Window Shades

**layoutshooter** · 08-08-2008, 01:40 PM

One good and inexpensive way to increase the effeciency of your APU is with insulated window shades. My wife made ours out of the silver bubble type insulation that is sold at Lowes or Home Depot. It comes in roles and is used for wrapping hot water tanks etc. She cut it to fit the windows and sewed cloth around the edges to keep it from fraying. She used masking tape on the edges of the side window pieces and that has held up just as good as the cloth so far. It keeps the truck much cooler then the curtians that most come with. It is much darker inside so sleeping in the daytime is easier. It also blocks the lights from the parking lots or moving trucks at night. Layoutshooter

**danthewolf00** · 08-08-2008, 03:27 PM

yeap i bought 2 rolls of this stuff....planning on useing it for the whole van .

**TeamCaffee** · 08-08-2008, 04:34 PM

We were lucky enough to see how Jan cut and installed Layoutshooters blinds and were impressed enough to go out and buy a roll. Ours do not look nearly as good as Layuoutshooters but they still work and have a much better seal then the kind you buy at the store. We got so carried away we put this up on the sleeper windows and even on the fantastic vent. Our Rig Master yesterday in Charlotte actually shut down in the afternoon and was able to cool the truck. Another nice benefit to the shades is they fit tight on the door windows and it is easy to open and close the doors.

The bad thing about these shades is you cannot tell if anyone is awake or not as no light gets through.

**Turtle** · 08-08-2008, 07:38 PM

I use theThemo-Mat Isoflex 7-layered high tech stuff from NASA. $89.95 Comes pre-cut for a Sprinter's windows, or you can get a snotload (11.48 ft x 61 inches) of it rolled up in a do-it-yourself kit so you can cut it to fit whatever. Comes with edging and suction cups.

If I'd known about it before I insulated the van with foam panels and canned foam and the Reflectix bubble pack, I'd have insulated the entire thing with that stuff, and used a lot less of the canned foam, for sure. It's all that and a bag a chips.

Insulation kits at Eurocampers

Insulation kits at Upscale Auto

**pelicn** · 08-09-2008, 03:56 PM

If possible, could you please post some pictures Layoutshooter or TeamCaffee?
We used the darkest limo window tint, static stick and it works very well until the temp gets 98 or so outside, but I'd like to see other alternatives.

**mcbride** · 08-09-2008, 05:49 PM

If you want a cheap, quick, and easy window covering for a truck...

We use SUPER jumbo pop up sun shields you can buy at Wal-Mart for about $9. They install in seconds and fold up just as quick. They fold up small and flat for easy storage. [I must admit it took me a few seconds to learn how to spring them shut].

We buy the shields that are black on one side and silver on the other. Because they snap right up, we put them in the windshield every time we stop. We have found if you get the black/silver combo you can not see thru them. We are often too tired or lazy to pull the curtain around the front cab of the truck and usually just pop these shades up.

The next size down jumbo/large fit into our windows behind the shades in the sleeper and also fit nicely over the side windows of the doors by resting on the door handles. They are not nearly on the same line as the ones made above but they work!

**greg334** · 08-09-2008, 06:14 PM

Turtle,
I found several sources for the 'kit' for sprinters and other vehicles but I have not sourced the actual material. Who actually manufactures it?

**layoutshooter** · 08-09-2008, 07:03 PM

We will look into taking some pictures tomorrow. Layoutshooter

**Turtle** · 08-10-2008, 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by greg334

Turtle,
I found several sources for the 'kit' for sprinters and other vehicles but I have not sourced the actual material. Who actually manufactures it?

It made by a company called Mirco & Alex Magnani (Mirco & Alex Magnani S.r.l.) an Italian company.

They developed it back in the 70's under contract from NASA for the Space Station, and it's now marketed to RV's and the like, but it's the insulation used on the Mars Rovers, most satellites, and the Space Shuttles have all been insulated with it.

**pelicn** · 08-10-2008, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by layoutshooter

We will look into taking some pictures tomorrow. Layoutshooter

Thank You

**layoutshooter** · 08-10-2008, 02:53 PM

Let's see if we can get this to work, Layoutshooter

**layoutshooter** · 08-10-2008, 02:55 PM

One more, layoutshooter

**TeamCaffee** · 08-10-2008, 03:19 PM

What we like about cutting the shades to fit the windows is you can open and close the doors and nothing falls. There is also no area on the windshield to let any heat through. We found that the easiest way to store ours was under the bed. Jan did a much better job though on her windows.