Desert Rigs: Ideas to help keep cool. Share
- Thread starter 88Xj
- Start date
Hiya
My camper roof was kinda shiny bare aluminium. It got so hot in the sun i needed a camping mat to keep me from burning myself on it.
I then painted the roof white (with a white rubberised masonary paint cos thats all I could find where I was at the time), suddenly the roof is cool to the touch and the interior is much cooler! Three years later its still in perfect condition!
I had thought silver would be a good colour, but not nearly as good as white!
Also, I think for the silver reflective stuff to work you need an air gap. I imagine thats why the material mentioned has bubbles too, or the heat would just conduct through?
My camper roof was kinda shiny bare aluminium. It got so hot in the sun i needed a camping mat to keep me from burning myself on it.
I then painted the roof white (with a white rubberised masonary paint cos thats all I could find where I was at the time), suddenly the roof is cool to the touch and the interior is much cooler! Three years later its still in perfect condition!
I had thought silver would be a good colour, but not nearly as good as white!
Also, I think for the silver reflective stuff to work you need an air gap. I imagine thats why the material mentioned has bubbles too, or the heat would just conduct through?
bftank
Explorer
excellant thread!
we had a thread on this in ck5, and one of the ideas that came up was an australian style roof rack. the floor of the roof rack is about 1-2" about the suv's roof, and is made of aluminum painted white on top and black underneath. the idea is kinda like a heat shield for your roof. plus the gap allow the hot air to be pushed out the back as you are going down the road.
we had a thread on this in ck5, and one of the ideas that came up was an australian style roof rack. the floor of the roof rack is about 1-2" about the suv's roof, and is made of aluminum painted white on top and black underneath. the idea is kinda like a heat shield for your roof. plus the gap allow the hot air to be pushed out the back as you are going down the road.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero: My jeep lives in the NorNv desert and the temps have gone up to 115°F (usually 95°F) and I've insulated the inside overhead surface of my '08 JKUR-
There are several overhead insul companys so that won't matter, but
By using Auto Thermal-Acoustic insulation (shinyside up) my jeep can op in the desert and The A/C only has to be cycled now and then--I don't like full A/C-
:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO
There are several overhead insul companys so that won't matter, but
By using Auto Thermal-Acoustic insulation (shinyside up) my jeep can op in the desert and The A/C only has to be cycled now and then--I don't like full A/C-
:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO
Vegasrandall
Banned
The older land rovers had a double layer top with a air space.
TFRI
Observer
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
Banned
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.
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
Explorer
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
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.
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
Explorer
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
Banned
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
Explorer
Way cool tropical roof IMHO it is the best defense against the hot sun baking your head...................:ylsmoke: