Windshield Curtains

Topic: Windshield Curtains (Read 1439 times) previous topic - next topic

Windshield Curtains

December 22, 2017, 03:35:49 pm

I was wonder what folks use to cover this windshield on the inside.

My U270 has something like a mini blind that is mounted horizontally with fabric over the slats. Problem is that if there are 2 people it's not to bad but for one person to pull one to the center then reach over and grab the other one is a bit of a pain.

The ends towards the center only have a slat to pull on so they bend and flop all over, then trying to Velcro the ends together would make a good video for Americas Funniest Videos.

So what do folks use that is good at blocking out light?

Thanks

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #1 – December 22, 2017, 03:42:52 pm

Super,
I mounted a piece of aluminum angle vertically right behind the windshield divider, and put velcro on either side of it to attach the shade to. Most have a strip of male and a strip of female stuck to either side of the divider right on the windshield glass, but I fount that tended to pull off after time.

Len

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #2 – December 22, 2017, 03:55:09 pm

Thanks Len, that is what my problem is, the stuff on the windshield has come off so I am trying to stick the two sides together.

Did you use double sided tape to hold the angel?

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #3 – December 22, 2017, 04:29:26 pm

Our original owner put two screws into the rubber center windshield strip, one each about 1/4 from the top and bottom and wire loops on each front sideways blind that lined up with the screws. Hook the loops over the screw heads. After two years we put in MCD sun shade and blinds. Way better.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #4 – December 22, 2017, 04:42:46 pm

Super,
I posted about this some time ago, so it may be searchable. What I did was get a piece of 3/4" aluminum angle about four feet long from Home Depot. I cut a piece approx two inches long and pop riveted it at about a 75 degree angle to the bottom, and one about one and a half inches long that was pop riveted at the same angle to the top. In both of the short pieces I had drilled two holes. I then screwed the top and bottom pieces to the dash and top cross member. I hope I was able to describe that sufficiently .

Len
I just re read this and it confuses even me. Try using the search function to see if you can find my original post with pix

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #5 – December 22, 2017, 05:37:19 pm

What did you do to your coach today VI

Is this it Len?
JohnH

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #6 – December 22, 2017, 05:59:21 pm

Thanks, John, that's it. I didn't know how to bring that up. The photos aren't the best either!
Len

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #7 – December 22, 2017, 06:44:25 pm

Dear Super

MCD or equivalent if are any. Costly but convenience in shade, privacy, controlled by driver.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #8 – December 22, 2017, 07:20:23 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – December 22, 2017, 04:29:26 pm

Our original owner put two screws into the rubber center windshield strip, one each about 1/4 from the top and bottom and wire loops on each front sideways blind that lined up with the screws. Hook the loops over the screw heads. After two years we put in MCD sun shade and blinds. Way better.

Thanks these look pretty interesting and they are only about 35 miles from me

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #9 – December 22, 2017, 07:23:23 pm

Quote from: lenspeiser – December 22, 2017, 04:42:46 pm

Super,
I posted about this some time ago, so it may be searchable. What I did was get a piece of 3/4" aluminum angle about four feet long from Home Depot. I cut a piece approx two inches long and pop riveted it at about a 75 degree angle to the bottom, and one about one and a half inches long that was pop riveted at the same angle to the top. In both of the short pieces I had drilled two holes. I then screwed the top and bottom pieces to the dash and top cross member. I hope I was able to describe that sufficiently .

Len
I just re read this and it confuses even me. Try using the search function to see if you can find my original post with pix

Thanks Len, I think I know what you are talking about.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #10 – December 22, 2017, 07:28:21 pm

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – December 22, 2017, 06:44:25 pm

Dear Super

MCD or equivalent if are any. Costly but convenience in shade, privacy, controlled by driver.

Thanks Michael, easy is good, even the window blinds are a little troublesome like getting in the driver seat, or try to reach across the table or couch

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #11 – December 22, 2017, 08:21:36 pm

Does anyone know, are the style blinds that super8 is talking about (mini blind that is mounted horizontally), are they still avaiable? Mine are a little worn and wouldn't mind replacing them.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #12 – December 22, 2017, 09:11:12 pm

The MCD's that Roger was talking about seem hard to beat for the price. For the one with both the day and night shades for the windshield would run about $320 to $370, they can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or water, that would be much better than the cloth pleated one that is in there.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #13 – December 22, 2017, 09:46:30 pm

Super8mm - that does sound very, very intriguing. We have known about the MCD shades for a long time now, but never really felt the urge to install them, as we are quite happy with our current day/night shades. The windshield, however, we have been less satisfied with. I never considered installing the MCD shade for just the windshield, and was very surprised to read at how economical you say they are. Please keep us posted on what you decide to do, and post pictures if you go ahead with it. Our interest is peaked.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #14 – December 22, 2017, 10:00:55 pm

I will probably do it but it how soon depends on FOT getting my bulkhead issued taken care of

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #15 – December 22, 2017, 11:12:06 pm

Our coach came with some UGLY curtains that were very light-proof. Jo Ann made some much nicer ones to replace those old ugly green ones. When they are closed little or no light gets out except at the ends. A previous owner had some shades that attach to the windshield with suction cups for keeping the sun out and cutting down on the ability of people outside to see in.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #16 – December 22, 2017, 11:24:49 pm

The motorized MCD Windshield day/night shades are more like $795 plus switches. These are full width shades. Nice for daytime privacy and sun blocking. Blackout shade at night.

Price Guide | MCD Innovations

There are narrower shades, you could use two in the front and they could be manual shades. If you do it this way you have to deal with the center overlap or intersection.

We have the single powered set of shades. They can be used as sun shades while driving which has proven nice on several occasions. We use the shades every day. It has been a good investment for us. We installed it ourselves.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #17 – December 22, 2017, 11:36:38 pm

I dont mind the manual ones if they are easy to operate, there is less to go wrong with them.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #18 – December 22, 2017, 11:46:36 pm

I believe they're called Vertical Blinds, if I followed how he described them correctly. Hope that helps....

Merry Christmas!

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #19 – December 23, 2017, 12:05:52 am

Quote from: jwhardman – December 22, 2017, 11:46:36 pm

I believe they're called Vertical Blinds, if I followed how he described them correctly. Hope that helps....

Merry Christmas!

they are similar to vertical blinds as the use the same slats but each slat is spaced about 1.5" apart with fabric covering and when it folds back up it is like an accordian.

look at the first picture on this link and it shows what I am talking about.

MCD Shade Installation

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #20 – December 23, 2017, 01:22:12 am

Super, hesitate to repeat but hope to clarify why i answered si oky, get MCD.

We did the windshield first and cost was high vs other options, over a coach buck as i recall. There are two shades, one you can create shade via a sort of porous net. The other is totally closed for privacy and dark inside. The installation included added wood on each side of windshield that when the shade is lowered there is not side left little open to view inside.

Both are mororized. You can bring either shade down part way to shade while driving, say lower about a foot.

Our side windows were not done in the same year, but each is the same as dash....one for total dark and private and the other is shade and limits seeing into coach from outside when daylight....and they are not motorized. The folks that did ours recommended against motorized side shades and that is best imho.

The windshield was one of best upgrades we did, would not be an option for us.

I have seen two models.....one is of a solid shade all across the front. Another is a hinge in the fabric to create a shade that bends a little at the dash hump that the 01 has. We do not have the split.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #21 – December 23, 2017, 08:02:12 am

Thanks Mike

I was wondering about the curve at that outside edges of the windshield.

so you mounted it to the rear of the curve so the fabric fits snug to the sides wall?

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #22 – December 23, 2017, 09:26:21 am

Many folks use the manual shades everywhere but the windshield. The manual ones work well but theybare now wide enough for a one piece shade in the front.

We made wedges for either side to move the shades forward when they are down so that they clear the hump and the defrost vents in the middle of the dash.

MCD shade install

2014 MCD Windshield Shades

MCD Windshield shades self install

After several years of use now the wedges don't get used much in the summer. The hump pushes the shade forward, the pass side fits along the vertical edge and the drivers side has a gap. We added a shut off switch to disable the dash blower when the AquaHot is on (less noise, better heating in the LR). So in the winter we might just put the dr side wedge in. The windshield may get frosty in the winter so the defrost vents are in front of the shade and turning the front blower on with the shade down makes for quick defrost.

If you use the wedges or something like that to do not need a bottom flap.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #23 – December 23, 2017, 10:22:14 am

Super, ours is fit quite toward to the windshield so almost clears the hump anyway. If I were to put all the way down it would just push it forward a little.

In our coach, a forty foot, we think we need or do like keeping the front top dash vents usable and this allows that. It is far enough down that privacy works. I can see Roger's switch option could be helpful if that filled a need for your install.

There was a small vertical trim board added on each side of windshield that gives side closure. If you do yourself, pay attention that whatever you do on driver side does not interefere with vision to mirror if you use the forward mounted mirror.

I have seen however an install where the shade is cut vertically in half. I imagine adds a fair amount to cost for extra motors? (With two full shades, privacy and shade, one motor runs both shades). The advantage, only one i can see to the split, is that while driving the passenger could change their shade independently but of course must not obscure driver view. If i used one such though I might love it.

Just to reiterate...this expensive option is a real help to driving when heading into the sun. Can make small adjustments as move along.

As for the side window original folding shades, you can use bees wax to lubricate the cords, that good. I have heard of someone that took theirs down and cleaned them to be great looking again. I am glad we changed the side too but those were much more an option to us than the windshield.

When we started this journey, a forum member...was it Brad M?....told me to do two things.....add the front shade and modify the folding entry step. Have never second guessed the decision to do both.

A much later option, if you have not already, consider the VMSPc that Roger Engdahl sells and helps set up...but I am a data guy, some i am sure are less so. However with Roger and members helping me convert data to information....great add (after the mcd and step).

Be glad talk if need.

Re: Windshield Curtains

Reply #24 – December 23, 2017, 10:48:22 am

I'll give you one more idea. The PO used the collapsable shades like you use in a car only extra large. They are cloth with a wire hoop around the edge that allows you to fold them up. We have just continued to use them. Very easy to put in and take down.

2 shades cover the front windshield OK with minimal gaps and three will completely cover from edge to edge with no gaps. I ordered a second set of two from Amazon.

They fold up and store in the drivers seat back pocket.

Might give it a try before buying the expensive MCD option.

Rich

PS. I did install MCD shades in all the other windows so I know their virtues.

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