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Old 05-06-2015, 08:14 PM   #1
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Need shades darker

Has anyone come up with a way to make the standard shades block more light? Along the lines of black out shades or at least light blocking. The windows in the loft area of the 5.0TA let in too much for my liking when we get stuck spending a travel night in a parking lot. Won't be many campgrounds open through the midwest when were traveling this November.
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Old 05-06-2015, 08:20 PM   #2
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Techfan has figured out a way to use Velcro for his latest modification to the windows. Couldn't you just use a black-out fabric underneath the standard shades and "Velcroed" to the window frame to block out the light and then pull down the shade over it? Or maybe it would be too tight of a fit?
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Old 05-06-2015, 08:26 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by padlin View Post
Has anyone come up with a way to make the standard shades block more light? Along the lines of black out shades or at least light blocking. The windows in the loft area of the 5.0TA let in too much for my liking when we get stuck spending a travel night in a parking lot. Won't be many campgrounds open through the midwest when were traveling this November.
The pleated pull down shades are available as day/night shades from a number of places, but they are VERY expensive since they are custom made to fit the window size. I would just rig some blackout curtains, as several forum members have done, or use some reflectix inserts.
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Old 05-06-2015, 08:52 PM   #4
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I bought a roll of peel and stick tint window film at Home Depot. Lowe's also has it. They have three levels darkness including limo tint. Goes on easy and is removable. Easy on and stays put until you want to remove it.


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Old 05-06-2015, 09:57 PM   #5
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We have cut panels of Reflectix that we slide between the pleated shades and the window at night or whenever needed. It blacks out the light completely and also serves to insulate from heat and cold.
We also made one for the escape hatch over the bed.
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Old 05-06-2015, 11:27 PM   #6
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like others we have done reflectix. one down side is the increase in condensation on windows
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Old 05-07-2015, 12:37 AM   #7
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I made "black-out" curtains last year. They go over the pull down blinds.
I bought some "suede type" panels----cut them to size and bought some "loopy" trim to go across the top.

I did buy some 3M little clear hooks that I put on the top"metal" part of the pulldown blinds--- so far they have stayed up just fine and they are small and clear and aren't really noticeable..

I can tuck the extra length of the curtains in the blind and they aren't in the way--a very easy put up and take down...

Last years very bright "too early" morning sun at the rally made me realize I really needed a change!
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Old 05-07-2015, 07:47 AM   #8
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Last years too much wine late at night, which made for a very bright "too early" morning sun at the rally made me realize I really needed a change!
Corrected for accuracy. I think Reace had a morning like that too.

Fortunately, light does not affect my sleeping, though I am usually up at or before sunrise anyway.

Darkening the windows was something that never occurred to me, as I love waking to the warm glow, as it usually means I got to sleep in.
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Old 05-07-2015, 08:13 AM   #9
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I'm with Jim. I see the sun come up every morning 365 days a year. Only see the sun go down in the winter time. For me all the lights inside the trailer drive me more nutz than any light coming through the windows.
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Old 05-07-2015, 08:39 PM   #10
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The refrigerator lights bother me in my 17 I don't mind the window light I sleep so well in the am the light doesn't bother me I close the blind so the dogs won't bark at the neighbors
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Old 05-07-2015, 08:45 PM   #11
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The refrigerator lights bother me in my 17 I don't mind the window light I sleep so well in the am the light doesn't bother me I close the blind so the dogs won't bark at the neighbors
For the fridge lights I bought some static cling window shade material at the local auto store and put it on the inside of the plastic cover. We do , however, have a 3 this has made the fridge lights bearable.
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Old 05-07-2015, 08:51 PM   #12
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I have to try that! Thanks
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Old 05-07-2015, 09:40 PM   #13
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The refrigerator lights bother me
I think the idea is to sleep with the refrig door shut! That makes the light go off.
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Old 05-07-2015, 09:49 PM   #14
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It's all the lights at the top of the refer and the blinking sensors for everything else that drives me nutz. There's a lot of light pollution inside the trailer that takes time to get used to. Doesn't take long, but those first few nights.... when you are used to a very-simple trailer... in the end.. all is GOOD!
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Old 05-08-2015, 08:56 AM   #15
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I think the idea is to sleep with the refrig door shut! That makes the light go off.
Ha, ha, ha... The 3 has no light on the inside, but there are more than enough lights on the outside to read by in the dark. Hence, the cover to at least dim them.
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Old 05-23-2015, 03:48 PM   #16
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The lights on the radio drove my hubby crazy - he likes to listen to the music when going to sleep. When I made the blackout drapes for the windows, I also made flaps in the same material for the radio and the window in the door. They simply Velcro to the offending units - easy to put on and take off. It's so dark, Vader would be proud!
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Old 05-07-2017, 07:23 AM   #17
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The refrigerator lights bother me in my 17 I don't mind the window light I sleep so well in the am the light doesn't bother me I close the blind so the dogs won't bark at the neighbors
Small strips of "gaffer's tape" over those lights will fix you right up. For those who don't know, this stuff is great as it sticks fairly well but comes off cleanly, unlike duck tape.
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Old 05-07-2017, 10:09 AM   #18
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For the fridge lights I bought some static cling window shade material at the local auto store and put it on the inside of the plastic cover. We do , however, have a 3 this has made the fridge lights bearable.
I use the same stuff. It can be doubled, tripled, etc. up until you get the darkening level you want.
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Old 05-07-2017, 10:20 AM   #19
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We have cut panels of Reflectix that we slide between the pleated shades and the window at night or whenever needed. It blacks out the light completely and also serves to insulate from heat and cold.
We also made one for the escape hatch over the bed.
2X. Worked well on an Alaska trip (Sunset at 11:00PM!)
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Old 05-07-2017, 11:17 AM   #20
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I think I'll try Reflectix first since I have some (I think).
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