To kill two, or three birds with one stone

[Ride-Fly]

I’m thinking of repainting my Westy camper (1st proverbial bird). I’d be repainting it the stock color Dove Blue in order to keep costs down (interior paint is in good shape).

When I drop off the westy to the painter, I was thinking of quickly cutting out the windows so they can paint the window jams, and then I’d replace the seals when reinstalling the windows (2nd bird).

Then the question is should I tint them while they’re out (3rd bird) or keep them original?

I guess the only “controversial” point is the tinting. I know some folks (like my wife!) think tinted windows is 80s pimpin. I thought the westy would look great with blacked out rear windows. What do you guys think?

TIA!

[kaalualu]

Tint is practical pimpin'.
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'84 Transporter 16" CLK's/LED's/ AT's/Mansi injectors
'86 Wolfey Weekender Westfalia AT's/otherwise stock
Sold-'82 TinTop Diesel

[E1]

A good friend full-times in his Westy in LA, so tinted his for security.

I personally think tinting darkens things just enough to be a safety issue in worst-case maneuvers needing quick glances, especially at night.

It does keep the bus cooler though, so in the end it depends on what you want and where you live in terms of security and keeping the hot sun out.

I do think it looks cool on the right van, but for me there's few things about van ownership as cool as morning sun pouring in at dawn. Tinting compromises that for me.

We have tinting on our Jetta and it does scratch if not keeping your windows spotless. I'll blade it off at some point.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

[RichBenn]

Oh yeah, tint! There are many different levels, though, so pick a legal one that is not too dark. They reduce the amount of heat absorbsion dramatically. Black out is not what you're looking for; heat reduction with visibility is.

Any place that does these offer a range of products and can advise one.
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Rich

[IdahoDoug]

We talked about tinting and decided we love the crystal clear outward vision of the van, which we primarily use for scenic destinations. It's worth noting that one habit I have before a trip of any size is to clean the windows inside and out with foaming window cleaner with ammonia. Even if I don't have time to wash the car, I'll do this before leaving.

Having to look through a tinted film changes things enough we opted not to.

I think I would consider it if I/we daily drove it, sat in traffic in it, etc.

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

[jimf909]

Tinting is personal. I hate tinted (beyond oem window tinting) windows. I own a van to get outside. I like seeing the world outdoors. I don’t want to darken the interior of my van. When I installed a fantastic vent in my high top I special ordered a clear vent and discarded the smoke tinted vent. I really dislike the tinted windows in my high top. I’d prefer to clearly see the blue sky above.

But we’re not discussing my van. We’re discussing the van that you’ll be driving with your wife. Listen to her. She’s right in this case. Does a Jaguar E type look better with tinted windows? A BMW 635? Of course not. And neither does a Vanagon.
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- Jim

[kamzcab86]

I live in Phoenix. Practically every car here is tinted... daily-driving ones that is. In fact, dealers now automatically tint when the cars roll off the delivery truck, unless you specify not to. My black Jetta was never tinted; my new-ish white GTI is tinted. I'm kicking myself that I never had the Jetta tinted in the 17 years I owned it. Tint is nice in desert climates.

My van was tinted long, long ago and in California, which means the front door windows are clear. The original tint is wearing out. Some day, it'll get re-tinted with modern quality and will include the front windows.

Keep in mind that there are varying degrees of darkness. I don't care for limo tint, but I don't like the lightest ones either.

As already said, it's a personal choice.
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1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[Vanagon Nut]

My first Westy c/w tinted windows. (windows behind front seats). So, thats all I knew. My second Westy has no tint on windows. As it turns out, from a camping perspective, I like tinting; on sunny mornings, it provides more "shade" so to speak and makes it a little more private inside. Especially if you're a late riser at campouts. I guess its what I'm used to but I like it. On my second Westy, I'd consider only tinting the side windows behind the front seats. Tint in the rear makes backing up a little harder at night or on dark rainy days. Where I live it rains a fair amount.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Abscate]

Deserts are God’s way of saying “ dont live here”

The Northeast is Her way of saying “ dont live here without a shovel”
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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[Steve M.]

You need to go to a professional window tint shop to see everything they offer and get reviews of the newest tech ceramic tinting, but you need to see it in it's different levels of darkness/lightness clarity to make a decision.

http://thespokaneshop.com/spokane-window-tinting/different-types-window-tint-film
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[IoWesty]

Take a look

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=596856&highlight=

[heidi85ho]

Took a long time for me to make the jump to tinted windows. I liked the scenery through the clear glass. But after sweltering in the heat for so many years, i visited a good Tint shop, underline good. They do Marine, Auto, and Architectual tinting. There are many grades and price ranges to pick from. They introduced me to Ceramic Tints, particularly the LLumar brand. Made an amazing difference in lowering the inside heat.
And it really does not interfere with the view. To get a good job, i removed all the weather stripping from the front windows, removed the wing windows, and removed the sliders. So if you are pulling those anyway, tint them while out.
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85 westy-1.9-standard trans, FAS GenV 2.0

[WestyWanter]

I would do it while they're out, it can be difficult to do a good tint job while windows are in especially the slider windows and the driver side furthest rear window because of the closet. I did 5% in rear and 20% I think, when standing away looking at the van the rear tint gives the illusion the front is much darker. When I first had the tint done and I first saw it I thought oh thats way to dark, but within a week I got used to it and grew to love it. Temperature is huge, and security were my reasons. I frequently leave surfboards and sometimes my bike when I'm parked somewhere and I don't want to leave it on the rack.

[dobryan]

Definitely go with windows out and new gaskets if you have the money. You will not regret it, especially since there is often rust under the original gaskets that is not showing outside. You want to get rid of that rust..... as well as new seals.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Ahwahnee]

I used 3M™ Automotive Window Film Crystalline: https://tinyurl.com/y7freh7w

Excellent heat reduction results, looks darker from the outside but little difference from the inside.

I suspect a lot of the comments that the Vanagon AC isn't up to the job is because people are still driving in a clear-glass greenhouse.

[vanagonjr]

[PDXWesty]

[dobryan]

[Ride-Fly]

Great info and opinions bubbas!!! The opinions on tinting are pretty polarized. I like the look, and the cooling effects. I also want it for privacy since I often put my bikes inside.

Speaking of bikes, I need to get a hitch mount too and saw the recently resurrected post on the GW mounts. I was thing of going to U-Haul or a 4x4 specialty shop to get that done.

[djkeev]