• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Salt Sugar Sea

  • About
    • The Story
  • DIY Van
  • Travel & Tips
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact/ Policies
    • Copywrite
    • Privacy Policy

Sprinter Van Conversion diy Window Shades

June 10, 2016 by Julie Ann Leave a Comment

Good blackout window shades are an ultimate necessity in the business of stealthy camping.  Here is how we put together some simple diy window shades for our Sprinter Van.  These diy window shades provide insulation, privacy, and keep the outside oblivious of the happenings on the inside.  I suppose one can buy window shades online, but I happened to have a bit of Reflectix left over and was in the DIY mood.  Ok everybody, it’s arts & crafts time, grab your supplies!

Ingredients

1 XLG large window shade
Reflectix
Spray Adhesive
Quilted Fabric
Scissors, tape, newspaper

Step 1 create a template

Tape newspaper to the inside of your drivers or passenger window, folding corners where necessary, until the window is fully covered.

sprinter diy window shade

Step 2 tracing 

Carefully remove your template and trace the perimeter on the Reflectix, leaving a little extra space for error. Trace one for the passenger and one for the drivers side window.

diy window shade

Step 3cutting

Cut your shades

diy van window shade

For the Front Window…

I made a template the same way as described above, but we used an XLG window shade (about $10 at the Walmart) for the bulk of the shade and just extended it with Refectix, to fully fit the front window.  We wanted to make sure if it was dark and we had the lights on inside, that no light would escape, thus notifying people on the outside that something was going on in here.   No, no ones living in there, that’s just an old painter van.
sprinter van window insulation

Attach the extra Refectix to the main window shade with spray adhesive and duct tape.

sprinter window insulation

Step 4 fabric

Cover one side of all 3 shades with your fabric, attaching with spray adhesive. Cut the overhanging fabric to fit the shade.

Step 5Magnetize

To help the side window shades stay in place, secure small magnets on the edges, inbetween the Reflectix and fabric layers, wherever the shade will come in contact with the metal part of the window frame (photo coming shortly)

We found this idea from RoadTrekLife.  Check it out for a few more details and extras.  They put a bit more time and effort into making their shades, but these simple ones we put together have been working just fine.  The large front shade does sag a little in the middle, and RoadTrekLife had a good fix for that, but I just shove my yoga mat in the dash to push it more snug against the window, and that seems to do the trick.

Buying the Van – a one way ticket, backpack full of cash, and craigslist

Filed Under: DIY Van Conversion

Previous Post: « Sprinter Van Conversion Insulation
Next Post: Van Life Reflection in the Moonlight »

Reader Interactions

Comment here Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Seeking a minimalistic lifestyle on the scenic route. This is the Adventure. To show our Little One (and remind ourselves) how little we actually need to be happy. Read More…

Follow Salt Sugar Sea

Most Loved Posts

  • DIY Van Conversion Seats : Installing Passenger Seating
    DIY Van Conversion Seats : Installing Passenger Seating
  • Vanlife Log : Campervan Fireplace Test Run
    Vanlife Log : Campervan Fireplace Test Run
  • Sprinter Van Conversion Under Bed Storage Design
    Sprinter Van Conversion Under Bed Storage Design
  • Sprinter Van Conversion Kitchen Floating Pantry
    Sprinter Van Conversion Kitchen Floating Pantry
  • DIY Simple Camper Carpet Kit for under $50
    DIY Simple Camper Carpet Kit for under $50
  • Sprinter Van Conversion diy Window Shades
    Sprinter Van Conversion diy Window Shades

Simple Cucumber Chimichurri

4 Healthy Energy Packed Smoothies

Camper Van Heat Options for Vanlife

Sprinter Van Project # 2

Recent Posts

  • Simple Cucumber Chimichurri
  • 4 Healthy Energy Packed Smoothies
  • Camper Van Heat Options for Vanlife
  • Sprinter Van Project # 2
  • Zoodles and Sun-dried Tomato Cream GF DF

Instagram @saltsugarsea

What’s the oddest thing you’ve packed for a ro What’s the oddest thing you’ve packed for a road trip? Me? It was either be a large poster board of animals (the baby just loves it), or a gang of masks (oh wait that’s totally normal today), sourdough starter + pre-weight bags of multiple flours for feeding and baking, or maybe it was a bag of seeds and a glass quart size mason jar.  Yeah, packing seeds might take the win here, but look at how well they did with some California sunshine! Wana grow some? Dr. Rhonda Patrick has a beautiful step-by-step free guide on how to do it on her website @foundmyfitness 🌱✌️☀️😘#packingessentials #roadtrippacking #broccolisprouts
Easy affordable way to add detoxing to your New Ye Easy affordable way to add detoxing to your New Years resolution! This FREE 16 page guide on Sprouts, breaks it all down on how to safely grown your own (and why you’d want to) If you hop over to @foundmyfitness and click on Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s website, she has a whole information overload on Sprouts.  You can you take just a couple tablespoons of seeds and turn them into an entire 32oz jar of fresh nutrient dense seeds in just a few days, and they promote detoxification of carcinogens in the body 🌱😍✌️#day1 #newyearsresolution #healthyliving
Sprouts!! To continue with that Hippy Kitchen Vibe Sprouts!! To continue with that Hippy Kitchen Vibe 🌈 ✌️ ☀️ After playing with Sourdough Starter, I moved into growing sprouts. They are easy to do, just 2.5 tablespoons of sprouting seeds, rinse twice a day and in 4-6 days you e got a big jar of fresh greens! We mostly eat them with lemon and sea salt but you could blend them in a smoothie too.  Sprouts are loaded with nutrients and check out that going rate? We must have about $20 worth of sprouts here  #masonjarsprouts #growyourown
8 months beyond when we had originally planned to 8 months beyond when we had originally planned to hit the road and we finally got back to that Forest air! It’s been slow goings with winter weather, this being baby’s 1st big road trip, and attempting school and work while in route. We’ve been averaging about 49 mph. 😂 I wore my iwatch and one day noticed I had done 5,670 steps. I hadn’t left the van that day. #adventurefamily #sprintervan
Ok, we’re all packed in... now what? Dog, kidSSS Ok, we’re all packed in... now what? Dog, kidSSS, car seatSSS, snowboardSSS, skateboardSSS, toySSS, surf board, 12 pairs of shoes, 9 jackets, 6 sets of gloves, 4 pillows, 13.5 gallons fresh water, dog bed, fridge, potty, #bluetti power box, ALLLLL the things. Ok, everyone just stay in your spot and we should be good here. 😬#insidethevan #vanwithkids
I read something somewhere this one time in refere I read something somewhere this one time in reference to the Time Change and only laughed after having kids, it said, “Do you know what you get for Fall Back when you’re a parent?” Nothing. You get nothing. 😂 Kids don’t know they are suppose to sleep in. They also don’t notice where story time takes place as long as it takes place.  Amazingly, they adapt quicker than you’d think. This was a legit lifestyle shot, I don’t even think they knew I took it. It is a lot of moving parts with 2 littles now, and so much work that will all start over again tomorrow. But it is all so sweet, and changes so quick, so I will try to love it all.  Each tiny little moment. #mamamoments #adventurefamily #takethekids
See More Follow

Amazon

Search

Copyright © 2021 Salt Sugar Sea on the Foodie Pro Theme