Planing stage with some worries.

[Simran]

What I've found is this: No light at night; no bother. So the better you are at concealing the night light inside the van the less apt you are to be noticed.
They think the van is empty

Gus

 

[MrNoodly]

How about first installing the wire grid cage thingies they use to keep shifting cargo from breaking out the rear windows. Then the hard core work truck look of that will offset the living-in-a-van look of whatever other method you use to black out the windows.

 

[peacetara]

MrNoodly, this is exactly what I have (I have a retired Air Conditioning van, complete with the metal shelves in it).&nbsp; The windows all have the metal gridwork stuff.&nbsp; My curtains are just a dark-green felt fabric from Walmart, that I doubled over (so it's twice as thick),&nbsp; I put that up on the inside and it works a champ.&nbsp; The windows aren't really tinted, but with the black safety grate up, the dark green looks black, and it's like looking into a black hole <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />I do want to tint the windows, but I'm afraid to do it myself, so I'm saving money until I can find someone to do it for me.&nbsp; Might be a while <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />With Love,<br />Tara

 

[Van Tripper]

Window tint laws vary between states, cops don't like walking up on a vehicle when the occupants can see the police but the police can't see them, I don't blame 'em. &nbsp;I painted the outside black, then covered that with matching white paint. &nbsp;If you paint the inside black and no cover outside then it looks like a mirror, stands out big time. &nbsp;Can't see through paint and I haven't had any problems with the police, I'm in middle Tn. &nbsp;Just try to remember to back into parking, easier to pull out than to back up with no windows and windows where an option on my 2000 Express van.

 

[MrNoodly]

Window tint laws vary between states...

<br /><br />True, but isn't only a matter of the laws for the state the vehicle is registered in? &nbsp;I mean, it's not like LEOs in no-aftermarket-window-tint states like walking up to a vehicle from a state with loose window tint regulations, but it's not like they can ticket you for it, is it?<br /><br />That leads to another question. Why is it no problem to have no side or back windows at all, but it's a problem if you have those windows and they're tinted too darkly?

 

[CrossCountryGal]

This was a problem that bothered me as well. &nbsp;I like having the sunlight during the day, easy access to the windows, and the breeze blowing through. &nbsp;At night I didn't want anyone to be able to tell I was in there, so total blackout was important.<br /><br />I took blackout curtains from Walmart, cut them to fit each window, stapled the top of the curtain to the top of the window, and left the bottom free. &nbsp;At night I straight pin the bottoms of the curtains down, and add a few a long the sides for good measure. During the day I fold them in half and pin to the top. &nbsp;It was a cheap, space saving solution that is working.

 

[Van Tripper]

Window tint laws vary between states...

<br><br>True, but isn't only a matter of the laws for the state the vehicle is registered in? &nbsp;I mean, it's not like LEOs in no-aftermarket-window-tint states like walking up to a vehicle from a state with loose window tint regulations, but it's not like they can ticket you for it, is it?<br><br>That leads to another question. Why is it no problem to have no side or back windows at all, but it's a problem if you have those windows and they're tinted too darkly?

<br><br>Registration does not matter, if in Rome...., if in /Fla. with Tn. tag and police has his light meter, you got a ticket son.<br><br>About tint and metal, occupants can't see through metal nor paint, it's the ability of the occupants being able to see the officer approach and the officer not able to see what the occupants are doing, going for a gun? pointing a gun at them? &nbsp;But if &nbsp;it is painted or solid metal then &nbsp;the people inside can't watch the officer. &nbsp; It's about the policeman's safety.