MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Topic: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series (Read 1284 times) previous topic - next topic

MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

February 02, 2015, 02:10:15 pm

Summer of 2014 on a trip I stopped by MCD to look at their products. I didn't have a reservation or the time to wait for shades to be made, but I did get some help on measuring. Decided on the Gold Series and the fabric, but kept putting off ordering. I planned to do the installation myself. Now I find that the Gold Series has been dropped. Main difference between Duo and Gold, no metal bar at the bottom of the shade and a slightly different day shade fabric for Gold. Since we don't live full time on board, handling the fabric is not a big deal and I actually like the more open weave day shade of the gold. A set of side shades for our coach was $465 less in the manual version for Gold. I was told today that if I already had some Gold shades that they could match them, like in the bedroom, but not the living room. So they haven't really totally stopped making Gold.

I looked at Automotion shades using their website, but could not find a price list or order form, so it looks like you have to work with one of their dealers. I also found that CW is selling a dual roller shade that sounds like MCD or Automotion in that the manual shade has a slow up feature. Only 2 choices of fabrics for the day and night shades, and really impossible to see what it's like from the website. Very leary about these two options for shades, but if the New Braunfels CW store has a display, I may go take a look.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #1 – April 20, 2015, 11:58:20 am

I finally bit the bullet and bought MCD shades. A big improvement over the original day/night shades, but not perfect in every way. I finished up the installation last month and have had a chance to use them on a trip. Installation was not difficult after installing one or two. I opted for all manual shades and ordered 2 for the front windshield. I managed to get all the measurements correct, except maybe for the front door. The front windshield shades for some reason could not be called that on the order, so they were listed as left and right hall??? Those shades are mounted at an angle to reduce the interference with the instrument hump when down. I built a removable center valance for the gap between the shades. It has a tee shape and is covered with marine grade vinyl material from Jo-Ann's. The top holder is made of oak and the bottom holder is aluminum with a couple of holes for 2 trim screw heads on the bottom of the valance to fit in. The top holder has a coil spring to push down on the valance and keep it in place. There was still a gap at the side of the left windshield when the shade was down, so I used a thin piece of Masonite for that also covered with vinyl. It is not fastened in place, fits in the slot for the old shade holder that was removed. I have driven with the center valance in place and do not really notice that it is an obstruction to vision.

The door shade was a bit of a problem. The pull at the bottom of the shade did not fit between the oak handle and the frame and it was too wide. I put a dark Plexiglas spacer under the handle and cut off some of the shade and the pull (see photo). The aluminum pull slides off after removing an end plug.

The pulls rattle against the metal window frames. I found some brown rubber weather seal at Lowes to stick on the window frame and stop the noise. My wife noticed that the kitchen window night shade pull is not square with the shade, the day shade is square. I could correct that but I will contact MCD and see what they will do. The whole expense is in the neighborhood of $2700.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #2 – April 20, 2015, 12:06:32 pm

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – April 20, 2015, 11:58:20 am

The front windshield shades for some reason could not be called that on the order, so they were listed as left and right hall???

Windshield roller shades are required to be interlocked with the ignition so the night shade can't come down into the field of view. Obviously you can't interlock a manual shade so it has to be called something else to get around the issue.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #3 – April 20, 2015, 02:06:10 pm

Really nice job on fabricating the mounts for the center trim on the windshield shade installation! Nice looking job all the way around.
Don

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – April 20, 2015, 11:58:20 am

I finally bit the bullet and bought MCD shades. A big improvement over the original day/night shades, but not perfect in every way. I finished up the installation last month and have had a chance to use them on a trip. Installation was not difficult after installing one or two. I opted for all manual shades and ordered 2 for the front windshield....

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #4 – April 20, 2015, 04:02:29 pm

Quote from: acousticart – April 20, 2015, 02:06:10 pm

Really nice job on fabricating the mounts for the center trim on the windshield shade installation! Nice looking job all the way around.
Don

I agree, It is exactly what I need for my center support. Great idea & photo.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #5 – April 20, 2015, 05:51:09 pm

To stop the shade rattle, I used the fuzzy part of stick on Velcro on the back/front of the shade pull.

Rich

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #6 – April 20, 2015, 10:35:54 pm

Just realized I forgot to post this picture of the center valance.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #7 – April 21, 2015, 03:53:00 pm

I have the inclination to custom make a front center shade, angled on two rollers but using one long piece of fabric. If I ever get around to it, I'll post pics of how it turns out. The challenge of course would be devising a way to hold up the center even though the fabric is one piece and would interfere. Maybe you could even do a 3 shade setup where a small center shade overlaps.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #8 – April 21, 2015, 07:53:20 pm

Years ago, we measured and had a single long regular home roller shade shop make a single long room darkening shade for the front windshield. We installed it with roller shade bracket screwed up into the horizontal board the three speakers are on.
It has a left side clutch loop string that allows the driver to raise or lower. It is our night time privacy shade and works great. The roller is metal and a bit large diameter due to its long length.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #9 – February 13, 2020, 10:23:39 am

Update to my MCD installation: The vinyl covered center valence did not hold up. After a few months the vinyl began to curl up and peal off. I made a new center valence of oak and finished it to match the rest of the woodwork in the coach. Ditto on the piece at the corner of the driver windshield. I have never had a problem with either of the windshield shades lowering during driving. As regards the day shades keeping out heat, I don't know what to say about that as the shades will get quite warm when the sun is shinning on them. I leave the day shades up when in storage and the night shades pulled down.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #10 – February 13, 2020, 10:27:48 am

I think the day shades reduce the amount of direct sun that gets into the coach, less heat, less sun damage and will still let some breeze in. Easy to see out. And from outside during the day it is very hard to see into the coach, nice privacy benefit.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #11 – February 13, 2020, 10:39:23 am

I agree with what Roger said when the weather allows the windows to be open. I pull them down when I want privacy during the day, although the tinted windows are difficult to see through from outside during the day.

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #12 – February 13, 2020, 01:10:44 pm

Our MCD's are wonderful. The PO installed one piece electric at front window. Both day and night throughout. After sitting here for a few months, the screens were filthy. I read how MCD recommended cleaning the screens. I have been at it now for a LONG time. My MO is to spray with vinegar, lightly brush BOTH inside and out, and blow compressed air from the inside out. It doesn't clean as easily as I had hoped, but after two or three passes, I am now happy with the results. Anyone have a better method.?

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #13 – February 13, 2020, 01:19:49 pm

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MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

February 02, 2015, 02:10:15 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #1 – April 20, 2015, 11:58:20 am

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #2 – April 20, 2015, 12:06:32 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #3 – April 20, 2015, 02:06:10 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #4 – April 20, 2015, 04:02:29 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #5 – April 20, 2015, 05:51:09 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #6 – April 20, 2015, 10:35:54 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #7 – April 21, 2015, 03:53:00 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #8 – April 21, 2015, 07:53:20 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #9 – February 13, 2020, 10:23:39 am

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #10 – February 13, 2020, 10:27:48 am

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #11 – February 13, 2020, 10:39:23 am

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #12 – February 13, 2020, 01:10:44 pm

Re: MCD Shades Has Dropped Gold Series

Reply #13 – February 13, 2020, 01:19:49 pm

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