We are thinking about replacing the day/night shades in our 5th wheel with 1/2-inch mini blinds. Has anybody done that and did you like them? Where is the best place to get them? Can you order regular household blinds and install them on the RV windows? Are they difficult to install?

We replaced our day/night shades with shades made by Levelor at Lowes....much better blinds.

We replaced ours a couple of years before we traded. It was a good move as for price, the only negative was hanging them. Not a whole lot of meat to do a good hang. We also made sure we cut Reflectix to each window so we could place it in the windows when the camper was not in use or on hot days. It saved the blinds and curtains from the vicious Texas sun. It also helps on colder winter days keeping cold out and more heat in. Anyway, my 2 cents is its more positive than negative.

You should also look at MCD roller shades. Our Montana had them everywhere except the bedroom and we changed those out ourselves. My DW likes it dark to sleep and these block out all the light. They also have a day screen that lets light in but blocks the heat. They are quite pricey but to us where worth it.

We have done this and it is a great improvement. You can deflect sunlight, and still see out. We were lucky enough to be able to use stock sizes.

Thanks to you all who responded. Sounds like it might be a good move. One other question -- regarding installation. We probably will have them installed, not do it ourselves. Good idea to have someone who is familiar with RV's do it? I imagine they should be anchored at the bottom to keep them from banging around during transit. Is that something that can be done with household blinds?

Replacing shades with mini blinds | Good Sam Community

Joe_in_Texas
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
We just put MCD shades in our 2011 Montana,
been our several weeks - we love them!!!!

This was our Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversary and "just because" gift for the next couple years. But we deserve them.....

Had MCD install them at their plant in McKinney Texas -
great people to work with...
John_Joey
Explorer
Dec 14, 2015
5th wheel traveler wrote:
We are thinking about replacing the day/night shades in our 5th wheel with 1/2-inch mini blinds. Has anybody done that and did you like them?

Yes, very much so.
5th wheel traveler wrote:
Where is the best place to get them?

Steve's Blinds
5th wheel traveler wrote:
Can you order regular household blinds and install them on the RV windows? Are they difficult to install?

Steve's blinds are custom made and cheaper then big box store blinds, very easy to install.
tallpall888
Explorer
Dec 14, 2015
I like the "darkness" afforded by my current day/night shades in my '06 Alfa See Ya Gold. They depend on the strings that eventually fail because of the constant up and down movement frays one string to the failing point.
One did fail after nine years, so my wife and I did the replacement procedure. This required some patience and logic as the strings are, on first appearance, illogically strung. But it all worked out.
So, eventually there will be more failures and I would look to something that could replace all eight of our day/night shades...just for decorative purposes of course, but need that "darkness" our current shades provide. "Just" aluminum slats won't do it.
shadows4
Explorer III
Dec 11, 2015
Oaklevel wrote:
Wow! mini blinds were standard on campers with day night shades being optional...... Interesting how we go full circle....... We like the day night shades over mini blinds hands down.........

X2
Oaklevel
Explorer
Dec 11, 2015
Wow! mini blinds were standard on campers with day night shades being optional...... Interesting how we go full circle....... We like the day night shades over mini blinds hands down.........
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Dec 10, 2015
I installed blinds in my 5er. No different than putting in the house. Home Depot will cut width to size for you.
Timay
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
^^^X2

The dogs will bend them - you only need to miss putting them up once and *bazinga* - bent blinds.

Tim
drfife
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
Timay wrote:
Make sure, if you get mini blinds, that you get the aluminum blinds, not the plastic blinds! I put the plastic in my travel trailer and after the first hot day, they sagged and looked terrible! Otherwise, not too bad a job.

Tim

If you have dogs, be careful installing aluminum mini blinds. We had aluminum mini blinds in our previous trailer. They worked great but the dogs bent many of them looking out the windows.

We have MCD shades in our current trailer. Highly recommend. Much better than day night shades or mini blinds. But, more expensive.
Timay
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
Make sure, if you get mini blinds, that you get the aluminum blinds, not the plastic blinds! I put the plastic in my travel trailer and after the first hot day, they sagged and looked terrible! Otherwise, not too bad a job.

Tim
wvcampers
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015
We replaced all of the day/night blinds with the 2" faux wood blinds. They are much easier to operate. We can open or close them without having to pull them up and down. Ordered all of the custom width and length from blinds.com. They are 2 years old with no problems.