material for outdoor window covers

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I'm looking for outdoor window covers that could be used in extreme cold (-40). Any suggestions as to a material to choose? It needs to be able to withstand the elements. I'm thinking industrial velcro for easy removal. At least four of the covers may stay on more or less on a permanent basis. Two (for the cab over windows) will almost certainly be permanent--only being removed for washing and cleaning.

The main intent is something to keep the heat out in the summer time. It would be for a class C so I need something that will be able to be used on the outside of the front windshield.

[dan-nickie]

rockhillmanor wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
I would like to ask if YOU have ever tried reflectix on the inside when it's real hot outside?

I said windshield sun shades. They are FAR THICKER than that rolled reflectix stuff and I don't have to gum up all my windows with velcro garbage.

I put 'removable' limo tint on the inside of the windows and then the sun shades and close the day/nights. When driving in the southern states during the hot summer months.

I NEVER had to do any of this when driving in Wisconsin in summer. Location, Location, Location. All depends WHERE you are RV'ing.

And YES 'I' have stayed parked directly in the sun in Florida during the summer and it works. There also is a fine line of taping stuff all over the outside of your MH when parked in a CG. And I don't see them staying on when driving. Soooo what do you do to keep the coach cool while driving??

I CAN drive with my windows covered from the inside to keep my coach cool.

Whatever trips your trigger I guess.

I'm not sure what ticked you off...:)
I was not disagreeing with you or directing any comments towards you.
Someone else was saying that products on the inside did not work at all.
Be it Windshield Sunshades or Reflectix....I agree with what you are saying.

[pianotuna]

Hi dan,

Thank you for the links and the advice. I don't wish to use the snaps as they would not do well in extreme cold.

[dan-nickie]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi dan-nickie,

Since you were "in the business" what would you recommend for an external cover material? It has to be able to survive in Canadian winters.

I was planning on using industrial velcro as a fastener. Will that work for me at highway speeds, or am I asking too much of the product?

I use Suntex 90 Solar Screeen attached on the outside with these EZ Snapsfor the external heat blockage.

I do not leave them on when traveling and would not suggest it.

Although Suntex 90 Solar Screen is typically left on brick homes all winter without deteriorating, I wouldn't know about the -40 temperature you are asking about. Being from the south, I envision everything turning to crystal and shattering to dust at those temps. 🙂

I'm afraid you are not going to find a product that benefits both heat and extreme cold that you can leave on while traveling.

Good luck though. Something may be out there.

[harold1946]

Dan-nickie. Gave it a try many years ago and got ride of it after the first year. Found the stuff to be next to worthless for keeping out the heat. It did work well for adding insulation in the winter but then its like living in a submarine.
I made a complete set of shades for all the glass using solar shade material with 95% blockout mounted on the exterior. World of difference but I would not recommend or try driving with them on.

[rockhillmanor]

dan-nickie wrote:
I would like to ask if YOU have ever tried reflectix on the inside when it's real hot outside?

I said windshield sun shades. They are FAR THICKER than that rolled reflectix stuff and I don't have to gum up all my windows with velcro garbage.

I put 'removable' limo tint on the inside of the windows and then the sun shades and close the day/nights. When driving in the southern states during the hot summer months.

I NEVER had to do any of this when driving in Wisconsin in summer. Location, Location, Location. All depends WHERE you are RV'ing.

And YES 'I' have stayed parked directly in the sun in Florida during the summer and it works. There also is a fine line of taping stuff all over the outside of your MH when parked in a CG. And I don't see them staying on when driving. Soooo what do you do to keep the coach cool while driving??

I CAN drive with my windows covered from the inside to keep my coach cool.

Whatever trips your trigger I guess.

[pianotuna]

Hi dan-nickie,

Since you were "in the business" what would you recommend for an external cover material? It has to be able to survive in Canadian winters.

I was planning on using industrial velcro as a fastener. Will that work for me at highway speeds, or am I asking too much of the product?

[dan-nickie]

harold1946 wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:

harold1946 wrote:


Anything on the inside will keep the sun out but will not stop the heat transfer in the summer. The only way to stop it from penetrating must be done on the outside.
Why would anyone think that something placed on the inside would prevent heat transfer from the outside :S

We think that because many of us do use reflectix on the inside and it does work to keep out heat. Maybe not quite as well as something on the outside, but it works very well.

All those windshield shades for cars are on the inside also, and they sure keep the inside from heating up so much.

Put it on the outside and feel the difference. Once the heat has transfered through the glass its in. About all those interior shades do is protect the dash from UV.
Put your hand behind the reflectix and feel the heat that is comming through. Once its in, its in.
Just because they sell it and many use it does not mean it is the best.

Didn't say it was the best.
It makes a very dramatic difference.
I owned a solar shade business for 10 years.
We measured a lot of temperatures in that time gauging effectiveness.
I understand that blocking the sun before it hits the glass is optimal.
We also sold rollup solar shades for the inside where it was not practical to put them outside (a restaurant for example).
It has already been discussed that the reflectix does not hold up on the outside.

I also have snap on solar shades for the outside of the widows that we use if we are parked for a while that allows outward visibility.

I would like to ask if YOU have ever tried reflectix on the inside when it's real hot outside?

[Almot]

Reflectix panels inside do reduce the heat, by reflecting back outside through the glass. Placing it outside is of course more efficient.

[harold1946]

dan-nickie wrote:

harold1946 wrote:


Anything on the inside will keep the sun out but will not stop the heat transfer in the summer. The only way to stop it from penetrating must be done on the outside.
Why would anyone think that something placed on the inside would prevent heat transfer from the outside :S

We think that because many of us do use reflectix on the inside and it does work to keep out heat. Maybe not quite as well as something on the outside, but it works very well.

All those windshield shades for cars are on the inside also, and they sure keep the inside from heating up so much.

Put it on the outside and feel the difference. Once the heat has transfered through the glass its in. About all those interior shades do is protect the dash from UV.
Put your hand behind the reflectix and feel the heat that is comming through. Once its in, its in.
Just because they sell it and many use it does not mean it is the best.

[HiTech]

Tom N wrote:

HiTech wrote:
Slick Tom. Can you drive highway speeds with it in place?

Jim

I have never driven with the window cover in place but I'm certain I could. I had window awnings on my old motorhome but decided to get this Sunguard cover rather than an awning for this motorhome. I can leave this cover on when the motorhome is not being used or in storage. I couldn't do this with window awnings.

-Tom

If it works at speed, it could protect something attached between it and the window that had more insulation.

Jim

[eric1514]

rockhillmanor wrote:
Anything you can put INSIDE on the windows will work the SAME WAY as if you put them on the outside.....and more importantly WHY would anyone put anything on the outside of their RV on their windows. :R...

Actually, I tried it both ways and I still have the inside versions on the three overhead cab windows because they're pretty much permanent and stay in place when I'm traveling.

But, the outside versions prevented the glass and especially the black aluminum frame from heating up. On a 100 degree day, the frame was ambient temperature when the shade was exterior, but it was too hot to touch if the shade was inside. That heat from the hot glass and aluminum radiated throughout the inside of the coach not to mention what was happening to the rubber seals.

Of course the downside is, the sun and wind ate them up in a couple of years.

Eric

[Tom_N]

HiTech wrote:
Slick Tom. Can you drive highway speeds with it in place?

Jim

I have never driven with the window cover in place but I'm certain I could. I had window awnings on my old motorhome but decided to get this Sunguard cover rather than an awning for this motorhome. I can leave this cover on when the motorhome is not being used or in storage. I couldn't do this with window awnings.

-Tom

[HiTech]

Slick Tom. Can you drive highway speeds with it in place?

Jim

[Tom_N]

I had one made from Sunguard.

You could put an insulation layer on under the snap on Sunguard cover.

-Tom