![]() ![]() ![]() If you are running short on time and need something quickly, you can get by with thrift store bed sheets cut to size and taped over the windows for privacy. The effort is well worth it, I just add this word of caution to advise you to not leave this project until the last minute. That being said, don't underestimate how much effort is required to create a quality finished product. If you are already proficient at sewing, I expect this project could take far less time. To outfit a standard minivan with curtains for all of the windows behind the driver's cabin, the cost of materials was about $60 USD and approximately 30 hours of time (measuring, making templates, purchasing materials, learning to sew, re-measuring, creating prototypes, pinning fabrics, sewing curtains, installation). By using a material that can reflect electromagnetic radiation (aka the sun's rays), we'll be able to better insulate all the windows in a van against radiant heat gain and loss.ĭepending on the size of your vehicle and the number of windows, the cost of this project will vary. While glass is a fantastic conductive insulator, its transparent properties make it a very poor insulator for radiant heat. This link provides a good breakdown of the three types of heat transfer as they apply to vehicle conversions. Convective heat is energy transferred through the circulation of liquids and gasses (why a breeze feels so refreshing on a hot day). Conductive heat is energy transferred by direct contact (think touching a hot stove or a holding a cold snowball). Radiant heat is energy transferred via electromagnetic waves (in this case, the rays of the sun). ![]() If you've ever come back to your car on a hot summer day, opened the door, and felt a rush of hot air escape from inside your vehicle then you're intimately familiar with the problems of radiant heat.įor a quick primer on heat transfer, know that there are three kinds. All right, let's begin!īefore diving into the project, I think it's worthwhile to understand why you might need radiant blockout curtains. And for days when you want to sleep in a bit longer, these curtains are great for delaying sunrise until that moment when you're ready to finally wake up. ![]() Plus these curtains block out all light meaning you can inconspicuously stealth camp anywhere without anyone knowing that you're inside your van. Quality curtains that reflect radiant heat will keep your van a more comfortable temperature throughout the day. However the initial cost and upfront effort is absolutely worth it when you are stealth camping later on. I'll also admit that these curtains do take a while to properly make. If you have any suggestions for how to make this instructable better, feel free to suggest them in the comments! Follow along to learn how to make your own!Īs a disclaimer, I'm no sewing expert by any means. These curtains were made for a minivan conversion so that I could stealth camp inconspicuously but the same curtain making process will apply for any van or vehicle conversion. These curtains keep the van cooler during the day, warmer at night, and block all light from inside and outside the van. In this instructable I'm going to share with you how I made radiant blockout curtains for a stealth camper van conversion. ![]()
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