I'll be spending the summer along the Colorado River in AZ this summer -- where it gets REALLY hot -- and would like to protect my skylight and AC shrouds from the sun and heat. It will be 100+ next week and as high as 126 in June, July & August.
Any suggestions for cover material?
Do I need to lower my tire pressure?
Reflectix, from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. is what I used on windows, trapped between the panes and the pull-down curtains on the sun-side when parked.
It's lightweight, not expensive, and insulates as well as reflects the radiant heat.
Reflectix - The Home Depot (https://www.homedepot.com/b/Reflectix/N-5yc1vZ19n)
I even ran a 12" tall strip across the top of my windshield, in two pieces, which cut down on a LOT of heat while driving.
Steven
Thank you Steven. Did you use it on the exterior? If so, what did you use to secure the Reflectix?
We use lite weight velcro strips , works great! b^.^d
Great. Thanks Mike.
I used spray adhesive on the Refletix. Let it cure completely and it will still have enough 'tack' remaining to adhere to the inside of the windshield. The glue is holding up only a few ounces of material per square foot. It can be removed without any residue even after a year or three.
I also lined each of the interior overhead storage compartments with Reflectix. It greatly reduced the heat in those compartments, where food and supplies are kept.
I also added it to the inside of the plastic frig cover, being careful to not obscure the air vents. This is the outide flue cover where the frig igniter, etc. is contained.
Dark paint takes more work to insulate from sun heating
I'm not sure if you should reflectics on the inside of thermopane windows. It could trap the uv and heat inside the glass and compromise the seal and or glass.
If it does not trap it on the way in, why would it trap it on the way out?
Clearly if you have insulation on the INSIDE, it will raise temperature in the air between glass and insulation and also the glass itself.
That is why the UV screens on the outside of the windshield work well for reducing inside temperature.
When dry camping with windshield facing the sun, have even placed the insulation under the UV screen/outside the windshield.
I found that placing pipe insulators between my Magna Shade and the windshield reduces the heat transfer into the coach to the ambient temperature outside.
Here are some pictures of it on my old coach looking from the inside out and from the outside.
Interesting concept Oscar......would be alot of work on our 95 GV
I too live in the desert in southern Nevada. Always thinking of ways to get out of the heat. Our house has 5700 square feet of metal awnings around it and my shop. Metal stops the UV ultraviolet. Have joked for years about painting all my tires with white latex paint. Lower temps and a additional seal to help slow oils from out gassing from the rubber tires. Last year I had the windshield of my suburban tinted, yes tinted with ceramic tint which reduces UV by 90% as I recall. Very very light color. Home run. Will eventually do the coach. I don't adjust tire pressure down during the summer months. Actually run cooler at higher pressures. Less flex. Covering the south exposed side tires with anything will help. Cutting tire shades out of "polar ply" OSB sheeting will stop the uv and insulate well to protect them. Around $14 dollars a sheet and you can get Lowe's or Home Depot to cut to size for a couple more bucks. Stop by there paint department and grab a quart of miss matched paint to seal. Cheap. Under $25 and have life long wheel covers.
Scott
Hans,
Not much work to it. On my U320 I ordered a Magna Shade to fit the windshield and only use 4 half inch pipe insulators purchased from Home Depot or Lowes and cut them to fit the height of your shade and slip them up between the Magna Shade and the windshield. That air gap keeps the heat from transmitting into your coach.
Other makes of shades would probably work too but I chose Magna Shade for I can put it up from the ground by myself without having to climb up on a ladder.
Oscar
What do magna shades run price wise.
Are they held on by magnets?
Our coach has a set of white woven clip on shades that came with it. Made in palmsprings and the original owners lived in Arizona. Work very well. Careful when installing magna shades. The magnet is so strong if you let it cover the distance to the windshield it can break the glass. Had to be carefully slid off its mounting card onto the windshield.
$599 Magne Shade (https://www.magneshade.com/)
Set your tires to the desired pressure when they are
cold. First thing in the morning before the sun hits them is a good time.
Once the (cold) pressure is set, don't worry about the increase in pressure due to temperature change. The tires (and wheels) are designed to handle it.