Declaring war on Interstate summer heat gain

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

Tonight, we dip below 100° at 11pm and by midnight, we will be down to 96°

Throw another blanket on the bed!

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

We experienced a 'cold pocket' briefly where the temp fell to around 93 yesterday afternoon. After what we had just been through these past several days, people were tweeting, "Wow, it's nice outside."

Thus proving Einstein's theory of Relativity on a weather-related basis.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

Tonight, we dip below 100° at 11pm and by midnight, we will be down to 96°

I'll swear when they first started posting the "Feels Like" temperatures down here, our humidity added 5-7 degrees max to the actual reading. Now, our local weathermen are saying things like "High tomorrow 95, with a fell like temperature of 112".

I don't understand how or when this change took place. Sure, I feel the heat more as I've gotten older, but I've felt the dry 112 degrees of Vegas and it's like an oven. Of course, we have a long history of hysterical weathermen on our local stations, trying to "out do" each other.

[tugboatannie]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

Took a day trip to Goose Island today with our grand daughter. Lantana Loop sites are now open. The mosquitoes weren't bad (at least today) but I saw what you mean about the camp sites being "in the woods". Some sites are cleared between the spots and for 20-30 feet behind, but others are literally tucked into the brush with just enough room for a picnic table. I can understand these (especially) would be a mosquito hell much of the year. Really don't understand it.

The beach sites are still closed to overnight camping, but not closed to day visitors. The park ranger said they are working to have structures and power restored in about 4-6 months. Their time-table looks doable.

Yours and AlexAVI's fridges are really working great. Chilled our's down the night before the trip and kept about 42 degrees all day driving with temps in the mid 90's. We accessed it about half a dozen times and it was only lightly stocked, but still, would have liked the temp to have gotten a few degrees cooler.

The cab a/c kept the rear comfortable, if not cold, for our grand daughter. Of course, the Avenue is smaller and shorter than the AI's so less volume of air to cool.

My wife also road in the rear with her part of the time and said it was just a bit "stuffy" a couple of times but never felt hot (I sometimes forgot to turn the blower on high when she'd move to the back). I could have turned on a fan to move air to the rear, but she never asked for it.

I had the rear window reflectix coverings off so my grand daughter could see out. When we travel, we cover them and I think it would have made a positive contribution. But today's trip was about sightseeing, and we had a good time.

I had heard somewhere else that the reflectix window coverings are not a good idea for keeping heat out, because they will damage (shatter?) the glass window. We have some for our AI, because on our April road trip this year, we saw below freezing temps until we got south of Fayetteville, AR. Would love to be able to use the reflectix to keep the heat out. Does anyone have any input on this?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by tugboatannie

I had heard somewhere else that the reflectix window coverings are not a good idea for keeping heat out, because they will damage (shatter?) the glass window. We have some for our AI, because on our April road trip this year, we saw below freezing temps until we got south of Fayetteville, AR. Would love to be able to use the reflectix to keep the heat out. Does anyone have any input on this?

I use Relfectix on my Interstate's windows all the time, both while camping and while the van is stored. No problems with the glass getting too hot and cracking or shattering (yet, let's not jinx it), even when the Interstate is parked in direct summer sun along the Gulf Coast.


May or may not be pertinent, but I removed the Airstream OEM window blinds completely, and only use Reflectix. The reflectix provides more privacy than the translucent blinds. But the lack of blinds also means that there's not a space between windows and blinds that can trap heat.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by tugboatannie

I had heard somewhere else that the reflectix window coverings are not a good idea for keeping heat out, because they will damage (shatter?) the glass window. We have some for our AI, because on our April road trip this year, we saw below freezing temps until we got south of Fayetteville, AR. Would love to be able to use the reflectix to keep the heat out. Does anyone have any input on this?

Source would be appreciated. Yes, there are anecdotal reports along these lines, but I've never seen proof. I'm not saying it can't happen.

I'm in the process of upgrading all my Reflectix with DIY heavier-duty Insul-bright cored shades (blog post here). Here's a pic of an original Reflectix along side the adjacent window's rolled-up replacement.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

I don't understand how or when this change took place. Sure, I feel the heat more as I've gotten older, but I've felt the dry 112 degrees of Vegas and it's like an oven. Of course, we have a long history of hysterical weathermen on our local stations, trying to "out do" each other.

ROWIEBOWIE - I grew up in Chicago and for as long as I remember, wind chill factor has always been a part of winter forecasts. Even kids knew it's effects. But just like you, I do not remember when "real feel temps" have been included in summer forecasts. Today, we hit 113°F with "real feel" of 119°F.

Of course since it was too hot to work inside the AI, what did I decide to do? I did all the landscape maintenance & trimming that I have been neglecting because of all the AI trips we have done this last couple months I woke up early, started at 530am and just finished at 530pm When it's over 110°F, it don't matter much what the real feel is. It just freakin' hot. I consumed a gallon of fruit juice, not counting all the ice mixed in with each glass

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

Source would be appreciated. Yes, there are anecdotal reports along these lines, but I've never seen proof. I'm not saying it can't happen.

I'm in the process of upgrading all my Reflectix with DIY heavier-duty Insul-bright cored shades...

You left non-reflective side towards the outside?





So you have fabric (brown) towards the outside + Reflectix + Insul Bright Fabric + Metallic fabric covering that faces the inside of the AI

Why not use the metallic fabric also towards the outside?

.

[InterBlog]

Yes because the black is stealth mode, which I need often. Silver is to coordinate with the aluminum walls. If I'm THAT hot, I'll put on my external reflector as well (the one that sticks on the side with neodymiums) No need to reflect from the inside.

[wachuko]

I have not been able to order medium sized magnets... I ordered two sizes and got a double order of the small 8 mm one...then I ordered another larger size and got sent 1-1/4” magnets... starting a collection of magnets... trying to buy something in between but can’t find it in Neodymium.

Then the blankets ordered are like paper thin...no way to sew those with magnets inside. Oh, and what fun it is sewing anything with a Neodymium magnet inside...sucker would stick to the base plate of the sewing machine!!! I just did not have the patience to continue and placed this project on hold. I need the correct size magnet and that metallic cloth you used...then I will try to make those outside shields.

For the inside I will start with reflectix for now...

[wachuko]

Well... found them on eBay... 1/2" x 1/8" and 3/4" x 1/8"... order placed. Will stop by Joan's and Home Depot Saturday...

[Lineolated]

Home Depot also stocks .7 inch neomagnets, 3 per pack.

To install mine, I sewed a large pocket (approx 3 inches L and W).
Sewing is MUCH easier, and the magnets will “float” to where you want them in use.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by wachuko

.... Oh, and what fun it is sewing anything with a Neodymium magnet inside...sucker would stick to the base plate of the sewing machine!!! I just did not have the patience to continue and placed this project on hold. I need the correct size magnet and that metallic cloth you used...then I will try to make those outside shields.

For the inside I will start with reflectix for now...

I got a great chuckle out of this. YES, welcome to MY world!! Neodyms are the ultimate P.I.T.A. I can't live with them, can't live without them.

Re: the other poster, I did not want to make big pockets because I use the neodyms to help hold the massive side shroud together for storage, like is shown in the pic below. I don't want them swimming in pockets - I really want them to act as point sources of magnetic force.

That pic also illustrates the first principle of neodym crafting: do NOT proceed with any project until you have the EXACT size of magnet called for. If you try to substitute, you will probably create more problems than you solve.

For the side shroud, I hand-sewed each neodym into place. This eliminated the sewing machine footer and base plate issues. Of course they still attracted the sewing needle, but that was much easier to deal with.

These are the neodyms all neatly bunched together after shroud folding. If this isn't done, the shroud will degenerate into a tangled mess.

#vansizedsewing

[LB_3]

Stay away from fleebay for magnets.

https://www.kjmagnetics.com

[bugsbunny]

Interblog, Do you think Reflectix shades like you sewed would fit on top of the fresh water tank if laid flat? I can't remember if you store anything there.

Thanks,
Katy

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

Yes because the black is stealth mode, which I need often. Silver is to coordinate with the aluminum walls. If I'm THAT hot, I'll put on my external reflector as well (the one that sticks on the side with neodymiums) No need to reflect from the inside.

I always get a chuckle when people think they can make these vans "stealth".

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by bugsbunny

Interblog, Do you think Reflectix shades like you sewed would fit on top of the fresh water tank if laid flat? I can't remember if you store anything there.

Thanks,
Katy

Yes I think so. IRRC, I stored our original Reflectix versions there until I decided to decorate the van with rolled-up burrito versions of them. I wanted them stored right next to the windows they were intended to fit. Plus I put other stuff on top of the fresh water tank now.

[InterBlog]

New heat-related annoyance (in the first-world problems category):

My daily driver POS Sienna has a center console with a junk well in the middle.
It has a spring-loaded lid that pops open when I push the silver button beside it.

Well, it's getting so hot these days that the plastic is softening and expanding enough to release the lid without human intervention. I'll come out to a parking lot and find it standing wide open. Which might not be a big deal except that is where Sienna owners tend to store valuables - out of sight until it goes "Ta-da! Here I am! Punch out my window and steal me!"

I will need to keep my hard hat on top of it until October, to keep it closed.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

I always get a chuckle when people think they can make these vans "stealth".

It's all about degrees. I propose we use the terms stealthy, stealthier, and stealthiest (full Ninja mode).

I can envision someone saying of the first term, "Hey, see that Van over there?". Of the second term, "What kind of van is that over there?". And of the the last term, "What Van?".

[RC-AV8R]

Installed CR70 on the lower 80% of the windshield and CR5 on the top 20%. CR40 on the front side windows. What an immediate difference, even up here in the Northeast! For you southern folks, front window tinting in NH is illegal without a medical waiver, which I am fortunate enough to have.

Does any state recognize the difference between 3M crystalline and 'normal' window tinting?

Other side benefits are I can dispense with the self-made head unit shade, and even more surprising is the rear-view camera (in place of the rear view mirror) actually functions both ways now - with less glare bouncing around the cab I can either focus on the rear view reflection or the actual rear video feed .