Warwick Duo - Cab Curtains, retro fit

Hello everyone
 
Our Warwick Duo came fitted with the vertical ‘concertina’ windscreen privacy blind.  It doesn’t close up to the top of the windscreen due to the rear view mirror/reversing camera, so we have decided to fit some ‘old school’ cab curtains.  We have obtained the Silent Gliss curtain track & fixings from Auto Sleepers, pre-bent to the correct shape, but it would be useful to see exactly where (& how) it fits before we start making holes in the cab roof liner!  Unfortunately, Auto Sleepers couldn’t assist with a picture, as they no longer fit cab curtains. If any of you have the factory fitted cab curtains and could post a picture of the track, it would be much appreciated.
 
The curtain are just for overnight stops on aires.  When on sites for a longer stay, we use an external wrap around screen cover which also keeps the van cool.

Any comments/assistance welcome.
 
Regards
Gill

I attach some pictures. My Warwick Duo is 2010/11, so it may be different. My concertina blind fits around the mirror stem, as  the tops of the blind uprights have been cut (see pictures).



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You may find that you can't screw into the headliner, which is about as strong as a corn flakes box - which I have to add, is quite adequate for its intended use.

On our Nuevo there were little squares of 5mm plywood under the headliner and the curtain track was screwed into those. They were not fixed, which means you would have to partially lower the headliner and get your hand in to hold them while you screw. On ours that could be done by removing the materiel trim from the cross member above the driver/passenger's head.

This may not be applicable as I don't know your van, but hopefully it will help.

Gillyhar wrote:Hello everyone
 
Our Warwick Duo came fitted with the vertical ‘concertina’ windscreen privacy blind.  It doesn’t close up to the top of the windscreen due to the rear view mirror/reversing camera,
Any comments/assistance welcome.
 
Regards
Gill

 We have a 2014 Duo and the mirror bends out of the way to allow the blind to reach the top of the screen. Just bend the mirror / camera screen down: no problem

I have no problem with the factory fitted concertina blinds on our duo fitting around the mirror/camera.

Thank you all for your replies.  Much appreciated.
 
David, the picture is spot on and very helpful.  Just what I needed. Thank you for taking the trouble to go out in the cold with your camera!
 
Gromit. Thanks for the warning about the strength of the headliner.  I will shop for lightweight fabric accordingly!
 
Spospe & rgermain: I think the 2 part, side-to-side closing blinds are a better idea, unfortunately we have the single unit, up and down blind.  We do pull the mirror/camera out of the way, but as the mirror stem is stuck onto the windscreen, there is always going to be a 4” gap at the top which the blind cannot pass, only partly covered by pulling the sun visors down.
 
Many thanks
Gill

I think there might be some confusion about what counts as "vertical".

I believe some concertina screens are pulled up, rather than slid across. If Gill has the former, that could account for the difficulty. Ours are sliders and we don't have a problem - possibly because we have no internal mirror!  

I'm quite tall and it obscures my view too much, but the little cut outs in the blinds worked perfectly before I removed it.

Ah, now I see why you have a problem. Thought they were side to side type.

Hope you find a solution.

Gillyhar wrote:
 
Spospe & rgermain: I think the 2 part, side-to-side closing blinds are a better idea, unfortunately we have the single unit, up and down blind.  We do pull the mirror/camera out of the way, but as the mirror stem is stuck onto the windscreen, there is always going to be a 4” gap at the top which the blind cannot pass, only partly covered by pulling the sun visors down.
 
Many thanks
Gill

On our installation, the blind can be raised all the way; there is no gap at all.

Gillyhar wrote:Hello everyone
 
Our Warwick Duo came fitted with the vertical ‘concertina’ windscreen privacy blind.  It doesn’t close up to the top of the windscreen due to the rear view mirror/reversing camera, so we have decided to fit some ‘old school’ cab curtains. 
Regards
Gill

Hi Gill

We used to have a Symbol which had the vertical blinds as yours.

I have posted previously on this (unfortunately can't find my posting) when somebody else had raised the problem. I was also asked on site once how I managed to close the front blind fully.

There is a knack to closing the blind fully which with practice becomes easy. At first you may think you are forcing it too much but persevere.

First make sure the rear view camera screen is attached fully against the rear view mirror. Align the mirror so that the screen is parallel to the windscreen. Pull the blind up and as it gets to the mirror just pull the centre of the blind out slightly and the frame should just clear the mirror. Then as the blind gets near to the top of the windscreen you will feel a slight resistance, which are the securing lugs in the tracks on the windscreen pillars. Twist the frame at the ends slightly anticlockwise towards you while pulling up and the frame will go fully up and lock into position keeping the blind fully closed.

Hope you can follow the above, easier to demonstrate than write. Once you've done it, it becomes second nature. It will save you putting holes in the roof lining.

The horizontal blinds now fitted are much better, but to retrofit is quite expensive.

Regards

Hubert


ps - Welcome to the forum

I use the same method as Hubert does to close the vertical blinds-without any problems, though I first remove the camera from the rear view mirror in case it catches and damages the blind. Might however give it a go with the camera still fixed to the mirror, next time.
Mel