That's a good idea! I have curtains cos it had them already, but not sure I have the ability to add screens and curtain into one decent item!
Not too sure if I'd be too worried about people knowing I'm in there - in fact I've considered maybe it'd be better if some oaf thought I'd be in there with best mate Mr Baseball-Bat in case he felt like breaking in on the rob (I've had a hankering to take up softball when out and about in the van y'know, and really should go out and pick up a bat n ball to take with me for purely recreational purposes).
But... I haven't wilded at all, a total newbie so maybe thats completely the wrong idea? I can't really 'stealth' entirely anyhow though as Sully has a window in the side door, so that'll suggest 'campervan' and 'occupants' anyway I guess?
I've had to learn how to use a power driver/drill so I reckon it's only fair if you have to learn how to use a sewing machine! It's really not difficult, like a power tool, just take it slow till you've got used to it. It's easier to use fabric that doesn't fray, such as fleece or wool blanket (although wool blanket is probably too heavy when doubled) so that you don't have to worry about hems. You could even put small eyelets in the top for the curtain hooks to save messing around or buy clip on curtain rings (B&M Bargains, about £3 for 12) and just use curtain wire - get it really tight so it doesn't sag.
It's just like making a ham sandwich, 2 slices of fabric (about a foot/ 18" longer than the gap so that the curtain isn't stretched tight across the gap and to allow extra to tuck in at each side) with a slice of bubble wrap in between, then sew along the edges using a longer length stitch than usual (there is a dial on the machine that adjusts the size of the stitch - practice on some scrap fabric first). The bubble wrap doesn't need to go right up to the edges on the sides, otherwise it makes it difficult to tuck the side edges in when curtains closed. If you use thread as close as possible to colour of the curtains, and just a straight line stitch, you will hardly see the stitching and it won't matter if it's slightly wonky in places. Tip - it goes wonky if you go too fast. If you get really good, you could even stitch along the concertina folds in the fabric so that it folds up easier. I spray glued the silver bubble wrap to the fabric in places to hold it in place whilst I sewed it.
:have fun:
Wilding is great, you'll get hooked on it! It just depends where you are - if you're in the middle of nowhere with little chance of anyone coming along to complain / move you on, then screens are fine. If in any doubt, I wouldn't use the screens. Stealthing is even more fun once you've got over the initial anxiety, a real sense of beating the system :ninja:
I reckon you'd get away with stealthing with a window in the van as you see a lot of crew vans parked up on streets at night, just so long as you don't have TV aerial / satellite dish / light showing etc otherwise Mr and Mrs Busybody will complain. Stealthing is really handy for a late night out in town if you don't want to have to get a taxi home, or for visiting friends who don't have spare bedroom etc.
Taking a dog (preferably a noisy one) (or even a CD of a dog barking!) is probably preferable to taking a baseball bat, no risk of arrest and just as effective if not more so :dog:
To be honest, I wouldn't go off wilding on my own without the dog (he's big and black, with a very loud bark, although he's a gentle giant, but no one else knows that! Well, apart from all the other forum members!).
But in 77 nights in the van over the past 14 months, I've only once been disturbed during the night, in a forestry car park in the middle of nowhere, about 11pm, and although I didn't peep out and just hid in the van, I'm pretty sure it was the police who had a walk round, flashed torches, talked into a phone / radio, I heard them say "probably asleep in there" and then off they went. Had to have a couple of Baileys afterwards though!! :scared::scared:
