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Topic: Who do you recommend for powered shades? (Read 1066 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from Installation of Autom...

Who do you recommend for powered shades?

What is the best company to get your automatic shades from.  I'm looking for the duel shad for the front window so I can drop down the sun reflector shade driving to block out the sun, and then down the whole shade at night replacing my pull to center shades.

Any suggestions is a start

Ray Coburn
Vett's Rule

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #1 –
Ray, we used Auto Motion powered shades for the front, though seems MCD is mentioned here more often.

I installed the switches behind the driver's window valence so they're handy yet out of sight.

info on AMS here:

http://www.automotionshade.com/English/Product-More.aspx?pSerial=&serial=144&parentNode=1&currentSerial=136
2019 Pleasure Way Lexor

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #2 –
Hi Ray,

We bought MCD front shades, (sun shade and night shade) and installed it ourselves.  The shades will only come down to a preset length while the ignition is on, far enough for what you want to do, but it is a safety thing.  The sun shade gets used a lot in our coach.  We made wedge shaped pieces each side of the windshield so that the awning clears the dash hump and the center defrost vents.  Here are some links...

2014 MCD Windshield Shades

MCD Windshield shades self install

Dual MCD windshield shades practical?
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #3 –
Old bluebirds had an electric front shade and the controller was hooked to a radar detector.  Shade went up if the dectector went off.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
We made wedge shaped pieces each side of the windshield so that the awning clears the dash hump

Roger,

I am still working on the design of mine. My recollection is you had one 8' shade; I have two 4' shades. On the passenger side, I can go from (near) the center, towards the rear corner of the windshield, with pretty good coverage. I cannot do that on the other side, because of the (large) hump over the gauges. I have considered cutting a slot into the top of the hump where the privacy shade would hit it.

I have not yet had the courage to make that cut. The hump itself is more of a design feature, and should not be problematic as long as I do not cut the hump in half. Any thoughts on the viability of this installation idea?

I have also considered removing the metal bar for about 6" on either side of the hump but don't like that idea as much.

I cannot foresee a need for the defroster while I have the shade down.

Thanks,

Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #5 –
There are so many little differences between models and years. You sort of have to be very specific sometimes.

Your dash is different from mine. That may make a difference.  In the U320 models with an AquaHot there is an AH heat exchanger buried in the dash space that uses the defrost blower.  So in these models when you turn on the heat in the living room heat comes out of the center defrost vents.  That was my motivation to keep those vents clear of the shades when they are down.

I looked at using two sets of shades in the front (driver's and passenger's sides) mounted with the center overlapping.  But that still didn't solve the hump issue. I looked at several coaches at FT with a long extra flap with cuts that let it fit around the hump.  I didn't want to do that.  So the wedge idea appealed to me. They move the bottom of the shade forward which lets it clear the hump and the vents. 

I added a switch to turn off the defrost blower fan off if we didn't want it on.  If we are watching a movie ot TV then the blower motor was kind of loud.  So just shut it off.  The added surprise benefit is that the the other two much quieter AH heat exchanger fans run a bit longer (because the front fan is not runng and blowing warm air on the thermostat) and the heat in the LR seems more uniform.

In actual practice we frequently don't use the wedges with the shades and more often just use the driver's side wedge.  It is sufficient to clear the hump and with the defrost blower off it doesn't need to.

My go-to method of trying things out is cardboard parts.  Easy to make and modify.  When they work then they are a pattern.  Try a cardboard wedge.  See how it works.  My thinking is that don't modify your shades until you know it is the only way.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #6 –
Had MCD shades put in two months ago at MCD - just night shade, and only qty two - the entry door and the windshield. 

MCD will not cut the bottom of the windshield shade for a direct sale (I asked for mine to be cut and they said no.), but will for a sale to FOT (or so I was told by David Flanigan)

Anyway as installed by MCD, the bottom of the windshield shade would push out towards the windshield as the shade hit the speedo "hump" on the dash.  David Flanigan and his crew came up with a solution.  David took a  2 x 2 and cut a "dado" or channel in one side of the 2 x 2 about 3/4" deep and 5/8" wide.  Made one for both sides of the MCD shade.  They covered these "channel units" in some ultra leather (red) I had left over from the other work I had done at FOT. David's crew affixed them on either side of windshield opening in line with the shade with velcro. 

Now shade rides up and down in this "channel" on either edge.  When the bottom hits the hump, it pushes out the shade around the hump, but stays tight to the windshield (in the channel) on the sides of the shade, no light leakage nice and clean look, up or down.

Way slick!  Cost $140 for everything - materials, labor and install.

I am 65 miles from coach - will post pictures....probably this weekend.

FWIW, I opted for night only electric MCD for windshield and remote controlled night only for entry door. The savings on day/night vs. night only paid for a MagneShade for the windshield and entry door, complete with storage bag and windshield wiper covers.  Some might opt for the day/night version of the MCD and no magna shade, but this is the way I elected to roll.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #7 –
I have MCD on all the windows including windshield. I do like the product but one word of caution, they do not do repairs. One of my side window night shade has a very small deformation on one side. Called MCD and they informed me that they do not do repairs and I would have to replace the entire unit. $600 plus shipping!!!
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #8 –
Has anyone found a solution for us GV owners. The front window that is. It's hard for my DW to yank on the cord for opening the curtain.  I wand to believe there's a power curtain solution for front of GVs and Amazon search doesn't bring up anything I like. Just wondering what the popular option is.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #9 –
Didn't mean to kill the thread. Just looking for the best solution for power horizontal shades. Must be there aren't any ??
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #10 –
Hello Ray,  we had MCD day/night shades installed at windshield a couple years ago. David at FOT installed them. After using them for a while I had two concerns. The flap (for lack of proper name) that had the split for the hump caused the shade to hang about 5 or so inches below the bottom of the tv cabinet. Restricting the windshield view more than I liked. I made dummy wedges (as mentioned before in this thread) and back to FOT. Ask David to make me a set and trim the flap off the bottom of the shade. Got my view back and they work great.
Another point...when we were parked for a while at Rayford Crossing, out coach faced somewhat to the west. To better keep out the heat I would lower both shades and after some time noticed when standing near front of coach I could feel the heat radiating thru the shades. Measurement showed night shade over 100deg f. I had an external sunscreen made and when installed, with night shade down, the difference was tremendous. Measurement showed night shade temp down by a little more than 20 deg f.
The day shade allows privacy and is wonderful when driving. But the external shade is the one to use to keep the heat out. This is just my story and I'm sticking to it. Good luck with your choice.
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #11 –
Bob,
 I too am interested to hear from anyone who installed power shades to the front windshield on the mid 1900 GV series?
Geoffh

I guess I meant mid 1990's GV!
Geoff & Pat Haygarth
1994 U240 SBI GV 36ft Cat 3116, Allison 6 speed
 Build #4448
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sport

Re: Who do you recommend for powered shades?

Reply #12 –
Had MCD front windshield installed a month ago as well as the rest of the cockpit area i.e. passenger and driver window?  The heat issue is significantly reduced by the previously purchased external manga shade.  It is a little dazzling with the two but the heat reduction is marked.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P