Cracking the windows in the summer, which lasts six months in Arizona.

[Xist]

The one bonus of sun shades is that if the stars are aligned, specifically, if Sol is aligned with your sunshade, when you go to remove it, you get blinded!

I doubt that would happen with it on the outside...

[Fat Charlie]

Order of operations:
1. Install sunglasses.
2. Uninstall sunshade.

[Frank Lee]

...we roll up the windows and crank the A/c, let the car continuously run until were done and park it again.

WTH?

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

WTH?

They are inside of the car, cleaning it, right?

It is just not going anywhere...

[Saturn1994]

I removed my side view mirrors to streamline. That left a hole where the fittings used to be. So then I created a aerodynamic scoop / vent to replace the fitting and bring in fresh air during the summer. The vent can be sealed for winter.

I discovered that having the vent resulted in a much cooler car when I parked in the sun (I monitor the inside temperature with a digital thermometer). The vent lets air in / out, but keeps rain out. However, I found that if the windshield was facing into the sun, the air would still be much hotter than the outside (it could reach 135 degrees).

Because the vent is about 2 feet lower than the roof of the car and located in the front of the cabin, heat inevitably gets trapped. So, the next solution was to place solar cells on the dashboard to power small circulation and exhaust fans. That still doesn't bring the inside temperature to the outside temperature, but it does keep it cooler.

Since it is now fall, I already run with one vent closed due to cooler weather, I haven't yet tried putting a reflective sun screen on the windows.But I am fairly certain that would also reduce peak cabin temperatures.

[wyatt]

Originally Posted by Saturn1994

I removed my side view mirrors to streamline. That left a hole where the fittings used to be. So then I created a aerodynamic scoop / vent to replace the fitting and bring in fresh air during the summer. The vent can be sealed for winter.

I discovered that having the vent resulted in a much cooler car when I parked in the sun (I monitor the inside temperature with a digital thermometer). The vent lets air in / out, but keeps rain out. However, I found that if the windshield was facing into the sun, the air would still be much hotter than the outside (it could reach 135 degrees).

Because the vent is about 2 feet lower than the roof of the car and located in the front of the cabin, heat inevitably gets trapped. So, the next solution was to place solar cells on the dashboard to power small circulation and exhaust fans. That still doesn't bring the inside temperature to the outside temperature, but it does keep it cooler.

Since it is now fall, I already run with one vent closed due to cooler weather, I haven't yet tried putting a reflective sun screen on the windows.But I am fairly certain that would also reduce peak cabin temperatures.

Great idea! Do you have pictures of the design/install? Thanks.

[BamZipPow]

There are a few exterior sun shade products out there that you can cover yer top with...

Car Covers, Car Sun Shades - California PopTop (white Tyvek)
Cool Cap Heat Blocking Car Covers by Reflectionite (aluminized cover)

I ended up building my own cab cover fer my T-100 using dual layers of Tyvek CommercialWrap (Tyvek HomeWrap broke down after about 6 months) and a customized fastening/storage solution. I had to install access doors on my aero cap so I could deploy and store the cab cover easily. It only takes about 30 seconds to fully deploy and secure the cab cover using only 1 hand which is handy if you have something in your other hand that you can't put down.

Even though I have vent visors, I still keep the windows vented with the cab cover deployed. The interior of the cab won't usually reach ambient temps until about 2-3pm. Before doing this, the interior would be scorching within a few hours in the Texas sun.



First version with my hand made Texas flag...

[wyatt]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Where did you get that cargo carrier? Just the carrier, not the trailer. Who is the manufacturer? How big is it (cubic feet)? Dimensions would be great, if you wouldn't mind. It looks like something that a lot of ecomodders should be pulling around! Thank you.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by wyatt

Where did you get that cargo carrier? Just the carrier, not the trailer. Who is the manufacturer? How big is it (cubic feet)? Dimensions would be great, if you wouldn't mind. It looks like something that a lot of ecomodders should be pulling around! Thank you.

To keep this thread on track...I quoted you and posted my response in my thread.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post393253

[Saturn1994]

The vent consists of insulating foam board cut to fit the hole left by removal of the mirror. A 1.25 inch hold was drilled in the board and a 1.25 inch PVC pipe elbow inserted in the hole. Duct tape holds the assemby together. The assembly is attached to the mirror bracket. The small black dot on the vent is a thermal sensor for comparing inside to outside air. The pipe inlet is covered with steel mesh for cutting wind noise and screening out bugs. Even in heavy rain I am not getting water coming in the car.

The outside mirror is replaced with a convex mirror on the inside. It provides much better blind-spot coverage than the original mirror. I also does not blind me at night when cars pass as did the OEM mirror.

Not visible is the solar panel fits on the dashboard and powers the 5 volt fans that attach to the mirror bracket.