Repairing Camper Day-Night Shades: A Step-By-Step Guide

Day/night shades in a camper or RV are dual-fabric shades, with one side filtering light and the other blocking it out. They are tension-mounted, so they don't use external cords to operate. Instead, you push up and pull down on the rails to move the shade. The most common repairs are replacing broken strings, replacing worn-out cord guides, and attaching cord retainers. You can buy repair kits to fix these shades yourself, or you can check with blind stores or upholstery shops to see if they can restring them for you.

Restringing the shades

First, identify the problem. If the shade won't go up and down, it likely indicates an issue with the string, spring, or cord retainers. Inspect the strings for any damage and check the spring and cord retainers for proper tension.

If restringing is required, gather the necessary tools, such as a Phillips screwdriver, a flat-head screwdriver, and a wire restring tool. You can purchase repair kits for this purpose.

Next, carefully remove the shade from its mounting position. Compress the fabric folds and secure them with rubber bands. Detach the cord retainers and lay the shade on a flat surface.

Remove the screws and strings from the cord retainers, and set them aside. Also, remove all the end caps and any attached strings.

Now, focus on the bottom and top rails. Remove any mounting screws attached to the shade and slide off the bottom rail. For the top rail, remove the cord guides or grommets and slide it off as well. Some shades may have rivets, so drill them out if necessary.

Cut and remove the old strings from the spring(s) and pull them out of the shade. Measure and cut the new strings accordingly, ensuring you have enough for your specific shade.

Begin the restringing process by attaching a string to each side of the spring using a double knot. Thread the folded end of the wire restring tool through the middle rail and the top fabric, then place the string in the eye of the tool and pull it through. Repeat for any additional strings.

Cross the strings on the bottom part of the middle rail channel and slide the bottom fabric onto the rail. Thread the folded end of the wire restring tool through the bottom fabric and place the string through the eye of the tool, pulling it through. Cross the strings along the bottom of the bottom fabric.

Carefully slide the bottom rail on, ensuring the strings remain in the middle channel. Do the same for the top rail, paying attention to the strings and the spring.

Finally, reassemble the shade. Replace the end caps, thread the string through the bottom rail end caps, and secure any mounting screws. Reattach the cord retainers and remount the shade. Adjust the tension on the cord retainers to ensure smooth operation.

Replacing cord guides

Replacing the cord guides of a camper day/night shade is a fairly simple process. Before starting, identify the problem by visually comparing your cord guides and measuring them. You can then follow these steps:

Step 1: Remove the Shade Fabric

Remove the shade from its mounting position and compress the fabric folds together, securing them with rubber bands. Then, lay the shade flat and remove the cord retainers by unscrewing them.

Step 2: Disassemble the Shade

Remove all end caps, mounting screws, and rubber bands. Slide off the bottom rail, and then the top rail, drilling out any rivets if necessary.

Step 3: Remove Old Cord Guides

Remove the cord guides or grommets from the top rail. Cut and remove the strings from the springs, and then pull out all the strings from the shade, discarding them.

Step 4: Measure and Cut New Strings

Measure the amount of string needed for the repair, which is calculated as two and a half times the width plus the height, multiplied by the number of lift strings. Cut all the strings required.

Step 5: Reassemble the Shade

Reattach the strings to the springs with double knots. Thread the strings through the middle and top rails, and then through the bottom fabric. Cross the strings along the bottom of the middle and bottom rails, ensuring they are seated in the middle channel. Carefully slide the bottom and top rails back on, making sure the strings remain in the middle channel.

Step 6: Finish Reattachment

Replace the end caps on the rails, thread the strings through the bottom rail end caps, and then replace the cord retainers. Secure the shade with rubber bands and remount it. Reattach the cord retainers to their mounting locations, leaving some slack in the strings. Remove the rubber bands and guide the shade all the way down. Adjust the cord retainers to remove the slack from the strings, tightening the screws as needed.

Attaching cord retainers

First, you must remove the shade from its mounting position. Compress the fabric folds together and secure them with rubber bands. Then, remove the cord retainers. Next, lay the shade on a flat surface and remove the screw and string from the cord retainers. Remove the end caps and set them aside, ensuring that you also remove any string attached to the end caps.

Now, you can begin the process of attaching the new cord retainers. You will need to tie a knot at the end of the cord. Loop the cord around the peg on the inside of the cover, and firmly press the flat disk into the cover. This will hold the cord securely. Place the included screw through the assembled cord retainer and mount it directly below the bottom rail of your shade. Mounting it about half an inch below the rail will create the proper tension. Before tightening the screw all the way, you may pull on the knotted side of the cord to adjust the tension.

Finally, reattach the cord retainers to their mounting locations, but do not tighten them all the way. Shorten the strings at the cord retainer, leaving about one inch of slack. Then, remove the rubber bands and guide the shade all the way down. Turn the left cord retainer counterclockwise until all the slack is removed from the string. Tighten the screw after turning the cord retainer and removing the slack. Repeat this process on the right side, turning the cord retainer clockwise. Test the shade, and if there is too much slack, tighten the cord retainers alternatively by half-inch turns until the desired tension is reached.

Fixing mounting problems

If you are experiencing mounting problems with your camper day night shades, there are a few things you can do to fix them. First, identify the specific issue you are facing. Are you dealing with lost mounting hardware or bent brackets? If so, you'll need to find replacement parts that match the size, shape, and measurements of your original brackets. You can refer to online resources to identify the correct type of mounting bracket for your camper day night shades.

If your shades are not moving up and down, the issue is likely due to a broken or frayed string inside the shades. In this case, you should replace all the lifting cords with new strings of the appropriate diameter (commonly 1.2mm or 1.4mm for RV day/night shades). If the problem persists, inspect the cord guides and end caps for sharp edges or grooves that may be catching the string. Additionally, check the spring in the top rail of the shade and the cord retainer devices to ensure they are functioning correctly and providing proper tension.

If your shades are moving unevenly, it could be due to a problem with the strings or the cord retainers. Inspect the strings for any breakage or fraying, and replace them if necessary. Also, check the tension on the cord retainers and adjust them if needed. Make sure all cords are securely attached to the retainers.

If your shades catch or get stuck when you try to raise or lower them, the issue is likely due to frayed strings getting caught in the fabric. Replace the strings, and if the problem persists, inspect the cord guides, end caps, and filler strips for any wear and tear. Replace these parts as necessary.

If your shades won't stay in the desired position, try adjusting both cord retainers equally. You may need to wrap more string around the retainers to increase tension. If that doesn't work, check the internal spring; if it's stretched out, it will need to be replaced.

Replacing end caps

End caps are a common component of RV Day/Night shades that may need replacing. These shades are typically made from two types of fabric: one opaque for privacy and room darkening, and the other semi-transparent for light filtering. They are tension-mounted, so they don't use external cords to operate. However, they may still encounter problems with their cords or strings, which can become frayed or broken over time.

If you are experiencing issues with your RV Day/Night shades, it is recommended to first identify the source of the problem. In some cases, you may need to replace the entire shade, but often, a simple repair will suffice. Common repairs include replacing broken strings, replacing worn-out cord guides, and attaching cord retainers.

• Remove the shade from its mounting position and compress the fabric folds together. Secure it with rubber bands, then remove the cord retainers.
• Lay the shade on a flat surface.
• Remove the screw and string from the cord retainers.
• Remove all the end caps and set them aside, ensuring that any attached strings are also removed.
• Take out any mounting screws attached to the shade.
• Slide off the bottom rail by removing the rubber bands from the shade.
• Remove any cord guides or grommets from the top rail and slide it off. If necessary, drill out any rivets connecting the rail and the fabric.
• Cut and remove the strings from the springs.
• Pull out and discard all the strings from the shade.
• Measure the amount of string you will need for the repair. The formula is two and a half times the width, plus the height, multiplied by the number of lift strings.
• Cut all the strings needed for the repair.
• Follow the provided diagrams for the correct string path, depending on the number of strings your RV shade has.
• Slide the bottom fabric off the middle rail.
• Attach a string to each side of the spring using a double knot.
• Thread the folded end of the wire restring tool through the middle rail and the top fabric.
• Place the string in the eye of the tool and pull it through. Repeat for any additional strings.
• Cross the strings on the bottom part of the middle rail channel.
• Slide the bottom fabric onto the bottom of the middle rail.
• Thread the folded end of the wire restring tool through the bottom fabric.
• Place the string through the eye of the tool and pull it through. Repeat for any additional strings.
• Cross the strings along the bottom of the bottom fabric, ensuring they are seated in the middle channel.
• Carefully slide the bottom rail on, making sure the strings remain in the middle channel.
• Slide the top rail on, ensuring the strings and the spring remain in the middle channel.
• Replace the end caps on the top and middle rails.
• Thread the string through the bottom rail end caps and replace them.

By following these steps, you can effectively replace the end caps on your RV Day/Night shades, improving their functionality and extending their lifespan.

Frequently asked questions