How I use those window vent shades for ventilation, but *using no adhesives*

I have been using this technique for the last year and it has served me well, so I figured I would share it. Like many of us, I use a Wave 3 propane heater in my van, and it requires ventilation. I don't have any roof fans (and for my personal reasons don't really want them) but this is how I am able to get the required square inches of ventilation, anyway.

I think we've all seen those "vent shade" things, that are made to go in your windows, so you can open your windows but not let rain in. I wanted to use those, but I didn't want to use the adhesives they come with. I wanted to be able to put them in and take them out, whenever I wanted. So this is how I do it. It's easy and quick.

So here's one of the shades. It came with an adhesive strip attached, but it was easy to peel off. (There's two of them, obviously, one for each window.)


Here's two blocks of closed-cell foam. Home Depot sells big sheets of this stuff, 1 inch thick. Since it's closed-cell, it won't get soggy in the rain, it is just basically "squishy but not absorbent". These are squares which were originally 2 inches by 2 inches (by 1 inch, the thickness of the sheet) but I cut them with a pair of scissors into the shapes shown here.


I'm starting with the one on the right:

I'm putting it in to the end of the vent shade that is closest to the side mirror, and then I close the window. After I have closed the window I can take my hand away, everything is held in place on its own:


Now I take the other piece of closed-cell foam:

And I wedge it between the window, and the frame. Because of its shape (with the pointed end), being wedged like that also has the effect of keeping the vent shade in place, too.


And voila!

Okay, next tell me how I can use my van's engine without any bolts.






Jokes aside.. I thought about this for very different reasons.

I had two fly off while driving and didn't realize it... yikes.. then I had another taken out by a dirt devil I searched for where it went the next day when I realized it was gone but never found it even though I was parked in the same spot..

I thought about bolting them into place which would make them removeable but ideally keep them in place better while driving. I can't imagine the motivation for not wanting them secure. Wouldn't strong wind blow them off? What is the motivation or benefits of having the removeable and tacked into place vs mildly secure with strong glue strips?

I'm curious.

Those “vent shade things”’for windows are known as “side window deflectors”.

if the original tape that came on them is not holding remove all the old tape residue from the plastic and the car body. Then head to an auto parts store and get a roll of “3M exterior trim VHB tape. “
It is a narrow width, just right for applying to those deflectors. That specific product of 3M VHB tape is rated to grip in the heat of direct sun on hot metals. Low cost side window wind deflectors do not use “the really good stuff”’adhesives.

Lance22 said:

What is the motivation or benefits of having the removeable and tacked into place vs mildly secure with strong glue strips?

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This makes total sense to me for someone who wants the benefit of the rain shield only when parked/camping and does not want to have them more or less "permanently" installed.

I'm curious - why would you not want them permanently installed? Previous owner of my van installed them, and nearly 5 years later, I still think they're the cat's pajamas.

As far as I can tell, mine are on for the duration.

jacqueg said:

I'm curious - why would you not want them permanently installed? Previous owner of my van installed them, and nearly 5 years later, I still think they're the cat's pajamas.

As far as I can tell, mine are on for the duration.

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Sounds like you've have a great experience with them! I'm a worrier, perhaps, and am generally concerned about add-ons flying off in traffic or being hard to remove if/when needed.

On the other hand, having one... more... thing... to deal with when needed is a pain. ("Ask not the elves...")

VanFan said:

Sounds like you've have a great experience with them! I'm a worrier, perhaps, and am generally concerned about add-ons flying off in traffic or being hard to remove if/when needed.

On the other hand, having one... more... thing... to deal with when needed is a pain. ("Ask not the elves...")

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Well, if they do fly off in traffic (hard for me to imagine), they are not expensive and are easily replaced!

My home base is the PNW, and I just love driving with my windows cracked in the rain, while no rain gets inside...

jacqueg said:

Well, if they do fly off in traffic (hard for me to imagine), they are not expensive and are easily replaced!

My home base is the PNW, and I just love driving with my windows cracked in the rain, while no rain gets inside...

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It's not so much about replacing them, as the hazard to others on the road. Who knows? I may get over that, given the advantages. Nothing more miserable than a thunderstorm when it's 90 with windows rolled up in my neck of the woods.

The side window deflectors on my 2006 were apparently an option offered by Honda for the Element. Still on there after 18 years. Proper surface prep and good quality adhesives make a big difference. On older cars that may have been waxed getting adhesive mounting tape to get a good grip will require getting all those micron wax particles stripped off. Many people would just think a quick soap and water wash would suffice and then because the surface looks clean go ahead and stick on the aftermarket deflectors. But of course they would not then stay in place for very long. The average person might not even think about there being old, invisible wax on the car exterior that could lead to adhesive failure.