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Topic: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise (Read 21 times) previous topic - next topic
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Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Yahoo Message Number: 156810
I was re-reading the manual for about the 3rd or 4th time.  I guess I must have just browsed over the section on pleated shades because I was rather surprised that the manual says "Avoid leaving the shades in the fully down/closed position for any extended length of time," which is "longer than overnight."  Without a doubt, I have left them down a bit longer than overnight to help with heat and cold, privacy, etc.  As far as I can tell, we have not stretched the pleated shades by leaving them down for longer periods of time.   (Shaking my head).

Do most leave the shades in the up position during storage?   Thank you in advance for some Pleated Shade guidance.  Btw, one Bucket List goal is to understand the Lazy Daze Manual before I leave this world!

Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156811
I leave the shades up.
Then I take a sheet of insulation board, the kind with foil on both sides, cut pieces to size and put them inside the windows to keep the sun from fading the fabric. Pieces of cardboard work as well.

Ed
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156812
In a message dated 11/3/2015 7:17:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com writes:
Quote
Quote
Do most leave the shades in the up position during storage?      Thank you in advance for some Pleated Shade guidance.  Btw,    one Bucket List goal is to    understand the Lazy Daze Manual before I leave this  world!

Ed,  I keep all my  shades down all of the time while camping in my driveway.  Nothing  bad has happened to them in the last 5 years since I purchased the  MH.

  John in  Escondido,  CA  2003 MB 26.5 with 19k  miles
John in Escondido,  CA
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156834
We have cardboard cutouts for long term storage and leave the blinds up Joel
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156861
I left the shades down in the LD while it sat all summer in covered storage. Nothing visible happened, but they were VERY hard to raise the first time....after that, they seem ok.
20 + MH's since 1977 incl...
Past
FMC, 2x GMC's, Foretravel, 2x LD
Present
1996 LD RB under restoration, my project to keep me off the streets.
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156927
For a couple of very hot weeks last summer in Oklahoma I left my new-to-me LD parked in direct sunlight. Didn't notice problem with lift shades. However the rear window has side pull shades & the passenger side pleating was significantly weakened. That was mostly a problem since without the tight pleats, the curtain would not stay latched in the open position.  Looked tacky & added to the list of rattles I was working to eliminate.

So I looped a Velcro strap around the open curtain during the day, thus eliminating the rattle & hoping to "bake" the pleats back in with summer heat (mostly seemed to work).  And I now put reflectix in the Windows - especially the back one - whenever it's parked for more than a few days in direct sun. Keeps it markedly cooler inside & helps protect curtains & stuff inside from sun damage.

Susie 07 MB
2007 MB
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156940
Reflected by the roll is definitely the easy way to go. Just be sure to get the 36" wide. Twice! - I'm a slow learner - I ended up not measuring the Windows first & bringing home 24" & 48" wide rolls.

Now that I have extra
2007 MB
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156943
Something else to consider, I made the mistake of leaving the rear blind down (blocking the sun and a great view of a shed) last summer and discovered a bit of mold on the window frame, which fortunately doesn't seem to have transferred to the blinds. Won't do that again...
 As for the Refectix in the windows, found several mentions online of windows breaking if the sun was too hot - the heat building up between the window and the foil. I am going to use it to keep the heat in this winter though.
 And Susie - I'm making snap on vent covers out of Refextix and vinyl - thanks for the idea of putting the foil in the door!

Pat The Pearl
The Pearl - 2000 31'
"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156946
If you have extra Reflectix, you might consider adding a layer of insulation to those storage bin doors that lead more directly to the coach interior. On my MB, that would be those that access the area under the forward dinette seat  or the ones below the rear couches.
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156947
One better bumper [and this will be the only time I claim to best him]. On the rear and dinette bins of a MB, cut foam insulation to fit between the wood slats on the bin tops. Open the bin door, bend over and twist your head to see the slats. Get the foam at any big box store. Cut it with a picket knife to fit snugly between the slats. I cover the foam edges with painters tape so the foam will not lose any cells from the twisting the rig does and fall out. Easy, cheap and say good bye to cold drafts.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
 
Re: Pleated Shades - A Big Surprise
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 156950
I lined the back under the bed-head and the bed side drawers - BIG improvement...

Pat The Pearl
The Pearl - 2000 31'
"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."