Desert Rigs: Ideas to help keep cool. Share

[Vegasrandall]

I've gone with the low tech approach. 1) I have dark tinted windows on the rear window and the glass of both rear doors. Used to have the front windows tinted as well but the second fix-it ticket put an end to that. 2) I installed window valences or what ever they're called. These allow me to have the windows cracked to allow ventilation without rain coming in. 3) I put a salvage cover (heavy duty flame retardant tarp) on the truck rack that acts as a double roof over a portion of the cab's roof and creates a shade area in the bed.

The older land rovers had a double layer top with a air space.

[TFRI]

I used Henry's Solar Flex roof coating on the center portion of my Jeep's black hard top. What a difference!

Reflects over 85% of sun's heat and U.V.

http://henry.com/roofing/coolroofcoa...s/287solarflex

Do you have pics? I would like to see that. I have a '04 LJ with a black top and would like to do the same, but not sure how it is going to look.

[88Xj]

Great ideas fella's. I'm happy this thread is going in a positive direction! I've looked around at Lowes yesterday & found the ceramic heat reflective coating. I think I'm going to look more into one of those vents & thn coat the roof!
Ideas on that vent. Should I have it facing forward or backwards. Forward wouild force air into the cabin while driving....which could get annoying I'd imagine. But backwards it may not get enough air, or not make enough difference?


But so far it seems coat roof inside & out. Reinstall the sunshade type material. Tint windows & install a roof vent.

[mudbutt]

I like this:

http://www.lobucrod.com/index.html

[88Xj]

Nice addition bud! Thanks for posting!

[mudbutt]

I've been thinking about this for a while now. And it just so happens my headliner is out of the Jeep at the moment. So now would be the time.

Thank you for making a thread about this.

[Metcalf]

I vote alfresco.....



Oh wait.....I almost died last time I did that

I do think there is something to be said for a little bit of shade and open air flowing everywhere. One you acclimatize and are drinking enough fluids it's not too bad as long as you can keep the direct sun off your head. Some vehicles with lots of glass just tend to act like a huge greenhouse.....HHHHHHHOOOOOTTTTTT! Running the A/C adds some strain to the engine, especially when running in sand.

[grimbo]

Safari roof, which is the second roof with a gap as mentioned earlier, tinted windows, insulated headliner and floor, heat wrapped exhaust, insulated firewall, sun visor for windscreen, and the final one I saw for a oil exploration rig in outback south Australia was a fine water misting system that they used to keep the work box cool, bit much for a DD I guess but food for thought.

[88Xj]

Ya I think I will be saving up enough for 2 to 3 coats of monstaliner...probably 2 gallons worth. I also need to by the Henrys roof coating. & some type or sound deadener/insulator. I will probably strip my floors of there current bedliner, then lay down the instaltor, also doing the fire wall. Then 2 to thick coats of monstaliner to build it up, then a thinner coat to ge the correct texture!

[FellowTraveler]

The older land rovers had a double layer top with a air space.

Way cool tropical roof IMHO it is the best defense against the hot sun baking your head...................