Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Esmeralda · Guru

RE: Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Firefly · Guru

Marj, look at this picture, its the easiest way for me to explain it, and along the top and bottom edges of this curtain.

Could you use that wire in your van. You know the stuff that is like a coil and covered in plastic, and has like a hook at the end that will attach to an eye in the wall?

If you had something along the top of the door, this may work.

Sorry I don't know what its called but they are cheap as chips and you can get them in the $2 type of stores or at Bunnings. We bought some for the Hawk when the wire overstretched at one stage.

Dunmowin · Guru

Firefly wrote:
With something like that, could you perhaps imitate the door screens that are on the telly now and use magnets up the middle so they close automatically?

http://www.globalshop.com.au/Product/203/BugMesh-Magnetic-Screen?utm_campaign=bugmesh%20-%20brand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=bugmesh%20-%20exact&utm_term=magnetic%20screen%20door&gclid=CJWZnOvWq64CFWNKpgod_VlJSA

Have seen these fly screens with magnets modified for van doors a couple of times now, apparently sell for $10.00 at Cheap as chips in Mildura.

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks firefly. Thats curtain wire, yes it would work if I could get the hook or eye attached somehow to the van.
The trouble is the area is not a straight line as the door slides open and leaves a moulded curved area. A caravan door has very straight lines in comparison to a whizzbang doorway.
Worth looking into though.

Smokeydk · Guru

We used the velcro dots around windows and on door and sowed the opposite dots on curtains to close them better for blocking light and privacy

Firefly · Guru

Ah I forgot the angle the door runs at Marj, I will re google and see what I get next time.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Magnet is available in strips as well as dots. It may be necessary to attach the curtain to the inside door frame with magnet strips when parked and remove it when on the move. Join it with shot velcro strips you sew on down the middle.
You can use shade cloth or something similar for the privacy and bug repellant, while keeping some breeze.

Happywanderer · The Master

CG So far have got the shadecloth/mozzie netting and some velcro dots. After reading your posts and others on here, have come to the conclusion I can put one side of the dots on the inside of the door area and the other side of the dots along the top of the two strips of mozzie netting. When I put them together and they drop down they will overlap in the middle right to the bottom. That will be the entrance to walk through.
I am sure I shouldn't have to do much else as being on the inside I don't think I will need magnets to hold it against the van.
Will try that first anyway and see how it goes.

Ole_Grizzly · Senior Member

I purchased a roll of 50mm wide magnetic plastic/rubber off eBay, then made a frame with it to fit all round the window rubber to cling onto the metal body work.

Joined the pieces with staples and then cut fibre glass flywire to size. Applied a bead of silicone all around the framing and pressed the flywire onto that. Left it overnight..perfect.

Very flexible and can be gently rolled up for tansport.

Doesn't look all that pretty, but heck, beats swiping flies out of my beer.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Thanks ole Grizzly. I might give that a go.

Ole_Grizzly · Senior Member

Just to add to my previous one.

If your window frame is aluminum then magnetics won't work.

A Ferrous tape is also available off eBay. This you stick to bodywork, and then the magnetic frame will work.

ChiChi1 · Guru

I was interested in Marj's idea, but only problem is the door is near the stove, so wouldn't work when cooking and I like to have the door open then. I think I can fit it around the door frame. Maybe a combination of the two. Fixed panel behind the stove and hanging portion so I can get outside. Still processing....

Esmeralda · Guru

My washing pod came today - and I was out disbelief Now I have to go to the post office to collect it - I hope it isn't too heavy - no parking near the post office

Dunmowin · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:
Firefly wrote:
With something like that, could you perhaps imitate the door screens that are on the telly now and use magnets up the middle so they close automatically?

http://www.globalshop.com.au/Product/203/BugMesh-Magnetic-Screen?utm_campaign=bugmesh%20-%20brand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content=bugmesh%20-%20exact&utm_term=magnetic%20screen%20door&gclid=CJWZnOvWq64CFWNKpgod_VlJSA
Have seen these fly screens with magnets modified for van doors a couple of times now, apparently sell for $10.00 at Cheap as chips in Mildura.

Bought ours the other day, and installed after a few modifications. Works well.

Happywanderer · The Master

Mine works well. 2 strips of mozzie netting. One side of the velcro dots along the inside top of the sliding door frame, the other side of the velcro dots along the top of the two lots of mozzie netting. Attach to two when I'm stopped. They overlap about 8 inches and hang down below the step a good 6 inches. Nothing can get in there.
Now think I will do the same for the back lift up door. Have already bought 2 squares for the drivers and passenger window. They work well by opening the door folding it all around and shutting the door on it, then winding down the windows.
So easy and so cheap.

Firefly · Guru

Dunmowin, do you think they are worth buying? On the telly they look like they would work a charm. smile

Marj, glad to see you worked yours out to suit your door.

jonathan · Guru

I actually bought the BUGMESH ones when I was staying with my friends "Jandas Fun" ..

You do get 2 for a good price and yes they work quite well as long as you have a flat face for them to come up against .. ie .. so they 'drop' down together, unhindered ..

I have since redesigned another type that is more suitable for my wheels and simpler to use ..

Jon

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Mine works well. 2 strips of mozzie netting. One side of the velcro dots along the inside top of the sliding door frame, the other side of the velcro dots along the top of the two lots of mozzie netting. Attach to two when I'm stopped. They overlap about 8 inches and hang down below the step a good 6 inches. Nothing can get in there.
Now think I will do the same for the back lift up door. Have already bought 2 squares for the drivers and passenger window. They work well by opening the door folding it all around and shutting the door on it, then winding down the windows.
So easy and so cheap.

How about some Pics. Marj. ?

Cheers,

Sheba.

Sheba · Guru

jonathan wrote:
I have since redesigned another type that is more suitable for my wheels and simpler to use ..
Jon
Some Pics. of yours would be good too Jonathon.
Cheers,
Sheba.

jonathan · Guru

Photos will only confuse the issue Sheba .. I'd have to explain every little thing just to convey my own application.

Mine is only a doorway fixture. Put simply ..

Picture a single piece of soft, black flyscreen approx. 6' x 2' in size that is weighted at the bottom with (7) small plastic weights and hung from a fixed position above the door arch on the inside. As it is not attached or secured at any other point as it hangs freely against the inner door frame, the occasional bug will get past it .. but it suits me

When not in use it is simply rolled up and kept in place with velcro.

Jon

Dunmowin · Guru

Firefly wrote:
Dunmowin, do you think they are worth buying? On the telly they look like they would work a charm.
Marj, glad to see you worked yours out to suit your door.

Firefly, at $10.00 I feel it was a cheep investment. They work well as long as you don't run through the doorway - as if we would into a caravan anyway. The magnets hold well, down the centre, and the velcro holding it along the side works a treat. Still have to tweeq the top where there are currently thumb tacks, maybe a couple of stitches to hold it on to our head banging board.

During the day, flys are not getting into the van, however at night, when there is a light on inside, small midgies, attracted by the light still get through the cracks - so at night, I just shut the screen door properly.

Happywanderer · The Master

Mines basically the same as that good looking man from 1971. Don't have it up to take photos as inside out of the heat of 38 deg today.
Have to take it down to close the sliding door because of the arm on the sliding door.
Two drops held up by velcro dots, they overlap so no bugs can get in. Have it in two so thats the opening to get in and out.

spice · Senior Member

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Dunco · Senior Member

Sure can !!

You can see the loop on the pull down...all you do is put one of those sticky hooks at the bottom of the door and job done !!

And I know what you mean about when you started this thread...with photos.

Please people, add photos for ease of understanding ..

-- Edited by Dunco on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 09:57:57 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I tried rigging up a insect screen on my Avan camper door opening and used stick on velcro but found the heat melted the sticky and it all just kept falling off. I will put the thinking cap on and try to come up with a better idea. Being a camper whatever I come up with has to be able to be put up and down easy.

Back to the drawing board for me. confuse confuse

Dunco · Senior Member

There would be some great hints and tip shere if people would upload photos....yes ????

My suggestion is that if you have a hint or tip, go to the extra trouble of uploading a photo as it is so much easier for everyone....cheers

Here is mine for the door of the van....instead of the curtains, I bought a $5 roller blind from Spotlight, cut it to size and fitted it...10 minutes work and gives great privacy and cn be rolled all the way to the bottom if you only close your flyscreen door if it is hot !!

Try it, you will be suprised

Boroma577 · Guru

Dunco wrote:
There would be some great hints and tip shere if people would upload photos....yes ????
I bought a $5 roller blind from Spotlight, cut it to size and fitted it.

Great idea about the pics Dunco. It was what I had in mind when I started the original thread.

Now to your idea re the roller blind.....is it able to be fixed at the bottom of the door??

jetj · Guru

I used some rare earth magnets to hold my flyscreens on my Hiace. They are fairly strong ones and seem to hold ok.

Nicholstones · Guru

Dunco wrote:
Here is mine for the door of the van....instead of the curtains, I bought a $5 roller blind from Spotlight, cut it to size and fitted it...10 minutes work and gives great privacy and cn be rolled all the way to the bottom if you only close your flyscreen door if it is hot !!

Try it, you will be suprised

Dunco - How does it go when you are travelling? Does it stay rolled up or does it unroll itself?

-- Edited by Nicholstones on Friday 2nd of March 2012 07:01:39 PM

Dunco · Senior Member

Nicholstones wrote:
Dunco wrote:
Here is mine for the door of the van....instead of the curtains, I bought a $5 roller blind from Spotlight, cut it to size and fitted it...10 minutes work and gives great privacy and cn be rolled all the way to the bottom if you only close your flyscreen door if it is hot !!

Try it, you will be suprised

Dunco - How does it go when you are travelling? Does it stay rolled up or does it unroll itself?

-- Edited by Nicholstones on Friday 2nd of March 2012 07:01:39 PM

It stays wherever you have it. It has never rolled up on me.