Front screen cover

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:03 am

Hi all, I have a new Broadway built on the boxer chassis with Remis blinds on the side windows and front screen!
I am advised by a friend and owner of an A class that I need a front windscreen cover (one of the silver reflective ones)

Can I ask.....is this good advise?......are they nessasary on the newer vehicles....do they indeed enhance the insulation?

What are the best makes if the conscensus is yes they are good?

Ray

by Gromit Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:33 am

Libraryman2 wrote:Can I ask.....is this good advise?......are they nessasary on the newer vehicles....do they indeed enhance the insulation?

What are the best makes if the conscensus is yes they are good?

Ray

Hi Ray

Yes it is ......... Yes they are ........ Yes they do! biggrin

The concertina screens are next to useless for insulation (though very good otherwise) so you need an external screen for the cold weather.

I would suggest either genuine Silver Screens or Taylor Made. There's not a lot to choose between them, so have a browse and decide which one you like best. They do have some differing features which may influence your choice.

http://www.silverscreens.co.uk/

http://www.taylormade-covers.co.uk/

Dave smile!

by burlingtonboaby Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:39 am

I have the Taylor made longer version screens that cover the air intake grills, leave them on all winter and when parked up at home, currently have a standard set on the windscreen whilst sitting in the sea fog in Whitby , oh happy days.
Boaby

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:34 pm

Cheers guys, great replies and much appreciated.

Ray

by daisy mae Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:38 pm

Silver screens me too

by -mojo- Thu Jun 16, 2016 1:24 pm

Ok, I'll add the contrary view.

I've got an external insulated screen cover for my van and it does of course add a little bit of extra insulation but... I hardly ever use it!

The thing is that, although it rolls up fairly small, I have better use for the space.

Yes, it does add insulation, but the heating in the van is good enough that it can keep the van comfortably warm in subzero temperatures without it in place.

Now it's obviously true that it will cost me a little more to heat without the screen cover on (unless I'm staying on a site with EHU, in which case the extra electricity is "free") but the difference is likely to be a few pennies per hour. Mine cost £50, so I'm never going to recover the cost, and I don't need it for comfort or privacy - so why use it?

[I should add the above is just my own personal perspective, based on my own assessment of cost, space use and convenience. I understand that many others on this forum will not agree with my conclusions!]

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 1:43 pm

-mojo- wrote:
A fair point and valid opinion, worth considering.

Ray

Ok, I'll add the contrary view.

I've got an external insulated screen cover for my van and it does of course add a little bit of extra insulation but... I hardly ever use it!

The thing is that, although it rolls up fairly small, I have better use for the space.

Yes, it does add insulation, but the heating in the van is good enough that it can keep the van comfortably warm in subzero temperatures without it in place.

Now it's obviously true that it will cost me a little more to heat without the screen cover on (unless I'm staying on a site with EHU, in which case the extra electricity is "free") but the difference is likely to be a few pennies per hour. Mine cost £50, so I'm never going to recover the cost, and I don't need it for comfort or privacy - so why use it?

[I should add the above is just my own personal perspective, based on my own assessment of cost, space use and convenience. I understand that many others on this forum will not agree with my conclusions!]

by daisy mae Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:14 pm

Another point, you don`t get condensation running down the windscreen in the mornings, it does make a difference if you have anything larger than a panel van.

by -mojo- Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:24 pm

Agreed - and I should add that on a panel/window van like mine, the potential for heat loss through other routes than the front screen is (relatively) much greater - with a fabric pop-top, any saving that you might get through insulating the windscreen pales into insignificance!

But on a coachbuilt, I would expect the gain to be much more significant in relative terms.

by Greyhound Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:25 pm

I was shocked how much warmer they are with the screens in place. We went away in March this year when it was still chilly at night and I hadn't bothered put them up and a cold draft was coming off the cab screen all night which was pretty noticeable as I'm the one who ends up on that side of the bed.

The next night I put the silver screen up (inside version) and didn't notice the draft anymore.

Good in summer too to stop the sun baking the interior and keep it cool for our mutt.

With a pop top you can get external wrap around versions that do the same thing for the canvas. Very useful in the colder months.

by Gromit Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:35 pm

Hi Mojo

I had never even considered the potential savings - and I am a fully paid up skinflint!!! snigger

For us it's all to do with comfort and condensation.

Comfort because it makes the front of the van a lot more cosy, particularly in cold and windy weather. If you have the long screen it also covers the air inlet grille (and keeps out the cold air, even if you forget to switch the air intake to "internal") and it stops leaves and other detritus getting in there and other orifices in the scuttle.

Secondly, and arguably more importantly, I can't think it does the van much good to have rivulets of water running down the screen and behind the front of the dash. On a very chilly night we are talking about (probably) a cupful of water, judging by how many times the absorbent cloth needs wringing out - and that doesn't include the amount that escapes before you can catch it in the cloth!!

Dave smile!

by rogerblack Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:35 pm

It is of course a matter of personal preference, we do use them most of the time

We have had both makes and found them both of good quality, we changed to the ones with the longer panel which covers the grille to help minimise problems due to rainwater from the scuttle going over the engine. We leave them on whenever the van is parked up on the drive.

Whilst using the van, not only do they keep it warmer during colder months but also in the summer, especially when we're in France, they also help keep the inside cool.

The Taylor ones also have the benefit of the front panel being kept in place using Velcro which means we can fold down the top half during the day to let in light and enjoy the view, without completely removing them.

One further benefit of using the screens over the cab curtains is that they completely block the light which Mrs B prefers rather than having sunlight flooding in on early dawns during summer which wakes her up!

As I said, each to their own preferences.
drinksallround

cheers
Roger

by Cymro Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:36 pm

Wouldn't be without my Taylormade external screens. Had internal type on earlier AS, but because current AS has the Remis concertina internal blinds, I had to go for external cover this time. Much better (doesn't fall away from windscreen - internals tend to because of slope - and thus there are no pockets of condensation.) The only disadvantage is putting them on / removing /storing when wet. Taylormade are very well made.

by Gromit Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:38 pm

rogerblack wrote:The Taylor ones also have the benefit of the front panel being kept in place using Velcro which means we can fold down the top half during the day to let in light and enjoy the view, without completely removing them.
Roger

Just for interest Roger, our Silver Screens are the same.

Dave smile!

by daisy mae Thu Jun 16, 2016 3:18 pm

Mine also, silver screens have the middle panel that rolls down.

by harrysp Thu Jun 16, 2016 3:21 pm

Silver screens for us. Not been without them in 16 years. Keep the van warm in winter and keep it cool for dog in hot summer weather. Internal Remis blinds are handy but the condensation will be bad.

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 3:40 pm

Hi all, many good points here, however I have now ordered the tailor made long version with the optional netting.
In all my searching, the reviews are balanced with no clear winner between the two options though silver screens do seem very popular!

Ray

by willy eckerslike Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:51 pm

That's impressive, four hours and forty minutes from requesting advice to making a purchase. Shows the value of the forum !!
I've got the Silver Screens by the way and well worth the money.

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:02 pm

Yes I suppose it would appear to be a quick decision, however....I had been considering it for some days prior to asking for advise.

The points posted just tipped the balance really and I could have waited for more views but to ask then dither just adds more complication and indecision.

Best just to get on with it, the forum really can help here.

Ray

by Gromit Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:31 pm

Hi Ray

You are a mere amateur at quick decisions.

We once called in for petrol and bought a new car - and we hadn't been considering it beforehand either!
And before you ask, we were not Smiley-Congrats

at the time either!!

Dave smile!

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:38 pm

Oh Dave please don't set up a challenge like that:hugegrins:......I went to get a hose pipe from a rally and came away with a new caravan:biggrin:

Then my good wife went to buy a wrights pie....no pie but a holiday...

I'm no amateur but I admit that I've never bought a car instead of petrol:scratch head:

Ray

by CC Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:46 pm

We've a set and like mojo hardly ever use them.... They are bulky & a pain to store especially wet! Certainly don't need them this time of year, the palaver getting them out, putting them on & taking them off again is more effort than I'm prepared to endure each day.

We rarely stay at any stop over for more than one night so just use the blinds. The vast majority of people I see using silver screens stay static in one place & usually keep the screens fitted along with their blinds shut permantly which always strikes us as anti-social shrugg

I carry our Taylor made screens in our wet locker just in case, but would now only bother fitting them if it was frosty weather.

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:53 pm

Yes I would agree with that logic, I do quite a bit of winter rallying so they are primarily for that, however I store my vehicle at home and I'll use it whilst it's stored...I feel it will help to keep uv out of the cab area.

Ray

by TrickyWoo Thu Jun 23, 2016 9:14 pm

Gromit wrote:Hi Ray

You are a mere amateur at quick decisions.

We once called in for petrol and bought a new car - and we hadn't been considering it beforehand either!
And before you ask, we were not at the time either!!

Dave

Years ago on a w/end rally, on the Sunday morning one chap drove off the rally field to fetch a newspaper and drove back onto the rally field with a different car. He then spent the next few hours fitting a towbar so he could actually tow his caravan home!

by Libraryman2 Thu Jun 23, 2016 11:30 pm

TrickyWoo wrote:
Gromit wrote:Hi Ray

You are a mere amateur at quick decisions.

We once called in for petrol and bought a new car - and we hadn't been considering it beforehand either!
And before you ask, we were not at the time either!!

Dave

Years ago on a w/end rally, on the Sunday morning one chap drove off the rally field to fetch a newspaper and drove back onto the rally field with a different car. He then spent the next few hours fitting a towbar so he could actually tow his caravan home!

now that's a quick decision I'll gladly defer too:hugegrins:,

Ray

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