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Subject Topic: Blinds .... Up or Down ?? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonJdDerek
15/6/2014 at 11:13pm
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 550 or Vango Orchy 600 View JdDerek's Profile View Profile   Reply to JdDerek Reply   Quote JdDerek Quote  
Joined: 19/8/2011

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Having had our first successful weekend in a caravan we dropped it off at its place of storage.

We noticed that a lot of the vans had been stored with there blinds down but I am certain that I have read somewhere that this will damage there Springs ? ?

We asked the owner of the storage facility who basically said yes it can weaken the springs but if you don't the interior of the van will definitely fade in the sun.

So the question is do you leave your blinds up or down ? ?


Personbobmel
15/6/2014 at 11:55pm
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti View bobmel's Profile View Profile   Reply to bobmel Reply   Quote bobmel Quote  
Joined: 26/8/2007

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Manufacturer recommends blinds up, you can always draw the curtains, this is what we do.

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Robert (BoB)


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Personscuba-doo
16/6/2014 at 6:04am
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: Bailey Ranger 500 5 View scuba-doo's Profile View Profile   Reply to scuba-doo Reply   Quote scuba-doo Quote  
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I was also told to leave the blinds up when not in use, problem with that is if stored out in the open the curtains can fade quicker.

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Debs & David


Personmadasaman
16/6/2014 at 7:52am
 Location:  Wales
 Outfit:  Volvo XC60 R Design View madasaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to madasaman Reply   Quote madasaman Quote  
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We leave the blinds up and have bought windscreen sun shades which we peg together for the front windows, single ones do the sides. Tea towel pegged to frame for door window.

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73 going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder


Personclbewi
16/6/2014 at 8:03am
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Lunar Delta TS 2017 View clbewi's Profile View Profile   Reply to clbewi Reply   Quote clbewi Quote  
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we close the curtains in storage to stop the sun

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Claire and Colin


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PersonLobeyDosser
16/6/2014 at 10:17am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4 View LobeyDosser's Profile View Profile   Reply to LobeyDosser Reply   Quote LobeyDosser Quote  
Joined: 28/12/2002

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Our latest van had been stored with the blinds up but the curtains closed.

Most of the blinds are okay but the curtains are well faded.

However, a packet of dye and some work next year will restore the curtains to their original colour.
A lot easier and cheaper that trying to restore the colour of the upholstery!

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Lobey.


Personmoz1013
16/6/2014 at 12:38pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Vango Odyssey AirBeam 600 Tent View moz1013's Profile View Profile   Reply to moz1013 Reply   Quote moz1013 Quote  
Joined: 01/7/2007

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Always stored with blinds down. The UV in sunlight will do terrible damage to sofa, carpet and curtain fabrics in only a year or two from new if blinds are left up.

Our old Bailey, which was 15 years old when we sold it, was in immaculate condition, no fading to the fabric or carpets at all. And the springs on the blinds were fine too after 15 years of being left in the down position!

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2015 - our 1st year of caravanning with a new baby. Can't wait! :)


PersonRamette
16/6/2014 at 2:26pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Abbey GTS 215 View Ramette's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ramette Reply   Quote Ramette Quote  
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Our "new" 21 year old caravan has immaculate curtains, carpet and soft furnishings and all blinds are full functional... Owner always left them in the down position so we are carrying that on,


Personaudicab26
16/6/2014 at 6:50pm
 Location: South
 Outfit:  Pageant Bordeaux S7 View audicab26's Profile View Profile   Reply to audicab26 Reply   Quote audicab26 Quote  
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We leave ours down, just p/ex'd our 10yr old van and the blinds worked fine. We leave the blinds up over winter when the cover is on though.


Personsuggett1976
16/6/2014 at 7:16pm
 Location: West Sussex
 Outfit: 2003 Swift Charisma 540 View suggett1976's Profile View Profile   Reply to suggett1976 Reply   Quote suggett1976 Quote  
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my blinds are always down. Have been for 10yrs. Nothing wrong with the springs.


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Personfreeatlast
16/6/2014 at 8:01pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit:  Mitsubishi ASX4 View freeatlast's Profile View Profile   Reply to freeatlast Reply   Quote freeatlast Quote  
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Blinds up and caravan cover on.


Personissym
16/6/2014 at 8:08pm
 Location: Cambridgeshire
 Outfit: Outfitless!!!Vauxhal View issym's Profile View Profile   Reply to issym Reply   Quote issym Quote  
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Blinds down in storage and up when towing.

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Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.


PersonSproz
16/6/2014 at 9:22pm
 Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
 Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700 View Sproz's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sproz Reply   Quote Sproz Quote  
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Blinds down and tension the springs when needed withnthe adjuster on the ends


PersonJdDerek
17/6/2014 at 1:57am
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Avondale Rialto 550 or Vango Orchy 600 View JdDerek's Profile View Profile   Reply to JdDerek Reply   Quote JdDerek Quote  
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In the end we found a simple solution....

We had a trip to B&Q to buy a Carbon/Smoke alarm for the Caravan and whilst there my clever wife spotted a large pair of curtains in the reduced bin for £5 so they are now held in place throughout the van by clothes pegs.

We now have the best of both


PersonLobeyDosser
17/6/2014 at 2:13am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4 View LobeyDosser's Profile View Profile   Reply to LobeyDosser Reply   Quote LobeyDosser Quote  
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A slightly simpler solution.

I keep my van in my workshop. No need for blinds or anything else as it is under cover 24/7.

-------------
Lobey.


PersonPatches
17/6/2014 at 10:04am
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Freelander 2 2.2GS View Patches's Profile View Profile   Reply to Patches Reply   Quote Patches Quote  
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The manual for our van recommends blinds up as it will weaken the mechanism, so when it's in storage use all our fleece blankets (which are useful to have around anyway when the van is in use) and cover all the seating and beds with them to stop fading.  Only takes a few minutes and the seats have not faded at all.



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