[hoagdm]

I am the mother of a Element owner who has been tasked with making window curtains for my daughters extended road trip. She wants individual window fabric curtains, but I am stymied on the best way to hang them. Any ideas? The options I thought of are:
1. High temperature velcro? Where can this be purchased? Can it be sewn on the fabric?
2. Velcro small hooks on the car and sew rings on the curtains so they can be hung up when needed.

Her bed is built and I am running out of time to get the curtains ready.

Thanks

 

[dcarvil]

I think most people go with Reflectix. See this link - http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61514&highlight=curtains. No sewing or attachment needed, you just cut it slightly larger than the glass, and press it in place. Get it at Lowes or Home Depot.

Here's a link for a thread on cloth curtains, and you'll find more just by searching. http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58005&highlight=curtains

I'd recommend the Reflectix route - it's quick and easy.

 

[psschmied]

You can hang curtains using small rings (1/2") attached to the reverse of the curtains and small adhesive hooks. Thin elastic or heavy duty fishing line can be run between the hooks and the curtains slid into place using the eyelets.

Check out 3M Command Decorating clips and their small hooks. They will stick to glass or clean plastic and can be removed simply without leaving residue.

 

[Flat Lander]

Here's how the factory ones fit.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/element/elementprivacy.pdf

 

[outwrdbound]

Damn, I wish I had read this before buying the Honda privacy curtain! I got it from E-Bay, much cheaper than the dealership, but would have saved $$ doing it this way! :-(

 

[psschmied]

Other Options

I just picked up 2 Winter Windshield covers that are made of a dark blue polyester fabric, at an end-of-season clearance for $5 each. Usually these sell for about $10, which still isn't bad. The come with eyelets and suction cups, and a storage pouch is stitched into the end.

A pair of them is long and more than high enough to make an inexpensive set of window curtains, for use with the 3M hooks shown above. Lazy folk like me could just fold up the excess, iron them and use dabs of fabric cement to hold the wide "hems". More ambitions persons could trim them to height and use the cutoff to make tabs like those on the OEM curtains. Velcro, elastic straps and and hooks are inexpensive additions for those who have sewing ability and talent.

Reflectix looks like a better solution, because it can be cut slightly oversize and friction-fitted, which eliminates fussing with tabs. But it has some drawbacks: the thin reflectix panels are relatively expensive because of the quantity in the standard packages is much more than needed for one Element. Also, the panels are more bulky to store than fabric serving the same function. An intermediate solution would be using pink accordian polyfoam panels, which cost less.

 

[John Gaquin]

.I am stymied on the best way to hang them..

Hoagdm, here's a link to the system used to mount curtains aboard boats.

http://tinyurl.com/ybt4yjs

I can vouchsafe that they work just fine. Available at West Marine or other marine suppliers.

 

[hoagdm]

I am concerned with the adhesive hooks holding up to the intense heat in the southwest. Has anyone used them under these conditions?

 

[hoagdm]

Completed!

I ended up making individual window curtains and hanging them with high temperature adhesive velcro so they can easily be taken up and down. I added ribbon ties on each side so any gaps can easily be sealed. For the front window we ordered a Honda sunshield that completely closes off the windshield. My daughter has been on the road for 5 weeks now living out of the Element and all is working fine.

 

[ElementFanatic]

that turned out to look really nice! how'd you go about building the bed? It looks like she has a very comfy home away from home for her road trip!

 

[hoagdm]

It is a plywood base cut with a template so it fits the uneven outside edge. It was sanded to rounded edges and the legs are metal flanges. There is about 18 inckes of storage underneath. She had a piece of foam custom cut for tha mattress. Her and her dog have been on the road for 5 weeks now!

 

[Flat Lander]

Looks good, I'm glad you got it all done before she left.

 

[Mels E]

It is a plywood bacut with a template so it fits the uneven outside edge. It was sanded to rounded edges and the legs are metal flanges. There is about 18 inckes of storage underneath. She had a piece of foam custom cut for tha mattress. Her and her dog have been on the road for 5 weeks now!

Trust you do not mind if I ask a few questions on this.
1.How thick is plywood you went with?
2. The legs you mentioned are metal flanges, is this something one can get at Lowes or HD? Is it in the plumbing section, how thick?

thanks - great job, I want to do a similar approach.:grin:

 

[Okami]

That setup looks awesome!
Great job!

 

[NV_05_AWD]

Awesome job Mom. post more detailed pics when she gets back please. The bed set up looks like a great design.