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INSTRUCTIONS​
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Our window covers are designed to be quick & easy to install. Follow the steps in the videos below and your covers will be up in no time. If any questions comes up, reach out to us at info@vanessential.com.
Please keep in mind that all of our covers come a bit oversized to allow for the best possible blackout in your van. When you first receive our covers they will feel a little stiff but don't worry, they will soften up after a few uses. If the covers have wrinkles in the fabric from storage, just put them in the sun or leave them in installed in their windows overnight and they will flatten.
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One last note, some of our window covers (like the front door covers) use friction as well as magnets to stay in place and might require some coaching to get into place. To fine tune the fit, make sure to push all the edges in as deep as they go and make small up & down and side to side adjustments to help seal the frame.
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To install your Front Windshield Cover:
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Place window cover on dash and open completely with the black fabric facing outward.
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Push window cover completely down deep into where the window's glass meets the dash. No need to push hard, just make sure it is seated correctly across the entire length of the window.
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Depending on the van, next steps are:
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MERCEDES-BENZ: Vans with rear view mirror, lift up the window cover and wrap around the rear view mirror one side at a time with the cut out. Use the magnet to close around it. If you have a technology box or don't have rear view mirror, use the provided hooks that go under the headliner and once hooked on, pull cord locks on either side to pull up close to the glass. If you don't need them, they can be either not used or removed.
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Roll your hand across the top of one side of the cover to the side of the van and pull down sun visor to hold in place. Repeat step on the other side.
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If you have light leakage coming in, push the window cover into these gaps to best seal it up.
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To remove window cover, revers the process.
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FORD TRANSIT / RAM PROMASTER: Use the same steps above. There is not an additional hook/tension system on these covers as it is not needed for these vans. ​
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FRONT DOOR COVERS
To install your Front Door covers:
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Choose a window to work with first and match up the cover shape to that window with the black side facing outward.
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Push window cover completely into the closed door frame with equal amounts showing around all the sides to form a seal.
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Push in as needed and make slight up/down side to side movements to get the best fit.
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Repeat on other side of van to the other door.
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Depending on the van, next steps are:
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MERCEDES-BENZ: If your van doors have a grab handle, fold back the flap to install correctly in place. ​
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FORD TRANSIT / RAM PROMASTER
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Use the same steps above.
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Make sure to move your cover down behind the plastic trim where needed for a good fit. When new, they will need some time to soften and fit correctly.
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FAN VENT COVER
Installing your Roof Vent Cover:
This cover comes with an easy-as-pie installation kit including 10 magnets, plus 1 spare—because life happens.
Tools needed: Phillips-head screw driver & Painter’s tape
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Steps:
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Remove the fan/vent flange from the interior of your van. Most flanges are attached with four screws.
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Place the window cover on a flat surface with the tag side facing down.
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Now set the flange on top of the cover with the flat surface facing down.
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Place the included magnets along the flange—causing them to snap into place with the magnets inside the fan cover.
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Use tape to secure the magnets in place.
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Re-install the flange to the roof of your van.
BUNK WINDOW COVERS
Installing metal mounting tabs for Bunk Windows:
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Clean your window frame to remove any dust with an Isopropyl wipe or similar.
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Remove one side of the VHB tape tabs and attach to metal tab. Repeat for all metal tabs supplied.
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CAUTION: Try not touch the adhesive side on VHB Tape as oil from your hands might ruin the adhesive.
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Hold your window cover up to the window frame to identify where the metal mounting tabs should go. The tabs need to match up with the magnets inside the window cover trim.
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Peel the backing off the other side of VHB tape on the metal tab and stick to the clean window frame where they align up to the magnets. Repeat for all magnet locations.
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Attach the window cover to the frame & you're all done!
REAR DOOR WINDOW COVERS
Installing metal mounting tabs for Rear Door Window Sprinter van Revel/Jayco/Thor/Storyteller Half plastic or Full plastic rear doors:
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Clean your window glass to remove any dust with an Isopropyl wipe or similar.
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Remove one side of the VHB tape tabs and attach to metal tab. Repeat for all metal tabs supplied.
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CAUTION: Try not touch the adhesive side on VHB Tape as oil from your hands might ruin the adhesive.
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Hold your window cover up to the window frame to identify where the metal mounting tabs should go. The tabs need to match up with the magnets inside the window cover trim.
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Peel the backing off the other side of VHB tape on the metal tab and stick to the CLEAN WINDOW GLASS (Not the Plastic trim) where they align up to the magnets. Repeat for all magnet locations.
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Attach the window cover to the metal tabs & you're all done!
SLIDING DOOR / CREW COVERS
Tools Needed:
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Sharp new blade or scissors to cut off excess of material as final step.
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A small step ladder to help reach the top door frame would be useful.
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Additionally a friend comes in handy to help hold things in place and check for alignment as the cover is installed.
Time to install:
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Approx 30 mins
Installation Process:
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Choose either the Sliding Door or Rear Door to start with and remove all the contents from the package it arrived in.
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Unfold the Bug Screen, hold it up with the buckles and logo facing outward towards you, lift the cover up into the top of the door frame, center it and put one clamp on the top right and left corners to help hold the in screen place.
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Begin to pull the rubber weather strip from the middle location down off the van and feed the fabric edge under and through it. Depending on the thickness of the sheet metal, place the correct sized metal clip that came with the product to hold it in place. Once in place, squeeze the weather strip in your hand back together (to tighten it) and reinstall over the clip and fabric in place.
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CAUTION: It is easiest to work with 1 foot sections, taking down the whole weather strip makes it difficult to reinstall it.
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NOTE 1: FORD and RAM vans have A LOT of grease under the weather strip. wiping off the grease from the van body will help with the installation process.
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NOTE 2: For rear doors, these will need to be positioned according to your closing system at the top and alignment of the holes will be important. Each door is different from each van so reference the pictures to help identify the correct location.
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Before continuing, check to see where the bottom of the screen is hanging down to confirm correct height on the van floor/edge below. If correct, continue to work your way along the top, one side at a time of the screen pulling the weather strip down in 1 foot sections, making sure it is straight along the top and adding clips as you go along. Use as many clips as available. They are all there to be used.
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CAUTION: Slack is needed in the bug screen to best perform. Do not make it tight as the zippers and magnet closure will not work correctly. About 1-2 inch (2.5-5.0cm) of slack should be seen when pushed in the middle of the screen for the sliding door. A little less on the rear door is OK.
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Once the top and sides have been completed, there will be excess material hanging out of the other side of the weather strip and this will be removed as the very last step. Again, check to make sure all closures work smoothly and OK. Make sure the door is aligned correctly left/right and top to bottom. Close and open doors to confirm weather strip is pushed back in place and everything works OK.
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When everything is working correctly, the final step is to remove the excess material and this can be performed by sharp scissors or a blade to complete the job. Use your fingers as guides to avoid damaging your rubber seal.
If you encounter any problems during your installation, you can reach us at info@vanessential.com with your questions/photos so we can help better guide you.
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COMPATIBILITY: Our Screens are designed to be installed with the weather strip around the door frame. If your van has cabinets or something else that impacts/block the ability to easily pull off/put back on the door seal, our bug screen will not work. If you have a cabinet like a storyteller that has a fold down table outside, our cover will not support these kind of features working with the netting down in place.
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Use included clamps to help hold screen in place for install.
Pull off weather strip in small sections, feed fabric underneath, put a metal clip on, squeeze the weather strip closed and reinstall.
Make sure to allow slack in the install as this will help with the magnet door to close correctly and not put tension on the weather strip. Triple check this step before cutting off excess material.
Finish by cutting excess with scissors
or with a with blade
L-track is a great way to customize your vans vehicle's interior. It is sold separately and can easily be installed following the correct mounting instructions on the product. With L track, you can mount our cabinets as well as tie-downs, cargo nets, and other accessories to keep your van organized and secure.
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VanEssential will begin to offer 5 unique anodized styles of L-Track in October 2023. More information will be published soon.