Your camper van is your place of solitude and safety when you go into the world and spend time outdoors. This vehicle should have the best gear and equipment to ensure you have the best security as you travel, and a bug screen is one of the essential pieces to keep pests out. For every camper van, there’s a bug screen that fits it correctly, and there are certain ways to help you figure out which one works best for your vehicle.
Types of Bug Screens for Camper Vans
On all camper vans, you can attach bug screens to different parts of their structure. Normally, these bug screens are inside the window or door frame as these are the primary entryways for bugs. Bug screens for windows and doors come in various sizes, shapes, and protection, with some being able to keep out large bugs while others could keep out gnats. The bug screen you choose should be the right size to ensure you have the most security from insects.
Window Screens
Window bug screens for camper vans are generally smaller than door screens, and you will have more of them. There are bug screens for the driver and passenger windows, and each may come in a different size depending on the van type. For some vans with a sliding door with a window, there are slip-on covers with a zip-up bug screen attached that will provide a temporary layer of protection from bugs for your vehicle. These slip-on covers also can tint the windows in some models, so you won’t have to worry too much about the interior becoming too warm.
Door Screens
If you have a larger area to screen, a bug screen for your door will cover a wider area where the bugs may enter. The screen door will normally fit inside the vehicle as you enter, and you will typically see a screen door in the back where the double doors open. Numerous types of bug screen doors attach to the inside of the van.
Magnetic bug screen doors are reliable due to their strength and involve an easy setup with adhesive, Velcro, and magnets included in the kit that comes with the door. It’s essential to keep the door area secure and covered to keep as many bugs out as you can.
Door Curtain
If you don’t want a screen door for your camper, you could use a door curtain. These products are cheaper than screen doors and won’t offer as tight a layer of protection, but they will keep larger insects out. Bug curtains have been used in vans, tents, and beds to keep an area secure from bugs that crawl and fly. Like other bug screens, each curtain has a particular density with tight holes to keep bugs out. These curtains will give you a small amount of protection, but if you use multiple curtains, you will increase your security.
Types of Camper Vans
Camper vans are specialized vehicles built to house people while still having the ability to remain mobile. There are multiple types of camper vans, each with a different shape, size, and layout of its interior and exterior. You may find some vans more stylish than others, while some are more equipped for handling modifications like specialized bug screens. Knowing the camper van you have will take you one step closer to getting the gear you need in your stand against the pests of the natural world.
Sprinter
Sprinter vans are some of the most common camper vans and make for a great conversion project if you’re interested in finding a new home for the open road. The vans have a good space inside and the reliable engineering of the Mercedes-Benz brand. This van has three main doors (plus two that open up at the back) and will fit up to five people. There aren’t any windows on the side and back door, and the bug screen setup will be easier since there are only a few doors and windows.
ProMaster
The RAM ProMaster is larger than most camper vans and fits many more people in its interior. This camper may come with three doors and two windows in a standard model, but different types of this van will have more windows on the side door and back of the vehicle. The RAM ProMaster’s bug screens will cover the sliding side door and back doors, with some screens working well with a garage door.
Transit
Since 1965, Ford Motors has produced the Transit model for those who wish to travel on the road and live out of their van. The Transit models nowadays have better maintenance and can handle driving long distances while giving passengers plenty of space. The layout of this van is similar to the others, with three doors and two windows plus doors opening in the back. If you get the right configuration, it could have two more windows on the side, and you will need more bug screens if you ever convert this model.
How To Choose the Right-Size Bug Screen
Once you know what type of van you have and all the areas where bug screens may fit, you now have the essential elements to choose the right-size bug screen for your camper. The bug screen will need to fit securely in the door or window if you want the best chance of keeping out bugs, which is why size is an important element in this situation.
Know Your Van
The van you drive will have windows and doors of different amounts, with different dimensions for calculations. As mentioned before, you will need to know your van before you put the modifications on it, and the bug screen is an important feature to have a comfortable time camping.
You’ll need to measure the frames to know if the screening will fit, but if you choose the right size that goes well with the van, you won’t have too many problems.
Know Your Conditions
If you plan to add different features to the interior or exterior parts of the van, you will need to consider these before putting in the bug screen. If you make a camper van conversion and plan to put in another window, the other windows will need to be smaller, and the bug screen of the correct size will change with that size alteration.
The bug screen is an important part of the camper van experience. If you ever need a bug screen, ensure it is the right fit for your van.
