front design for best temp control

[busshawg]

  I am to the point where I want to mount my TV. The problem is I am concerned about cooling/ heating the bus. I believe most of the losses are out the front by the door and driver's compartment. I was going to mount the TV right off the front centre of the bus, between the windshields. This way it could stay there and would make the bus feel larger. However I am am starting to believe a wall behind the driver with the TV mounted in it and then a curtain on slider from the centre walk way to the passenger side would help keep it cool or warm. Wouldn't help the driver's area , actaually would make it worse I suppose but most of the time the bus will be parked so this would make the living area more comfortable?? Then install another roof top right up by behind the curtain/wall area. Which way would you guys do this or have you done it and how does it work.  Thanks

[HighTechRedneck]

Last Summer when it got real hot, I put up a heavy curtain to block off the driver area from the rest and it helped a lot. So I would agree with that plan for your usage.

[bobofthenorth]

Yabbut .............

You're going to make an already small space feel even smaller.  The windows are a huge source of heat in the summer - probably a heat loss in the winter too but the best way to avoid that is with a compass.  We have found that white vinyl curtains applied directly to the inside of the front windows make a huge difference in the heat gain from the windows.  Even dropping the curtains can help a lot but the covering directly applied to the inside of the windows helps the most.  Those sunscreens that go on the outside would probably help even more.

[busshawg]

Thanks guys, that was exactly what I was concerned about Bob, don't really want to make it feel even smaller, although the the floor space won't really be used it will feel quite a bit smaller. Glad to hear the blinds make that much of a difference, think that'll be the way we go.

[Tenor]

We bought the heavyest "blackout"material from Jo-Ann fabrics we could find and put snaps in it and put snaps right over the windows.  It's white so it reflects heat well.  I haven't had a chance to see how much it helps for keeping heat in.  We do plan to use it as a backer for a quilt.  I KNOW that will help keep heat in!

Glenn

[JackConrad]

We had sunscreens made that attach to the outside of the windshield (as well as the door, driver's side window and D window) with snaps.  We really like them because the help prevent the glass from absorbing radiant heat (and transferring it to the inside).  They also allow us to see out, but no one can see in during the day, however at night, it is just the opposite, which is why we use pull down shades at night.  Jack 

[bigjohnkub]

As blu and I are still building house we have not started  rebuilding our PD4903 interior. We take it to the big bend area of Texas and to Ft worth for cookoff's in the summer. It gets hot from the Sun. We made some poor man sunscreens and tried them on the inside. Still made a lot of heat. Then we  put them on the outside. A world of difference. We can keep inside down to about 75 degrees with one roof top air. They were made of the 80%sunblock fabric sold at Lowe's. I put in tarp grommets to hook to to bus. They don"t look as attractive as they could, but when I get to the rebuild, I'll make them more so. They will work.You can look out, and at night , others can watch what you are doing!

[Jerry32]

I bought a white tarp that just covers the windshield area and works great to stop all that heat coming in. Jerry

[jmblake]

We got the sunscreens made for the outside like Jack talked about. We got them last year when we were at myrtle beach, the guy that made them couldn't do them until two days before we left, man what a difference wish we would have had them at the beginning of our trip. well worth the money. Jason