Hi all - not sure this is the best place for this; if not, let me know - I'm new here!
So anyways - a few days ago I got my first Jeep, a 2004 Wrangler TJ. Since then, I've been trolling ebay and amazon looking for bits-n-pieces of various detritus to add to my new ride.
I live in Arizona (right on the Glendale/Phoenix border, actually) - and the hotter season is fast approaching (we just had our first 100+ degree day last Wednesday, and Friday hit 108!) - so I figured I would get a sunshade for the front window. Little did I realize how difficult and expensive this would be!
At 50+ inches wide and only 16 inches tall - the window is an odd duck in the car world, and so not many companies seem to make shades for it. Those that do have decided that "Jeep owners have money, so let's charge them as much as possible!".
The cheapest sunshade I could find online cost around $40.00. That didn't seem right - not at all. So I decided I would make one. After all, it seems like DIY is a thing in the Jeep world (actually, it a general thing in the off-roading world in general, I think). I figured if I could do this and have it come out cheaper, I'd be ahead.
First I needed the window measurements; the best I could find was the width, which every forum was telling me was 55 inches. But I also needed the height. I couldn't find anything definitive, so I decided the best thing for me to do was measure my window. I measured the height, the width, and the distance to the mirror. I came up with a size of 52" W x 16" H - and the mirror in the center at 26" and about 4 inches or so from the top edge.
I went on Amazon, and found this stuff:
InfraStop 24" X 10' Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DGTVGKA/?tag=wranglerorg-20
You can get a 16" width by another manufacturer - but the roll is 25 feet long!
Reflectix ST16025 Staple Tab Insulation 16 Inch x 25 ft Roll
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQSYRO/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Either roll costs around $17.00 USD - so I was already ahead. Once I got it, I measured out the rectangle I needed, and cut it with scissors. I then measured the center point at one edge, down a few inches, and free-handed a curve from the top edge to the center point. I took the cut piece, flipped it over, and traced it to cut an identical curve opposite the first.
Once done, I rolled it up, took it out to my jeep, and "installed" it - it fit perfectly, and looks fantastic. Plus, I have enough of the roll left that I can make a second one for next year if I need it.
If I can get a chance tomorrow, I'll take a picture of it if that'll help. Hopefully this little write-up will help someone else.
So anyways - a few days ago I got my first Jeep, a 2004 Wrangler TJ. Since then, I've been trolling ebay and amazon looking for bits-n-pieces of various detritus to add to my new ride.
I live in Arizona (right on the Glendale/Phoenix border, actually) - and the hotter season is fast approaching (we just had our first 100+ degree day last Wednesday, and Friday hit 108!) - so I figured I would get a sunshade for the front window. Little did I realize how difficult and expensive this would be!
At 50+ inches wide and only 16 inches tall - the window is an odd duck in the car world, and so not many companies seem to make shades for it. Those that do have decided that "Jeep owners have money, so let's charge them as much as possible!".
The cheapest sunshade I could find online cost around $40.00. That didn't seem right - not at all. So I decided I would make one. After all, it seems like DIY is a thing in the Jeep world (actually, it a general thing in the off-roading world in general, I think). I figured if I could do this and have it come out cheaper, I'd be ahead.
First I needed the window measurements; the best I could find was the width, which every forum was telling me was 55 inches. But I also needed the height. I couldn't find anything definitive, so I decided the best thing for me to do was measure my window. I measured the height, the width, and the distance to the mirror. I came up with a size of 52" W x 16" H - and the mirror in the center at 26" and about 4 inches or so from the top edge.
I went on Amazon, and found this stuff:
InfraStop 24" X 10' Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DGTVGKA/?tag=wranglerorg-20
You can get a 16" width by another manufacturer - but the roll is 25 feet long!
Reflectix ST16025 Staple Tab Insulation 16 Inch x 25 ft Roll
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQSYRO/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Either roll costs around $17.00 USD - so I was already ahead. Once I got it, I measured out the rectangle I needed, and cut it with scissors. I then measured the center point at one edge, down a few inches, and free-handed a curve from the top edge to the center point. I took the cut piece, flipped it over, and traced it to cut an identical curve opposite the first.
Once done, I rolled it up, took it out to my jeep, and "installed" it - it fit perfectly, and looks fantastic. Plus, I have enough of the roll left that I can make a second one for next year if I need it.
If I can get a chance tomorrow, I'll take a picture of it if that'll help. Hopefully this little write-up will help someone else.
