Insects

What's "Bugging" You?  Insect protection - keeping them outside your van.

How Do I Keep Midges Out of My Caravan?

Conventional flyscreens on caravans, motorhomes, fifth wheelers and camper trailer tents are unlikely to keep out smaller insects such as midges.  Closing windows and doors around dusk will reduce the likelihood of entry into the RV.

Caravan doors when closed have a small gap between the door and the wall of the caravan which can allow access for small insects.  If not already fitted you can purchase a spline that retains insect mesh in the groove of the door extrusion.

To keep out midges you need flyscreen mesh of about 20 x 20 or 20 x 30 strands per inch.  Some caravanners have made up another flyscreen that they Velcro over the top of the existing screen in the hope this will prevent entry of smaller insects such as the midge.

The downside of the smaller mesh size is it inhibits the air flow through your RV.  This may not be an issue if you are located on a powered site and choose to use the air conditioner so all the windows and door would be closed.

Another option is to use an electrical insect zapper.  Mortein produce an odourless mozzie zapper.  It plugs into 240V AC only.  There are two types, about the size of a tennis ball.  One that has a small mat which you take from a foil pack and slide it under the protective grill and it must sit on the heat plate to be effective.  The other type has a liquid refill but has been designed to takes both liquid and the mat.  The manufacturer claims it is effective up to 10 hours.

Insect Screens for Campervans/Bus Conversions/Troop Carrier

There are magnetic flexible insect screen available to fit over weather shields and sliding windows which will enable you to leave the window open for ventilation.  Similarly there is a magnetic insect screening curtain for the slide door doorway.

There is also a product Rollaway Cassette Insect Screening System for the sliding door of say the Fiat Torino and it is also suitable for tailgate opening of campervans and for some doors of bus conversions.

There are flexible magnetic screens for roof hatch on Silver Eaglebus.

These products are available from Top Gear 2 Go at Mudgeeraba, Queensland.