Reflectix Window Treatment

[dustywesty]

Doug, thanks for all the info, but where were you yesterday when I needed you?? Really though, that has made me second guess my decision with the magnets in favor of the suction cups, but I'm too heavily invested in those damn rare earth magnets. I did get in the car this morning and noticed that there actually wasn't a ton of light coming in, but there are a few spots I noticed that could probably take an additional magnet. Mine are spaced pretty far apart in an effort to save money on magnets but it sounds like it's not worth it to have the gap. Look forward to seeing pics of your setup and how you did the suction cups.

Alaskaberries, thanks for the tip on the impact of closing the curtains... that makes sense. Because we did the magnets, that actually creates at least an inch of space between the window and the reflectix and then the curtain would hang pretty snug up to the reflectix. For cutting, I measured the height and cut that out first and then slowly trimmed and checked fit with scissors which worked pretty well. After you cut one out, you have the template for the other side! Good luck with your project, look forward to seeing it done.
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'86 Westfalia Camper
Bay Area, CA

[Alaskaberrys]

[IdahoDoug]

So it seems like magnets are people's choices, but I would like to extol the virtues of the suction cups.

First, I noted in the pictures that the magnets leave a lot of sag and don't seem to seal well against light getting in. Which means there is air passing through the gap as well. With suction cups holding tightly onto window glass, I "tension" the covers and the edges pull tight against the rubber window seal. Easy to do, you simply pull the cover tight as you are putting the last end up.

I'm not sure you can pull hard against the magnets in order to ensure all 4 sides are tight in the same way. The suction cups are also attached to the window glass and the height of the rubber seal all the way around (vs the plane of the window glass - 1/4"?) means the reflectix is tightly pressed against the rubber seal for a tight seal. Since the magnets are sitting merely flush (not pressed against) the metal window openings, there is inevitably no sealing pressure. I think this is a key difference and I hope to show someone with the magnet set what a huge difference this makes. If I'm not explaining it fully, let me know.

This tight seal means it is trapping air behind it such that in winter we don't feel the cold air dropping along the walls you can feel inside a very cold vehicle with no window insulation. Sealing off the light also makes for a completely black interior even on a sunny day (or a 4am sunrise when' you'd kinda like to sleep till .

The light seal is also crucial if you are stealth camping and don't want to broadcast that the van is occupied to a random person walking down the sidewalk or to a security guard clear at the other end of the parking lot.

So, I will remember to take a few pictures of how tightly mine seal, and also a shot of it at night with interior lights on. I have 4 full sets of these suction window covers for our various vehicles, and the oldest is over 5 years old and still fully functional. The suggestion to put them under the mattress is a very good one. In our other vehicles, I roll them up and put a bungie cord around the roll. That's also how I store them together up in the attic of the garage for the off season.

Doug
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[dustywesty]

One question here... with the reflectix on the windows, should we not close the curtains over the top or will that not make any difference? We'll be blasting our propex in the snow and just want to make sure I'm not taking away from the job the shiny insulation is supposed to be doing by covering it up.

I went the reflectix route but it wasn't as cheap as I had hoped it would be. I bought two 48" x 10' rolls of reflectix ($42) and a bunch of rare earth magnets from Home Depot. I didn't go with the 24" roll of reflectix because I wanted a snug fit on the front window which I cut to 29" tall, and in the end there wasn't a ton left over. The rare earth magnets that I originally got from Harbor Freight were crap (some had suggested these in prior posts but they aren't strong at all) so I got more expensive ones from home depot but they work really well

http://www.homedepot.com/p/MASTER-MAGNETICS-1-2-in.../202526367

I cut little slots in the sides of the reflectix and inserted the magnets, closing it with clear 3M packaging tape. Whole project probably cost about $80 and took 2 hours.

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'86 Westfalia Camper
Bay Area, CA

[msinabottle]

I was scrolling down the thread, looking--"Oh, somebody else did the two Bass Pro Shop LED arrays! Assuan Brown, too... "



Yes, I was clueless.

The stuff does wear out, the one I keep in the rear window has the foil starting to come off the plastic, but the stuff is cheap enough, you can make more. I use aluminum tape for my borders and to hold the earth magnets in place. Harbor Freight sells those relatively cheap.

Worth the time and effort, for a fact--and if something DOES happen to one, it's not the end of the world. I plan on re-using the earth magnets, too, when the Reflectix is shot.

Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

[Syncronicity]

Here are a few pics of the shades from the inside and how the magnets are taped on. I used the 1/2"x1/4"x1/4" Apex magnets. I put 2 on each side edge and 2 to 3 on top and bottom, depending on length. 60 to 70 magnets, depending on how tight you want them to the window. https://www.apexmagnets.com/1-2-x-1-4-x-1-4-bars-blocks
Tape the magnets on very good, with some good tape or they will rip through the tape when removing. I tried a few types of tape and this tape is by far the best. I ran a piece straight over the magnets on to the reflectix, then a piece catty-corner on each side of the magnet.

_________________
Tom, Juanita, Iggy & Abbey the Dirty Desert Dogs
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
________oo_oo
/ /__/___[_____\
I I======[]IIIII[]
()_)------()_)----)_)

[Farfrumwork]

We made a set for the front windows (as I hated the stock front curtain hanging everywhere). Sunscreen in the front window, and reflectix on the driver and passenger windows - lots of privacy and none of the curtain clutter...

Found that the reflectix separated a bit after being cut (with scissors) which meant we were going to tape up the seams anyway, so I just set the magnets inside the refectix, held with a little adhesive then taped the seam with some non-printed HVAC tape.

Has been great so far!!

The 2 flat window sections store perfectly in the upper bunk space with the top closed. Just a few inches in, so they can be pulled out without popping the top if needed (to help keep cool when parked and whatnot)
_________________
sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s

"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind"

[shadetreetim]

I cut the reflectix with scissors, then taped the magnets on with the aluminum hvac tape. Been a few years now. A few magnets have come off, but it's easy enough to tape them back on.
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[michaelasnider]

[michaelasnider]

[dhaavers]

Borrowed from Gallery (not mine - it's Winston ):

"Keeps out the sun and keeps in the heat, rare earth magnets holding it in place on Winston, a 1.9 WBX Westy."

Looks like aluminum foil insulation tape to hold the magnets...easy on, easy off...


_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[michaelasnider]

[Syncroincity]

*Smacks forehead* Magnets... of course. I made a set these a number of years ago when the van got parked in the driveway for the engine swap. However I cut them to window size and used velcro tabs, which all eventually fell off. They do work well when in place... van was always cool inside.
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'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT

Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight=

[madspaniard]

Wow, those are sweet!
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[ragnarhairybreeks]

along the same lines, something I was working on

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/vanagon-insulated-window-blanket-prototype/

magnets, yes.

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[shadetreetim]

Those look good Tom. When I saw your Syncro in the pictures from Syncro Solstice I wondered if you had sourced any magnets yet.

[madspaniard]

I also hate suction cups. Plus I really don't want to take them off the reflective blankets when packing them and if I leave the suction cups in place in the blankets they take more space if you want to pack the blankets compact. The magnets don't give you that problem.
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[Racerrojo]

[IdahoDoug]

I got the clear suction cups at Home Despot. They work ideally. I've got covers I made 4 years ago for another vehicle and it has been in both desert conditions and also in very cold winter camping temps of night/day 5/18 ranges with nary a flop. My experience is with clean windows and clean suction cups it's fool proof.

Regarding the lineup of magnets to flip a flap rearward. I actually spaced my suction cups so that the window shade remains fully in place at full size, but BEHIND it we could open the sliders. So you retained full privacy but could get constant air exchange. I like your idea as well, just wanted to clarify thats how I did it. My girls would not want even a slit open, which I knew and it worked. All I did was mound the suction cups in the corners of the moving window part an extra inch away from the edge that would be open. Then you open the window a slit and the suction cups grab the window and you're done. The edge of the window shade was also available to grab and intentionally buckle if you wanted more air exchange.

I also put little paper labels on mine "driver's vent" "rear hatch", etc for quick install by flashlight. Ah man, I've gotta get out camping...

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Syncronicity]

We really dislike the suction cups. Too cold they wouldn't stick, too wet they wouldn't stick, too dry they wouldn't stick, got deformed while stored and wouldn't stick, left spit rings on all the windows. I have heard that some people have had great luck with them. Maybe I got a bad batch.
We made the covers for the sliders so that the magnets align to fold them back to open the slider.
_________________
Tom, Juanita, Iggy & Abbey the Dirty Desert Dogs
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
________oo_oo
/ /__/___[_____\
I I======[]IIIII[]
()_)------()_)----)_)