New Windows - Tint or No Tint??

[Don A]

Hi All!

We are ordering new windows for our 1978 17ft. Boler soon and I need to decide between light grey tint or clear glass. Every trailer you see on the road pretty much has tinted windows but I don't like looking out through tinted glass. What is your preference and what are the pros and cons. Do tinted windows provide that much of a difference when it comes to providng a shield from the sun.

Thanks for any info.

Don's Wife Lois

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Don A

Do tinted windows provide that much of a difference when it comes to providing a shield from the sun?

Here in the Southwest I wouldn't go without tinted windows.
My Fiber Stream has 5% Limo Dark film on all windows, and "Shade Screen" cloth in all the screen frames.

Window Glass closed


Window Glass Open; Screen Closed

If you are in a cloudy environment most of the time then I would understand not wanting tinted windows.

[Darnelle]

Even in Minnesota I like a bit of tint. Maybe you could do some of the windows with tint (the large ones front and back?) and the rest not?

[Donna D.]

Here in the Pacific NorthWET and lots of overcast, gray days, I prefer no tint. I camp mostly in the trees too. So, getting as much natural light is important to me. YMMV

[Greg H]

I'm thinking if you have the option, then go with the tint. Here in S.W. Tx we use shade cloth on the house windows to keep the sun out.

[Reid Larsen]

Donna has a good point about where you camp and what kind of weather is typical. Living in the north west and camping in mostly treed campsites I can't imagine wanting tinted glass. Let the sun shine in.

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by Reid Larsen

Donna has a good point about where you camp and what kind of weather is typical. Living in the north west and camping in mostly treed campsites I can't imagine wanting tinted glass. Let the sun shine in.

Ditto on that. Most times here in the South we don't even put up our awning because we're in so much shade.

[Leehman]

Originally Posted by Ray N

Ditto on that. Most times here in the South we don't even put up our awning because we're in so much shade.

Spend time camping in Florida and the Southwest. Love the window tinting.

Keeps the Casita cooler. Raise the blinds during the day, from the outside you can not see in.
Stayed at Walmart and enjoyed the security of the lights. I believe the tint helps keep some unwanted light out for better sleeping.
Hope this helps.

[Roger C H]

We have tinted glass on the RV and self installed silver film on the TV.

Tinted glass pros:
- It is nice in the sun for seeing as well as preventing fading of things inside.
- Tinted glass does afford some measure of privacy during the day, but we have day/night shades for that.
- Tinting film is not as clear for looking through as tinted glass.

Tinted glass cons:
- At night, when you hear a strange noise outside, and look through the window, you can't see a thing.

Discussion:
I think I would not have tint because:
- It is easy enough to purchase tinting film, black or silver, and install it yourself because the windows are flat. Curved (convex) windows are a bear!
- If you put on your own window tinting, you can put it on some windows or partially on the window, leaving a convienient section untinted for seeing out.
- Without tint, you can add it or not. If you have it, you have it and can't remove it. I think the silver would reflect more heat/light than dark glass.

If I think of anything else, I will add it if my editing privledges are still extant.

[Doug P.]

I would use either bronze or grey reflective glass, easy to see through from the inside and as long as its lighter outside then inside its hard to see in.

[ThomasE]

Do you guys really have glass windows? Or by "glass" you mean plexiglass? All my windows are plexiglass, and tinted. I believe that window tint film can only be applied to glass windows.

[Doug P.]

I have double pane grey reflective (privacy) glass windows in my trailer.
You won't find many plexiglass ones most of those are a product called
Lexan, its kind of like plexi except really hard to break.... but it scratches.

[CliveAlive]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Do you guys really have glass windows? Or by "glass" you mean plexiglass? All my windows are plexiglass, and tinted. I believe that window tint film can only be applied to glass windows.

Plexi in my Boler. And yes, film can be applied to them. The trick is to get it right the first time. I don't know that it can be removed like it can from glass, as in a car.