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So as the title implies I'm looking to make a curtain (barrier) right behind the front seats. This is a 15 passenger so the next set of seats sit pretty close. Its why I want to do curtains so if anyone sits behind the front seats I can pull em to the side out of the way. I purchased a couple sets of curtain hangers to hang a wooden dowel on as a starting point.
I'm thinking two sets because of my tv I have mounted right between the two front seats. I thought one set behind the tv for normal driving to help keep the ac (or heat) up front, and one set in front of the tv (to the front of the van) to create a privacy curtain if wanted. I want a grey type material to match the interior color.
I'm also looking to put in window coverings using some of the reflective sheets from Lowe's. I bought a few hangers to see if I can make something non-permanent to hold them onto the windows to keep the interior a bit cooler (seats are definitely starting to see sun fade).
This is a great idea, I did this myself on 'Easy Bake' but I hung the rod with some spare parts I had laying around the garage. No A/C on that rig but I'll bet it'll help consolidate the cool air from your front A/C!
...for the curtain I used some cotton backed lightweight vinyl I got from a fabric shop.
Not sure just how heavy of a curtain material you are thinking about but when my dad built the camper van my mom still drives, he uses a 3/8" continuous spring material across the van just behind the seats to hang the curtains from. I don't know where you can find this but again depending on the weight and thickness of the curtains, you could even use a cable anchored to each side.
My dad just needed to close the front from the rear when camping. He used these 3/4" curtain clips as his curtains were light weight. He also used the springs for the rear and side windows in the van
This is a long, long shot but I use a big truck integral sleeper cab partition curtain---if you have a salvage yard nearby that specializes in those you might be able to snag one. It would include a full length somewhat heavy curtain that has slides fitting into an aluminum specialized track ceiling mounted--very slick. You can't buy the better factory pieces if only because they'd be prohibitively expensive--the track alone typically costing upwards of $300 alone. (It's not THAT specialized, just particular to any one manufacturer so they charge what they damn well please. )
They tend to come in two sections allowing a full opening by sliding them to one side or split in the middle. Here's a link with very poor views of this curtain & track arrangement: Volvo Partition Curtain/TrackThe prices there are somewhat ridiculous, they want to send via "freight" which is pure BS as all these parts are 100% UPS etc compatible.
If you did snag one you'd have to have it shortened as they're usually about 72" long, you don't need much more than 54" total height.
Almost any sort of curtain that'll isolate the front from the rear greatly increases the perceived effectiveness of the heating & cooling systems especially the front. If you're not using the rear area why not simply close it off?
Really debating on partition material. I want it pliable enough to gather to the sides well. Or I guess I could make it a solid sheet and just pull it all to the drivers side when not in use. Hmmm. Fabric weight shouldn't be an issue I think as I'll be using a wooden dowel. I've got a 1 inch dowel atm and hoping that good shower curtain hangers will be sufficent. My biggest issue is my front windshield leaks a little and gets the floor boards wet sometimes. So I want something that won't hold moisture long and will shed that dampness that this rainy season has brought upon us. Lowe's sells some privacy curtains with backing material for low light transfer but the patterns are not van cool. My wife is thinking of just sewing something and putting in grommets for the hangers. May take a few tries before its something I like and usable.
I did get the window covers in yesterday (I was bored) and I must say that my cutting and measuring skills are crap. Total crap. lol The Command hangers seem to work okay but they will need some road time to see if they will stay put. Had to put a few on the windows themselves as I didn't realize the top of the middle section windows is headliner material and they won't stick to that. Not sure if they will hold long with the heat. Time test all things (and heat).
My 88 has some velcro left by the PO that was used for curtains around the front doors and windshield. I have had the van maybe 4 years now and the van sat for years before that. It is stuck the the white paint around the doors and windows so I haven't tried to really pull it off.
This is a great thread. I am looking at booth a curtain and reflextix for the rear windows on my E350 passenger van. I like your ideas! How are securing the brackets? I have never drilled through any interior part of my van.
Velcro brand Velcro has the absolute stickiest backing, I think it may be 3M. Just make sure you use alcohol to clean the spot you're applying it to.
Good idea but keep in mind alcohol when evaporated leaves a faint white film on the substrate possibly not allowing the adhesive to full stick. I use an alcohol swab to clean a surface followed immediately by wiping the same area with a clean paper towel. Mind you most times I'm sticking 3M VHB to clean glass but any cleaning solvent will leave a residue behind if not wiped dry following its cleaning action.
Had the wife hem them up since I couldn't get the darker grey in a short length and really thought this grey wasn't dark enough but actually matches the interior well.
The seatbelts are a bit in the way of the side but not a big deal. Here are pics with the doors closed. My phone gathers light very well so it looks brighter than it is but my window coverings show that I can't cut a straight line for crap.
And the back.
My tv mounted to the ceiling on a swing arm is on the other side of the curtains but that is an issue for a different day. The front seats also sit back a bit and into the curtains so they are hitting my head a little. I'll give it some seat time and see if its bearable. I'm just hoping to get a little better AC action this summer. We'll see how it goes. Any comments and suggestions are more than welcome.
These are a 100% poly. Not sure if they will hold humidity or mold/mildew. A very soft material. Any I looked at from Lowe's and such had a white blackout material and I didn't want that on one side so this is why I got these. I wanted to mount 2 sets of brackets to put the dowel rod into but I wasn't sure about the headliner material holding it up and secure plus up next to the roof it has quite a bit of angle on it. That's why I went with the big hole grommets to put a little material above the rod. I put one screw into the plastic side molding and the 2 top ones into the headliner material.
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