Anybody know of a cheap but nice looking way to add a little privacy to the rear vent windows, rear seat windows, and rear windscreen? I've been thinking about installing some cellular shades or conversion-van-style curtains. Miniblinds just seem like they'd be very noisy.

I might just do a limo tint, instead, especially on the rear hatch window, but the shades or curtains on the sides could be raised or lowered as needed for greater visibility.

I'd like to do this as a self-install, too.

01 Ex Limited 4x2

 

I would go with the limo tint personaly. That's wat I did on mine and it just looks good. Don't think the blind or curtains would look too good on the X. My .02.

 

here here. i third the limo tint. you dont have to go that dark because of the factory tint. i did 5% on my wifes trailblazer ext, and you cant see through it even if you put your face on the window. if i was to do this on my X, i would only go with 20%..

 

I'm more concerned about dimming light and reducing glare inside rather than reducing prying eyes from the outside. But then I don't want the kids to feel like they're inside a 3/4 ton hearse, either.

(Now that I've said that, though, curtains would give more of the funeral car look, wouldn't they?)

 

ummm, yeah. does that mean that you are going to do the tint thing??

 

Phase I of the tinting is done. (right side rears are tinted and left side is stock)
I am about $30 into the project and I now know why I am not a professional window tinting tech. Last time I had a car done professionally, I paid $250 for my old crown vic, so I figure $300+ for the Ex to be done "right". So as long as I only have a few re-dos and have to pull and re-apply film here and there, I think I can still come out for under $100

2.5% VLT on the rear panels and 5% VLT on the 2nd row windows. Like RACER says, you can barely see into the interior in daylight at all.

pic is here:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/P3266227.jpg

 

Good luck on driving that thing at night...you won't be able to see anything. Looks good though!

 

Yes, even with only one side done, it's quite a bit darker at night. I will probably not tint the rear hatch window for that reason (and because I usually back up my 100-foot driveway as well).

 

Looks really good I think you have done a fine job so far. Just make sure the back hatch doesnt look odd compared to the rest of the windows. If need be just at a light tint to the rear so it doesn't stand out as much. I think really does look good

 

Oh I almost forgot post some more pics of the window tint inside. Let me know how hard and how long this took you I would like to try this on my old explorer so that my son doesnt have to contend with the sun all the time. Thanks for the pics so far

 

That was the first thing that got done to our Excursion after we took delivery was window film installation.We had Limo done on the second row doors and back,what a difference that made! Then installed 20% on the front doors and a 5" sunband

I'd like to install a curtain of sorts between the front seats and second row so the kids can watch their movies without glarge from oncoming traffic during our western states roadtrips.

Bill

 

Looks sweet. I'm thinking about doing the same thing. Thanks for sharing.

 

I am regrouping on my project for 2 reasons.

1. I couldn't see a darn thing at night backing out of parking spaces or backing up my driveway. I am afraid I will run somebody over and not even notice it.

2. A friend told me a horror story of a home tint job he did and how he was actually cited under Georgia's window tinting law. Law apparently requires no less than 32% light transmission through the glass and also has specs for maximum reflection off the outside (irrelevant since I don't want a mirrored look anyway). There is an exception for vehicles built on a truck chassis (assume this means SUVs, but enforcement is likely to be subjective and based on who you might run afoul of on a given day.)

(In any case, I think my 2-1/2% VLT film would be a cop magnet - and since I am an "assertive" driver anyway - no sense pushing my luck, eh?)

I can't for the life of me figure out who has time to dream up this stuff, but anyway, I have now ordered a custom pre-cut kit off ebay that should meet the legal requirements. I may be just a shade darker than legal due to the factory tint already on those rear vent windows, but I've gone with a lighter rear hatch tint to improve visibility.

njf207: As for the consistency thing, once the sides are done, the rear hatch is almost irrelevant, since the interior gets so dark from the outside that you can hardly see in through the rear even through the stock liftgate glass.

. . . more pics once I've gotten a bit further with it.