Sliding window flyscreens in the rain

[AlistairC]

We were out in some moderately heavy rain last night - the pop top was wrapped and it was all getting a bit hot and sticky inside.

To increase ventilation our only option was the Flyscreen in the side sliding windows.

It strikes me that you don’t really have any security at that point ( screens can just be slid away) and the likelihood of water ingress is pretty much a certainty… but we were pleasantly surprised to have remained fairly dry in the van with nothing below the sink!

Anyone else used flyscreens in the rain / heavy rain?

 

[WelshGas]

We were out in some moderately heavy rain last night - the pop top was wrapped and it was all getting a bit hot and sticky inside.

To increase ventilation our only option was the Flyscreen in the side sliding windows.

It strikes me that you don’t really have any security at that point ( screens can just be slid away) and the likelihood of water ingress is pretty much a certainty… but we were pleasantly surprised to have remained fairly dry in the van with nothing below the sink!

Anyone else used flyscreens in the rain / heavy rain?

Frequently, but have a rain guard that is a sheet of rigid but flexible clear plastic that clips in the C rail above and bent down secured with 2 suckers on short cords at the base. My copy of this.

BRANDRUP - AIRSCREEN ®

www.brandrup.de

 

[chockswahay]

Frequently, but have a rain guard that is a sheet of rigid but flexible clear plastic that clips in the C rail above and bent down secured with 2 suckers on short cords at the base. My copy of this.

BRANDRUP - AIRSCREEN ®

www.brandrup.de

That's awesome @WelshGas! Were the bits easy to get hold of/assemble?

 

[WelshGas]

That's awesome @WelshGas! Were the bits easy to get hold of/assemble?

Sheet of thin Acrylic from eBay.
Some Nylon cord, Duck Tape and 2 Suction Disks. Lay some cord across 1 end of the sheet and secure with Duck Tape. Makes it thick enough to go in the Awning Rail slot, and hold.

Other end, same but with a longer length of cord secured with tape.

Cut ends to suitable length and attach to Suction Disks. Voila, Cheaper, a lot cheaper, than the Brandrup offering and can be made larger to give more protection.

Made mine in 2017, still going strong.

 

[AlistairC]

Made mine in 2017, still going strong.

Lovely. Really don’t want yet another accessory to lug round, but this does seem an essential! Why make a fly screen which then leavers you completely open to the rain?!

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

We were out in some moderately heavy rain last night - the pop top was wrapped and it was all getting a bit hot and sticky inside.

To increase ventilation our only option was the Flyscreen in the side sliding windows.

It strikes me that you don’t really have any security at that point ( screens can just be slid away) and the likelihood of water ingress is pretty much a certainty… but we were pleasantly surprised to have remained fairly dry in the van with nothing below the sink!

Anyone else used flyscreens in the rain / heavy rain?

Used them recently in continental downpour. I'm sure you know the windows still slide with the screens in place so we reduced the gap. That obviously reduces air circulation somewhat, but we found it left enough ventilation and we felt secure enough (valuables out of arms reach just in case).

 

[sagy]

Anyone using ventilate mode in these instances (rain, security risks, etc.)?

 

[dripster]

Frequently, but have a rain guard that is a sheet of rigid but flexible clear plastic that clips in the C rail above and bent down secured with 2 suckers on short cords at the base. My copy of this.

BRANDRUP - AIRSCREEN ®

www.brandrup.de

Similarly idea, latest version has a clip that goes under the window glass.

Regenschutz fürs Seitenfenster – Mobilcamping

www.gruenthal-mobilcamping.de

 

[Cali Phillip]

Sheet of thin Acrylic from eBay.
Some Nylon cord, Duck Tape and 2 Suction Disks. Lay some cord across 1 end of the sheet and secure with Duck Tape. Makes it thick enough to go in the Awning Rail slot, and hold.

Other end, same but with a longer length of cord secured with tape.

Cut ends to suitable length and attach to Suction Disks. Voila, Cheaper, a lot cheaper, than the Brandrup offering and can be made larger to give more protection.

Made mine in 2017, still going strong.

Air screen design good with fly screens, Did fairly much the same as @WelshGas but with thin polycarbonate as it has been impact resistant over acrylic, its used in machine guards and bus shelters, about £20 ish still going strong after 3 yrs of use if a little scratched now !

 

[NessL]

Sheet of thin Acrylic from eBay.
Some Nylon cord, Duck Tape and 2 Suction Disks. Lay some cord across 1 end of the sheet and secure with Duck Tape. Makes it thick enough to go in the Awning Rail slot, and hold.

Other end, same but with a longer length of cord secured with tape.

Cut ends to suitable length and attach to Suction Disks. Voila, Cheaper, a lot cheaper, than the Brandrup offering and can be made larger to give more protection.

Made mine in 2017, still going strong.

What size is your acrylic and what did you use to attach the suction disks?

 

[chockswahay]

Think this thread could deffo be a contender for Best DIY gadget I'm watching with interest (might even enter myself )

 

[yossarian]

Anyone using ventilate mode in these instances (rain, security risks, etc.)?

The two hour time limit until heater lockout is an annoyance.

 

[RockinNRollin]

If the window is slid to a nearly closed position and locked into one of the slots, you're not going to be able to open it from the outside even if you do get the flyscreen out. I like the rainscreen idea - we had this issue recently as it was warm, humid but raining - I have a sheet of perspex (I think) knocking about in the garage so will investigate. I assume it can't be done on the awning side as I assume the awning obscures the channel?

 

[WelshGas]

If the window is slid to a nearly closed position and locked into one of the slots, you're not going to be able to open it from the outside even if you do get the flyscreen out. I like the rainscreen idea - we had this issue recently as it was warm, humid but raining - I have a sheet of perspex (I think) knocking about in the garage so will investigate. I assume it can't be done on the awning side as I assume the awning obscures the channel?

Correct.

 

[ParachuteMan]

I’m almost certainly going to order a California in early September. Do they still come with the fly screens ? I heard they had stopped coming as standard.

 

[Nick from Bath]

I’m almost certainly going to order a California in early September. Do they still come with the fly screens ? I heard they had stopped coming as standard.

Mine did - April 23 build date delivered in late July.

 

[ParachuteMan]

Mine did - April 23 build date delivered in late July.

Many thanks !

 

[WelshGas]

I’m almost certainly going to order a California in early September. Do they still come with the fly screens ? I heard they had stopped coming as standard.

Even if they have stopped 3rd parties make fly/midge screens.

 

[VincentVan]

This is the my version of handy rain deflector. I’ve used it a lot because I often sleep downstairs without the roof up, so it’s vital for good ventilation on a wet night.

The 4 suckers stick well to the glass. They also allow it to be used on either left or right side because you don’t need to access the roof rail. This is the second one I’ve made, the first lasted a year or so but the acrylic split. Next time it breaks I’ll try polycarbonate rather than cheap acrylic as post #9- thanks for the tip Phillip TPhillip T

 

[Amarillo]

I’m almost certainly going to order a California in early September. Do they still come with the fly screens ? I heard they had stopped coming as standard.

They may come with the Ocean. I don’t think they come with the Beach.