Community Forums

baranski37 · 07-24-2019, 04:56 PM

I’m staying a few weeks in the DFW area expecting temps in high 90’s next week. I have a 2019 KZ Durango Gold 380FLF (front living). I had some trouble last year staying in low 70’s in RV Park with full sun. I’ve seen others that installed the silver bubble wrap looking reflectix I’ve windows. For those that use it does it help with cooling? How is it best installed? I was thinking of cutting to fit large windows in front living and attach with Velcro so it’s reusable.
Regards Ron

keymastr · 07-24-2019, 05:35 PM

It will help a bunch for sure. Some folks cut it to fit inside but outside is even better for cooling.

grindstone01 · 07-24-2019, 05:49 PM

We use Reflexit and cut it about 1/8" oversize for the window. This allows us to just press the Reflexit panel into the window opening and it will stay there. If there is a screen, just remove it.
Reflexit really helps for keeping our fifth wheel warm in cold temps. If the temps drop below 30F at night, just 1 space heater will keep it 55-60 at night, otherwise we would need 2 space heaters. We don't stay in really hot weather areas, but I would think the Reflexit would work good for cooling efficiency, but it would be dark inside.
We use a marker to label which window each panel will fit and store them under the mattress. Some pieces have been used for 4 years now.

Unplanned Tourist · 07-24-2019, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keymastr

It will help a bunch for sure. Some folks cut it to fit inside but outside is even better for cooling.

Have to agree with that. Outside to stop the heat, inside to keep heat in.
Happy Glamping.

DobeBus · 07-24-2019, 06:16 PM

We use it on windshield. The sun visors hold it up

engine103 · 07-24-2019, 06:59 PM

I use it and put it between my windshield cover and the outside of the windshield. Big improvement. No matter how close you put to the inside of the glass, the heat is already in, but it helps some.

RoadrunnerII · 07-24-2019, 07:24 PM

We put it on inside of glass. Used a infrared thermometer gun. Instant reading on table top of 20*F cooler than with the blind only in Florida on a 90*F day couple years ago. I just pulled coroplast under my trailer added a layer of reflectix and 4 inch fiberglass batt above it from basement to rear bumper. Also changed out furnace floor registers to one's with shutoff dampers. Inside of trailer seems to be holding the cold better and longer. Single 15k A/C on 37 foot jayco eagle.
Will see if we need the second A/C.
Before the changes A/C would run constant day and most of night.

RoadrunnerII

Trapper2022 · 07-24-2019, 09:50 PM

It helps a lot. Also use it in shower skylight and bathroom vent fan area. Just over size a little and press in from inside.

George Schweikle · 07-25-2019, 08:32 AM

I have used it in two Safari Treks. Windshield & driver - passenger side windows for the '95, but windshield only in the '99 since all side windows are double pane and I read somewhere that reflectix promotes fogging in these windows.

The stuff really works; even in the inside of the windshield. I first put self adhesive Velcro around the windshield to better seal the reflectix, but the heat inside the glass melted the adhesive

smlranger · 07-25-2019, 06:41 PM

I've always known that reflectix works, it does keep you from seeing out of the window/s. You might consider these for heat blocking.

https://www.shadepro.net/product/window-cover/

I plan to order 6 of these for windows on our 5th wheel that get the afternoon and evening sun. You can see out of the window well but they really block the sun and heat transfer.

I used these on my two previous motorhome windshields and they really worked well.

Our 5th wheel stays in the same spot on a permanent site so I don't need them for all the windows, especially those under the patio awnings.

jdpm · 07-25-2019, 09:09 PM

The Shade Pro looks similar to my interior MCD day/night day shades in our rig. The nights shades are white and are total black-out and the day shade is of the black mesh material. You can see through it and it does block a lot of direct sunlight, however, I do not think they really keep out the heat. They absorb a lot of heat and are hot to the touch.
The deep tint windows themselves get very hot, too.
The best windows for reflecting heat I ever had were in a former fiver. They were single pane and not tinted. We installed 3M reflective mirror tint on them. It did a great job of keeping out heat. You cannot use it on double pane, however.

baranski37 · 07-25-2019, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdpm

The Shade Pro looks similar to my interior MCD day/night day shades in our rig. The nights shades are white and are total black-out and the day shade is of the black mesh material. You can see through it and it does block a lot of direct sunlight, however, I do not think they really keep out the heat. They absorb a lot of heat and are hot to the touch.
The deep tint windows themselves get very hot, too.
The best windows for reflecting heat I ever had were in a former fiver. They were single pane and not tinted. We installed 3M reflective mirror tint on them. It did a great job of keeping out heat. You cannot use it on double pane, however.

Yes my fifth wheel has the slow rise day/night shades. They do block all sun, but allow heat transfer. I’ve seen the reflexit used on several other trailers here and last month when in Galveston so I assume it’s helpful. All of my windows are fairly dark tinted as well.
I was mostly curious how people attached it as I wouldn’t want to tape it to the wall.
Regards Ron

smlranger · 07-26-2019, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdpm

The Shade Pro looks similar to my interior MCD day/night day shades in our rig. The nights shades are white and are total black-out and the day shade is of the black mesh material. You can see through it and it does block a lot of direct sunlight, however, I do not think they really keep out the heat. They absorb a lot of heat and are hot to the touch.
The deep tint windows themselves get very hot, too.
The best windows for reflecting heat I ever had were in a former fiver. They were single pane and not tinted. We installed 3M reflective mirror tint on them. It did a great job of keeping out heat. You cannot use it on double pane, however.

Can't compare sun blocking shades on the inside of the window to the sun blocking covers on the outside of the window. They really do block much of the heat from sun. I didn't realize how much difference they made until I compared temps of the inside of the glass (with infrared temp gun) of windows with and without the exterior shades.

Reflectix is great if you don't mind not being able to see out of your windows.

Waiter21 · 07-26-2019, 04:54 AM

ABSOLUTELY - On my Ole 2001 Mirada, I cut it for the front windows and windshield. I cut 4 PVC plumbing pipes, put a small notch in them, and they hold the reflectex in place against the windshield.

I also tinted the windows,

Scroll down about halfway through article to see how I did the refletex insulation.

Window tint and window covers – 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

..