blankets in this situation would tend to sag or wilt when hanging on the suction cups with their full weight.

It's hard to imagine paying a lot of money for something so simple to make. I think I spent 45 minutes each on the two sets I have made (2 different vehicles).

DougM

Fri Sep 12, 2014 8:17 am

This is a great idea. What kind of mylar did you use? It seems like most of the stuff on the web is intended for gardening applications, is that where you sourced yours?

ragnarhairybreeks wrote: My wife sewed up a prototype window blanket today. One side is some discount rack microsuede material, the other side is reflective mylar (good thickness) faced, 1/8" spun poly stuff. 6 rare earth magnets sewn in to hold it in place. There are pros and cons in using magnets, not as secure as snaps, but easier to work out the swapping of which side faces in feature. The idea is foil out to keep out sun, foil in to keep in heat.

[Pics]

alistair

Fri Sep 12, 2014 12:02 pm

Hi,

more info on my blogpost

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/vanagon-insulated-window-blanket-prototype/

stuff was Insulshine

alistair