Curtain Divider for Stealth

[Chew]

Hi,
Searched this topic but didnt see a huge amount of definitlive info.

I'm planning on living permanently in a van and after much research have pretty much decided on a second hand T5 California Ocean RHD (I've never even rented a camper let alone owned one before so I'm total newb).
Becasue i plan to live in the van I'll be looking to stealth camp most nights so I will need a cockpit /driver curtain divider as opposed to windscreen covers. If anyone has fitted these to a cali id like to know if you are happy with the result and any other advice you might have. Those who haven't - do you think this is even possible?
Here's a video I found showing pretty much exactly what I need but dont think this is a cali.

Thanks

 

[Chew]

Its not particularly relevant but I ment to say LHD not RHD!

 

[Looby]

Hi Chew, not sure if this kind of thing would be any use to you. I made a very basic stealth divider for ours, we haven't needed it much but it works fine.
I used black fabric the width of the van. It reaches floor to ceiling and has a flap at ceiling height, folded over toward the front of van. There are vertical seams sewn in the flap to align with the headrests, and quilting wadding is rolled into a long sausage shape and sewn into the fold at ceiling height, above the headrests and going from one side of van to the other, which makes it sit tightly hugged to the roof all the way across. To fit, it's just a matter of sliding it down onto the headrests and the full length part drapes behind the front seats. It's soft so folds and rolls up easily. Fixed curtains may be easier for you but If you opted for something like this for more frequent use it would probably be best to incorporate an overlapped opening in the centre for easy cab access.
Not easy to describe but tried my best.

I hope you manage to find something suitable.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi,
Searched this topic but didnt see a huge amount of definitlive info.

I'm planning on living permanently in a van and after much research have pretty much decided on a second hand T5 California Ocean RHD (I've never even rented a camper let alone owned one before so I'm total newb).
Becasue i plan to live in the van I'll be looking to stealth camp most nights so I will need a cockpit /driver curtain divider as opposed to windscreen covers. If anyone has fitted these to a cali id like to know if you are happy with the result and any other advice you might have. Those who haven't - do you think this is even possible?
Here's a video I found showing pretty much exactly what I need but dont think this is a cali.

Thanks

Yes, you are correct. That is a T5 Conversion, but I see no reason why something similar could not be fitted in a California.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1820...1853-0%26rvr_id%3D1024751465712&ul_noapp=true

 

[larrylamb]

Could any fabric just tuck in to the back of the sliding roof panel or open the roof panel and slip the fabric under the mattress edge, not a factory made solution but cheap and no fixing holes etc.

 

[hirsty]

I had the same curtain arrangement shown in the video in my T5 conversion (supplemented by suckered-in individual reflective padded blinds as it was a bit flimsy).

You'll be able to find something on the "VWT4forum" where there's a lotl of information on a huge range of customisations, much more so than here where more vans are more stock / OEM (for good reasons).

Only question is how to then fix the track / rail to the ceiling? - you may need to screw it to the bottom of the pull-down bed with some very short self-tappers? - I don't know enough about what the bed is made of. Some readers here may feint at this prospect however

 

[hirsty]

None of my business of course, but I'd also investigate / due diligence on VW Crafter SWB, Transporter mid top and Mercedes Sprinter if it's a permanent stealth vehicle & you are in it full-time.

YouTube is your friend here for #vanlife research.

IMO a VW T4/5/6 without the roof popped up regularly would be a fairly small living space. Good luck & let us know how you get on.

 

[Skylark2.0]

We had a curtain like that in our toyota granvia. Fitted by Denby campervans. They do just VW now so should know all about this. Call them and ask for Steve.

 

[CALI FATE]

Hi,
Searched this topic but didnt see a huge amount of definitlive info.

I'm planning on living permanently in a van and after much research have pretty much decided on a second hand T5 California Ocean RHD (I've never even rented a camper let alone owned one before so I'm total newb).
Becasue i plan to live in the van I'll be looking to stealth camp most nights so I will need a cockpit /driver curtain divider as opposed to windscreen covers. If anyone has fitted these to a cali id like to know if you are happy with the result and any other advice you might have. Those who haven't - do you think this is even possible?
Here's a video I found showing pretty much exactly what I need but dont think this is a cali.

Thanks

OMGaaaawd - that was a tedious video

 

[hirsty]

OMGaaaawd - that was a tedious video

I admire your optimism, but there's limited "material" here <boom, tish>

 

[surfer-rich]

I do a bit of stealth camping, this is my improvised solution...

I took an old single duvet cover, cut to correct height & sewed the end leaving a small gap in the middle. Then I found an old collapsible tent pole which I 'reassembled' to the width of the duvet.


This keeps the divider lightweight & enables folding for compact storage.


I then hook it into the recess of the sliding roof door - excuse the red wine stain


in situ!

Maybe a black duvet would be better but that's what i had spare & it works for us

 

[racali]

Chew - I wildcamp a lot so I bought some thin blackout material - black on outside silver on inside - and split it up the middle almost to the top and then overlapped it to create a lightproof central joint but allowing easy access to the front if necessary ie fast getaway. I attach it to the edge of the roof opening with small butterfly type bulldog clips - with reading light on it works fine with no light leakage. Whole lot stores easily under driver's seat. Major problem for me though in trying to be stealthy is that I snore but that's another subject - anyone know of a guaranteed anti snoring device.

 

[motacyclist]

anyone know of a guaranteed anti snorting device.

My wife, wakes me up if I snore

 

[motacyclist]

Yes, you are correct. That is a T5 Conversion, but I see no reason why something similar could not be fitted in a California.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/182035295396?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=122&googleloc=1007416&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=t&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=aud-133395220866la-146652033186&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=122&ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-134428-41853-0%2F2%3Fipn%3Dicep%26icep_id%3D67%26mtid%3D1673%26kwid%3D1%26crlp%3D50600204586_563391%26icep_item_id%3D182035295396%26itemid%3D182035295396%26icep_meta_categ_id%3D131090%26icep_etrs%3DY%26icep_epid%3D-999%26icep_ctlg%3D-999%26icep_cond%3DNew%26targetid%3D146652033186%26rpc%3D0.12%26rpc_upld_id%3D69707%26device%3Dt%26icep_msku_flag%3Dn%26icep_cbt%3Dn%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D1007416%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D207297426%26adgroupid%3D13585920426%26rlsatarget%3Daud-133395220866%3Apla-146652033186%26gclid%3DCN7RjPTnvswCFXEz0wodhgUPGg%26srcrot%3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1024751465712&limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1007416&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=t&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=aud-133395220866la-146652033186&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=122&ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-134428-41853-0%2F2%3Fipn%3Dicep%26icep_id%3D67%26mtid%3D1673%26kwid%3D1%26crlp%3D50600204586_563391%26icep_item_id%3D182035295396%26itemid%3D182035295396%26icep_meta_categ_id%3D131090%26icep_etrs%3DY%26icep_epid%3D-999%26icep_ctlg%3D-999%26icep_cond%3DNew%26targetid%3D146652033186%26rpc%3D0.12%26rpc_upld_id%3D69707%26device%3Dt%26icep_msku_flag%3Dn%26icep_cbt%3Dn%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D1007416%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D207297426%26adgroupid%3D13585920426%26rlsatarget%3Daud-133395220866%3Apla-146652033186%26gclid%3DCN7RjPTnvswCFXEz0wodhgUPGg%26srcrot%3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1024751465712&ul_noapp=true

Blimey, 48 quid for that! Must be Brandrup! We just use a blanket we already have in the van, strung across ...

 

[kaf2546]

We stealth camp occasionally, sleep downstairs of course and like motacyclist, simplest is just to use the black waterproof backed picnic rug thing we have on the back bench seat (to protect seat if we are wet after walking, cycling etc), hung over the front seats black side out. Many things have to have at least 2 uses in a van and no way am I fitting curtains anywhere. Suppose you could use velcro tape if you wanted a closer fit but my partner says she has seen enough of the velcro project with it holding the fire extinguisher and monoxide alarm