Fastest Easiest DIY Car Curtains! | Window Covers for Car Camping

[@aaronharris8093]

I'm about to soon be living in my car to save money and get myself out of debt. All of my belongings are in storage and I will only have the daily necessities stored in my vehicle. I also bought a queenbsize memory foam mattress cover that i am going to fold in half and put in a black twin sized fitted sheet as my bedding. And for the cold I also got a zero degree sleeping bag. I really did not want to spend the money on window deflection. This video is super helpful for being more stealthy and saving a lot of money! Thanks a million man!!!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I'm glad it helps dude. Be wary of storage units, I had one for a while and I never pulled anything out of it. I could have rebought all the crap in there with the money I spent on the unit. Just make sure it is something really necessary you are storing and not just some ikea furniture.

[@kctyphoon]

Hope things are working out.

[@gorillaxrich]

This is my exact plight now...

[@harlowjademermaid1882]

I'm with ya, Dude. I'm im my ride right now as we speak, watching the snow fall. Its cold, small & cramped, but its only temporary. Heres to all of us in a nice, cozy, safe & affordable place - very soon.

[@terrykarney2515]

Bouta be in a escape full time lol

[@zackjandali]

The "can't find double xl in Canada but in the states you can find triple xl for sure!" comment as a probably unintentional stab at obesity in America was hilarious XD

[@ijustfollowthesun]

I commented on that too 😆

[@luispinheirodosmontes7219]

Pretty much "in your face" comment 😂

[@scottsmith3236]

Merica #1

[@venusxxblue]

The shirt as a bug net is genius. I paid far too much for the "real" kind 🤦‍♀️😅

[@papasitoOC]

Me too

[@zagmamaof3boys821]

Thank you!!!! I've been on and off homeless/car sleeping since I was 18yo I'm now 27yo and although I'm not sure in the states how well this would go over, it's the VERY first video/literally ANYTHING I've ever seen on how to make the whole car living situation easier on you and especially in the south with all the mosquito and bugs here, that T-shirt idea is GENIUS. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so So SO much!!!!

[@natalie306642]

For anyone worried about safety, I would def splurge on the black tape. You can see that silver duct tape from the outside & it will be pretty obvious someone is in there. If its just "Blacked out" it look more intimidating to others as well.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I found some black tape eventually and patched mine up

[@Fmkayla]

Yeah I’d go black tape too!👍🏻

[@bjuracek21]

great advice! thank you!

[@chompalotart8242]

I've been stressing about this car camping trip I planned and you saved me SO much money and SO MUCH stress

[@wandamckissick5756]

Watched your video yesterday and I just gotta say, SOLID advice! I've got a road trip coming up and will be sleeping in my SUV for 2 nights. I've tried sleeping on the road before and felt exposed and nervous so obviously didn't sleep much. I now feel I'll sleep just fine. I decided to buy a tension rod and a big blackout curtain I found on the sale rack at Walmart that I'll hang behind the front seats. That way, I'll have a way to peek out the curtain if I hear anything suspicious. Thanks for sharing this cheap and easy method and for having the common sense and know how to do it. Bravo!!

[@margieemack7211]

Getting yoga Matt's from the thrift store is another great way to cover the windows. Cutting in the shape of the windows. They stay put and are good insulation 😊

[@LyndaMarieRoy]

The Dollar Store XxL black t-shirt idea is an amazing idea! Thank you!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

The only downside is if you are in Moab its 42 degrees / 105 F the double layer of shirt doesn't allow enough airflow at those temperatures

[@posteroonie]

A good trick is to insert old plastic subway cards, loyalty program cards, room key cards, etc. into the edges of the window trim to hold up the shades and fill any light holes.

[@helloworld6160]

just a little tidbit I found out from duct taping the edges. if you don't use a tape that's heat resistant all that duct tape will start to melt in 90 degree heat and it's a b**** to get that stuff off.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I've been in Zion and Moab 38-42C | 95-105F for the past week+ and they have held up fine. Things I've stuck to my windshield with command stickies on the other hand... have fallen off.

[@hippieHawk]

Good to know, I am in the desert and in the shade it can get past 120 degrees

[@flowersafeheart]

Do they make a heat-resistant form of duct tape or what tape is recommended?

[@a.w.thompson4001]

​​​@@IdRatherBeHiking Brand name for the heat-tolerant duct tape, please? I hear you said Dollar Store, but given the melting issue, it'd be great to know more.

[@DispholidusTypus]

​@@flowersafeheartI highly recommend industrial gorilla 🦍 black tape or brown tape...

[@charlesmarcus7864]

This is Brilliant. I was going to invest all of this money into car curtains. Now I’ll DIY. Thanks Bud

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Ive used them everynight for 65 days now and they are still going strong

[@XabooAlex]

I am so impressed. I have always been concerned if I needed privacy in my car to use the toilet, it would be such a headache to cover all the windows in a hurry. Your video has solved that problem

[@timarcella]

Damn...

[@shamicentertainment1262]

If you’re taking a crap in your car you are beyond the worries of needing privacy

[@dandyer8351]

​@@shamicentertainment1262😂 lol when nature calls u do what u gotta do.

[@TheLimestoneCowboy]

Dude you rock. I’ve been scouring Amazon with no luck.

[@thanatoskatakrima5864]

Brilliant! 😂😂😂 My lease is up next month and I’m going back to being off the grid. My SUV is ready for me. All I need is the covers for the windows! I’m so looking forward to this! This will be my second time doing this, but I had an RV back then. I wish I hadn’t sold it.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

You can make due with a SUV.

[@chrislocke1042]

I moved into my car yesterday and spent the night with shirts towels and whatever else to block light. I don't worry about people, that's my dogs department.. anyways I woke up half mad half asleep and said I need curtains.. this was the first video that showed up with what I typed in, and it worked perfectly. I'm in a very very dark car tonight.. but keep in mind you will need to tweek it some...I cut one to short I just take an added a piece to it and kepted rolling..I added a few stripes of tape vertical and horizontal to give it some stability that is nice and take my word for it.. on the side that faces out.. cover that duct tape up with some black electrical tape.. Thank you for the video. I'm gonna sleep good tonight.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

glad it helped

[@LyndaMarieRoy]

Love your creative engineering projects! I’m looking forward to making the window shades. The use of duct tape beyond the edges, and the pull tab are brilliant.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

A little update on that, as you use these over and over they'll flex and bend a bit, I just duct taped them again and they fit snug again.

[@aimsays]

The tape on the sides to hold the covers in place is genius! Thx so much!

[@gingerproject888network6]

I’m so glad I found your video before I purchase the screen mesh window cover. Saved me loads of money. Will be going to the thrift store & find 4 XXXL shirt for my SUV front & passenger windows. Kudos to your creative ideas! 🙏❤️🙌

[@jasonfitzpatrick414]

Good ideas. Much better than my reflectix ordeal. I've wasted 75 dollars so far and not a happy camper.

[@sallym4149]

It's the freehanding and getting a template correct that was my entire problem..

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

takes a bit to get it for sure. Can always fix it with black tape

[@diywarren1776]

You can use small pieces of paper (letter size cut in half) and tape and tuck them in around the edges. More work somewhat but easier to to tuck them into all the corners and draw an accurate boundary. Once you have a paper ring around your window tape up, draw the edges and carefully remove it. You only need to tape it down a little to the glass and that makes removal easier. Cut it out and have a template

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

thats a good idea

[@silla-je9od]

I saw a guy use a bunch of aluminium foil to make the window cover patterns.

[@diywarren1776]

@@silla-je9od oh yikes. I guess aluminum foil is recyclable so in that sense not terrible. But you could cut plain paper into small sizes and so that’s not too is bad in my eyes

[@grimm4562]

Aluminum foil worked very well for me also. I happened to have a large size roll on hand.

[@gabrielpichardo1492]

Those foam boards that you used are actually perfect because aside from blocking out light or peeping toms they also have a little bit of insulation so it will be a little warmer inside when camping out in the cold. I made the window covers for my van out of a big roll of reflectix which was given to me by the grace of God. It was enough to do all of the side windows on my econoline. My wife and use the van for camping in when we go on road trips and its also where i hang out on my lunch breaks at work

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Ya it does add a bit, still gets really cold in there. They do well against a bit of moisture too.

[@gabrielpichardo1492]

@@IdRatherBeHiking understandable. Get yourself a nice hefty sleeping bag and maybe a portable buddy heater and you can always double up the window covers

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

@@gabrielpichardo1492 New sleeping bag is already on the way, a heater is a good idea

[@gabrielpichardo1492]

@@IdRatherBeHiking yup , just make sure that its secured somewhere that nothing can fall in front of it and gets burned 🔥. Crack a window open just a little bit for ventilation

[@MR-nl8xr]

Just keep in mind that you are going to have to repeatedly keep making them, since after repeated use they will no longer just " push in ", due to material wear and loss of structural integrity providing the outward compression force to hold itself inside the window frame.

[@WandaWorley]

You showed proof that all Stealthing/Nomads can utilize and do what is best for our vehicle and working environment! Even if there are those that don't/can't work... This video helped TRAMENDOUSLY! ~ Thank you!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

cheers

[@juliamarple3785]

Oh Thank You. Budget camper/roadtripper from a small town. Can't find reflectix. Besides the privacy issue, sometimes I just need to block the sun out of the side windows. I need to upgrade from packing paper & maps taped to the windows.

[@grimm4562]

If you get the large size roll of tinfoil you can fold and press along the edges of the widow for a perfect template very quickly.

[@alive-awake]

Those boughten ones you showed for the front are great! I got one of those for my little motorhome. Ordered according to my vehicle and it fit great and even had a velcro piece to put around the rearview mirror to hold in place besides using the visors on the side. Your cardboard and t-shirt idea is brilliant!

[@tomguarente]

Wow, will be doing this before travelling Europe in my Volvo at end of the week! Thanks for the advice :)

[@nolacoolsim384]

What a great solution for this problem!! Thanks for the video.

[@razmikoye9983]

These are amazing but if you lazy and need an instant solution buy black garbage bags and tape every window with electric tape.

[@shazz4804]

Thankyou, im currently setting up my car to do some camping trips (Australia) and this video is really helpful, love DIY stuff.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I'm glad, I just used those for 3 months straight and they held up well. I ended up bending the corner to let in a bit of air on the front 2 side windows.

[@martina21953]

I am definitely going to try these ideas. The XL T-shirt is a great idea!!! I'm heading out to the Good Will store tomorrow!

[@Menelik.videos]

He keeps saying "jam it in there". I don't know why but it's making me laugh hard 😂 😂. Thanks for the good tips brother.

[@SarasotaTim]

Genius dude I almost bought the WeatherTech $175 window shades

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

glad it helps!

[@SarasotaTim]

@@IdRatherBeHiking actually I did buy the WeatherTech custom-made window shades for my 2021 Toyota 4Runner for $200 and have no regrets they’re very high-quality and fit perfectly. When they’re in you can’t see your hand in front of your face in the middle of the afternoon.

[@bjuracek21]

I'm getting ready for a long road trip and this will be perfect for me. Thank you so much! The black T-shirt idea for ventilation is awesome!

[@unburriedtalents599]

Tshirt idea very clever! Thanks for all the tips.

[@cindysmithlucinda6369]

Awesome!! Thanks for the simple inexpensive alternative!! 💙☺️

[@ytubechannel997]

Thanks for the DIY projects. Want to do this someday.

[@RelatosParanormales444]

What a smart and resourceful dude, very effective too thanks for the ideas

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

cheers

[@pedalbyte]

Thank you! Absolutely fantastic solution for privacy issues while car camping.

[@SN-rp3kk]

You are creative & smart. Excellent video. Going to give this a try just for privacy haha.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

they are still holding up

[@brendadoyle7926]

This is so creative. I'm going to busy DIY over the next few days!

[@michaelgeorge2963]

Did your strategy for my Outback and it works like a charm!! Cheap and easy

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Awesome Machael glad it helped

[@dreze000]

Thank you. I really like this version better than all of the other DIY and even the expensive premade ones. I will try to use a stiffer type of material to use for the windshield with the extra tape to jam it in place. Also in my Gen 3 Prius, the back hatch glass is almost flat and even the premade ones fall down... Still would need to be in two pieces as well.

[@cstiemann3534]

Thank you!!! This hack worked perfectly for me!

[@East-mg1up]

Thanks moving into car been struggling and wasting money this is so simple. Added $1store sun screen to reflect sun in desert. Again thanks, saved lots$

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Cheers friend

[@sebastianjimenez5852]

"I'm going to trace it from the inside".. 2 seconds later "So it's proving difficult to do it from the inside"

[@arieswaters]

Good job Bob totally terrific

[@jobird354]

A great video. Thanks for sharing. I had one of the front windscreen covers you used. I loved it to keep the car cool in summer.

[@01jeanph]

100 gold for you !!! So simple yet effective !!!!! Thanks !!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

cheers friend

[@stephenash777]

Hey, thanks for the link on those windshield shades. Hoping to make a 6-9 month road trip next year , but doing some weekends in my Escape for now.

[@TheMissPoovey]

Farms stores (Feldmans, Tractor Supply, I know for sure) and Ace Hardware stores all have discount piles and bins. Returned items, opened packages, discontinued items and generally lots of tools a person can use for survival at a discount.

[@richardsamaniego3789]

Nice I'm going to do. Thanks

[@karamiaropiha8349]

Great thinking good on you putting the time to work out a great solution I was thinking of magnets but this is so easy

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I was working on a new version that uses this method with some small magnets as the cardboard gets a little warped and isnt as tight, something to think about. I was hoping to already have that video done for yall but I'm dealing with a catastrophe right now, see my most recent video,, so ya it'll be I'm not sure when but I'll be making part 2 of this at some point.

[@HilltopFilms]

Love the setup! Window curtains are a game changer

[@kraxylover]

Wow you’re really smart and this is soo helpful!!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I'm so glad!

[@zeppelfahrt127]

Brilliant! Many thanks for posting.

[@mohammedshahab6095]

innovative idea... i liked it

[@kaitlynmatheson1884]

Brilliant! I was pricing other options but they were closer to $80! Thank you!

[@calij586]

Another great tip is to.glue black fleece on the board so it absorbs moisture so no one knows u r in there

[@kimberlychicago7608]

Yes, 5 extra large available in the States.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I've since picked up 4x shirts for $1.25 each at dollar tree which work amazing

[@cheerio9119]

Love it!! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@TheKarebear666]

Me watching this wishing I could build out my Nissan Senta 😥. Either way, I'm really enjoying this series

[@diywarren1776]

You maybe could. If you can live without a back seat take it out, and your legs could into the trunk

[@NatalieeeRufff]

This will save me so much time and money, thanks!

[@SuperKarineka]

Very cool! This is so creative, thanks for sharing! I am going to try this

[@poorwhitetrashangel4744]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I thought I'd make me some from card board and found this.

[@r0binIsntAmish1669]

Same. I’ve been living out of my car for about a month now & they finally have ripped. Pretty frustrating!

[@poorwhitetrashangel4744]

@@r0binIsntAmish1669 I'm 10 years, full time vehicle dweller. Started in pick up trucks. Then got camper shells and finally an RV that I've had remodeled as a tiny house on wheels. I just bought the van so we had something not so scarey on mountains and stuff. I already have everything I really need from living this way and backpacking the U.S. I've just always hung covers up at night in pick ups. I grabbed card board yesterday to make mine with.

[@silla-je9od]

What do you do for income?

[@poorwhitetrashangel4744]

Silla, I'm a traveling artist.

[@silla-je9od]

@@poorwhitetrashangel4744 Cool, thanks for sharing. I notice some people do online jobs when traveling, too. Just looking for ideas to configure my own journey. Thanks again.

[@docink6175]

I like the T-shirt idea, I guess if you stretch it enough it will allow some air flow

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I found some 4xl black synthetic shirts in the states and they still blackout the window but let air in

[@alallen2767]

Good idea. Stay safe.

[@beccadanielsen3567]

Amazing and the tab is brilliant. Thanks

[@PlaysByEar]

Gonna try this next time after getting briefly terrified by a lady banging on my door asking for money at a rest stop last night, and right after I fell asleep too! One question that occurred to me when I woke up the next day, though: Do you have any issue/deterioration from condensation that occurs on the windows inside the vehicle after a cold night?

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

they will slowly warp in the winter and get less tension over 6 months. After 1.5 years I had to remake so far only 1 of them

[@calij586]

Glue black fleece on the outside part and it will absorb the moisture

[@flyingcat2054]

Good tips! Luv the black tee shirt! Copy that. The panels, i have with the foil bubble wrap and i want different than flat panels. At least with one window to start, possibly the hatch window, soo huge, soo awkward to install things there.

[@RollTimeratYT]

I understand black landscaping fabric works in a pinch for window curtains.

[@NorwayHikesTrails]

Nice David. You have a wonderful weekend

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

You too!

[@cuddlesanddaisy]

Bet you could use the big shirts to make a cover for the window covers also.

[@lor3999]

Thanks. I work a split shift. Use to just relax in the lunch room, but pandemic ended that.

[@cindysmith6612]

Thank you

[@IAMPhoeniX888]

I might have to try this because I suck making them out of reflective

[@bigchiponmyshoulder7573]

Well done mate. Good thinking

[@bellablayne4619]

Genius. Thanks for sharing.

[@mariaemilianegron]

Try dark contractor trash bags cut them and use magnets to hold it in place

[@sharonconstan8234]

Love this!

[@angelamurphy3331]

Thanks for sharing your tips for car camping blackout blinds. I'm watching from Dublin Ireland and want to try car camping as a test to see if I would go further and buy and convert a van in the near future. I notice you're left handed and that probably means you think outside the box. 💚💚🍀🍀😺😺💚💚

[@radj4719]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@JuCarlos-ex8ip]

Pretty cool 😎 very genius Idea

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

glad it was helpful

[@chardelraconner7324]

pressed against the glass from exterior motion detection ; rebounds pressure to not minimize shatter percentage

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

come again? I don't follow

[@chardelraconner7324]

using a carpet/floormat on concrete staircases should be aladdin aesthetic ; you read

[@TexCynRVLife]

I did this yesterday. Then saw your video afterwards. I have to wonder about condensation? I'll be making a trip to PA soon for a few months & weather up there creates rain & lots of humidity. Have you had any issues with condensation ruining the foam boards?

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

they get warped a little, they actually bend to the shape of the window a lot more in the sun. After 2 months i need to add a new layer of tape to make it fit tight again but it only took a few minutes.

[@calij586]

Glue black fleece on the outside board to soak up moisture

[@Jesus-hx5vg]

thank you!!!

[@traceycrawford9938]

Great information, thank you. If you just paint everything black, these look extremely stealthy behind the tinted windows.

[@dankett5953]

Top work fella !

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

thanks Dan

[@jayceewedmak9524]

Don't you find the air flow is hampered by the double layer of shirt material? I made screens and they hamper air flow. Thanks for the video - hi from Southeastern Ontario

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I do those shirt screens are a cheap easy way by reduce airflow I have an updated video with is a much better design.

[@Nels0n1]

I felt offended when he said 1.75 CAD is equal to .25 USD but he made it up by saying we don't have XXL in Canada 😂

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Its all true! haha

[@heath1982]

is this posterboard or foam board?

[@electricvision1523]

"Cut it up, or whatever" that's what he must have said to his barber

[@papasitoOC]

Does the black poster board help block heat? I’m curious bc I get that it can help block out light but bc I’ll be camping in my van with my dogs on our road trip I’m curious about heat block or if y’all find that it absorbs heat? Thank you

[@riwgage]

Great Idea!

[@klmlouie4238]

thank you brilliant

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

glad it was helpful

[@lydialangfordjoiner765]

Great tips! Thank you-

[@FreeSpiritMom]

The shirt is such a smart idea because I’ve bought the actual window covers and they SUCK! I would rather use a shirt

[@djalitanaful]

excellent idea.

[@danz1910]

thank you brother