Suggestion.... don't use just any black cloth. If you notice, his cloth is actually gray. The manufacturer calls it black but it's not. The best material is black velvet. It eats light. A cop can shine his flashlight right into it and it will not reflect. Next.... when he made his curtains, he made the loop for the rod at the top of the cloth. That leaves about a 6" gap above. Instead of doing that. Make a channel in the cloth that's about 8" below the top of the cloth. Then when you put that rod into the cloth you will have several inches above that will fill that space.
I made a piece cut from foam insulation to go above the curtain that fills in that area. I just covered it with black material and use fabric pins to attach it to the ceiling.
My custom-made heat shield window coverings should be here in a couple of days! I had some before, but one side was reflectix and the other side was white. I was going to put some black fabric on one side and my friend got so tired of listening to me talk about how I should do it, maybe I should do it another way, I'd watched a lot of videos. Anyway, long story short, he bought me a new set! What a guy huh! Now if he would just help me put my floor in, I would be a happy woman in a camper 🤣🤣🤣
I have a Caravan and tried a million ways to get my covering to stay in the back window. The card idea is pure genius. Those gift cards are sturdy and can take a lot abuse sliding in and out the molding.
@@AdventureGearTV I also bought Heatshield for all my windows. And they don't stay in place...even with the suction cups they provide. I'm planning to edge them with black Gorilla tape (I got the gold and black version) so I can firmly shove them into the window space. I hope this helps.
I bought black corrugated plastic and carpet taped reflectix from cheap sunshade. I used as much of the hemmed edge as possible. The larger side windows were too wide for the coroplast, so I used dollar tree black foam core poster board, essentially two pieces per window. For the rear hatch, I used tape with thin brown indoor-outdoor carpet instead of coroplast. I used thin black car mats from dollar tree with reflectix for small vent windows. The Dickies jumbo sunshade has a black leather-like fabric on one side and is actually wider than the sienna windshield. I will have to add something to make it taller, have not gotten to that yet.
I recently purchased the gold-black Heat Shield sun shades for my Ford Transit Connect passenger wagon. The suction cups don't always hold the sun shades in place, so I will try your great idea of using plastic cards. Thank you!
Pro tip for the front curtain: use blackout fabric. It's black on one side and white on the other. Completely light-blocking. And the fabric is a manmade material that doesn't fray, so no hemming is needed.
I have that van, and your configuration is most like what I think I could do. my question is, do you have a moon roof or anything? How do you get your ventilation in humid conditions? I'll check out your videos. nm I see the same question answered below
I bought the gold solar shield panels, they have a shiny black backing. It was about $200 shipped with tax, for the 5 rear windows and windshield. I also went to Amazon and bought the same zinus narrow twin bed, but not thrilled about how much space it takes up at 30" wide. However the way its constructed I dont see much problem resizing it down to 24" wide, which is wide enough for me and makes a huge difference in space. I was gonna cut about 4" off the height anyway for more headroom. Thats about 26 cuts but its fairly light steel. All this going in a '16 odyssey elite, with 560ah lifepo4, 200w solar powering a fridge and AC.
So, this is a really good idea with the bed. I’ve never thought about trimming off 6 in. I store stuff underneath the bed, but the knee room could help a lot.
My shades from heat shield fits so good that I don't even have to use the suction cups that come with them! They make them even a little better now than they did for years ago! I wish I knew somebody who had a Honda Odyssey that would like to have this set! 💜
Believe it or not, mine are heat shield brand also. I just sewed the black felt over them. I imagine in California you could probably find someone camping in an Ody and just hand the shades off. It might make their day.
I have a little skepticism about the concept of the heat shields reflecting heat back out of the windows. The windows have a darkish tint and likely absorb the heat on the way back out. My 2016 ody is white should be a lot cooler than my nimbus grey ody.
Hi, On the worst hot day, I left the sliding door open while I slept. USB fans are great, and I have a small one that I set on the fridge and it blows over my entire body.
love your videos. thank you so much. have you ever thought about putting some sort of 360 degree camera and have the ability to see outside from your phone for safety and security purposes? if i heard a noise or a knock on my door, i don't think i want to look outside the window curtains. do you know if anybody has a security system that i am talking about? lastly, what weapons can you recommend for safety and security? thank you!
Hi Misty, I have not tried using a camera like that. I feel comfortable peeking out of these shades. But, it sounds like an excellent idea to try something like that. If you plan to carry a weapon, I recommend that you carry something that you are comfortable with and capable of using. I feel like the safest thing to do is escape from a dangerous situation if at all possible. Do what’s best for you.
@@AdventureGearTV thank you. this could be a good topic to talk about in your video. what if someone knocks on your door at 3am. it might just be a security guard or it could be someone with bad intentions. have your keys ready at a moments notice, clear path to driver's seat, and drive the heck out of dodge? or security camera will pretty much tell you what you should do.
@@AdventureGearTV i don't have a lot of money but i dont' have the skills to do a conversion. if you had the money, what conversion kit would you buy? thank you! lastly, would you highly recommend the sienna or would you go with the odysey or the dodge caravan? thank you!
What would you recommend for temporary window shades? I'm going to rent a minivan and do it up as a temporary camper for a week long west coast road trip.
Great video. Wondering what part you added for the 'hooks' at end of curtain rod as the link you gave goes to a basic tension rod with no hooks. Joy on your journey
It can get extremely hot in the summer. Not much you can do about it except go somewhere milder. Shade helps, but heat is heat. Last summer I slept with the door open a few nights.
Do you find having the cloth directly touching the silver reflectix material conducts the heat, basically allowing heat to come in? I understand there is supposed to be an air gap between the surface of the reflectix & any other material... so now I am second-guessing my window cover construction - I've got everything cut out & was ready to apply the cloth, but now I'm stuck!
Hi, I’ve found that on hot days the van itself brings in a lot of heat, but my shades are symmetrical, so you could put the shiny side out if you wanted to. I usually only put the shades up at night for the “stealth” effect.
Hi, the big feature for me is that they are already black on one side, and fit perfectly. You can definitely make some homemade ones for less, but might take a few tries to get it right. Thanks for the comment!
@@jessr7361 If there is a light source outside, like a street light, you can see a reflection. I might try to use spray adhesive to fix some blackout fabric to it.
I got a whole set...and, while they basically do the job, they don't stay on the windows well, even with the suction cups they provide. I'm planning on edging them with black Gorilla tape to make them larger so they will fit snugly into the window space. But I do like the black and gold version. And their customer service is awesome. They originally sent me the wrong color (silver and white) and rushed the black and gold ones to me so I could get it before I left on my trip.
Thanks! BTW, I’ve got the same van & bought the same bed frame just before I found your channel (=. Seemed like a great idea to me, too! Glad to hear it’s working out for you!
@@AdventureGearTV If the diameter is about 2" and most blackout curtains you can buy take only about 1 1/2", it might be a problem to fit the curtain onto the rod.
Suggestion.... don't use just any black cloth. If you notice, his cloth is actually gray. The manufacturer calls it black but it's not. The best material is black velvet. It eats light. A cop can shine his flashlight right into it and it will not reflect. Next.... when he made his curtains, he made the loop for the rod at the top of the cloth. That leaves about a 6" gap above. Instead of doing that. Make a channel in the cloth that's about 8" below the top of the cloth. Then when you put that rod into the cloth you will have several inches above that will fill that space.
I’m planning to upgrade to velvet for this very reason.
Great idea to make the channel in the cloth!
LOL your voiceover explanation "i didn't want to creep my neighbors out by talking about how dark my van is" good thought!
I eventually talked to them about it, and they were surprised to see what it looked like inside.
I made a piece cut from foam insulation to go above the curtain that fills in that area. I just covered it with black material and use fabric pins to attach it to the ceiling.
That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
I made my own window coverings....very much like yours. My privacy curtain is also very similar. Nice work!
My custom-made heat shield window coverings should be here in a couple of days! I had some before, but one side was reflectix and the other side was white. I was going to put some black fabric on one side and my friend got so tired of listening to me talk about how I should do it, maybe I should do it another way, I'd watched a lot of videos. Anyway, long story short, he bought me a new set! What a guy huh! Now if he would just help me put my floor in, I would be a happy woman in a camper 🤣🤣🤣
Great job...and I love the card idea to help hold the reflectix in place!
I have a Caravan and tried a million ways to get my covering to stay in the back window. The card idea is pure genius. Those gift cards are sturdy and can take a lot abuse sliding in and out the molding.
I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna without tinted windows 🤣 I splurged and bought the back five window shades from Heatshield 👍
Right on! Let me know how they work out for you.
@@AdventureGearTV I also bought Heatshield for all my windows. And they don't stay in place...even with the suction cups they provide. I'm planning to edge them with black Gorilla tape (I got the gold and black version) so I can firmly shove them into the window space. I hope this helps.
I bought black corrugated plastic and carpet taped reflectix from cheap sunshade. I used as much of the hemmed edge as possible. The larger side windows were too wide for the coroplast, so I used dollar tree black foam core poster board, essentially two pieces per window. For the rear hatch, I used tape with thin brown indoor-outdoor carpet instead of coroplast. I used thin black car mats from dollar tree with reflectix for small vent windows. The Dickies jumbo sunshade has a black leather-like fabric on one side and is actually wider than the sienna windshield. I will have to add something to make it taller, have not gotten to that yet.
That’s very creative. Sounds like your coroplast shades offer some insulation as well.
Thanks for watching my video. What do you use to blackout your windows?
I recently purchased the gold-black Heat Shield sun shades for my Ford Transit Connect passenger wagon. The suction cups don't always hold the sun shades in place, so I will try your great idea of using plastic cards. Thank you!
Pro tip for the front curtain: use blackout fabric. It's black on one side and white on the other. Completely light-blocking. And the fabric is a manmade material that doesn't fray, so no hemming is needed.
That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Loved the voice over excuse I laughed out loud !
Right on!
Love the gift card trick!👍🏻
Glad to hear it. I hope it helps!
I have that van, and your configuration is most like what I think I could do. my question is, do you have a moon roof or anything? How do you get your ventilation in humid conditions? I'll check out your videos. nm I see the same question answered below
Sunroof would definitely help. You can crack the back windows if it’s too humid. Good luck with your setup!
I bought the gold solar shield panels, they have a shiny black backing. It was about $200 shipped with tax, for the 5 rear windows and windshield. I also went to Amazon and bought the same zinus narrow twin bed, but not thrilled about how much space it takes up at 30" wide. However the way its constructed I dont see much problem resizing it down to 24" wide, which is wide enough for me and makes a huge difference in space. I was gonna cut about 4" off the height anyway for more headroom. Thats about 26 cuts but its fairly light steel. All this going in a '16 odyssey elite, with 560ah lifepo4, 200w solar powering a fridge and AC.
So, this is a really good idea with the bed. I’ve never thought about trimming off 6 in. I store stuff underneath the bed, but the knee room could help a lot.
My shades from heat shield fits so good that I don't even have to use the suction cups that come with them! They make them even a little better now than they did for years ago! I wish I knew somebody who had a Honda Odyssey that would like to have this set! 💜
Believe it or not, mine are heat shield brand also. I just sewed the black felt over them. I imagine in California you could probably find someone camping in an Ody and just hand the shades off. It might make their day.
I have a little skepticism about the concept of the heat shields reflecting heat back out of the windows. The windows have a darkish tint and likely absorb the heat on the way back out. My 2016 ody is white should be a lot cooler than my nimbus grey ody.
Great video! I'll have to keep this one in mind if/when i ever go traveling!
BTW, I'm going through and responding to as many comments as I can today. Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts on my videos. You ROCK!
👀👀 when....
I put the silver to the outside, keeps my van cool, this is ok in South Africa
That's definitely a good idea when the sun is out.
Great job! By the way, how do you keep the air fresh in the car during sleeping? It would be nice if you have a small fan to circulate air.
Hi, On the worst hot day, I left the sliding door open while I slept. USB fans are great, and I have a small one that I set on the fridge and it blows over my entire body.
@@AdventureGearTV Thanks for sharing, USB fans would be a great option.
@@AdventureGearTV no insects or anything with the sliding door open?
@@GavriloPewPew they are a problem sometimes. Last summer I started using some screens for the two front windows. It helps.
Surely the silver reflective part should be facing outside and black inside to reflect the heat of the sun away etc
I only put them up at night, so the sun doesn’t really factor in when they’re on.
love your videos. thank you so much. have you ever thought about putting some sort of 360 degree camera and have the ability to see outside from your phone for safety and security purposes? if i heard a noise or a knock on my door, i don't think i want to look outside the window curtains. do you know if anybody has a security system that i am talking about? lastly, what weapons can you recommend for safety and security? thank you!
Hi Misty, I have not tried using a camera like that. I feel comfortable peeking out of these shades. But, it sounds like an excellent idea to try something like that. If you plan to carry a weapon, I recommend that you carry something that you are comfortable with and capable of using. I feel like the safest thing to do is escape from a dangerous situation if at all possible. Do what’s best for you.
@@AdventureGearTV thank you. this could be a good topic to talk about in your video. what if someone knocks on your door at 3am. it might just be a security guard or it could be someone with bad intentions. have your keys ready at a moments notice, clear path to driver's seat, and drive the heck out of dodge? or security camera will pretty much tell you what you should do.
@@AdventureGearTV i don't have a lot of money but i dont' have the skills to do a conversion. if you had the money, what conversion kit would you buy? thank you! lastly, would you highly recommend the sienna or would you go with the odysey or the dodge caravan? thank you!
What would you recommend for temporary window shades? I'm going to rent a minivan and do it up as a temporary camper for a week long west coast road trip.
If you’re laying low in the minivan, you might not need stealth shades. I use them because my bed is so high that I am noticeable from passers by.
Great video. Wondering what part you added for the 'hooks' at end of curtain rod as the link you gave goes to a basic tension rod with no hooks. Joy on your journey
I'm not sure why, but that was the incorrect link! Here is the correct link: amzn.to/3w169zD
Well done.
Thank you!
Great job! Love it
Right on! Thanks.
Weathertec sells covers for windows custom fitted
Awesome, I'll check it out.
Thank you.
I am curious about ventilation. If staying in a warm climate area.
It can get extremely hot in the summer. Not much you can do about it except go somewhere milder. Shade helps, but heat is heat. Last summer I slept with the door open a few nights.
Good video!
Thank you!
use wool cloth on back of relectix
epic!
Do you find having the cloth directly touching the silver reflectix material conducts the heat, basically allowing heat to come in? I understand there is supposed to be an air gap between the surface of the reflectix & any other material... so now I am second-guessing my window cover construction - I've got everything cut out & was ready to apply the cloth, but now I'm stuck!
Hi, I’ve found that on hot days the van itself brings in a lot of heat, but my shades are symmetrical, so you could put the shiny side out if you wanted to. I usually only put the shades up at night for the “stealth” effect.
Do you think the new heat shield shades are good? They seem a little expensive.
Hi, the big feature for me is that they are already black on one side, and fit perfectly. You can definitely make some homemade ones for less, but might take a few tries to get it right. Thanks for the comment!
I have the gold/black ones. Only thing I don't like is that the black is shiny. Wish it was matte.
@@DavidLari do they shine noticeably through the windows?
@@jessr7361 If there is a light source outside, like a street light, you can see a reflection. I might try to use spray adhesive to fix some blackout fabric to it.
I got a whole set...and, while they basically do the job, they don't stay on the windows well, even with the suction cups they provide. I'm planning on edging them with black Gorilla tape to make them larger so they will fit snugly into the window space. But I do like the black and gold version. And their customer service is awesome. They originally sent me the wrong color (silver and white) and rushed the black and gold ones to me so I could get it before I left on my trip.
Put a ruffle on the top and it'll fill in that gap.. no one can see over the top.
What is the brand of the extendable rod? I think it says turtle...I can't find that rod on the Target website.
Hi, it’s a turtle wax brand. I have a link in the description for a similar rod.
@@AdventureGearTV Great, thank you!
Weather tech makes sun visors for all windows. It’s pricey though
I’m curious, I saw those gold tone shades as well, what is the advantage of gold vs silver?
The gold tone has black on one side, mine are white on the other side.
Awesome!!!👠🚌👠
Thank you!
This is nice, but your van is so empty. Where’s all of your stuff?
Hi, I was getting it ready for some summer travel. Check out some of my other videos, and you can see some more stuff.
What is the brand & name of that curtain rod, please?
It’s a turtle wax brand extendable cloths rod. It’s from target.
Thanks! BTW, I’ve got the same van & bought the same bed frame just before I found your channel (=. Seemed like a great idea to me, too! Glad to hear it’s working out for you!
Right on. It’s a good setup.
@@AdventureGearTV If the diameter is about 2" and most blackout curtains you can buy take only about 1 1/2", it might be a problem to fit the curtain onto the rod.
@@nancykindt6487 that’s true, I sewed this one on.
Where did you get the back side window shade from
It’s from heatshieldstore.com
What year is your Sienna??
2014
Great information but stop saying "actually" every 2 seconds!
Stop your whining and listen to the meat of the matter!
That’s actually some good advice. Making these videos I have learned a lot about how I speak and it’s helping me improve.