Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuquala
Occasionally, we use a mesh tarp (Harbor Freight!!) hooked to the corners of the slide. Really cuts down the sun penetration, and still can see out well. Use ball bungees and tie down to ground at an angle with same. Holds up to the wind pretty well, and cheap and light. Have a couple of them in diff sizes. Can also use attached to the awning on door side to cut down on light and heat on that side also.
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2X on cheap HF shade cloth and ball bungies. I have two of the mesh tarps. One is the largest they make and the other is 10x12. I replaced one bolt on the bracket of my solar panels with a cast galvanized eye bolt which gives me something solid to bungie too. Purchased a few steel stakes and drive them in and bungie cord the bottom to hold the cloth away at an angle. Just for curiosity one day when temps were in the mid 90s, I got out my HF temp gun and shot the temp of the side of the motorhome in direct sun and behind the shade cloth. Full sun temp was 130 on the white and 155 on the dark blue. Behind the shade cloth wall temps were 30-50 degrees cooler. My slide corners are square so I have to put a chunk of split "pool noodle" over the corner to keep the cloth from snagging the corners.
I'm using the smaller tarp right now for a windshield shade. I fold it in half and bungie it up across the windshield, with a light bungie holding the bottom half down. Makes a huge difference in the heat coming through the windshield. Well worth the $19 I paid for the mesh tarp.
Before using the tarps when temps were over 100 my two air conditioners couldn't keep up, with the tarps, the inside was still warm but comfortable.
Something else I did a few years back, more for winter, but it works for summer too is to make insulated window inserts. Because some places frown on Reflectix in the windows, I bought some white canvas at a fabric store and covered one side of the Reflectix sewing it around the edge. The canvas blocks light and I can use it white side out if I need to, or white side in. They make a big difference in both winter and summer. When not in use the shades slide down behind the couch. For the badroom I did something different buying insulated shade material. It has two thin layers of polyester batting with aluminized mylar in the center. I hung them under the valance with spring rods and added a couple of small eye hooks so I can roll them up and secure them with a small bungie. Not only do they really cut down on window sweating in the winter, and heat in the summer, the black out the windows which helps with sleeping. We both think these simple mods have really paid off in additional comfort.
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