MCD Window Shades

[Weewun]

Went to a small LaMesa show in Fort Myers today and while they didn't have anything that we thought better than ours, the DW did see the Day/Night Window shades by MCD.

Needless to say she wants them  (so do I).  While I am not concerned about installing the MCD's on the windows that have the older Day/Night shades, I am concerned about installing such shades on the Windshield and the front side windows that currently do not have shades and are serviced by the pull drapes.

Any suggestions as to whether this is a job that a reasonably competent DYI'r can do or am I better off letting a professional perform the installations??????

If I decide to go with a Professional do any of you know of a good Professional in the Naples, FL area?????

 

[Ken & Sheila]

If your curtain covered the side windows, then you can mount the MCDs to the same surface.
The windshield can be tough depending on your setup. Do you have a place where you can go completely across the front in a straight line where you also have a face surface above for mounting? If so you can probably use a one piece windshield shade, but you will probably have to make moldings for the pillars to guide the shade and make it totally cover the front. This made better be left to a pro.

I converted most of our coach to MCD, but the windshield was done at the factory (its actually a United Shade (dicor) knockoff of MCD)

btw, United Shades are also a quality product.

ken

 

[Marsha/CA]

Ken, do the MCD shades attach to the valence around the window or directly to the wall? 

Tim wants to build wooden valences; replacing our fabric covered ones, so I was wondering how the MCD shades attached.

Marsha~

 

[david73997]

If I decide to go with a Professional do any of you know of a good Professional in the Naples, FL area?

The best place to go in the FL is Lazydays RV just east of Tampa. They are large enough to be able to afford to send their service techs to training courses such as installing these MCD blinds. When I was in Tueson, AZ last winter, Lazydays in Tueson told me that they have service techs in both of their facilities that knows how to install them professionally.

There is a trick to getting the remotes to work right and the wires has to be hooked up probably as well as I had mine installed by the company that builds them in McKinney, Tex.

David
2005, 43` Newmar / Dutchstar

 

[RedT]

Walt asked:  Any suggestions as to whether this is a job that a reasonably competent DYI'r can do or am I better off letting a professional perform the installations?

Yes, a reasonably competent DYI'er can do it - I did our '04 Meridian and am happy with the results. But, in order to use one shade for the entire windshield, I had to remove the old CRT-type TV and mounting structure (remove the bulge). This required rebuilding the "ceiling" of the windshield area. After that was done, the local installers quoted me 5-hours labor for the windshield shade installation - the conservative in me said that @ $115 per hour labor cost, I could do it myself!   

Then I had to convince MCD that I had the ability to do the installation. (Their authorized installers are required to attend a one-week course at the factory.) Because I have outside awnings for the windows, I used only the night shades in the cabin, and day/night shades in the cockpit area. The windshield shade is electrically controlled. I used the existing switches and wiring that was already installed for the small sun visors.

Would I do it myself again?  Yep, I know exactly what was done, saved at least $575 to spend on fuel and camping, plus I experienced the satisfaction of doing it myself! 

MCD has quite a bit of information about their products at: http://www.mcdinnovations.com/

 

[Ken & Sheila]

Ken, do the MCD shades attach to the valence around the window or directly to the wall? 

Tim wants to build wooden valences; replacing our fabric covered ones, so I was wondering how the MCD shades attached.

Marsha~

Marsha,

The MCDs attach to the surface above. I have wood valences, but the actual attachment was to the bottom of the cabinet above the window. I left the Valences in place, but that meant very tight working quarters - then reattaching the valences with the shades in place would have been just as bad. Once I had the first one in, the rest were fairly easy. Actually took me longer to get the first Day/night out. In every other coach I've owned they were attached by clips of some kind, but not this coach. I actually had to research on United Shade's site to find that one install option is to just screw direct through the head rail into the cabinet above. You can't see this because of the pleated shade. Once I knew this was an option I was able to find the screws by feeling them. 

You will love the shades.

ken

 

[maverickbbd]

Yes you can do it yourself.  If you have a 12 volt source such as current driving shades you can tie in there.  We had our done at the factory and the custom manufacture, fit and install made it worthwhile.  They were a bit less installed then other quotes.

 

[Weewun]

Thks for your input.  I am going to call MCD tomorrow and chat with them.  Want to find difference betwee their new "Gold" series and get some input from them about the Windshield and windows with out valences.

My neighbor has the MCD shades factory installed on his 2013 Winnebago and looking at his convinces me that I can do it myself.  His molding around his Winshield has been formed such that the edges of the shade follow the molding when being raised and lowered and are always out of view from within the MH.  Looks like I may have to fabricate a molding to attach to the existing Windshield Molding to guide the shades.  If this is so then I will probably wait till I go home in the Spring and have access to my tools.

Shall let you know what MCD says.

 

[yolo]

You got wheels on the MH... Then drive to McKinney Texas factory and have MCD do the installation.  I had them do mine on our old coach and they did great work.  Our new coach came with MCD shades already installed and they are great!

 

[Weewun]

After looking at all the MCD info on the Web, I am convinced that I can do it myself.  My only concern is the Windshield and after looking at my neighbors Windshield MCD I am not as concerned as I was.

They have actually reformed the plastic covers going from the Dash up to the top of the Winshield so that the edges act as a guide for the Shades and hide the edges of the shades.  I may have to come up with some sort of molding to attach to the present cover.

Have decided to go up to Tampa (we are in Naples) next week as MCD will have a booth and we will be able to touch and feel the product, see the difference between MCD's new Gold series and the original product, and look at various MH's and their installation methods.

As for driving to MCD's factory in Texas that will add at least $1,000 or more to the price.  The only two Dealers they have  in the area are Lazy Days and Alliance.  While I have bought my last 3 RVs from Lazy Days, I learned my lesson not to trust anything to their Service Dept.  Alliance was expensive when it was a Monaco Service Center and they are worse now.  I would drive to Texas before going to either of those.

Shall let you knowhow our visit to the Tampa RV show goes.