Windshield cover

[Keith Oliver]

When I was entertaining the idea of MCD blinds, I walked around the park to see what others were using and talked to a few guys.  Many had the same type of outer cover as I had, (RV Sunshade) snapped on, requiring a ladder, frequent cleaning, storage of large pieces.  Many had other similar brands of the same. Some had inside reflective foil, many had inside blinds of some sort, some of which had a large space between the blind and the glass, some not so far from the glass.  I didn't ever see a shade that was fixed to the inside of the glass, so couldn't evaluate that type.  Many had MCD blinds.
Those with inside blinds that failed to cover the whole area of the window usually supplemented with something else, so those weren't working well for them.  Those with outside coverings didn't use anything else, so those were working for them.  Those with full width blinds that sealed off at the edges didn't bother with anything on the outside, so those were working for them.
I concluded from this unscientific survey that in the Palm Desert climate, the amount of heat/damage done to the dash between the inside blinds and the glass, was a non-issue.  Perhaps those who stay out in 100 degrees or more will need to consider this as an issue, but those of us who retreat to more temperate climates in the hot times don't need to be concerned.

[George H. Wall]

The suction cup shade attaches DIRECTLY to the glass, leaving only @ 1/4 to 1/2 inch space, and there is no sun rays on the dash or any inside area!

[Jerry Carr]

Stan I made the move to the inside shade because I hate the ladders and storage required with the outside shades.
The inside shade that I did find fits the front window very sell and I have no dash exposed the bottom of the 06 window has a 9" top &  bottom black out glass so a 48" X Long works for me. I did like the magnet shade because you can install them on the outside without the ladder but storage was and issue they don't recommend that you roll them up and finding a spot to store them folded was a turn off for me. If I recall the roll up issue with the magnet shade was the magnets

This will be our 2nd year with the inside shades so far I like them. I had the outside shades on the old rig and these we did roll up for storage so that was not a problem but getting them on was a real pain(very tight when cold)

Good luck with your shades which ever you use they will both keep you cooler!
  
  

[Joel Ashley]

I don't have an issue with using the ladder, as mine is light and stores in my bay almost as easily and out of the way as the small bag with the window and wiper covers;  it takes about 10 minutes to remove and store the covers, and less to put them up, especially after doing it a couple of times.  You don't exactly have to stand on the ladder's top rung and balance precariously to do this.  Using a few turn-button attachment points rather than snaps makes it relatively easy, and as I've indicated before, our material has neither stretched nor shrank, so it goes on and off the buttons with minimal effort and yet fits snug and neat.

As to dirt, I've rinsed mine off a couple of times since I've had it, and only once did I lay it out and soft scrub it at all, after leaving it on during winter.  Dust that settles and muddies a bit from a rainy spell just doesn't stick hard to this stuff.  As to the interior and glass deterioration, that was when we used an interior cover on our old motor home, and admittedly it did not fit as tight as Henry and Leah describe it should.  But it was Portland Oregon summer solar heat that built up between it and the glass, not Arizona.  The ShadeMaster stops solar heat before it gets inside at all.

So you can see from this thread that there are many different opinions, most of them quite experienced.  Inside or out will depend on your attitude toward ladders, storage, cleaning (or not), price, and which version keeps the most heat out - the main reason for getting a cover.

-Joel

[Joel Weiss]

"one issue with inside sunblockers is that they trap heat between themselves and the glass.  1) that's not as effective at keeping summer heat out of the coach as an outside cover, and 2) my experience is that the trapped heat accelerates the deterioration of anything caught between, from dash trim components to the glass itself over time."

Joel
I feel I have to somewhat disagree with your statement above as it depends how well one ensures the proper fit.  Yes it can contribute to dash deterioration if you don't get the proper fit and placement against the glass not allowing sun in and secure it to the glass, it sure beats the heck out of the outside dirt and climbing on the ladder!!

I'm sorry Leah, but it is a basic physics issue.  Light coming through the windshield is absorbed by an inside sunblocker and is re-radiated as infrared energy which cannot pass back through the glass. Therefore, the space between the sunblocker and the windshield becomes superheated no matter how well the sunblocker is fitted.  This is known as the Greenhouse Effect and it is exactly the reason why a greenhouse is hot.  By fitting the sunblocker tighter to the windshield you are keeping all that heat trapped in an even smaller space which isn't going to do the glass any good in the long run.

An outside sunblocker is more effective because the incoming solar energy is blocked before it goes through the windshield and doesn't produce a heat load inside the coach.

Joel

[barbhalsell]

Has anyone got a great solution for the door window?
Barb

[Joel Ashley]

Check the ShadeMaster link in my previous post (July 12), Barb.  Our windshield cover came with entry door and drivers window covers, as well as windshield wiper covers.  I'd think you could order one separately, as they make regular window covers.  Check with them at their 800 number.

Joel

[barbhalsell]

Thanks Joel!

[Richard And Babs Ames]

We installed the MCD type Shades and just had them make a cover for the door window if we want privacy. Has 4 snaps and and the same material as the shades.

[Keith Oliver]

On the door, I asked the MCD installer for some of their shade material, that I used to replace the mosquito screen in the screen door.

[David T. Richelderfer]

I agree, Joel.  It's a basic physics issue, not PhD physics.  Once the genie is out of the bottle, then he won't want to go back in.  In this case, once the sunlight, and its heat, are inside the coach window, then it won't be easily pushed back outside the coach.  The heat that has been allowed to penetrate into the coach is in the coach, and will tend to disperse throughout the coach as convection conditions allow.  The best solution to keeping the heat outside the coach is to stop it outside BEFORE it gets in.

On the other hand, if a silver, reflecting style sunblocker like is seen inside auto windshields on hot, sunny, summer days, then I would guess that much of the sunlight is reflected back through the window to the outside... thus the inside of the coach would be cooler.

[Edward Buker]

Barb,

MCD offered up a suggestion to us, that they came up with for their own RV travels. Basically looking out through the side door screen at an angle while traveling does not give much of a view from the passenger seat. They made a screen with a Velcro kit out of a material that is much like the MCD sun screen material. I presume there may be material options on how much sun limiting you want there to be. This can all be done by mail order if you make them a diagram or pattern.

You completely remove the current screen from the door so the view is much better for the passenger. There is black stick on Velcro in the kit that attaches to the screen door face and mating Velcro is sewed on the edge of the new sunscreen and you attach the screen from the inside. It is better for privacy, sun blocking, and travel viewing. When not on the door for travel, the screen gets rolled up and stashed behind the seat or wherever. We are quite happy with it. If you just want a sunblock and you do not mind using a ladder all the time then an outside version would keep more heat outside. The inside version is a good compromise and easy to install with no ladder.

Later Ed

[Joel Weiss]

On the other hand, if a silver, reflecting style sunblocker like is seen inside auto windshields on hot, sunny, summer days, then I would guess that much of the sunlight is reflected back through the window to the outside... thus the inside of the coach would be cooler.

Mirrored sun shields work well and the only heat entrapment results from the fact that no reflector is 100% efficient so a small percentage of the light gets absorbed but most gets reflected back out.

[Richard Cooper]

This topic is exactly what I am looking for as I am at this very minute looking for a solution on my coach.  I looked at products from both rvquickshades.com and rvsunshades4less.com and they both seem to be selling the same product at the same price.

Inside shades appeal to me for these reasons:

I do not want to get my ladder out each time to put up or take down shades.
When it rains or has rained or is raining it's frustrating obviously, but putting up wet or damp sunshades as you prepare to depart has to be an annoyance.
I can cover my windshield and both door and drivers window for $130 vs more than $500 otherwise.

Inside is probably not the best solution, but I think it will be much better than nothing which is what I have right now.

Is there a way to get free shipping on either of these 2 distributors?

[Joel Ashley]

One thing to keep in mind regarding the entry window:  if it is double-paned, reflected heat from an inside cover will trap between the panes, build up, and can compromise the seal between them, resulting in fogging.  I understand this concept because I've dealt with it on several windows in my home that had solar film applied to the inside.  Fortunately the window manufacturer and the film manufacturer worked together to ameliorate the damage to my pocketbook.  The solution was window replacement, but the manufacturer used tinted glass for the outside pane, and now refuses to warrant their windows that have had film applied.

As many here know from personal experience, our coach windows are all subject to intra-seal leakage, resulting in fogged windows and a few hundred in repair costs when you can find and get to a specialist.  The entry door seems especially vulnerable, probably due to its being subject to more shock than just road bumps.  Ed has obviously had good luck with his inside cover/panel thus far, perhaps because there is a good gap between the screen door and the glass, but I personally would keep mine on the outside and not risk aggrevating an already trouble-prone window.

Joel