Shades (again): Up or Down

RVhiker · 10-16-2015, 06:43 AM

In this thread (clicky) I answered that we keep our pleated shades down in transit and storage, and mini blinds by the sink up in transit. But, I'm having second thoughts about the shades.

Lately, I've fixed broken strings in three pleated shades. Each had a broken string at the bottom of the string - near where it attaches to the small adjustment wheel. I'm thinking that when these shades are down, there is a lot of movement when traveling and that the movement of the string in the small grommet in the bottom plastic bar of the shade results in the string being damaged. I'm thinking that traveling with the shades up would result in less movement of the shades and less damage to the strings.

A problem with this idea is an observation by some that traveling with the shades up really won't work, as the movement makes the shades slide down anyway.

Any thoughts about this?

**norty1** · 10-16-2015, 06:52 AM

Funny, just as I was reading this post my wife said the small one the bedroom broke.

We have tried it both ways and I still think down is better. When you travel with them up the strings are at their slackest and still wobble a good bit. The main complaint I have is not broken strings on these newer ones but keeping them adjusted properly. Still a constant thing keeping them adjusted.

I'm daring one to break a string so I can replace it.

nylyon · 10-16-2015, 08:31 AM

I travel with them up, the logic is that in the up position they will be more secure and not bounce around. No broken strings yet, and only had to adjust 1 since new.

RVhiker · 10-16-2015, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nylyon

I travel with them up, the logic is that in the up position they will be more secure and not bounce around. No broken strings yet, and only had to adjust 1 since new.

nylyon, do the shades tend to drop down when traveling?

DocBrown · 10-16-2015, 09:08 AM

We travel with them down. So far they haven't broke. The reason we leave them down is to keep curious eyes from peering inside when at various stops.

SparkDr · 10-16-2015, 09:27 AM

Dealer rep told us during PDI to keep the pleats either all the way or or all the way down when traveling. Not much of a sample database to share in terms of time since we only took delivery in August, but we elected for all the way up and haven't seen any of them drop yet while traveling.

nylyon · 10-16-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVhiker

nylyon, do the shades tend to drop down when traveling?

Our last long trip from New York to Florida, the shades did not drop during traveling.

Maybe I got in this habit with older trailers and the conventional blinds keeping them up, I have just always gone with them up, and can't compare / contrast with them down. I suspect what ever works for you?

Tunce the traveler · 10-16-2015, 09:37 AM

I leave them up and they have never worked their way down.

need-a-vacation · 10-16-2015, 12:06 PM

We leave our shades down to keep the direct sunlight out she stored or traveling.... Only time they are up is if we forget one....

No issues as of yet since this July with the new 32 (or older trailers other than due to age of the blinds) but keeping them straight/level is another story when used!!!

mike837go · 10-16-2015, 12:20 PM

We're with the shades down, anti-prying-eyes crowd.

SmokerBill · 10-16-2015, 04:50 PM

For me, up always. When they are down, there's a lot of stress on the strings from the misalignment of the shade bottoms and the attachment points to the wall. If the attachment points were in the same vertical plane as the shade bottoms, tension would be equal, top to bottom.

One of my projects is to make some new, extended length wall attachments, so the attachment point is the same distance from the wall as the shade bottoms. I think that would prevent a lot of string breaks.

Jagiven · 10-16-2015, 05:57 PM

Ours are down when traveling and in storage between trips. One shade had to have its cord replace, under warranty the first year. We're n I w finishing our 4th season with no other issues.

Rustic Eagle · 10-16-2015, 07:02 PM

Day/Night shades down, keeps TT cooler while in tow......, 10 years no problems.

Brownie · 10-17-2015, 05:53 AM

I've always traveled with them down, to block out prying eyes and the sun (keeps the trailer cooler and prevents fading of the upholstery). That being said, I've just had two of them restrung (under warranty), and have had the little adjustment wheel come out of the valance on a third. As a result, this question has been on my mind as well. I'll be anxious to see what the JOF consensus is.

As for the mini-blinds in my kitchen, I picked up some blind anchors at a local Home Depot, so I can leave them down while traveling. FYI: no one seems to carry the anchors by themselves, but if you ask someone in the home décor dept., they probably have some in their "parts box".

**norty1** · 10-17-2015, 07:21 AM

Owes carries the blind bottom supports.
The day night over my dining table rubs on the table so I keep it up just enough to clear It.

RVhiker · 10-17-2015, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

Owes carries the blind bottom supports...

"Owes" is a very appropriate nickname to use for Lowes!

SouthCo · 10-17-2015, 08:30 AM

We keep them down. Not saying that's right or wrong, it's just what we do lol.

**norty1** · 10-17-2015, 03:21 PM

Dang little keyboard, dang poor eyesight! LOL

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