New Bag, Pad, and Reflectix Window Shades

[rjinga]

After our 4th Annual Winter Camp & Ride trip ended last weekend with us packing up our wet tents and gear in a slight drizzle, I began reconsidering the idea of sleeping in my 80 Series. I wanted a new sleeping bag anyway, but I also added in a new, narrower, sleeping pad to go with it. And then, after a test sleep in the driveway last night, I made some Reflectix window shades.

 

[Dragos80]

Are those actually made out of window shades cut to spec?

 

[Shoredreamer]

How are you securing the reflectix to the windows? Velcro, magnet, suction?

 

[00fourseventy]

How are you securing the reflectix to the windows? Velcro, magnet, suction?

I do the same thing in my 100, and use the small suction cups with hooks. I poked holes in the corners of the shades big enough to fit the part of the suction cup that has the hook on it, stick that through the hole, then put the hooks back on and straightened them out so it holds the suction cup on.

 

[Shoredreamer]

I do the same thing in my 100, and use the small suction cups with hooks. I poked holes in the corners of the shades big enough to fit the part of the suction cup that has the hook on it, stick that through the hole, then put the hooks back on and straightened them out so it holds the suction cup on.

Yeah me too. Velcro seemed like it would work, but suction cups stay well. Some of the suction cups lose their suction over time, but I got like 50 of them from Amazon so just swap and replace.

Also, the rare earth magnet and fender washer has worked best but won’t work on certain window and door designs.

 

[00fourseventy]

Yeah, I didn't want anything permanent on the windows or trim, if I could avoid it. I keep a s***load of those suction cups in a zip-loc in my glovebox since I always manage to lose a few in between uses lol.

 

[rjinga]

Are those actually made out of window shades cut to spec?

No. They were made out of a 48" x 25' roll of Reflectix (bought at Lowes). That was enough material to make shades for all of the side windows and the back windshield, as well as mess up two side shades as I was figuring out what I was doing.

How are you securing the reflectix to the windows? Velcro, magnet, suction?

I guess I'd say that they are secured by friction. Cover the outside of the window with a piece of butcher/kraft paper large enough to cover the entire window, with about a 3" overhang all the way around. Secure the paper with a few pieces of tape along the top. Then starting with the top, take your finger and press the paper into the edge where the glass meets the window frame. Trace that edge with a pen or pencil all the way around to make a template.

Cut out the template and transfer the shape to your piece of Reflectix (ballpoint pen seemed to work well). Then, when you're cutting the Reflectix, cut it just to the outside of your pen mark. It should press into the inside window frame with the edges slightly scrunched. Trim as needed. Once you have one side window fitted, use that shade as your template for the opposite window (trace and cut along the line this time).

 

[Shoredreamer]

No. They were made out of a 48" x 25' roll of Reflectix (bought at Lowes). That was enough material to make shades for all of the side windows and the back windshield, as well as mess up two side shades as I was figuring out what I was doing.



I guess I'd say that they are secured by friction. Cover the outside of the window with a piece of butcher/kraft paper large enough to cover the entire window, with about a 3" overhang all the way around. Secure the paper with a few pieces of tape along the top. Then starting with the top, take your finger and press the paper into the edge where the glass meets the window frame. Trace that edge with a pen or pencil all the way around to make a template.

Cut out the template and transfer the shape to your piece of Reflectix (ballpoint pen seemed to work well). Then, when you're cutting the Reflectix, cut it just to the outside of your pen mark. It should press into the inside window frame with the edges slightly scrunched. Trim as needed. Once you have one side window fitted, use that shade as your template for the opposite window (trace and cut along the line this time).

That’s a smart way to measure and cut. I’m gonna have to steal that idea to recut a piece for my hatch window, thanks!

 

[Dragos80]

It beats the hell out of my cardboard shades, which were stitched up with staples where I messed up in cutting them.

 

[half k cruiser]

Sleeping in the 80 is the way to go for one person camping !

 

[spressomon]

How much storage space is needed for all the windows worth of Reflectix?

 

[00fourseventy]

How much storage space is needed for all the windows worth of Reflectix?

I can measure this weekend, but folded and stacked together mine probably measure a couple inches thick, with a footprint about the size of a DeLorme gazetteer.