Question about window tinting

[Super_Dave]

My factory windows are dark but not reflective. My uneducated thought is that the dark actually creates more heat. Would a reflective window tint film be an improvement?

[wa8yxm]

Super Dave. did you read my post about turning into the setting sun.

I've had sunlight reflect off vehicles and cause me to have to use skills to see. I'm generally aware of my surrounds so it did not cause a problem but it could have.. Like in the Sunset story above... I was aware so prepared.. Wife was not.. I kind of feel sorry for other drivers who were not.

[Super_Dave]

Surprised that there hasn’t been anyone with actual experience on the subject.

[wa8yxm]

ford truck guy wrote:

I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST TINTING THE WINDOWS OF A TRAILER?? THE IDEA OF THAT IS CRAZY..

Well as I said laws covering the DARKNESS of the tint gernrslly only before the "B" pillar. since the trailer is several FEET behind the B pillar. they do not apply.

However reflective tint can cause an episode of CHiPS
in this episode a truck transporting a Mirror crossed a bridge at just the right time to reflect the sun into someone's eyes and caused a serious accident.. The reconstruction team figured it out. .

I can see it happening... True story
I was headed from N.W. Detroit to a Campground in Jackson County MI.. As I approached the west end M-14 where it dumped onto I-94 west there is a Radio tower south of the Freeway. It appeared to be on fire.. I though what the Q)#E$. then OH! and grabbed a pair of polaroid clip on sun glasses and put them on OVER my photo gray X (Already at max dark) Glasses.

As I turned into the setting sun my wife cried out in pain (I was prepared so no problem)

That's can also happen from the reflection off a reflective tint.

[Gdetrailer]

steveh27 wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:

steveh27 wrote:
Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST TINTING THE WINDOWS OF A TRAILER?? THE IDEA OF THAT IS CRAZY..

I did not know he had a TT. Obviously tint laws would not apply to it, but I bet they do to MHs.

OPs Profile shows a pickup truck and 5th wheel trailer and this IS a RV forum. So it sort of made sense to me that he was at a min talking about having his trailer windows tinted as that has been a popular mod over the yrs with RVs to cut down on heat gain..

But it is anyone's guess as to the OPs intention but I highly doubt the OP is going to cause an accident or get pulled over for having dark tinted or even mirrored windows on the 5th..

[ford_truck_guy]

steveh27 wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:

steveh27 wrote:
Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST TINTING THE WINDOWS OF A TRAILER?? THE IDEA OF THAT IS CRAZY..

I did not know he had a TT. Obviously tint laws would not apply to it, but I bet they do to MHs.

agreed... I believe the MOHO would have the same laws as a passenger vehicle...but thats only a guess..

[steveh27]

ford truck guy wrote:

steveh27 wrote:
Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST TINTING THE WINDOWS OF A TRAILER?? THE IDEA OF THAT IS CRAZY..

I did not know he had a TT. Obviously tint laws would not apply to it, but I bet they do to MHs.

[miltvill]

The dark tint of the RV windows will reduce the heat inside the RV. An additional automobile style tint will reduce the heat and UV light inside the RV but make it darker inside. A dark window tint does not attract more heat like a black painted surface does. Shades or curtains pulled down will also reduce the heat inside a RV. On a MH the passenger, drivers window and front window tint are regulated by state and federal laws. The rest of the RV is considered a house. You have to read the manufactures specification to determine if a reflective tint is better then a non reflective tint. Tint brands are different. Are reflective sun glasses better for your eyes then a non reflective sun glasses?

[philh]

wa8yxm wrote:
Refelective tint, is often Illegal because it can reflect sun into another driver's eyes and cause an episode of CHiPS to happen (A very nasty accident). The show may have been fiction but those types of accidents DO happen.

How sad is it that I actually remember that episode. IRC, it was a mirror that being carried into a building

[Gdetrailer]

steveh27 wrote:
Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

I believe those laws apply strictly to PASSENGER vehicles where the heavy tinting may severely reduce the drivers vision and help obscure troopers vision looking into the vehicle which would compromise their safety during traffic stops.

Highly doubt any of those laws would apply to any Travel Trailer windows..

I could see it applying somewhat to say a Motorhome since tinting certain windows can obscure the drivers vision.

[ford_truck_guy]

steveh27 wrote:
Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS A LAW AGAINST TINTING THE WINDOWS OF A TRAILER?? THE IDEA OF THAT IS CRAZY..

[steveh27]

Many states have laws regarding window tinting. Check yours.

[wa8yxm]

Refelective tint, is often Illegal because it can reflect sun into another driver's eyes and cause an episode of CHiPS to happen (A very nasty accident). The show may have been fiction but those types of accidents DO happen.

Even dark tint in front of the "B" pillar (that's "B"ehind the driver) can get you in trouble depending on how dark and as always with it comes to legal matters: Your Millage May Vary (State to state or even within a state).

This post is intended as INFORMATION not as Advice for I DO NOT know the law in your state of residence unless it's same as mine.

[ford_truck_guy]

I just had a quote for my daughters RV to have the windows tinted... She is getting the 6 windows ( some rather large ) tinted with the darkest reflective tint for $650.00

They had a wheel set up with the different tints, you could spin it to each type and feel the difference in the heat getting threw.

BUT hers came off the line with regular, non tinted windows..???

[jdc1]

On the overall scheme of things? No. But, it will reflect the heat better. You have to remember, RV's are just cans.....