PSW
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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B's tend to get really hot in the summer, particularly if in the direct sunlight. While cleaning my RT this morning and getting warm even with the AC running full blast, I was just wondering: has anyone ever used heat blocking film on their B windows? I searched and lots of folks with trailers seem to use it.
Of couse, by the nature of how a B is defined and constructed, they are obviously more prone to heat than a trailer, C or A.
Someone a few years ago on the forum (Our former moderator Roger as I recall was the guy that posted the idea) made window inserts with a foil insulation and I made a set. They are just rather inconvenient to store, put up and take down but they help a lot.
Any experience with film?
Incidentally, it will be cool in OKC today: only mid 90s in the middle of June! HELP!!
PSW
2007 Roadtrek 210 Popular
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retraite
Wanderin' about
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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Two thoughts. I "stole" both of them from Rodger
First, I put the foil backed "stuff" in the upper windows - 2 on our PW, there would be 3 on a RT. And, we leave them there 24/7. They do help. I haven't made 'em yet for the side and rear windows - but I'm gonna and we'll put 'em in or take 'em out as needed.
Second, I put a white ADCO "wrap around" windshield and front door cover on the OUTSIDE of the glass. It's amazing how much that helps.
A roll of the foil is available at most Lowes or HD (no, that's not Harley Davidson) for about $20 for the 2' x 25' roll, about $40 for the 4' x 25' roll IIRC - (enough to do every window in your unit. I think the product is called reflectix. The ADCO cover - snooze bonnets I think they call them - are about $40, are washable (not in a machine) and are vehicle specific.
Finally, not to worry - winter is coming.  It'll be cooler then.
Cheers.
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PCarnathan
Menifee, CA
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Joined: 04/20/2005
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I had a seamstress sew light-blocking cloth into the backs of all the curtains. I did it primarily for the light, but an unintended benefit was a significant decrease in the amount of heat that made it into the rig.
We camp for several long weekends at the Colorado River in Ehrenberg, Arizona during the summer. It's not uncommon to see temperatures in the neighborhood of 110 degrees. The air conditioner still works hard, but there's definitely improvement.
Pat in Menifee, California
www.patcarnathan.com
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LVJJJ
NW WASHINGTON
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Joined: 12/29/2006
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must be nice to have sunshine AND high temperatures to make your RT hot inside, we're still turning on our furnace in the am (stuck in the rainy Pacific NW)
1965 CHEVY VAN, 292 "Big Block 6"
1985 WILDERNESS 3000CL
2008 HHR
L(Larry)V(Vicki)J(Jennifer)J(Jesse)J(Jason)
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cat7
Henderson, NV
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Joined: 08/01/2008
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I live in the desert (NV) and it is in the triple digits today. I automatically have tinted my cars, but just had the PW done last week. It was like a "duh" moment, not sure why I didn't do it before. What a difference it makes!!
Carol
'06 PW Excel TS
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ennajean
Wisconsin
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Joined: 05/19/2006
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Even living in a not hot climiate we've had the windows tinted too.
Anne and Dick
DABEE a 2006 Ford Sportsmobile Penthouse top.
States we've camped in.
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Silber Igel
Texas
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Joined: 09/18/2010
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I know this problem well. We have a black Ventura with dark factory tinted windows. Yes, probably not the best color choice for Texas!!!
I did considerable research into why this van would get overly hot (dangerously so without the A/C) and how to keep it cool.
Dark windows and dark films actually absorb solar energy and re-radiate it to the inside of your 'B' as the glass transfers heat very effectively. Black or dark tinted windows become flat plate radiators and, in my experience, the inside temperature near the top of the window can be about 115F in the direct sun. Outside reading may be 125 - 130F. The window transfers the heat to the air next to the window. As we know, hot air rises. A curtain of hot air rises along the inside of the window and gets hotter as it does so. It does eventually 'boil' off into the cabin but not after transferring the heat to the window sills, cabinets, sometimes trapping in the venetian blind recesses and oozing in to the nooks and crannies of the body work. This means the A/C has to be working full tilt just to keep up.... and they usually don't.
Pulling the night shades down helps a bit. But again you have created a demon! The hot air layers against the window between the shades and eventually heat soaks through and starts warming the inside of the van. So... what to do????
Aluminum foil / bubble wrap is nice but it unattractive and darkens the already dark RV.
Dark films... we know that doesn't work so well from the above.
May I suggest you consider using this 3M product?
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solutions/Markets-Products/Automotive/Crystalline_Automotive_Films/
It will reduce the heat transfer by 96% and it's transparent (tint available if you wish). This 3M product can even be used on the windshield. It works! It cuts the solar radiation transmitted through the big windshield on our Sprinter to a very low level and you can be comfortable even when driving into the sun. You can hold your hand on any of the glass work and its only warm to the touch.
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diepenj
Bowling Green, OH
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Joined: 05/15/2011
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The amuminum foil bubble wrap mentioned above is called Reflectix. I know some "B" owners have used it to cover windows in both hot and cold weather with success. They simply cut the Reflectix to fit the openings and, since it is very light, it tends to stay in place. I've seen it at Lowes but I suspect Home Depot and other lumber or hardware stores carry it too. Here is their web site that has a few pictures for the material. Reflectix web site
* This post was
edited 06/18/11 10:09am by diepenj *
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PSW
Oklahoma City
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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Thanks for all the input. The 3M material that SilberIgel mentioned a few posts above is very impressive and looks like the way to go. It ain't cheap, but it is nano technology and clear. Amazing product if you research it.
I made inserts for the windows from Reflectix a couple of years ago and carry them under the bed. Made one for each window except the windshield and I have an EZ shade on it. They work OK but are a real hassle IMO. Makes the RT dark as a dungeon but other than that work pretty well.
I looked at the heat reflecting film at HD, Lowes, etc and the lightest color still distorts the outdoors and the outdoors is what we go to see.
Again, thanks for all the info. Maybe you just get a couple of those 15x25 blue tarps and throw over the top if it gets to hot!
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Silber Igel
Texas
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PSW,
Trust that it will work.... most effective applied to the windshield where you can't tint. It drops the temperature in the cockpit in an amazing way. We have to dial back the A/C to be comfortable.
Also, effective over the door windows. We lightly tinted those so they would blend in with the black color scheme and black cabin windows.
You will wonder why you didn't do it before and why all cars don't have it applied rather than the black films.
Just don't use cleaners with AMMONIA on it.
Expensive... well, sort of. Spending nearly a hundred grand on an RV and papering over the windows with aluminum foil is soooo wrong.
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