'02 Elkie Conversion - bug screens for windows

[Zorlock]

My girlfriend and I have been using my '02 full size Elkie high top for overnight stays since I bought it almost a year ago, with a memory foam mattress pad and some cushy spreads (and removing one captain's chair for better use of space) it is about the most comfortable portable/mobile sleeping I've ever experienced. :o We even spent an overnight in it on New Years with 13 degree temps outside. Our little ceramic heater kept us toasty and warm inside while the January wind's whipped about outside. :tup:

Anyway, now that summer is here, we'd like to continue doing these overnighters with the van but the problem is ventilation. The three big side windows have those little sliders with screens but it's not quite enough to air out a van in the middle of July when we get those warm nights. Now the "awning" windows on the side and rear doors, they are great for full ventilation, but they're not so great at keeping bugs out. Especially during black fly season (also referred to as 'May' in New Hampshire)

Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket supplier of "bug screen" inserts for these door windows? I've done some searching in the web, but all I can find are security screens for commercial van purposes.

On the other hand, have those who needed such things fallen back on their own ingenuity and fabricated something for themselves instead? The way I see it, if I had no other choice, a few strong magnets and some screen cut to fit across the window would do the job just as well, it just wouldn't look so official or be very convenient is all.

Any info you rugged overnight/multi-day trip conversion vanners could share would be appreciated.

best regards,
Dominick



:drivingz:

[alloro]

You could install something like this:
http://www.dkhardware.com/product-15753-vv242-14-x-14-white-plexiglass-roof-vent-with-built-in-12-volt-fan.html

Since heat rises, the up-flow generates airflow. For those times the airflow is insufficient there is a built in 12v fan to help out.

[landyacht318]

Get 2 of these fans to put into the side sliding windows. They are only 1 inch thick and come with covers so you don't lose any fingers or toes.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999344

They move 110 cfm each and have a variable speed control. If you have any knowledge of 12 volt wiring they are extremely easy to hook up. Just cut off the yellow wire, red is + black -.

They also only draw slightly over .4 amps each, so 2 on full blast running 12 hours will use about 1/10 of your single batteries capacity.

I have one as an exhaust fan on the roof, and one in a side window, and on the hottest of days, it keeps the interior at or below ambient temperatures until late afternoon. At night I use only the roof vent, it sucks in fresh air through any open window.

If you really want screens on the front windows get some strong magnets to hold the screen tight to the doorframe, or just get a large enough screen that you can close the door over the screen.

But trust me, the forced air of a fan works much batter than hoping a breeze has enough juice to exhaust the interior of the van with 2 people inside.

Here is a link to my roof exhaust fan.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/375057/377%20710/0/nicro/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=nicro&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=nicro&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=12&classNum=12407

Though not exactly the same as mine, it certainly cost more as well but they do work well. No wiring needed for it, the solar panel charges the battery inside so it runs all night as well.

After 7 years mine started making noise, so I wound up removing the battery, then the fan blade and then covered the solar panel and now it is only a rainproof vent, with one of the silverstone fans attached with a step ring. 4.75 inches of fan to 4 inches through this vent.

I can boil pasta inside and not fog up the windows.

[landyacht318]

One other thing, If the van is sitting in the sun all day, it holds this heat well into the night. Consider putting some reflective stuff in the front and all the rear sunnyside windows to keep it from getting too hot during the day.

Those conversion windows with the sliders are heat pumps. Mine regularly get to over 140 degrees. With some reflecto stuff against the black glass the curtains only read 94.

[VanMoreSon]

I replaced one of my side window screens by sandwiching screening between two layers of FRP I had laying around. FRP is easy to cut and lightweight and I just traced one of the other frames. The originals have zippered pockets to clear the open/close mechanism but I just made a flap. FRP is about $32 per 4x8 sheet but any thin material would work. Second on that reflective stuff for the windows...it's reasonably priced and easy to trim. The case fans you can pick up for next to nothing. I wired jacks into several places in my interior and then wired 2 fans with matching plugs and velcro on the bottom. I could then plug/unplug and could move 'em where I needed 'em or stash 'em. They didn't have the speed control like the Silverstone fans but were effective.

[landyacht318]

The case fans you can pick up for next to nothing. I could then plug/unplug and could move 'em where I needed 'em or stash 'em. They didn't have the speed control like the Silverstone fans but were effective.

I have many different brands and types of these fans, some are as cheap as 5 bucks, and the silverstones are the priciest at 17. But my 5 dollar fan moves less air, uses more current and is significantly louder than the silverstone is on high speed.

I would pay 50 dollars for the silverstone with the speed control if they cost that much. Turned all the way down they are nearly silent and draw just over .1 amps and still move 33 cfm. This cfm blowing directly on my bed at night is perfect. 110 is a windtunnel. The ability to set the speed anywhere in between is priceless. Unless it is really hot I just have the roof exhaust fan on at just over minimum speed and the only open window the small slider by my head. I put the speed control so I can reach it easily from bed, and crank it up in the morning.

I wound up covering the screens on the small sliding windows with some small chickenwire to make it more difficult to break the screen and steel something. I can wedge the corners of these fans or any fans in between the frame and this chicken wire and they stay in place while highway driving. Though I like the velcro Idea.

Good luck and happy camping however you choose to ventilate.

[VanMoreSon]

Hey, is that large body of water the Salton Sea?

[landyacht318]

You call the Salton sea large? Or is that some joke that went way over my head?:D

I been surfing for 28 years out of 37.
I have to be near an ocean to hold onto whatever inkling of sanity that remains.

[VanMoreSon]

Well,relatively large but not like the Pacific of course. I didn't see boards on your pic so I just wondered if maybe you frequented the Bombay Beach/Slab City areas. I've spent a couple of winters at Slab City and then headed north to Oregon when the temps climb. I've met some people that stay year-round but I couldn't imagine braving the summers there.

[Zorlock]

Thanks for all the input guys.

Our issue is 80% about keeping bugs out and maybe 20% about temperature regulation. I realize as I re-read my intital explanation that I made it sound like we live in the Sahara when I spoke of the "warm July nights".

We typically use the van for sleeping only, the rest of our day is spent on the campsite, which typically will have a leanto on it, or we'll be on the move somewhere. Most of our camping is done in the higher elevations (Vermont-Green Mountains & New Hampshire-White Mountains) so the temps at night are pretty comfortable a majority of the time and opening or closing windows are enough to provide comfort. The fans would be a bit of overkill for us, at least for now.

Just being able to have the option of opening or closing four more windows, during overnights, without letting all the bugs in would solve the regulation problem with the additional sources of outside air access.

I am going to try the strong magnet/flexi screen application and see what I can come up with.

:PDT_git:

[landyacht318]

On the Windows on the side and back Doors I have installed a screens held in place by the window's rubber trim itself. Some tinkering ( dremel with cut off wheels, Then a hammer and a punch)was needed to remove the little metal tab which goes through the glass, so that the screen would seal 100 percent of the window and still allow it to open or close. I just used a cotter pin to replace the hinge pin I cut out. Looks almost stock(the screen not the cotter pin).

For the front doors, I'd try just holding a piece of screen in place above the level of the door latch and close the door over it. Otherwise your going to need a lot of magnets to achieve a mosquito proof seal.

[landyacht318]

I didn't see boards on your pic so I just wondered if maybe you frequented the Bombay Beach/Slab City areas.

The boards , a 9'7" and a 6'8", are attached to the ceiling, always. I don't like advertising. Too many Spicoli jokes.

I don't ever really visit the inland desert, just cross it when driving to the other ocean.

[alloro]

You could also drop a few bucks on magnetic tape. One side is magnetic and the other side has an adhesive. Cut the tape to border the window and attach screen to the adhesive side. You could get fancy and glue the corners too.

Here's an example of the magnetic tape.
http://www.custom-magnets.com/Outdoor_Adhesive_Magnetic_Stripping.htm

[bobo35]

You might try here:

http://www.rv.net/Forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/21.cfm

A lot of these folks have made their own magnetic screens. ALB; SW

[Little Mac]

We tried the magnetic tape for screens in our 88 conversion, did not work very well. I like the idea of pokin it around the rubber though. I placed a camper roof vent in the top of ours then covered it with one of those Covers that allow the lid to be open all the time and no rain get in. It works great, I never close it unless I have the air on. and with those little slide windows cracked during the summer its just enough to keep it from getting to hot sitting there. Going to cut silver window shades soon like the one put up on the windshield. I also like those little fans you mentioned I will have to check those out. Good ideas folks. by the way, new to the forum, alot of great ideas in here.

[VanMoreSon]

Welcome to the forum Little Mac (belated). There are some dudes on here that really know their stuff, especially alloro.

I want to second on those Silverstone fans that landyacht has referred to. Bought one on eBay and it's great for moving the air in a stuffy van!

[alloro]

There are some dudes on here that really know their stuff, especially alloro.

Oh sure...lay all the pressure to be correct square on my shoulders. :tantrum2: :)

[VanMoreSon]

Just making sure there is plenty of Performance Anxiety to go around...:cool: