Insulated window coverings for cold weather

[Snowman9000]

Have any of you made or used insulated fabric covers for your RV house windows, for cold weather camping? We are buying a new Class C with a corner queen bed. There are two big windows on the "bedroom walls", right above the bed. I know from past experience some insulation will be needed.

In our fiver we didn't need to see through the one offending window, so I put the bubble foil insulation in place and then a plastic film window insulating kit over it. It helps. In our C, we want daytime vision through the windows. I'll be putting a film kit over them for this winter's trip to the southwest.

Our windows have the valance boxes over the top and sides but the bottom is open. If it was a fully enclosed valance box it'd be a heckuva lot easier to do. I'd like to see the coverings you use for insulation, the way you fasten them in place, etc. Do you have roll-ups that stay in place above the window?

[1775]

If you want fabric and can sew, get thermal designer fabric (often used for drapery to keep out the cold) and sandwich the Reflectix inside two layers of fabric. It will look good and it will definitely keep out drafts and cold if you seal it all around the inside window frame edges (Velcro should work for that). It will pretty much look like your photo when you are done.

My RV has drapes over the windows and the Reflectix is behind the drapes so it is not seen from the inside.

[wny_pat1]

Snowman9000 wrote:
No, I'm looking for fabric. I want something reasonably decorative or at least not ugly, that can be rolled up or otherwise stored in place. And I want it to minimize drafts as the first priority, and secondarily provide a little insulation. I would have guessed this was a common mod.

Something like this, but he used snaps and was going for privacy, not draft-stopping:
http://www.tosimplify.net/2011/01/window-shades.html


We will figure something out, and post the results.

If you want fabric, go to a material store like JoAnn Fabrics. You want a drapery material with "Thermalsuede" insulative backing. You will have to measure all the windows you want done, and get someone to cut and sew the material. I'd use Velcro to stick it to the window frame. Best to use Velcro brand, industrial strength, because that will handle the temperature range of the motorhome better than other types of Velcro.

You could a also measure all the windows, and take the measurements to a seamstress and have them make up the draperies for you. Have them sew on the Velcro.

[John_Joey]

doxiemom11 wrote:
For those of you that have used the clear film, the kits usually come with double sided clear tape that the film fastens on. Where do you put the tape. Will it stick to the metal frames? Does it pull the paint off the frames when you remove it when warm weather comes? I have thought of that, but do not want to put the tape outside the windows on the wall and didn't know if it left a mess on the frames.

Make sure you buy the stuff made by 3M and you should be OK. It needs a smooth surface to stick to so the metal frame would be the best. Use a hair dryer only enough to pull any wrinkles out, but not so much to pull the tape away. When you do remove the tape pull it off at a doward 90 degree angle (making a 45 degree overlap at the point of contact), this will lessen the chance of pulling the finish surface off.

I've had bad luck with the cheaper stuff, 3M has always worked well.

[Chuck_thehammer]

I have nothing to add.

.
but I will be keeping an Eye on this thread..

North Georgia gets cold sometimes.. this idea area may help.

[doxiemom11]

For those of you that have used the clear film, the kits usually come with double sided clear tape that the film fastens on. Where do you put the tape. Will it stick to the metal frames? Does it pull the paint off the frames when you remove it when warm weather comes? I have thought of that, but do not want to put the tape outside the windows on the wall and didn't know if it left a mess on the frames.

[John_Joey]

The PO of the 5'ver we have made roman shades for the rig. They do a very good job of stopping the draft, but not the cold.

To stop the cold the covering has to be attached to the wall on all four sides all the way around. Otherwise the cold just simply falls to the floor. You will feel more comfortable because the cold isn't in the form of a draft striking your skin.

[Snowman9000]

No, I'm looking for fabric. I want something reasonably decorative or at least not ugly, that can be rolled up or otherwise stored in place. And I want it to minimize drafts as the first priority, and secondarily provide a little insulation. I would have guessed this was a common mod.

Something like this, but he used snaps and was going for privacy, not draft-stopping:
http://www.tosimplify.net/2011/01/window-shades.html


We will figure something out, and post the results.

[1775]

What you are looking for is not fabric but Mylar - Reflectix. It is sold on a roll at Lowes in the insulation and heating section. It is Mylar with bubblewrap sandwiched in between and is used for insulation. You cut this yourself with a pair of regular scissors a little larger than the dimensions and shape of your window. It can be pushed into the inside window frame and friction fit or you can rig up Velcro to attach it around the window sealing it off. We have this in our RV. It keeps the cold out in the winter at the windows and in the summer keeps the heat out the same way. Not sure why no one else has suggested this. Many RVs use it just this way. We have some windows that we just leave it in, and some that we put it in and out of in just a few seconds each window.

[Snowman9000]

JiminDenver wrote:
We have single pane windows in our TT and you really feel it when it gets cold. We have been covering them with heavy towels and I had planned on cutting foam to fit in the windows until this last trip. I found the frame around the window is responsible for more of the cold draft than the windows themselves so now I plan on covering it side to side, not just the windows.

I believe Don (PT) had some really nice ones made.

I will search his posts.

I appreciate all the answers but I'm looking for something different.
I'm looking for a quilted fabric type thing. A quick attach, self storing insulation curtain of some type. I see it as rolling up, or down, for storage, and being fastened to the wall and/or valance box by velcro.

[Bend]

travelnutz-

Thanks for e-mailing the pic's!

[JiminDenver]

We have single pane windows in our TT and you really feel it when it gets cold. We have been covering them with heavy towels and I had planned on cutting foam to fit in the windows until this last trip. I found the frame around the window is responsible for more of the cold draft than the windows themselves so now I plan on covering it side to side, not just the windows.

I believe Don (PT) had some really nice ones made.

[Bend]

travelnutz wrote:
Lucite storm windows on the inside creating a dead air space is the way to go. Many ways to hold them in place such as thumb turn clips from Home Depot or Lowes or Menards etc. Cheap and very easy to work with as any simple saber saw will cut it (dont use a real coarse tooth blade as it can crack it, about 2 teeth of the blade in contact at all times when cutting) and the edges easily sand smooth and straight.

A few seconds to put them on or take off as wanted. I only use the thick Lucite etc about .200 thick as it stays flat and seals so much better. I've even put 20% or 40% solar film on the Lucite to filter the sun's rays.

I've done 5 RV's this way on all windows for winter at around Zero F use and it works great! Stops cold air and sweating. Also help with A/C as it lessens the sun's heat and also insulates.

Good idea! Do you have pictures?

[jesse_m_jm]

mlts22 wrote:
3M also offers that as well. I've read very good things about the clear film, although I'm curious if it might help to try to include a container full of desiccant packets to ensure the dead air space stays dry, to prevent condensation on the inside.

We have not had any condensation appear in any of the sealed windows, although YMMV. We full time with two adults and 2-4 kids depending on the weekend, so I think if it were going to be an issue, it would have shown up by now.

[westend]

If all of the above fancier ideas don't work, I've had good luck with cutting foam board to fit in the window opening. We usually put a piece of doubled duct tape on one edge to afford easy removal. In the morning they were removed and stored in an empty bunk.