First trip in a van and mossies.

[Hantshog]

We're excited to be heading off to France on our first ever trip in a hire van at the end of the month. Apart from doing something new we are trying the van to find out whether the California is for us. If yes I will be planning to buy one. I welcome any tips for our first trip.
We are seasoned tenters and one thing I have been thinking about is how do you keep mossies out in the evening. In our tent we have fly screens which we always keep shut, but does it mean you have to keep the doors shut in the van just to keep those critters out. Not ideal in the hopefully hot balmy evenings. We wont have the luxury of a drive away tent. Does anyone use a sort of fly screen that fits over the side door? My wife will be certain to get bitten if we don't take precautions to keep the bugs out.

 

[sidepod]

What's a critter?

 

[WelshGas]

You can get fly/mosquito screens for the door. It comes with some for the sliding windows but there are also roof vents etc: so I just use one of these plugged into the Inverter socket. Seems to do the business.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WZO0EA/?tag=eliteelect-21

 

[Hantshog]

A critter is any undesirable creature in the van. Mainly concerned with flying insects and would prefer to use a screen rather than rely on electronic technology but as I am only hiring then the Mosqui-go maybe the answer. Thanks WelshGas.

 

[DM]

A critter is any undesirable creature in the van. Mainly concerned with flying insects and would prefer to use a screen rather than rely on electronic technology but as I am only hiring then the Mosqui-go maybe the answer. Thanks WelshGas.

So chocolatey fingered kids classify as critters ?

 

[T6 CFO]

You can get fly/mosquito screens for the door. It comes with some for the sliding windows but there are also roof vents etc: so I just use one of these plugged into the Inverter socket. Seems to do the business.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WZO0EA/?tag=eliteelect-21

Very good reviews. Damn things love me so Being able to utilise into the little used inverter is a good plan.

 

[CALI FATE]

Best advice is always take someone who the mossies prefer - this strategy has worked well form me for around 8 years - seems like you are nearly there

 

[T6 CFO]

Best advice is always take someone who the mossies prefer - this strategy has worked well form me for around 8 years - seems like you are nearly there

Mossies have always preferred me to the boss. Last time however she was on some tablets for something or the other and they had the side effect of making her more mossie tasty. I will slip some in her red wine.


Mike

 

[jts46]

You can buy mossie netting in most supermarkets in France for house doors and windows, very cheap. You will also need double sided tape (i would buy that in UK).
This will be cheaper than buying specialised netting for cali

John

 

[CALI FATE]

Mossies have always preferred me to the boss. Last time however she was on some tablets for something or the other and they had the side effect of making her more mossie tasty. I will slip some in her red wine.


Mike

thats the spirit Mike

 

[Hantshog]

good advice John, thanks

 

[X4 VWC]

From the Amazon listing:

This product is subject to specific safety warnings:

May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
Very toxic to aquatic organisms
May impair fertility
Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed
Use only in well-ventilated areas
Do not empty into drains
After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water and neutral soap
Keep out of the reach of children
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice
Avoid contact with eyes
Keep away from food, drink and animal foodstuffs
Avoid contact with skin
If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label
Do not breathe vapour/spray

In short, avoid breathing while in the van.

 

[WelshGas]

From the Amazon listing:

This product is subject to specific safety warnings:

May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
Very toxic to aquatic organisms
May impair fertility
Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed
Use only in well-ventilated areas
Do not empty into drains
After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water and neutral soap
Keep out of the reach of children
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice
Avoid contact with eyes
Keep away from food, drink and animal foodstuffs
Avoid contact with skin
If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label
Do not breathe vapour/spray

In short, avoid breathing while in the van.[/QUOTE


They are referring to the liquid contents NOT the vapour.

 

[WelshGas]

From the Amazon listing:

This product is subject to specific safety warnings:

May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
Very toxic to aquatic organisms
May impair fertility
Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed
Use only in well-ventilated areas
Do not empty into drains
After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water and neutral soap
Keep out of the reach of children
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice
Avoid contact with eyes
Keep away from food, drink and animal foodstuffs
Avoid contact with skin
If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label
Do not breathe vapour/spray

In short, avoid breathing while in the van.

They are referring to to the liquid contents NOT the vapour.

 

[Bellesca]

I've made a door net (from Lidl door mosquito screens) Which is held in place with small, strong magnets

 

[snowy55]

We keep one of these electric tennis rackets in the Cali to deal with any unwanted guests.
This one came from Aldi but Maplins sell them all year round. Very good at getting the little blighters from the highest point when the roof is up.

 

[BeachyBird]

I've made a door net (from Lidl door mosquito screens) Which is held in place with small, strong magnets

It was really strange reading this today I have just been out and bought some netting to do exactly this but still need to find the magnets can you tell me where you got yours from if you don't mind

 

[RichardH]

We use a plug-in Jungle Formula unit. Boots sell them. A bottle lasts about 3-4 weeks if used roughly 12 hours a day. Negligible drain on the batteries. Works very quickly against mosquitos. Not effective against all flies or other bugs. Haven't tested yet in a place with lots of mozzies with the door left fully open - probably not 100% - but no bites at all while relying on it on an extended trip around India staying in budget hotels where there were frequently windows that wouldn't close / open air-bricks and no shortage of mosquitos.

 

[Hantshog]

i like the Bellescas lidl net idea. When did you buy the net? was it a lidl special offer or was it something they sell year round? I expect you can get magnets off ebay. I bought sone very small but powerful magnets off ebay the other day for less than £2 i recall.

 

[Hantshog]

can any one tell me how wide the door opening is please?

 

[Bellesca]

The nets were for sale last summer so may well reappear this year. There were magnets supplied with the nets but they are quite weak. I bought some strong magnets off Amazon (first4magnets, the 5mmthick ones). I've placed the strong magnets on three sides and the weak magnets on the side we use to get in/out of the van.
The magnets on the original netting are in a protective plastic case and luckily the new strong magnets also fit.

 

[dayslikethis]

You can get fly/mosquito screens for the door. It comes with some for the sliding windows but there are also roof vents etc: so I just use one of these plugged into the Inverter socket. Seems to do the business.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WZO0EA/?tag=eliteelect-21

Agreed we also use these plug- ins but also burn some citronella joss sticks, and spray ourselves with repellent. I hate mozis and always attract them. For this years trip I also have a mozi net which I will attach to open side door with magnets. Fingers crossed.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

You could try clothing too. I have shorts and trousers by Craghoppers who make insect repellent clothing with Nosilife. Works for me, and I'm a magnet for mosquitos. Available from Cotswold Outdoors, who give a forum discount.

http://www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-collections-ss15?gclid=CLW7yaqllc0CFQ0SGwod1XcEjA
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/brands/craghoppers/nosilife

 

[Bellesca]

It was really strange reading this today I have just been out and bought some netting to do exactly this but still need to find the magnets can you tell me where you got yours from if you don't mind

See my reply above (forgot to press reply when I wrote it)

 

[dayslikethis]

See my reply above (forgot to press reply when I wrote it)

Yes I can but when I posted it the system seem to have blanked it - I guess its a rule. I will pm you.