We had a sail track installed along the full length of our caravan sliding a 90% shade cloth into it.
It provides nice shade & privacy but seems to do nothing for the fridge temperature.
We also had a thermostatic extraction fan installed which seemed reluctant to turn off once it got started.
One time when we couldn't get much solar, it almost flattened our caravan battery.
It did nothing for the fridge temperature either.
It was installed professionally by the highly regarded Caravan Refrigeration Specialists.
It died a natural & doesn't come on now.
Best way to keep our fridge cold in hot weather is to buy a bag of ice, put it in plastic containers & put them on the shelves
It lasts for a week.
Dougwe said
02:46 PM Oct 22, 2022
I also have a full length sail track fitted to that side if my TeePee. I just put a full length shade up and that keeps sun and weather from that side. I also have 2 x 100mm square fans fitted to inside of top vent to extract hot air out from back of fridge and is wired into 12v system and controlled manually from inside the TeePee. Has worked a treat for 8 years now.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
maids said
02:55 PM Oct 22, 2022
Ours has the sail track already.
I asked someone on ebay if the privacy screen would fit and he said no.
I will take another look thank you
maids said
02:58 PM Oct 22, 2022
what shade did you use please?
maids said
03:24 PM Oct 22, 2022
what kind of shade did you use please
Dougwe said
03:25 PM Oct 22, 2022
All my shade/privacy screens are 'Coast to Coast'. There are a few flavors around, but I like the Coast to Coast. All 8 years old and still plenty of life left in them.
Edit...Ooops, forgot to mention, I live in my van full time and have things set up for long periods of time. There is no hurry.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 03:28:37 PM
Cupie said
05:16 PM Oct 22, 2022
maids wrote:
what shade did you use please?
I use Coast to coast also.
Had some ALDI ones but binned them.
maids said
01:42 PM Nov 27, 2022
86GTS wrote:
We had a sail track installed along the full length of our caravan sliding a 90% shade cloth into it. It provides nice shade & privacy but seems to do nothing for the fridge temperature. We also had a thermostatic extraction fan installed which seemed reluctant to turn off once it got started. One time when we couldn't get much solar, it almost flattened our caravan battery. It did nothing for the fridge temperature either. It was installed professionally by the highly regarded Caravan Refrigeration Specialists. It died a natural & doesn't come on now. Best way to keep our fridge cold in hot weather is to buy a bag of ice, put it in plastic containers & put them on the shelves It lasts for a week.
how did you fit shade cloth in please
86GTS said
02:16 PM Nov 27, 2022
maids wrote:
86GTS wrote:
We had a sail track installed along the full length of our caravan sliding a 90% shade cloth into it. It provides nice shade & privacy but seems to do nothing for the fridge temperature. We also had a thermostatic extraction fan installed which seemed reluctant to turn off once it got started. One time when we couldn't get much solar, it almost flattened our caravan battery. It did nothing for the fridge temperature either. It was installed professionally by the highly regarded Caravan Refrigeration Specialists. It died a natural & doesn't come on now. Best way to keep our fridge cold in hot weather is to buy a bag of ice, put it in plastic containers & put them on the shelves It lasts for a week.
how did you fit shade cloth in please
Unfolded shade cloth, move our door step to the other side of the caravan, stand on my toes & slide about a foot of the shade cloth into the track. The missus has hold of the cloth edge & pulls the rest all the way along, I the hold it out & peg it down.
maids said
03:13 PM Nov 27, 2022
so you mean double the edge thickness?
Bobdown said
05:21 PM Nov 27, 2022
maids wrote:
so you mean double the edge thickness?
Sail track on the side of the van and a shade screen with a cord sewn into the edge that slides into the sail track...........go look in a RV shop or google it maids.
We have one similar to Bobdown, drops the temperature by 5 degrees.
maids said
06:11 PM Nov 27, 2022
Bobdown wrote:
maids wrote:
so you mean double the edge thickness?
Sail track on the side of the van and a shade screen with a cord sewn into the edge that slides into the sail track...........go look in a RV shop or google it maids.
I need one 180 wide was looking at shade cloth but not sure if it will stay in the track
Cupie said
06:23 PM Nov 27, 2022
86GTS wrote:
.
Unfolded shade cloth, move our door step to the other side of the caravan, stand on my toes & slide about a foot of the shade cloth into the track. The missus has hold of the cloth edge & pulls the rest all the way along, I the hold it out & peg it down.
I saw a post somewhere that described an excellent way to slide the shade cloth or whatever into the sail track.
It involved attaching a very small pulley to a lynch pin slipped into the far end of the track. One end of a loop of thin cord thru the pulley clipped onto the top leading edge of the shade cloth and using the other end of the cord to pull the shade cloth along the track while assisting its passage by feeding the shade cloth into the track. Becomes a one person job.
maids said
06:26 PM Nov 27, 2022
more interested on how it stays I the track
Cupie said
06:45 PM Nov 27, 2022
maids wrote:
more interested on how it stays I the track
I once made a screen out of shade cloth.
First choose a length of cordage that fits into the track. Compare it with the cord in a commercial privacy screen. Should be the same diameter.
Better if you can get some of that gristle 'cord' that they use. I couldn't find a supplier. An old roll out awning cover might be a good donor if you can get one.
Make a test piece by sewing the cordage into a hem of a piece of the shade cloth fabric. If it works then make the real thing.
Use a heavy needle & thread to fix the leading end of the shade cloth hem to the cord.
I must say that mine works but it doesn't look too good and is a PITA to fit. I replaced it with a commercial privacy screen that cost around $160.
On reflection, it may have worked better if I had hemmed it with a piece of smooth plastic, but my sewing skills are not up to that task. Much easier to buy one.
86GTS said
06:49 PM Nov 27, 2022
maids wrote:
more interested on how it stays I the track
The guide track is attached along an edge of your vehicle, the shade cloth has an edge with a round beading that matches the track.
It slides into the track & stays put until you slide it out.
Sorry but this is the best illustration that I could find.
maids said
07:03 PM Nov 27, 2022
lol, sorry I found that soooo funny.
I know how the bought shade fits into the track.
I am looking for a cheap way to either make one or use a privacy screen which are much cheaper than the fridge shade ones.
God only knows why as they are very similar
Whenarewethere said
07:32 PM Nov 27, 2022
Wrap your choice of material over bead, a bit of rope will do, & sew, by hand if necessary, probably about an hour per metre. Easy.
Whenarewethere said
10:10 AM Nov 28, 2022
In a previous life I sewed a new ceiling for my car, similar to private jets. Luxury for a necessary requirement. It's not difficult. You just need to pull the finger out. An awning is a piece of cake!
Bobdown said
11:41 AM Nov 28, 2022
maids wrote:
I need one 180 wide was looking at shade cloth but not sure if it will stay in the track
That's a fat fridge Maids........you need to get a canvas maker / sail maker to sew a cord in your choice of fabric, so it's a snug fit.
Or buy a privacy screen about 3.0 m wide and get a bit extra shade........Cheers Bob
Ian G said
01:08 PM Nov 28, 2022
Bobdown wrote:
maids wrote:
I need one 180 wide was looking at shade cloth but not sure if it will stay in the track
That's a fat fridge Maids........you need to get a canvas maker / sail maker to sew a cord in your choice of fabric, so it's a snug fit.
Or buy a privacy screen about 3.0 m wide and get a bit extra shade........Cheers Bob
I think her window is 180 not the fridge !!
PeterInSa said
01:48 PM Nov 29, 2022
We have a Fiamma roof Awning on our Sprinter. To provide shade at 45deg out from the awning, I purchased some shade cloth from Bunnings had a Canvas business stitch in some plastic beading to fit the Fiamma front side awning slot and at the same time some larger beading to fit the standard Caravan awning guide track that I had mounted on the drivers side. From memory this is around 5m long. The Bunnings awning shade now can be used either side of the Sprinter.
The canvas guy stitched up the sides and the bottom of the shade cloth awning and also put int 4 brass eyelets for rope/peg tie downs.
StewG said
04:21 PM Nov 29, 2022
I've never felt the need to shade the fridge side of the van, but I bought a silver-coloured polypropylene "tarpaulin" to protect the a-frame of the van (gas cylinders, etc.) when not travelling. These "tarps" can be bought cheaply and in large sizes or cut to size. They often have reinforcing (cord) on the edges and eyelets. The stainless steel brackets intended for use as a pivot point for pneumatic struts are ideal as hooks for eyelets with a spring clip to keep the tarp on the hook if needed.
Just add a rope track...Bunnings sell them in various colours.
Whenarewethere said
05:59 PM Nov 30, 2022
StewG wrote:
I've never felt the need to shade the fridge side of the van, but I bought a silver-coloured polypropylene "tarpaulin" to protect the a-frame of the van (gas cylinders, etc.) when not travelling. These "tarps" can be bought cheaply and in large sizes or cut to size. They often have reinforcing (cord) on the edges and eyelets. The stainless steel brackets intended for use as a pivot point for pneumatic struts are ideal as hooks for eyelets with a spring clip to keep the tarp on the hook if needed.
I just fitted a sail track along the roof edge & can slide in any size privacy screen.
I had a quick look at Caravan camping site for fridge shades & found one 1000 wide.
https://www.caravanrvcamping.com.au/coast-black-fridge-vent-sunscreen-w-black-sail-track-w1000mm-x-h1900mm
Big fridge.
Try here : https://rvsunshades.com.au/caravan-fridge-shade-screen-1-8x1-9m/
Ken
It provides nice shade & privacy but seems to do nothing for the fridge temperature.
We also had a thermostatic extraction fan installed which seemed reluctant to turn off once it got started.
One time when we couldn't get much solar, it almost flattened our caravan battery.
It did nothing for the fridge temperature either.
It was installed professionally by the highly regarded Caravan Refrigeration Specialists.
It died a natural & doesn't come on now.
Best way to keep our fridge cold in hot weather is to buy a bag of ice, put it in plastic containers & put them on the shelves
It lasts for a week.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Ours has the sail track already.
I asked someone on ebay if the privacy screen would fit and he said no.
I will take another look thank you
what shade did you use please?
what kind of shade did you use please
All my shade/privacy screens are 'Coast to Coast'. There are a few flavors around, but I like the Coast to Coast. All 8 years old and still plenty of life left in them.
Edit...Ooops, forgot to mention, I live in my van full time and have things set up for long periods of time. There is no hurry.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 03:28:37 PM
I use Coast to coast also.
Had some ALDI ones but binned them.
how did you fit shade cloth in please
Unfolded shade cloth, move our door step to the other side of the caravan, stand on my toes & slide about a foot of the shade cloth into the track. The missus has hold of the cloth edge & pulls the rest all the way along, I the hold it out & peg it down.
Sail track on the side of the van and a shade screen with a cord sewn into the edge that slides into the sail track...........go look in a RV shop or google it maids.
We have one similar to Bobdown, drops the temperature by 5 degrees.
I need one 180 wide was looking at shade cloth but not sure if it will stay in the track
I saw a post somewhere that described an excellent way to slide the shade cloth or whatever into the sail track.
It involved attaching a very small pulley to a lynch pin slipped into the far end of the track. One end of a loop of thin cord thru the pulley clipped onto the top leading edge of the shade cloth and using the other end of the cord to pull the shade cloth along the track while assisting its passage by feeding the shade cloth into the track. Becomes a one person job.
I once made a screen out of shade cloth.
First choose a length of cordage that fits into the track. Compare it with the cord in a commercial privacy screen. Should be the same diameter.
Better if you can get some of that gristle 'cord' that they use. I couldn't find a supplier. An old roll out awning cover might be a good donor if you can get one.
Make a test piece by sewing the cordage into a hem of a piece of the shade cloth fabric. If it works then make the real thing.
Use a heavy needle & thread to fix the leading end of the shade cloth hem to the cord.
I must say that mine works but it doesn't look too good and is a PITA to fit. I replaced it with a commercial privacy screen that cost around $160.
On reflection, it may have worked better if I had hemmed it with a piece of smooth plastic, but my sewing skills are not up to that task. Much easier to buy one.
The guide track is attached along an edge of your vehicle, the shade cloth has an edge with a round beading that matches the track.
It slides into the track & stays put until you slide it out.
Sorry but this is the best illustration that I could find.
Wrap your choice of material over bead, a bit of rope will do, & sew, by hand if necessary, probably about an hour per metre. Easy.
In a previous life I sewed a new ceiling for my car, similar to private jets. Luxury for a necessary requirement. It's not difficult. You just need to pull the finger out. An awning is a piece of cake!
That's a fat fridge Maids........you need to get a canvas maker / sail maker to sew a cord in your choice of fabric, so it's a snug fit.
Or buy a privacy screen about 3.0 m wide and get a bit extra shade........Cheers Bob
I think her window is 180 not the fridge !!
The canvas guy stitched up the sides and the bottom of the shade cloth awning and also put int 4 brass eyelets for rope/peg tie downs.
This is the size you are looking for.
CARAVAN FRIDGE SIDE SCREEN VENT SHADE Premium 1800mm WIDTH - 1800mm HEIGHT - Camping Mate
Just add a rope track...Bunnings sell them in various colours.
Whitworth Marine sell stainless steel R clips.