Let the Sunshine…Out

I love the sun — so long as it stays outside of our fifth wheel. Strong sun rays that penetrate the windows (even though they are dual-pane) heat up the interior, make air-conditioners work harder and can damage wood over time. And when electronic devices are allowed to bake in the sun, they, too, can become damaged.

If your window coverings have a sunscreen provision, the sun can be managed, but those without a sunscreen have to pull down the shades to block the sun. However, this “solution” also restricts the view to the outside — and totally eliminates ambient light.

Fortunately, the sun usually does not shine through all the windows at the same time, depending on the direction the RV is facing. When we’re stationary for a while, the picture window adjacent to the dinette is covered with a Magne Shade (magneshade.com) custom mural, which blocks 90% of the heat and UV light but still allows good visibility to the outside. Other hot spots are covered with the pull-down shades, but again, I don’t like the inability to see outside.

One area where the sun is always an issue when the fifth wheel’s passenger side faces west is the structure housing the electronic controls, which is subjected to strong sun when the entry door is open. This area gets extremely hot, and I discovered another product from Magne Shade, called Nano Shades, that provides temporary protection and can be simply rolled up and stored when not needed.

The Nano Shade that’s used to protect the control panels is 20 x 28 inches and can be “stuck” in place using the company’s Nano Tape, which is applied to the fabric from the factory and is reusable. I just attach the shade to the edge of the hutch countertop, for example, and the material lays down in front of the instrumentation. When not needed, the shade is rolled up and placed in the plastic storage bag. Nano Tape has micro suction cups (not visible to the naked eye) that stick to smooth surfaces. Over time, the tape may lose some of its “stickiness” as it picks up dirt and surface film, but by simply wiping it down with a damp cloth and letting it dry it’s good to go again. The company offers 60-inch rolls of the Nano Tape for $10, which can be attached to the shade when a different hanging configuration is needed.

Nano Shades come in six stock sizes, from 20 x 20 inches to 40 x 45 inches, and the company will also cut custom sizes. Prices range from $25 to $55 for the stock sizes; Nano Shades larger than 20 x 20 inches come with an extra strip of Nano Tape and a radius gauge for those who want to cut the fabric to fit the shape and size of the window(s). The fabric is the same material that’s used in the manufacture of the company’s popular windshield covers for motorhomes, something Magne Shade is recognized for as the leader in this segment.

The portability afforded by the Nano Shades earns the company gold stars when it comes to managing intense sun. For example, I use a couple of 28 x 40-inch Nano Shades to cover windows that are subjected to strong sun to protect a computer and other devices — as well as the furniture. It may not be an exact fit, but it gets the job done. The ability to move the Nano Shades at will also provides excellent versatility when parked in new locations — because when I want to bask in the sun, I go outside.