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Quote: Originally posted by lilly200_2 on 06/9/2010

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Could anyone tell me if it is ok or not to leave the caravan blinds closed when it is parked on our drive? I know you have to have them open when towing but somebody said you shouldn't leave them closed all the time. My drive gets lots of sun and i don't want the seats ect to fade and i dont really like to close the curtains (it takes ages to get the creases in them right again!!) Any advice?

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Police advice  is to leave them open as less likely to be broken into, as if there closed they think your hiding something.

The only problem I can see is you'll end up with is your blinds won't roll back up properly after a while. They're siilar to roller shutter doors & have tension put on springs in the barrel to rewind them, this will weaken if they're left down for long periods & you may need to re-tension them. I know how to re-tension a Roller shutter door but not a caravan blind so I can't tell you how to do it, but it's probably a simple matter of holding the blind in the rolled up position & rolling it round a couple of time before repositioning it in its guides.

BB

I leave them up to protect the springs. Wife likes them down to block sun on upholstery. When they are only halfway up they are neither up nor down. Just like the grand old duke of York's soldiers!

On the window of ours it says in direct sunlight leave the blinds half way up but the engineer who carried out the pre purchase inspection said that you shouldn't even leave them fully down for long periods even on holiday as the tensioners will go and they cost around £180-£200 per window to replace.  Fortunately we have a caravan cover on the drive so we don't need to bother with curtains or blinds.

Quote: Originally posted by lilly200_2 on 06/9/2010

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Can a caravan cover be used all year round or just in the winter? Do they harm the caravan?

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Depends which type you get - we have the protec cover which is both breathable and waterproof so won't cause damp. We have a loads of blossom trees around our drive which is why we bought ours but it does also help the caravan blend in with the privet.

If the engineer hadn't pointed it out we wouldn't have known not to leave the blinds down either - as normally blinds are supposed to be used.   I have to say we did use the blinds on holiday though at night - far quicker and easier than pulling the curtains along the tracks & then a load of curtain tie backs all over the place for little fingers to meddle with!!

Quote: Originally posted by lilly200_2 on 06/9/2010

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So are you saying they are ok to be left halfway up (or down)?

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Quote: Originally posted by lilly200_2 on 06/9/2010

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Can a caravan cover be used all year round or just in the winter? Do they harm the caravan?

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