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Topic: A MCD Shade Saga (Read 1025 times) previous topic - next topic

A MCD Shade Saga

About two weeks ago, when raising my night shade at the windshield, the left side fell out of it's bracket about 8" from the upper position. Freaked me out. I was able to reach up and reposition the roller, hit the switch and......dead. Nothing. Previous owner had the MCD's installed at Foretravel in 2011. I have the invoice. Around $3000 back then for 9 manual and the motorized front.
I just happened to be heading to McKinney, Texas, after a visit to MOT. I left voicemail and both the service manager, Bill and, later, the tech Calvin both called me back to discuss a remedy. I was out of my comfort zone, so asked if we could just come by for repairs. They said sure, and allowed us to park in their lot where they had spaces with electricity. When they were able to fit us in, it was determined that I had fried the motor and would need a new one. The installer, Calvin, found the original installation was incorrect. He fixed the problems, but encountered problems that weren't anticipated. Given the age of the unit, and the changes MCD has made since original installation, we were facing the possibility of replacing the entire unit. Calvin was able to figure out the problem, and we now have a perfectly good shade, once again. I know there are some out there ( Twig) who mentioned the competition at Quartzite. I have heard, BUT can't be certain, that MCD might own them?? Regardless.... if you need installation of, or repair to, shades for your rig, rest assured that you will be in good hands at MCD. They treated us VERY fair, considering the actual time and energy needed to fix our shade. We couldn't be happier.
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #1 –
Have trouble off and on with the front day/night shade since new. Called them, and they were nice, but the price of the funky little import motor is ridicules.

I just have to reprogram 1/2 of the blind from time to time. Blind was brand new from pervious owner, which I installed

Felt like at the original cost of the blind, they should have spiffed me one.

Glad you had a good experience

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #2 –
The new motors are around $160, and seem expensive until you take one apart and see all the electronics in it. You could install one yourself, watch YouTube. I think the new generation motors aren't as good as the older, unobtainable ones. Ours worked great for nine years. Oh, well.....
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #3 –
Not much help. But that's why I have manual shades. 😎😎
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #4 –
They do not sell the front shade in a manual configuration only motorized.  That is what we have, all the others are manual.  If I hade to do it again I would have sepnt a bit more for motorized night shades in the BR.  The manual days shades are fine.  With a motor wou have more precise control over where the shard stops.  With window sills the manual shades stop just short of the sill or a bit too long.  Is it a problem, no.  They work fine just some mornings a bit of light leaks in.

We did the windshield first and the rest a couple years later. The days sun shades let you see out but not see in and really do cut down on solar heating.  Don't bother with the "flap", make corner wedges al least for the driver's side.  We did and rarely feel like we need them. We installed all of these ourselves.

MCD shade install
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #5 –
I love my mcd shades. All manual.

Calvin is a miracle worker. He fixed, actually redid, my FOT botched installation at no charge.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #6 –
Roger that's the reason I went with Slow Rise by Irving shade and door. My wind shield is manual. And they are happy to back their products.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #7 –
My coach came with Auto Motion Shade. The windshield is power and I love that and the rest are manual and they work great.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #8 –
Bruce, where did you get the slow rise?
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #9 –
Mine are slow rise, I thought they were all slow rise. I don't know anything about the blinds except I sure like them.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: A MCD Shade Saga

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Chris m lang –
Bruce, where did you get the slow rise?
Chris
call Irvine shade and door 574-522-1446 I don't remember if they sell direct. If not they will put on a dealer. You can do all the measurements yourself, no running around. Just a note I did a one piece windshield shade, if I had to do it over I would do 2 smaller ones over lapping.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country