Window shades or something - Montana Owners Club

pep1977 · 07-30-2006, 03:50 PM

Hey all,
wondering if there is anything out there that has been used to put on the windows or over the windows of the trailer to help keep it cool. i see lots of motorhomes with a screen type material over some of the windows. just wondering what is the best stuff out there without going broke doing it. thanks

sreigle · 07-31-2006, 09:35 AM

We plan to go with a screen for the rear window and window awnings on the larger windows on the side. In our current Montana we use foamboard from Walmart between the window and the shade. Makes a huge difference both this time of year and in winter. Not pretty from outside but nice inside. And cheap. Home/Office section in Walmarts.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

azstar · 07-31-2006, 11:27 AM

Steve,

Do a search for "sunscreens" I'm sure you'll find a lot of options.
Here's a link for Pics of the ones I made. www.msnusers.com/azstar
Click on pictures upper left or bottom right. Click on the individual pics to see full screen. I made mine for all 12 windows for about $125.

Happy Camping

Steve & Nina
03 Mountaineer TT 335RLBS
2000 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab LB V10 2WD Posi. Reese HP Dual Cam
Prodigy-K&N-Mobil 1

mobilrvn · 07-31-2006, 11:39 AM

We got a sunscreen for the whole set of rear windows from www.RVToyStore.com for less than $100. Took them about three weeks to make and send.

MoBillTuxRex&Princess
Fulltiming since '93
'04 3575; '06 2500HD Duramax/Allison

TheCoachPotatoes · 07-31-2006, 12:02 PM

azstar, They look great where did you get the screen material?

AL and Nita
2003 Chevy Dually
2005 3670RL

sreigle · 07-31-2006, 02:16 PM

Thanks, Steve. I think you posted in the other thread, too, and Vicki sent me the link. I saved some info from there. I wish I had your skills. I am not sure I could do a credible job with it but may end up trying.

Mobilrvn, thanks. I took a quick look and saved the url.

We need to get the rig here so we can do some measuring.

Sorry, pep1977. Didn't mean to hijack your thread.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Montana Sky · 07-31-2006, 07:32 PM

pep1977,
I am going to have the Carefree of Colorado rear window shade installed on my coach next spring. For the side windows I have chosen A&E awnings as they can match the patio awning color. PM me you want more information and prices I got to have them installed on my coach.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

Bill and Ann · 08-01-2006, 12:50 AM

Dave: Smart move on the rear window. You won't be sorry.

If you can't play a sport....Be one.

Bill and Ann
Napanee, Ontario, Canada
2004 3670RL Big Sky
2003 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 Short Bed
20K.Reece Hitch
Duramax/Allison
Prodigy Controller

azstar · 08-01-2006, 06:17 AM

Hi All,

If you want to make a set like mine, you can buy everything from either Home Depot or Lowes. It,s a very easy job. Simply cut the material to size, cut the frame material to length and install the spline material and industrial strength velcro. I tried different directions and the best is having the SunTex material come back on itself. You can see this in the picture, "Close-up of finished product".

We have used this on windows in AZ for years. Even after 7 years on our last Home it was still as good as new, and that's with direct Sun as hot as 135 Deg. When they need cleaning we just take the window screens off the house and simply hose them off.

It was the first project I did on our new home. Got to cover up those west facing windows here in AZ.

Happy Camping

Steve & Nina
03 Mountaineer TT 335RLBS
2000 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab LB V10 2WD Posi. Reese HP Dual Cam
Prodigy-K&N-Mobil 1

sreigle · 08-01-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

pep1977,
I am going to have the Carefree of Colorado rear window shade installed on my coach next spring. For the side windows I have chosen A&E awnings as they can match the patio awning color. PM me you want more information and prices I got to have them installed on my coach.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

Dave, I'd appreciate the info, too, if you would. I'm accumlating all the options I can. thanks.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Montana Sky · 08-01-2006, 09:12 PM

Steve,
Here are quotes I got from my dealership for the window awnings and rear sun shade

Rear window ~ 80" Carefree of Colorado Charcoal color w/ black castings
shade - $277
install - $130

Remember my back window is the old 3 window style, your new 3400RL will have 1 window. Cost of the shade will vary by your width of the window.

Side windows have two options. Both would be A&E awnings to match patio awning.

Option 1 is one(1) 132" awning that covers the table and sofa windows
shade - $340
install - $133

Option 2 is two(2) seperate awnings. One(1) over the kitchen table window & one(1) over the sofa window.
shades - $170(each) $340(both)
install - $195

I hope this does not confuse one. I know my dealership is not the cheapest place around, but the quality of workmanship they do is worth the money in my opinion. I bet you will be able to find the awnings cheaper down south during the winter months. Keep an eye on Camping World, they have been running some deals on awnings for the side windows lately.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

campbud · 08-02-2006, 07:50 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mobilrvn

We got a sunscreen for the whole set of rear windows from www.RVToyStore.com for less than $100. Took them about three weeks to make and send.

MoBillTuxRex&Princess
Fulltiming since '93
'04 3575; '06 2500HD Duramax/Allison

We also went with the same site.Total of $74.00 shipped to our home within 2 weeks. Very pleased with the sunscreen and was the cheapest we have found. We have it secured with velcro, we used white on the rv and you hardly even notice it.
Here is a picture of our sunscreen

2005 2955RL Montana
2002 Chevy 2500HD 8.1 Ext Cab 4x4
Bob and Kathy

MAMalody · 08-02-2006, 11:30 AM

I looked at their website and could only find MH screens. Do you have a link?

Mike

F350 7.3L LB
2003 3575RL

Montana Sky · 08-02-2006, 01:40 PM

Here is their link for window awnings,
http://www.rvtoystore.com/carefreewindow.html

The motorhome covers have the same principal for our side windows. You can install snaps around the window and attach the shade that way, or you can use velcro and install that way.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

MAMalody · 08-02-2006, 08:12 PM

Thank you.

Mike

F350 7.3L LB
2003 3575RL

Lije Baley · 08-03-2006, 07:56 PM

I am in the process of making shades for all our windows following Azstar's great directions. The SunTex solar screen material is amazing. Neat finished edges that don't "unravel". I ordered the frames online as the ones at Home Depot were flimsy. We'll get all the shades done for $130.
Mariana

Bill and Mariana McCamy
'05 F-250 Lariat 6L PSD
'05 2955RL
Woodland, CA

pep1977 · 08-10-2006, 04:02 PM

thank you everyone for the input. has been great, now one last question for everyone who has done the screen project. what is the preferred color. i am looking at either Black or Tan. what is the color that everyone uses. thanks

azstar · 08-11-2006, 06:53 AM

Black's going to attract the heat while the light color will reflect the heat.

Desert Nomads wear black robes in the cold Months to attract the heat and white in the summer to reflect it.

Happy Camping

Steve & Nina
03 Mountaineer TT 335RLBS
2000 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab LB V10 2WD Posi. Reese HP Dual Cam
Prodigy-K&N-Mobil 1

MAMalody · 08-11-2006, 06:53 PM

I couldn't find the Solar Tex at Home Depot. I will check Lowe's. I kind of like the shades, however, I am going to try black (the desert nomads wear the color of their tribe or people and many of them wear black or dark blue) and mount it with suction cups on the windows...if I can get the frame to cooperate. It should fully blend in with the window.

Mike

F350 7.3L LB
2003 3575RL

Rocky2 · 08-12-2006, 07:45 AM

Hi Everyone,
I am in the process of making sun shades for our Monty with 80% heat blocker shade fabric (black) from FarmTek and industrial velcro. Took me awhile to find the fabric without paying a fortune for it.

FarmTek was the cheapest at about $1.60 a foot (6 feet wide). I purchased 28 feet which is enough to do all the windows and some left for a drop down shade on the awning (after I figure out how to attach it to the awning). On the windows that crank open I will attach the velcro and screen directly to the window trim so it will crank out with the window - then I don't have to take it down to open the windows.

I don't think we will really need them in Oregon where we are headed for the winter but you never know.

Laura

Note: FarmTek has a website - just type in the name and search. That's how I ordered it.

Joe, Laura and our 3 dogs - 2004 Chevy Silverado diesel pulling a 2005 3400RL Montana
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming --- WOW --- what a ride!!!"

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