EMD360
Tempe, AZ
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Joined: 01/18/2010
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I recently read a post on Class C about keeping the interior cooler in the hottest weather. Even though we live in Arizona, I had never considered insulating the windows but it sure seemed like a good idea.
I had some 18" aluminum bubble insulation already but went to the depot for 24" and 48" rolls today and installed shades for all the windows and made a cab curtain with the stuff too. Not a major DIY but satisfying none-the-less.
A few pix:
The material in 24 and 48" widths ~ $35 for these 2 rolls. Had enough 18" on hand for the cabover windows.
These are just held on by the closed curtains and shades.
These are held up with small pieces of sticky velcro.
I already had some snaps to match those that were installed on the rear cab wall so I made a cab curtain that can snap on and off.
View from the outside. They are already working great. It is only 99 here today but the shades made the inside feel cooler. I worked without the air conditioning on. And the vent fan seems more effective with the shades up. The furnace will probably be more effective too when it finally rolls around to cooler temperatures here.
Time to take it back to storage!
We're hooked!
2003 Itasca Spirit 22e
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07Navion
Houston
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Joined: 08/04/2008
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I did the same last week. You may want to eliminate the skylight cover in the shower though. Excessive heat will crack it and they aren't cheap!
John
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EMD360
Tempe, AZ
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Joined: 01/18/2010
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Good point. I left the insulation quite loose up in the dome and vent areas so that air could still circulate. I didn't cover the full shower dome just the area past the built in light. I was more worried about the front window since the glass is tinted and that area seemed super hot when I installed the insulation--almost hot enough to burn skin. Will the insulation trap heat against the cabover window and crack it? I hope not.
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07Navion
Houston
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I wouldn't be concerned with the windshield. Reflectix sun shields have been used for years and I haven't heard of any cracking.
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Mr Zulu
Abilene, TX
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Joined: 05/26/2011
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EMD360 wrote:Good point. I left the insulation quite loose up in the dome and vent areas so that air could still circulate. I didn't cover the full shower dome just the area past the built in light. I was more worried about the front window since the glass is tinted and that area seemed super hot when I installed the insulation--almost hot enough to burn skin. Will the insulation trap heat against the cabover window and crack it? I hope not.
I've seen a lot of posts about people adding reflectix inside their RV windows and am thinking of doing the same but I have read a few cautions about excessive heat and cracking RV windows do to use of this stuff. However, I can't find a single case anywhere where someone said this actually happened. Does anyone know of an RV window cracking due to use of reflectix on the inside of an RV window?
2003 Jamboree 24D on E450 Chassis
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EMD360
Tempe, AZ
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Joined: 01/18/2010
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No cracking on even the front overhead window, which is the one I was most worried about. We keep that shade up all the time and the other shades have been in almost constant use for about a year.
The snaps didn't hold up on the thin reflexit material though, there is only one snap that has not torn through, so I'm going to reinstall them on duct tape reinforcement. Also the velcro was useless--I just can't get the stuff to stay stuck on any surface in this RV, I need to use 3m hangers instead. I just don't use the roof pieces. I wouldn't worry about cracking, our temps get up over 110 and that seems like the most severe weather in which cracking would occur, except for severe cold.
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Mr Zulu
Abilene, TX
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Thanks for the reply. Looking for a way to prevent sun damage while sitting in my driveway as well as useful tool to help keep it cool when we're using it when it's REALLY hot. 110 would be rare here in Abilene but it does happen. 105 is common. Just happened to walk past a roll in Lowe's the other day and thought, "Wow, I could really use that for..." and then came here and saw I didn't think of anything new. Then googled and saw a few warnings and got worried.
I think I'll give it a go. Will avoid the velcro. For the overcab, I'll probably just depend on closed curtains to hold it in place. Considering suction cups for the rest but if you had problems with the snaps, I will probably have problems with the suction cups. May need to do reinforce with duct tape like you mentioned. Also thinking of just hanging it from the shades in some fashion.
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gatorcq
Apache Junction, Az
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Joined: 03/15/2004
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If you want to really reduce the heat. Place the insulation on the outside of the window. For long periods this is want we do for short period inside. However since we have the SunCoast Screens on the front we cut a section to fit between it and the window. We have been doing this for 3 years now.
Pinal county outside of Apache Junction, AZ
Dale, Susan, KoKo(rainbow bridge) & Della - DaGirls Rv
Alfa SeYa 2003, Cat 3126E 330Hp, HHR TOAD -
Roadmaster and Air Brake System
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