| Author |
Message |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 6:49 pm: | |
On our recent trip, I found that three 14000 BTU ACs were not adequate to cool the bus in high 90s to 102 degree weather we encountered. I solved the problem in El Paso by putting up aluminum bubble insualtion pads from Camping World in all the windows. The temp became manageable. I have since installed 1" wide pieces of plastic RV roof gutter spaced around each window to hold the foil sheets in place. I had pads just the right size with cloth tape around the edges. If you have to make your own, you will want the cloth tape. The aluminum edge scratches the paint over time otherwise. I recommend this system for hot weather travel. If three ACs cannot handle it, something other than more ACs is needed.
The seconce problem I had was dust and grime coating my AC condensors and the generator radiator, which has a dust filter before the blower. If you are building, remember you will want to be able to access these parts easily to wash off the dirt. You will likely be doing it when it is really hot outside, so you want access to be quick and easy. My generator radiator really is not easy to get to.
I used a laser pointer non contact temp gauge to check tires on the trip. Bus tires were fine, varying by about 5 degrees. The car tires eventually showed a 20 degress difference between front tires and a pressure check showed a 5 psi lower pressure on the hotter tire. Thanks, Jack Conrad, for the advice on this.
My toad braking system built into the towbar baseplate worked perfectly. I will have it at Bussin' 2006. Any one could build it. It cost me about $35 more than the towbar itself for toad brakes and break away brakes, and I know they will work reliably and well. Adding yhe brake system does not require a being a good welder like building the towbar and baseplate itself. |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2005 - 7:36 pm: | |
Steve,
How bout doin' a seminar on your braking system at bussin' 2006? Email me directly. Thanks, Jack |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 2:25 am: | |
That's good advice, Stephen. I bought my Reflectex at Home Depot. A big 48" wide roll. We now have covers for all the windows, and the fronts when parked. My wife even insulated the whole cap of our '06 with it (seemed underinsulated), and it all made a big difference for the driver (me!) when driving the I-8 through the desert last week.
bb |
C Fred
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 8:05 am: | |
This is the reason that I put 3.5 inches of foam in the roof and 2 in the walls. With only a couple of places touching the out side of the coach. I have been in Arizona in 110 degree weather and 2- 12.5 unites keep the coach very cool. Fred North Fla. Bus Conversion |
Jim Bob
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 10:24 am: | |
Regarding tire temps, We recently found that the left front toad tire which is 4' behind the bus exhaust gets noticeably hotter than the other 3 tires! Didn't have the temp gun on board but I'd say 5-10 degrees. |
CoryDane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 11:15 am: | |
Solar radiation and the suns heat has always been a concern. When I had the OLD OLD RV, it had relatively small windows which did not allow much heat inside, good in summer/bad in Winter. The roof coating of KOOLSEAL also helped a lot to keep the suns radiation out.
My education with windows came with the RVs replacement, a GMC motorhome, with the large panoramic windows. Much larger than the OLD OLD RV windows. The are also tinted so the not only allow light heat inside but collect and radiate very well.
I have tried the bubble wrap window treatment and found it works well, however rather hard to handle.
MY NEXT EXPERIMENT, will be to use SPACE BLANKETS over those windows.
I don't believe the bubble wrap is doing the magic of keeping the heat out, I believe the shiny mirror-like surface is reflecting the heat back out. THe space blanket was made just for that purpose and is plyable, like a curtain and I am thinking it could probably be hung with a little reinforcements.
I still have the GMC motorhome so it will be the prototype for the bus. If the MH works well, the bus gets the upgrade.
Anyone else shave similar thoughts on this material (Space Blanket) and have you tried to use it??
Always looking for the better way....
cd |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 11:41 am: | |
I had detachable window shades made of some type of plastic material that was shiny on the outside and had hundreds of small holes in it. It rolled up for storage and was easily applied to the windows and windshield with velcro.
I felt it did an excellent job of radiating the heat away from the glass area and the beauty of it was that you could see out during the day quite readily. At night it blocked visibility to the inside by a significant amount. Especially if there were no bright lights on inside. I assume it would help somewhat to block cold out also.
Richard |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 6:49 pm: | |
Up north, we called them "Window Quilts". They were roll-up
shades made out of heavy insulating cloth.
These things were pricey as all hell, but you can find used ones
in most thrift shops for a fraction of the their initial cost.
The "space blankets" can be cut and affixed to a common shade
roller. Just add some hardware to hold it tightly against the trim
when it's rolled down (to seal the area), and you've made your
own equivalent to the more costly yuppie, granola -eater's type.
"Insulating shades"
We had that perforated fabric type on our Winnie. It kept the
heat out, the windshield wipers from rotting, and it allowed
us a view of the area. Since it was on the exterior, it kept the
windshield and side windows cooler and less radiated heat.
All nice, but a big pain in the colon to put up and take down.
Especially during a rainstorm, when you have got to move -now-,
or be in the middle of a lake. |
jimmci9 #2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 2:06 pm: | |
some really good insulating/heat reflecting material is the "ironing board cover" available in 60" width and as long a piece as you can handle.... bought in bulk at the fabric stores....i also have some outside "curtains" made from a heat-reflecting cloth material----it is an open weave, plasticy-looking cloth----i hang it on pvc pipe curtain rods above the windows on my holiday rambler mh... its advertised as reflecting 80% of the uv rays....you can really tell a difference... |
H R Peel
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 6:38 pm: | |
I live full time in a 4104 in Bakersfield, Ca. where the summer temps can reach 100 plus for weeks.
About 6 years ago I had Sun Pro in Yuma, AZ. make solar screens for all of the windows on my 4104. Works great, just snaps on the outside, keeps all of the windows shaded, bugs out, lets air in, and you can see out but not in. The best part is you can travel with all but the windshield cover on. Heck, they even made me a screen door.. |
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