Window Cover Brackets for Leer-Type Shells

Last summer, our first camping trip together (wife/myself) in the truck/shell went well except for one thing, the window covers I'd hastily cut from 1/4" insulation sheet kept falling on us (Velcro really doesn't stick too well to the felt shell insides...). I rather liked the idea of the insulation sheet (wife wanted to make curtains...), so I set out to make a better way to hold them in place. Here 'tis:

Looking at the windows, I determined I wanted to make use of the existing screws. Also, the insulation sheet seemed to tuck in well at the bottom, against the shell's inner rail, so I figured I didn't need any fasterers/holders down there. So, here's what I came up with:


I made this from brass strip, 0.064 x 1/2 inch, K&S Metals #8246, purchased at Ace Hardware. My first items were made of similarly-dimensioned aluminum strip I had handy, but I couldn't find that except for mail order. If you have time, I'd recommend ordering the aluminum as it's easier to form. I measured out the following segments: 3/8" for the mounting hole, 1" for the backside, 1/2" for the rounded top, and 3/4" for the front, total 2-5/8". In the 3/8" segment I X-ed the center and drilled a hole large enough to accommodate the window screw shank. Then, it's just a matter of bending along the other segment lines to the desired shape. I filed the corners and edges to keep them from ripping into the insulation sheet. That's it for fabrication.

Here's one of them mounted to the window frame:


I'm currently using two, each placed toward the window ends, seems to be enough to keep the sheet in place. Here's the full installation:


The 1/2' depth is enough to tuck in two sheets, so you can fold the sheet in half to let in light:


Cutting the insulation sheet to the right width is important, as it has to both tuck into the shell's sill and reach into the brackets.

I originally thought this would be a stopgap until curtains, but I think I like it as-is...

 

I did something like that just a couple weeks ago, but I wedged carefully between the rear screen then cut the fronts to wedge in