Silverscreens or the Fiamma version?

Marquis had agreed to supply an "Ext Silver Screen" with our X250 motorhome, but are not wanting to supply the Silverscreens version as they do not have an account with them. Marquis are offering the Fiamma version instead.  Any advice gratefully accepted, with thanks Tom and Lynne

Silverscreen.

The Fiamma version is thinner and provides less insulation - unless it has been improved in the couple of years since I looked at both.

Taylormade are good, but in my opinion genuine Silverscreens are the best. They fit better, are easier to put on and insulate very well. Condensation is a thing of the past.

Hope this helps

Dave

Silver screens every time for me, they are A1 , work brilliantly and no condensation, come in their own waterproof bag, easy to store.

Buy once is my moto.

Ditto.

Cymro

Yep, silver screens 

Had Silvercreens for may years but just upgraded to Taylormade and am most impressed. Main reason I changed was because they offered a long version which covers the scuttle (hence helping with the drainage problem but that's another story) however I was very pleased when I received them to find they have several innovative design improvements over the Silverscreens - too many to enumerate now as I'm in the middle of something but let me just mention one - hedgehogs!  

I also bought one of their bonnet covers to go with it; great for keeping the tree sap, bird sh!t, etc off my beautifully polished bonnet and wings.

cheers
Roger

Hedgehogs 

Not wanting to sound awkward but if they have said they will supply a Silverscreen - they need to do that and not another make of screen cover.

If they said a screen cover then they could supply any make ie: Fiama.
Silverscreen is a tradename of J&M

We have only ever used Silverscreens but there is nothing wrong with Taylormade, cant comment on any other make.

Taylormade long version screens for me, I have a 5 year old pair still going strong and a newer set of short ones I take with me on tour.
Boaby

roli wrote:Not wanting to sound awkward but if they have said they will supply a Silverscreen - they need to do that and not another make of screen cover.

Quite agree in principle Roli, but they may not be trying it on.

Not wanting to sound awkward here either, but "Silverscreens" is very often used as a generic term to describe any make of screen cover, which is why I specified "genuine Silverscreens".

I think a friendly, low key discussion with Messrs Marquis is the way to go, baring the teeth only if they start getting evasive. Their reputation for customer service at some of their branches is not all that impressive, but it's always best to use your last weapon last, and only throw a strop if you've tried everything else first.

Good luck. I would be happy with either Taylormade or Silverscreens, but I wouldn't be so keen on the Fiamma version.

Hope this helps

Dave

I have a  Silverscreen which I will replace if I change the van. It has performed well in ice, snow, heat waves, high winds etc, even used when the van is stored and still as good as new after around six years.
Easy one person fit in a couple of minutes.
Previously used internal padded screen but they caused condensation so not very good.
Suggest you insist on genuine Silverscreens.

Jaytee wrote:Hedgehogs 

I quote from the Taylormade fitting instructions:

"Covers are now supplied with an optional extra, a hedgehog to attach the cab
door covers to the van.  A Hedgehog is a small square of velcro and material with a magnet
sandwiched inside, the hedgehogs can be removed from the cover if not
required"

These are a really neat idea to stop the sides of the covers, over the doors, from flapping about in the wind.

Other improvements I didn't have time to list last night include: 

the addition of Velcro to allow greater adjustment of the triangular part that fits on the inside of each door; 

2 x black elastics which fit to the bottom of the front screen and can be hooked under the front bumper, again stopping wind flapping the cover; 

Velcro strips down the complete side of the front screen panel, which allows either the top or bottom to be folded to allow light in and/or a view out (they also offer an optional netting to add privacy, which we didn't add); 

the design of the cover means that it is possible to open the doors fully with the covers in place.

Having had a pair of Silverscreens for a number of years I was very satisfied with them and would have given them a recommendation here had I no experience of Taylormade. However, when I called Silverscreens they were unable to provide a longer cover version suitable for my vehicle (I note they now offer a 'bonnet extender but only for 2007-2014 models, not the newer or older). Hence why I went for the Taylormade.

But having now had a chance to use both makes, I am in a position to make a true comparison and I would say the Taylormade wins hands down on design and flexibility in use.  Obviously I can't comment on the relative longevity at this time.

The full bonnet cover I also bought does a perfect job too.

cheers
Roger

PS I have no experience of Fiamma covers so cannot compare those.

Just want to thank all of you who gave these helpful comments, and the issue is now all sorted out! Thanks again. Tomlynne

Hi Tomlynne, what did you eventually get?

Roger...if you have a moment, no rush, please would you give a bit more detail about the hedgehogs ?

We have a venerable Taylormade screen which has fabric strips to tie the side flaps to the cab doors. These are not 100% effective, especially when it's windy. I have some small, strong, neodymium magnets and could make a hedgehog I think.

Thanks,

Q

SOD IT

Someones torn the last page of the book out.

Andy

Quilter wrote:Roger...if you have a moment, no rush, please would you give a bit more detail about the hedgehogs ?

We have a venerable Taylormade screen which has fabric strips to tie the side flaps to the cab doors. These are not 100% effective, especially when it's windy. I have some small, strong, neodymium magnets and could make a hedgehog I think.

Thanks,

Q

Hi

They're basically a small pocket made of shiny polypropylene or similar one side and Velcro hook material the other with a magnet sewn inside.  The underside of the Taylormade screen has a matching Velcro loop square sewn on the underside about half way along each door section.  So when the 'hedgehogs"  (their name, not mine!) are in place you can't see them.

Pictures here:

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(sorry, couldn't get the second one in proper focus even using various macro settings!)

They also supply bonnet straps which stop the bottom of the front screen section from flapping (I have the long version that covers the scuttle and goes part way down the bonnet). These are a square of Velcro hook with a long elastic attached and a clip hook on the other end; the screen has a Velcro loop strip running all the way along the inside bottom and these fix to that, again out of site, then the hooks can be attached under the front bumper/spoiler (I've modified the clips by removing the sprung leaf closure strip as that was getting in the way):

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As you say, these wouldn't be difficult to make up but you would need also to have the Velcro loop strip/pads sewn on the relevant parts of the underside of the screens.

cheers
Roger

Many thanks Roger: great stuff. Along with the duct tape and cable ties we also have a bag of different kinds of Velcro in the van so sewing these will give me a project on a wet afternoon.

Q

Does anyone with a Merc based van have the Taylormade screens. Do they fit well?