One of the best bits of financial advice I’ve heard is to spend your money paying people to do things you don’t like to do. (In my case, that includes yard work, plumbing, and dealing with drywall.) It’s actually a key to happiness and financial satisfaction, to which I can attest. However, I would also add a corollary: If there things you can make but other people make them better, pull out your wallet. I mean, no diss on DIY, cause I love DIY, but I just went through a ridiculous series of projects to keep bugs out of my vehicle when I’m sleeping at night only to discover a simpler, cheaper, and better solution.
Unless I’m backpacking or bikepacking, a lot of my nights are spent inside my rig with the windows rolled down. It’s easier, faster, and more comfortable, and I’d bet all you Pinterest-saving sleeping platform project junkies know what I’m talking about. But turn on your headlamp or phone or tablet and it’s like bug city in there. Not fun.
My first idea was to get a roll of screening and use strong rare-earth magnets to keep in place. Do you know how much rare earth magnets cost? A lot. Measuring and cutting the screening—oof. I probably spent $40 on a system that took a lot of time and wasn’t very effective.
Then I was at the Outpost trade show and saw a new product from an up and coming brand—a simple mesh sleeve that goes over your window. Duh! The problem—they were asking $50 for about $8 worth of fabric and labor. The Google turned up scores of cheaper alternatives, including the one I eventually purchased, which runs from $17 to $22 depending on size.
They’re marketed as sun shades, not bug screens, but in my testing they work a lot better for the latter than the former. Just for kicks, I drove with the shade over the window and (not surprisingly) it flapped like a mad hen. For keeping out skeeters and moths at night, though—flawless. 20 times better? More like 100. And it’s light and compact—I just keep it in the door storage pocket.
So, there you go. I might be the last to the party, but you can teach an old dog new tricks and mangle multiple metaphors with one stone. Now I just have to figure out what else I’m being dimwitted about.
Steve, thank you for this. After a fairly mosquito-ridden night in my car up by Leadville last night, I’m ordering RIGHT NOW. Brilliant.
Hey Steve – did it let a breeze in fairly well? Looks like a good pro-tip, will have to get it out!
i have these and yes, great breeze.
Where did you buy the mesh screen? You roll your window down right?
Yes! I discovered this last year through a similar brain wave trail. Lots of fresh air, no mozzies. Also some moderate privacy as it’s harder for people to see in. Love love love!
We have been using Skeeterbeater for years. They use magnets to hold them in place on the outside window frame. We initially bought screens for our Nissan NV SMB camper van’s driver and passenger doors. We also bought screening material and magnets to make a screen for the sliding door. Later, Skeeterbeater made a rear door screen for our type of van. Durability has been excellent despite some rough use. Our dogs like them for being bug proof and offering a great view with the slider open. The have not tried to burst through them. We like them for being bug proof and great ventilation. Only issue for us is the need to remove the slider and rear screens before closing the doors. Not so for other NV owners. Another manufacturer wanted to charge us for making a template as well as the cost of the screens.
How do I buy this?
Will it fit an Hyundai Iload van ?
Cost please for Australia ?
Regards Gail
Has anyone found anything that works well for moonroof? I see they have some magnetic covers that are similar curious how well they work if anyone has tried?
I car camp a lot, sleeping in the back of my Volvo wagon in a variety of environments, mountains to desert.
Bugs really seem to like me. I must have that special CO2 that they find particularly addictive. I think they call their friends from out of town just to let them know about the walking free buffet they’ve found.
So I’ve had to find my own solution to keep them out.
The key to keeping all kinds of bugs from driving you nuts overnight is, of course, with a bug rated screen mesh that is tightly sealed around the window area.
Fundamentally, without a tight seal, bugs will readily find a way in.Most commercial products I’ e seen and many DIY You tube video ideas don’t make for a tight seal.
I use my own cut to fit bug mesh available on rolls from Lowe’s or HD, folded over the door top and sides, providing a tight seal when shut, then sealed full length along the bottom edge with painters (blue tape) that doesn’t damage my finish. I clean the surface first with a damp paper towel to get dirt off before application.
It’s an inconvenience to put on but it works, even on my sun roof. I can open the windows, get air, read with my light on and not even the noseeums get in. It’s worth the effort in bug season.
I’ve found magnets work poorly unless they run full length on the bottom and preferably sewn in, providing a complete seal.
Otherwise, just placing magnets every few inches leaves more than enough gaps to allow skeet’s and particularly tiny “noseeums” to crawl through easily.
They have evolved over millions of years to find you, and they are very, very good at it. One biting bug is all it takes to ruin your night.
I haven’t tried the particular product recommended here, but I’m not entirely impressed with the commercial ones I’ve read about: they fit loosely, leaving too much room – particularly on the bottom – for bugs to crawl through. Loose and poor fits are the primary complaints in Amazon reviews.
They all seem to need some additional attachment to tighten them up sufficiently to seal.
Maybe I’ll try one of the ready mades, such as the one mentioned here, which will be quicker and easier to install, but I suspect I’ll still have to tape the bottoms to seal them up.
I’ll look for ones that extend several inches below the window on the exterior: the farther they stretch below the bottom of the window, the harder for bugs to crawl up, the more effective they are likely to be. Then taping might not be necessary.
However, $25 buys a lot of screen and blue tape, even if it takes a little more work – and it does work.