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Topic: BLINDS UP OR DOWN

MALCOLM1726

20/8/2011 at 1:46pm
Location: GWENT
Outfit: Swift Accord 480

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We have always towed our caravan with the blinds down in the closed position. My wife says this prevents the sun from fading the furnishings. But whilst in France last year the heat build-up between them and the front window caused the window to "blow".

Now having purchased a brand new van I am concerned it might happen again. I would appreciate yor thoughts on this.

Blinds up = faded furnishings

Blinds down= blown window?

Looking forward to your replies

Malcolm

mikecandsarhab

20/8/2011 at 2:04pm
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now mine dos not have blinds but i always travel with the curtains open, one so i can see whats going inside the van but also i can just see out the rear, i dont see a point traveling hiding everything from view as most people can guess whats inside.
ive also noticed that a few people say leaving them closed all the time can weaken the springs inside.
mike

timtheenchanter

20/8/2011 at 4:26pm
Location: Yeadon Leeds!
Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW

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blinds up for me, curtains open in storage, shows there is nothing to hire, prevents spring weakness in the springs.

I leave my cushions upside down, or in the centre isle of the van if for a long period, that way its only the underside that will fade.

Greendemon315

20/8/2011 at 5:00pm
Location: Blackburn Lancashire
Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery

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Blinds always up.

Jim

ellers52

20/8/2011 at 5:12pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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Always blinds up and curtains open, if the blinds come unfastened whilst on the road when they are down, perhaps if you go over a bump they will spring up suddenly and could be damaged. The amount of fading whilst on the road is minimal after all do you have the blinds down all the time when you get there ?

Rallye550

20/8/2011 at 5:20pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Swift Conqueror 645

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I was told off when I took ours in for it's service because the blinds were down. I asked why I shouldn't leave them down and the engineer told me.

1. The tension will go out of them
2. If they spring open whilst your travelling they could do a lot of damage damage

So now I just close the curtains when it's in storage

-------------
Live every day as if it's your last but not at risk to others :-)

pecker

20/8/2011 at 7:47pm
Location: Filton born n bred
Outfit: bailey ranger 500 5 Honda Cr-v

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Front and rear blinds up so I can see through the van and also inside it whilst towing. Although sometimes the sun reflects off the window so cant see anything through it anyway.

jeff juke

21/8/2011 at 11:36am
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I close the curtains over when the van is in storage,the only time the blinds are down is when the sun is shining in and thats not a lot in Scotland,or at night.

-------------
Animals have feelings..

JEFF................

661349

21/8/2011 at 5:17pm
Location: shropshire
Outfit: touring van

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always up when travling so u have full view into the van if anything is not fixed down and u can see whats going on behind weve always left ours up without any major fading we close the curtains for storage

Tunstallwood

22/8/2011 at 5:29am
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Compass Kensington + Octavia 4x4

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Blinds up when towing, the metallic backing can cause the sun to dazzle other road users too.

Andi

jennifernn

22/8/2011 at 11:35am
Location: NW of Glasgow
Outfit: Sterling Searcher 2008 Volvo XC90

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Depends what type of blinds you have.

If you have the pleated type then you can and should leave a gap at the top open to allow the heat to escape.

If very hot, we travel with blinds closed, but normally with them open.

-------------
Jennifer

steveiem

22/8/2011 at 9:00pm
Location: Clacton on Sea . Sunshine Coast
Outfit: Compass Navigator 1200 TDi swb

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blinds open ,,

-------------

There's a place for all gods creatures ,,

Right next to the potatoes and veg ,,,

sdrew56

22/8/2011 at 10:43pm
Location: Southampton
Outfit: Dethleffs Globus I1

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Blinds up when towing down in storage I've never had a problem with the springs on any of the 5 vans we have owned but if I did blinds are a fraction of the price of the soft furnishings.

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