New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

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New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

December 08, 2021, 07:24:06 am

We arrived at MCD Inovations in McKinney Texas Sunday afternoon for a week of having our factory original shades replaced with Duo solar/blackout. We had these on installed on our previous coach by MCD in 2010 and were extremely pleased with the professionalism of the installation and followup services. Willie did a blog showing our assessment and plan for the week. The link is below.

And Willie Said: Step One of Four of the Shades Project

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #1 – December 08, 2021, 08:05:50 am

We have split shades on our front window now and am thinking on going with the MCD full mount. Prices would be nice and your followup experience! Thanks!

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #2 – December 08, 2021, 09:38:31 am

Herb, nice looking Coach, Sweet Georgia Brown's paint looks very familiar...

We always get lots of compliments on that color combination everywhere we go.

We have the full MCD day and blackout shade in the front, great product!

J & K

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #3 – December 08, 2021, 09:58:15 am

Quote from: juicesqueezer – December 08, 2021, 08:05:50 am

We have split shades on our front window now and am thinking on going with the MCD full mount. Prices would be nice and your followup experience! Thanks!

I talked to MCD and they don't offer a split shade anymore.. I have a one piece on order from the mothership for David Flannigan to install when it comes in.

Keith

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #4 – December 08, 2021, 10:39:28 am

I have full MCD shades throughout the coach but blackout only. The front windshield shade is one piece and motorized. All the other ones are manual pulldown since some of them don't work very well despite adjusting. I do envy people that have the day shades that let's light through and you can see through them but still gives reasonable shaded privacy. Anybody would have a rough estimate of what it would cost to do an entire coach. I guess it would have to be separate rollers now?

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #5 – December 08, 2021, 06:07:54 pm

A one piece front shade works well. You don't need the "flap" at all to accommodate the hump. If you have a "flap" it will just hang down in the window. It does not roll up. Just make a removable wedge to use on the driver's side when using the shade. Make a wedge for both sides if you want to use the defrost vents with your AH. Or add a disable switch to the dash blower when the AH is in use.

Aqua Hot Dash Blower Fan Override

MCD shade install

MCD shade install

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #6 – December 08, 2021, 06:29:19 pm

We plan to update with prices (not cheap) when complete. We will also post pictures.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #7 – December 08, 2021, 06:35:58 pm

Quote from: Beeman – December 08, 2021, 09:38:31 am

Herb, nice looking Coach, Sweet Georgia Brown's paint looks very familiar...

We always get lots of compliments on that color combination everywhere we go.

We have the full MCD day and blackout shade in the front, great product!

J & K

We love our color. I am surprised at how many similar are out there. Ours is probably unique as it was originally owned by a minister/professor. Ours has a small Foretravel motto "Christ is the Answer" front and rear.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #8 – December 08, 2021, 06:49:36 pm

We have made wedges similar to Roger's (thank you sir). Still unpainted until I am sure we will not have to make modifications. We will probably leave them in place most of the time as they allow clearance to the dash vents. The MCD people recommended a small 2 inch flap just for the small variation in the flat area of dash. They are also making most of our shades with the solar screen coming off the roller closer to windshield and the blackout shade coming off closer to the interior. They think that it helps with a bit more insulation (air space) between the shades. They also talked me out of motorizing the cab shades. So we will have manual shades everywhere except the windshield. Willie will just have to be my motor to keep the sun out while rolling down the highway.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #9 – December 08, 2021, 07:59:46 pm

We bought our coach recently with a MCD dual (shade/blackout) electric shade on the front window and love it. Would consider replacing all if pricing is not to crazy.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #10 – December 08, 2021, 09:58:27 pm

Quote from: brianefeeze – December 08, 2021, 07:59:46 pm

We bought our coach recently with a MCD dual (shade/blackout) electric shade on the front window and love it. Would consider replacing all if pricing is not to crazy.

FOT just did mine. MCD a day/night throughout coach with the windshield being motorized. Attached is my ticket before the Motorcade discount. I thought it was reasonable.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #11 – December 08, 2021, 11:39:01 pm

My coach came with the same type of shades made by a different company. Having
power shades for the windshield is great so easy to use them to block the sun when
driving. I am so glad the previous owner had installed them.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #12 – December 09, 2021, 07:18:25 am

Quote from: Blueeyedme – December 08, 2021, 09:58:27 pm

FOT just did mine. MCD a day/night throughout coach with the windshield being motorized. Attached is my ticket before the Motorcade discount. I thought it was reasonable.

So far my costs are $3473 for the motorized windshield Duo and 8 manual Duos. I am replacing all stock shades except the small windows in the living room slide. Not enough space to mount and operate the shades so I will leave the stock shades there for now. The labor for installation is quoted at $120 per hour. There will be one installer and he expects to be done today if my shades are completed. So I expect another $960 or so. I had MCD windshield on order from MOT for 3 months with no delivery date in sight. So we got this appointment as we had done this on our Dynasty in 2010 and were pleased with MCD factory service.

So your FOT prices are extremely reasonable. I am not saving any money, just a matter of availability and logistics.

Before traveling to McKinney, I removed a section of the TV cabinet and brought the back of it inline with windshield valences on each side to give a straight shot for the motorized shade to be installed from left to right. My original tv is history and the current newer flat screen Samsung is mounted outside on the face of the cabinet from the bracket mounted to a new support installed in the cabinet.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #13 – December 09, 2021, 08:01:34 am

We have a motorized duo shade on the windshield and manual duos everywhere else. A roll-up sun screen on the screen door and single nightshade for the door. We put a set of switches below the thermostat which are easy to get at even while driving. We did the entire installation ourselves.

Our wedges are thin plywood covered with vinyl that closely matches the rest of the vinyl in the front area. They are easy to store and rarely get used.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #14 – December 09, 2021, 08:26:55 am

Wow! I purchased Shade Pro shades, both blackout and see through for all our windows in the coach, except the front and paid $775 for all. These are manual pull downs and work great! Very happy with selection and my install! Still want the one piece MCD for the front window, as we have the split now and not really satisfied in how it works. We have no dark shade to help with sun, but if we lower the solid one down some, it works for now. I am sure that the see through screen would be much nicer!

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #15 – December 09, 2021, 10:01:08 am

Quote from: juicesqueezer – December 09, 2021, 08:26:55 am

Wow! I purchased Shade Pro shades, both blackout and see through for all our windows in the coach, except the front and paid $775 for all. These are manual pull downs and work great! Very happy with selection and my install! Still want the one piece MCD for the front window, as we have the split now and not really satisfied in how it works. We have no dark shade to help with sun, but if we lower the solid one down some, it works for now. I am sure that the see through screen would be much nicer!

Joe, I like that price a whole lot better than the MCD price lol. My personal feeling is that I can install these without help and without paying $140 per hour. I guess when I come back to the States next year I'll have to order them. I remember being inside your coach and thinking your shades were pretty cool too.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #16 – December 09, 2021, 10:24:48 am

Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore – December 09, 2021, 10:01:08 am

Joe, I like that price a whole lot better than the MCD price lol. My personal feeling is that I can install these without help and without paying $140 per hour. I guess when I come back to the States next year I'll have to order them. I remember being inside your coach and thinking your shades were pretty cool too.

Bob, the hardest part was me standing on my head to get the valances off! LOL I ordered the Shade Pro's on Amazon, got free shipping and no sales tax, since we had it shipped to Montana last year. May look at the one piece window shade they offer as well. We had MCD shades in our DRV fifthwheel and really liked them, but these are just as nice in my most humble opinion!

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #17 – December 09, 2021, 11:06:50 am

Joe I hardly use the see through shade as it doesn't stop enough sunlight for good
driving. The one piece blind is nice and being electric for the windshield is awesome.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #18 – December 09, 2021, 11:45:41 am

I'll open another bag of worms here. I had installed heat rejecting almost clear film on my front windshields in first the Gran Villa, and then in my U295. It's almost invisible unless you know to look at the "open and uncovered" area for the state registration sticker, or Toll Tag. The difference in stopping the heat getting into the coach was amazing from day one. Driving west is not an issue like it was in the past. It's been in place for 8 years, and I will have it done again on the next coach of replacement windshield. I think it was about $500. back in 2013.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #19 – December 09, 2021, 12:08:57 pm

Dave,

Do you know if they used NSN70% on yours?

Mike

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #20 – December 09, 2021, 06:05:03 pm

Dave that's a can of worms that I am interested in. The solar load through the
windshield can be something else.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #21 – December 09, 2021, 06:48:55 pm

Oddly enough we've been utilizing that solar load this past month here in New Mexico. Warms the coach up nicely through the day.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #22 – December 09, 2021, 06:52:24 pm

Quote from: Dave Cobb – December 09, 2021, 11:45:41 am

I'll open another bag of worms here. I had installed heat rejecting almost clear film on my front windshields in first the Gran Villa, and then in my U295. It's almost invisible unless you know to look at the "open and uncovered" area for the state registration sticker, or Toll Tag. The difference in stopping the heat getting into the coach was amazing from day one. Driving west is not an issue like it was in the past. It's been in place for 8 years, and I will have it done again on the next coach of replacement windshield. I think it was about $500. back in 2013.

We had that clear Ceramic Film applied to both windshields and the driver and passenger side windows. Works very well, not inexpensive. I recall it was almost $600 for all those windows.

On our install they applied a dark film at the top 8 inches or so, as the Ceramic clear film is not wide enough to fit from bottom to top. Keeps the sun at bay... I like the insulation on the drivers window, definitely cuts down on the Sun radiation when driving with the Sun is on that side. I'm not sure of the shade percentage, I think it was the 70%... No noticeable degradation on the view. Must only clean with microfiber cloth and water.

I think Floridarandy did all the windows in their coach. We used the same installer.

We have to replace the drivers windshield, our insurance will pay to have the new windshield filmed again, very good...

J & K

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #23 – December 09, 2021, 10:30:40 pm

Quote from: Dave Cobb – December 09, 2021, 11:45:41 am

I'll open another bag of worms here. I had installed heat rejecting almost clear film on my front windshields in first the Gran Villa, and then in my U295. It's almost invisible unless you know to look at the "open and uncovered" area for the state registration sticker, or Toll Tag. The difference in stopping the heat getting into the coach was amazing from day one. Driving west is not an issue like it was in the past. It's been in place for 8 years, and I will have it done again on the next coach of replacement windshield. I think it was about $500. back in 2013.

David, I did a lot of research on that a couple years ago and got a quote from a local installer for the 3M crystalline film that was going to reject quite a bit of UV while still being able to see at night. I think the price was $800 installed. I looked on Alibaba at the time and I was able to get a similar shading of the same product for I want to say about $120 for a roll. But the more I looked at the installation process, the more I thought that it was something best left to a professional. My only concern about it was if the windshield cracked, would the insurance pay to have the film reinstalled? But I may have another look at it this summer.

Re: New Shades at MCD in McKinney TX

Reply #24 – December 09, 2021, 11:05:41 pm

Bob I had our suburban windshield done a couple of years ago and was very hesitant. Now several years later I got nothing but praise for it. Yes having it installed comes with a cost. I closely watched the suburban installation and think it is within a learnable skill set. I'm sure it won't be perfect. The heat rejection is outstanding and the slight glare reduction at night actually took the edge of oncoming traffic hi beams. I'm going to buy a roll and installation kit and give it a try. Both my windshields are IMO junk and will eventually need replacement anyway. No cracks but they show there age. Another added bonus is another layer protecting occupants from glass fragments if damaged.
Scott

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