iv read that there are a lot of us who experience hot air blowing from the rear ac vents on start up. This I think is the fact that heat from the roof gets absorbed by the vents and then transferred to the air being pumped out of the ac.... I guess the cure would be to insulate the roof, either from the inside or the outside. Outside would be easier but is there a film we can put there to insulate the roof from absorbing the heat????
Heat resistant films for our roofs to minimize heat.
- Thread starter slicky rick
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that seems like an awful lot of work for something that lasts about 15 seconds? Not sure you can expect an A/C to immediately pump cold air. Good luck in your search.
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- #3
Where I am it lasts more than 15 seconds... I insulated my van that has vents all over the roof. It helped a lot! If I can't find a surface film I would do the same I did for my van, insulate from the inside which meant removing the ceiling....
FWIW I know the 80 and some 100 guys have wrapped their roof in white. I am not sure what kind of material though.
Maybe @cruiserdan will venture out of the Solid Axle forums and drop some knowledge about this (his roof is wrapped white I think).
Maybe @cruiserdan will venture out of the Solid Axle forums and drop some knowledge about this (his roof is wrapped white I think).
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- #5
That's one of my problems, my lc is black! Don't know how it's going to look with a white roof... Maybe I'll make a one off like a checkered roof like the minis....
There's an insulating white paint product that seems to be the go to in the RV market known as Bus Kote. Surface temps are supposedly reduced dramatically in the sun.
https://www.amazon.com/Hy-Tech-Thermal-Solutions-2150-Kote/dp/B01BYGO88I
https://www.amazon.com/Hy-Tech-Thermal-Solutions-2150-Kote/dp/B01BYGO88I
@slicky rick Well if the rig is liftd and has a roof rack, it isnt that noticable
Painted actually. 058 white.
Painting or wrapping it in white would help the most. Next option would be to drop the entire headliner and use a thin foil faced polyisocyanurate insulation, put the foil up against the roof. This will reflect a lot of the radiant heat. This is a common technique when building in hot climates, you put the foil right under the roof sheathing to reflect heat back out and saves on AC.
I've been looking at wrapping my roof as well for two reasons the heat element and also to protect the roof from the unloading and loading of the roof rack dings and scratches. I'm undecided on a color or the thickness of the wrap I'll need I have the Salsa Red Pearl.
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- #11
Well that's another benefit of the film, avoid scratches when using the roof rack... Thinking aloud, would ceramic window tint films work if placed on the roof? It would logically work but I don't think anyone has tried....
Some railroads use a product like this, for locomotive cab roofs:
Insulating roof paint for buses, recreational vehicles
I believe it can be applied with a brush if required.
Insulating roof paint for buses, recreational vehicles
I believe it can be applied with a brush if required.
gaijin
GOLD Star
Mine's also silver and I've been thinking the same thing - except I'd like to wrap the roof with white vinyl.
Also, bearing in mind the old "tropical" roofs on Land Rovers (you know, the "false" roof or double roof that provided built-in shade for the real roof), I'd bet there would be a significant reduction in heat if a full roof rack were painted white instead of the standard black.
Interesting topic, but living in one of the hottest spots in the USA, I can come up with several better ways to waste money on the rig, while easily dealing with the delayed turn on of rear, when button pushed, and the 10-20 seconds of hot air blowing before it gets to reasonable.
ymmv. Silver.
ymmv. Silver.
2 years ago I painted the aluminum roof of my camper with bright white Interlux boat paint to reduce the heat gain inside. Used my infrared thermometer and had these results in full sun on a day when ambient air temp was 77F. The bare aluminum surface was 138F, the white painted surface was 102F, and the surface of the dark brown car right next to the camper was 147F. Only the white painted surface was cool enough to hold my hand on comfortably. I do wonder about the ceramic window tint material that rejects UV and infrared, while still looking fairly clear.
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- #18
The only thing with the ceramic window tint film is it would be exposed to the elements. I don't know if it would last long in these conditions. Remember they are installed inside windows away from the outside elemenet.
Ya I would think that a few heat cycles and a hard rain and that adhesive would just not hold, you'd have corners peeling up. Maybe get in touch with the manufacturer? Or stop by a tint shop, get a sample and try it?
I think you’re better off using the ceramic tint on the glass, activating the window open feature on your fob, and/or get a remote car starter...
