Window shades when driving

Seaduster

Do you drive with your window shades open or closed?  A little decal on my windows appear to say the shades should be in the open position when driving.  My shades close from the bottom up.

Sharon_is_SAM

Leave them open.  There is less strain on the cording in transit.

dsatwork

We always close ours....never read the little sign....is there a T@b window police

skwhee

Agree with @Sam, another reason is that the heat build up between the shade and the window can cause a problem with the window.

dragonsdofly

We keep the shades down. Read a warning somewhere that the clips which hold screen and shade together can break when subjected to road bounce and strain. Have made curtains to cover the windows to curtail zombie activity. Not necessarily effective, sometimes it makes them more "assertive". All part of the adventure.!

Smullis7

Shades open, but I have curtains hanging on a tension rod to block the view and heat when traveling...except for the front window...I haven't been industrious enough to install the hardware to put curtains over the curved window.  :-)

TerryV6

I think it says open in the manual...

Sandiegogal

dsatwork said:

We always close ours....never read the little sign....is there a T@b window police

We do always close them when we travel; always did this with our Little Guys so the we continued once we got out T@B.  After reading all these posts though, I think we'll close them and not latch them.  I like the idea of closing them for privacy and maybe, just maybe, it might help keep the T@B cooler inside whilst on the road  

Dana

I always leave open per nucamp advice when traveling but....That being said.....leave open in storage also?  I closed them for the winter but every time I check my tab they are pulling down.  

AnOldUR

Sharon_is_SAM said:

Leave them open.  There is less strain on the cording in transit.

Isn't there also something about heat from the sun building up between the shade and window that could cause the plastic window to warp?

kottum

I think there is too much heat buildup on the sunny side.  We leave the shades open and clip a medium size white bath towel over the two side windows of our 320  for travel and storage.  Shades the interior without trapping the heat in there.  

We also open the top vent for travel, we have a vent cover installed.  I don't open the vent cover for storage in Arizona because of blowing dust.  I do open it for storage in Minnesota.  For longer term storage we have a trailer cover.

Sharon_is_SAM

@AnOldUR - the issue surrounding heat build up was specific to those blinds that use a reflective material.  The concern is that without ventilation to cool the plastic, the window would warp. 

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/10072/warning-label-on-windows-not-to-have-window-shade-covering-windows-while-the-sun-is-shining-do-you/p1

Mickerly

The 2023manual discusses heat buildup as the reason for having the blinds open. We travel with them 3/4 up to keep eyes and sun out of the trailer.

bergger

We travel with ours open per the direction on the sticker on the windows.  I just assume this is to alleviate the stress on the strings during transit.  If heat were an issue then I assume the instructions would dictate to keep them open anytime the temps were hot.  Even if stationary and camping.  Heat is heat whether stationary or moving. 

Denny16

• On on our TaB400, we travel with the front and back window blinds/shades and screens retracted, so you can see through the windows from the tow vehicle’s reave view mirror.  You can see right through the TaB and see vehicles behind the trailer.
• The side widow we pull the bug screen over the window, which blocks views but allows for are circulation to keep window from overheating, as Sharon mentioned above.  Haven’t had any issues.

manyman297

I believe the manufacturer wants them in the open position because when closed they are under tension. I also store ours with the shades open.