OK,
MCD installed my two shades, entry door and windshield. Both are night only as I have Magneshade on outside of those two windows (day night MCD about 2x of night only.) Savings helped pay for Magneshade -
As previously discussed, MCD did not want to cut flap for "hump". MCD installed, good match of shade color with OEM valance (see photos). MCD installer was able to get shade up almost all the way behind valance (see picture, about 1" hangs below valance in full up position.)
Shade at bottom pushed away from sides of window as it hit the hump and entire bottom of shade was pushed towards windshield. This was pretty ugly and created "light leaks" at sides of windshield.
Flanagan's crew grabbed a pieces of wood 2 x 2, and used a dado blade or similar to cut a channel in the 2 x 2. They then covered it with red ultra leather left over from my projects at FOT. finally they attached it to the side supports with simple Velcro making them totally removable.
As you can see from the pictures, the shade rides up and down in the groove, but when it gets to the "hump" the shade stays in the channels on the sides and pushes out at the hump, so that light leaks are minimized.
David Flanagan and his guys are great.
Yes, that is my 65K mile 2000 4WD Chevy 2Dr tracker toad you can see out the windshield - pristine. Need to play off road with Brad and JohnS and JohnH
Nice job Tim. With an electric shade, it quickly does the job.
We wanted use of dash when our manual night shade was down, so we went the other way, with shade against windshield. We hang "triangle" shaped vinyl on either side to close off the open gaps that are wider at bottom than top.
Looks great Tim.
Barry/Cindy, it would be great to see a picture with your shade deployed if you have the time.
We made wedges for either side which we use when we want the defrost vents exposed. If not just the one on the driver's side to get the shade to clear the hump. Works great. I like simple. And added "flap" at the bottom of the shade hangs below the bottom edge of the valence. No flap gets you the maximum window opening.
I've been wrestling with my MCD windshield shade recently. The see-through shade fell down while we were in motion. Momentary excitement, but survived. The shade brackets are held to the top channel with set screws. One loosened enough over two years since MCD's install for one bracket to move enough out of the top channel to allow the shade to drop. The top channel is drilled and tapped for two set screws on each end. I'm now using both holes!
Then the shade motor died while I was resetting the limits. MCD is sending a motor for $115 since I am beyond the one year warranty period.
The possibility of having a falling shade block your vision is not fun.
Probably why Foretravel used the left to right type eclipse front shades.
Old beavers had an excellent setup with an electric front window shade that went past the drivers and passengers windows and met in the middle.
Switch was on the passenger side mounted on the side of the table between the barrel chairs.
Had a residential electric motor and a pulley and chain to close them.
Plus you could unsnap the side window end and move the lined velvet material to block heavy side sun with the drivers mirror still visible.
Somewhat the same basic type of material as our coaches bedroom draw shades but harder pleating so it had even spacing as it closed or opened.
Plus well insulated
Love to see such a setup on a unicoach.
Delete the window boxes? And the drop shades?
Maybe have to look to see if a covered track could be installed?
Brett,
No good deed goes unpunished.
Jeff & Sandy, here are 4 pics of our side curtains that allow us to have privacy with our front manual roller shade down and against the windshield. Both sides have the same privacy vinyl cover that is attached to single cup hooks.
Years ago we went to a local home shade shop and had them make a single blackout shade for the full width of our windshield.
It uses a clutch mechanism with plastic chain that we pull to raise and lower shade. Normal shade brackets are screwed into speaker platform above windshield.
We wanted full use of our dash when our motorhome is closed up, so having our day and night shade against the inside of the windshield was a priority.
Looks great! I bet it's nice having the extra room up front.