Also, front window screens such as those you fabricated can be
purchased through J.C. Whiffme, custom-made to fit the Vanagon front
windows.  They are much like what you fabricated, using black
fiberglass screening, but with the flexible magnet strips sewn on.

They also have a small tuck-in flap that the top of the door closes on
to better secure it.  Very nicely made and work great to improve
ventilation.

-Steve Frisbee

---Steve Macaulay <smacaulay@INFINTIUM.COM> wrote:
>
> In preparation for enjoying my recently-acquired westy in our first
camping
> season, I started thinking of ways to improve the air circulation
inside the
> van while camped.  This past weekend I fabricated some bug screens
for the
> front driver and passenger windows and I thought I pass the tip on
to the
> list.  What I did was buy a roll of black fiberglass window screen,
some
> magnetic tape (a long flexible magnet with a sticky backing), and
some black
> duct tape.  Cut the screen to fit the outline of the window (front
vent
> also) on the inside of the van to just past the metal frame around the
> window.  Lowe's sells a 10 foot roll of magnetic tape for about
$3.50.  This
> is enough for one window.  Place the magnetic tape all round the
edges of
> the screen at the point where it touches the flattest part of the
metal
> frame.  Take the screen off and use the duct tape to cover and fold
over the
> magnetic tape to the other side of the screen.  This keeps the
magnetic tape
> securely in place.  Try to do it where both sides of the tape end up
> covering the other side when they are folded in half length ways.
Repeat
> for the second window.  It looks nice, folds up easily, goes on and
off in a
> few seconds, doesn't interfere with opening/closing the window, and
it will
> keep the bugs out on those hot southern summer nights.  Total cost
for both
> windows was about $13 ($4 roll of screen, 2 $3.50 10 ft magnetic
tape, $2
> roll black duct tape - silver works, but black looks better IMO).
If you
> can't find the magnetic tape at a local hardware store, try a craft
shop.  A
> magnet at each corner would work, but the magnetic tape all around
the edges
> closes provides a better bug seal.  One improvement would be to use
> no-see-um netting if you can find it since the screen will keep the
> mosquitoes out but not the extremely small bugs.  I plan on doing
the same
> thing for the sliding door next.
>
> Steve
>
> 89 Westy
>

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