Coloured RVs

bgt · Guru

Coloured RVs

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I painted the roof gloss white . Then added extra solar . Was much cooler. Not sure if it was the white paint over grey ? Or the solar panels . Roof is rubber over ply . In this case its important to keep rubber cover in Top nick .

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Anything but white makes no logical sense for heat reflection or for visibility on the road and applies equally to the tug and the RV,
Yes, there are plenty of tests about if you need confirmation.
Cheers,
Peter

bgt · Guru

My comment/post was really about all the dark coloured caravans now on the road. Out first motor home was white. Our second one was all dark colours and was hot as hell. Our next motor home was white and was ok. Now we, again have a coloured motor home. Yes a slow learner. But there are other factors. But anyone can put their hand on the side of an rv and feel the difference. So why do manufacturers make coloured units? And is buying something that looks trendy more important than temperature control? FWIW we bought coloured motor home because the wait for a white one was an additional 4 moths!!

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Not for deflection . Colour makes a big difference when it comes heat induction . I have a black

car , two silver and one brown-sh colour . The black car is much hotter when

out in the sun . phones will melt if left on seat or dash in

hot conditions . Not an

issue on other cars.

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Saturday 21st of March 2020 08:15:10 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

A few years ago we were in Germany with relatives. I could not believe how hot their black car got. I thought at the time wouldn't want that in Australia.

White.... & if it has dark artwork on the side peel it off.

erad · Guru

Not an RV, but the principle still applies... At Guthega Power Station in the Snowy Mountains, the pipelines were originally painted navy Grey. They are about 3 m diameter. At times, they have to drain the pipelines for maintenance. In the early days, the Coal Tar Enamel which was used to coat the inside of the pipelines used to melt due to the solar input on a sunny day. As a result, they repainted the pipelines white, and recorded a 10 Deg C drop in internal temperature. The Coal Tar Enamel didn't melt after that. Ever since then, all the pipelines in the Snowy were painted white.

With my cars, I will take any colour you like, as long as it is white. White cars are cooler, and apart from foggy conditions, are far more visible in half light conditions. Dark coloured cars (and silver as well) blend in with the road surface . My philosophy is " I am here - don't hit me! The same principles would apply to RVs as well.

-- Edited by erad on Saturday 21st of March 2020 09:46:44 PM

Wizardofoz · Guru

Funny (not) that you say that ERAD, a week ago I was pulling out of my street at a T intersection and looked both ways, nothing coming so I pulled out turning right, was half way around the corner and got the shock of my life, a horn blasted out from behind me and I hit the anchors and swerved back onto the wrong side of the road (luckily there was nothing coming) and a small BLACK car pulled up almost beside me on the inside.

he let me get back on track and in front of him again but he must of thought that I was a complete idiotic d#ckhead ...truth is, I disn't see the car at all, even though I did check, admittedly, the sun glare didn't help but on numerous occasions now I have found very dark coloured cars quite difficult to see particularly in certain conditions.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The current fashion for dark grey caravans is quite bizarre.
Cheers,
Peter

erad · Guru

This is drifting off topic a bit, but what really scares me these days is the number of cars/4WDs on the road which are black, dark grey or other dark colour. The possibility of a head-on crash on a highway is very real, because someone will pull out to overtake, thinking that the road is clear but there is a dark coloured vehicle somewhere in the near future. No-one in their right mind deliberately has a head-on, but it does happen. I wonder how many have been dark colours. We live in an area which is heavily trafficked by skiers in winter and fishermen and others in Summer. When I hit the highway, I always have my headlights on - even the latest Daytime Running Lights are not really enough, especially on black or dark grey vehicles to adequately see them. Mind you, modern high powered headlights are not that visible either because they don't splat light everywhere. There is nothing like a whopping big splat of white caravan front to be sen readily.

Jaahn · Guru

bgt wrote:
Anyone done any comparisons between a white rv and the new coloured ones in the heat? It's only logical that the new dark colours will be hotter. But hot enough to go back to a white rv?

Hi smile

I just rediscovered my infrared temperature meter so I thought I would take some readings on my morning walk. Sorry no vans or campers in my street, only cars and 4WDs.

Conditions; 9.30-10am today, temperature about mid 20s sunny but not too strong.

White cars about 30-35, silver more spread, 30-40, most colours 35-45, black or dark 50-57.

So there you go the dark colours make a large difference even on a mild autumn day in the morning. So be sensible and resist the temptation of a 'sexy' looking dark van. hmm 55 today is probably 75+ in summer sun.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 6th of April 2020 10:40:39 AM