Sun Shades or 2nd AC

When we were in our house, our back deck was in the later morning and afternoon sun until about 4pm. We put an awning over the deck and it immediately made the adjacent room that had sliders about 15 degrees cooler.

dan-nickie wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi dan,

How did you fasten the snaps? What material did you use for the shades? Can you see "out" of them? Do they need to be removed when traveling?

Another approach may be awnings?

dan-nickie wrote:
I did make some 'outside' Snap On shades, but have not gotten to test them yet in any real heat. I did work in the Solar Shade business and know that they are phenomenal on homes.

But, I think you are on the right track to block the heat before it enters the RV rather than try to cool it down after the heat has entered.

I used these SNAPS to attach and the SUNTEX 90 Solar Screen.


Can see out great during the daytime and people cannot see in.
That all reverses at night.

I never tried, but I think the wind would blow them off if traveling with them attached.

Hope you can see the picture:

I ordered the stuff to do the same thing but have not installed it yet. I was going to stick the snap bases around the window frame and try to cu the solar screen to match the corners of the frame. The only advantage to doing it that way that I can see is that I could cut the screens so that my opening windows would open with the screens attached but yours looks really nice and I'll probably just stick the snaps on the filon, cut square screens and call it good. They are going to come off when I travel anyway. I guess if it's hot enough to use the screens, I'm probably not going to be opening windows anyway. Nice job.

If you go on Sun Shades web sight they are and outside roll down shade. I don't want to have to climb a ladder to put snaps on as I'm getting up in age. Thanks for all the replies.

I gave up. With 3 13,500 BTU roof airs howling and one 6,000 BTU going full blast in the bedroom, inside air temps were still in the nineties (112 outside with humidity).

So I had the local kids (and their dad) build a palm frond shelter over the bus.

In the shade off went two roof airs leaving the center one on, plus the bedroom unit. The bus was cooler and drier. Sure learned me.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi dan,

How did you fasten the snaps? What material did you use for the shades? Can you see "out" of them? Do they need to be removed when traveling?

Another approach may be awnings?

dan-nickie wrote:
I did make some 'outside' Snap On shades, but have not gotten to test them yet in any real heat. I did work in the Solar Shade business and know that they are phenomenal on homes.

But, I think you are on the right track to block the heat before it enters the RV rather than try to cool it down after the heat has entered.

I used these SNAPS to attach and the SUNTEX 90 Solar Screen.


Can see out great during the daytime and people cannot see in.
That all reverses at night.

I never tried, but I think the wind would blow them off if traveling with them attached.

Hope you can see the picture:

We have a 37 foot 5th with one super slide (4 X 14 feet) and a slide in the bedroom. Total square footage is 364 feet. We have one 15000 btu ducted air conditioner with a ceiling fan in the living area. All windows are factory tinted and are equipped with outside awnings and metal mini blinds inside.

With the patio awning and window awnings deployed, the mini blinds turned to block the sun but still allowing us to see out, the A/C will keep us comfortable up to 100 degrees outside temp. At about 85 degrees outside temp we begin using portable fans to direct the cooler air into warm areas of the 5th wheel. Over 100 the fans are pointed at wherever we are seated.

We were still comfortable while seated using the A/C and fans at 105 degrees outside temp with 60% humidity. That's the hottest we have been in. It was a little warm to move around in so we watched movies until it cooled down once the sun set.

In higher temps we run the A/C 24 hours a day to help keep everything as cold as possible. I have also found that if I set the thermostat at 55 degrees instead of the coldest (50 degrees) the A/C seems to work better at providing the maximum cold. I'm guessing at 50 degree setting and humidity there is some icing which prevents maximum cold.

What about radiant barrier window tint?
Is it single pane?

I'd go for the second A/C. Easiest way would be as described above -- have it on its own 20A plug. That way, you can get a dogbone that splits a 50A circuit into a 30A and a 20A (each on a separate leg), and go from there.

I've seen window awnings but never exterior pull down shades.

You can buy shade cloth and make something yourself.

Hi dan,

How did you fasten the snaps? What material did you use for the shades? Can you see "out" of them? Do they need to be removed when traveling?

Another approach may be awnings?

dan-nickie wrote:
I did make some 'outside' Snap On shades, but have not gotten to test them yet in any real heat. I did work in the Solar Shade business and know that they are phenomenal on homes.

But, I think you are on the right track to block the heat before it enters the RV rather than try to cool it down after the heat has entered.