DIY Side and Rear Window Sun Shades

We've had a few very hot sunny days in SoCal and since my newly acquired 2012 Toyota Tacoma Base standard cab truck has to live in my driveway I noticed it was getting quite warm inside the cab. Having already obtained a windshield sun shade. I realized that I could keep my new baby cooler if I built sun shades for both side windows as well as the rear window.

I purchased an "Everbilt 24" x 10' Double Reflective Insulation" material roll at Home Depot for $10. From the roll I made two side window shades, and a rear window shade. I attached the shades to the truck's window frames using Velcro straps. The following photos show how the additional sun shades go onto the truck and it sure helps a lot in keeping the truck cab cooler.

 

Damn Son ... that quite a procedure ... nice job.

 

Are you able to vent the hot air out?

 

First thing in the morning I go out and crack the windows a good two to three inches (as seen in photos 1, 2, 3 and 10), and they stay like that until around 11PM when it's nice and cool. I then go out to open both doors for a few minutes to ensure to cool the cab as much as possible, and then close the windows for the night. In SoCal nights are quite cool, and when it rains it frequently occurs/starts overnight. In all, I think that it is quite helpful in preserving the interior of the truck.

 

That is a pretty neat idea

 

Thanks, it's very easy to do and it sure does help keeping the truck's interior cooler when the sun is beating down on it. The morning sun is not too bad (in coastal SoCal sometimes it's not even out until 10-11AM) but the afternoon sun is very bright and hot.

 

I should also mention that taking the sun shades on/off is very quick and easy to do. Also by adding the shade rollup Velcro strap, you just roll them up, lock them up rolled with the Velcro strap, and just toss them rolled up behind the seats.

I replaced the standard rear view mirror with an "AUTO-VOX V5PRO Stream Media Rear View Mirror Camera with 9.35 inch Full Laminated Ultrathin Touch Screen" (https://store.auto-vox.com/oem-mirror-dash-cam-v5pro.html) which provides front and rear dashcam, as well as a real-time rear view. As such, there is no need to take off the rear window sun shade for normal driving, even when backing up.

 

I,d get a pair of in channel side window wind deflectors from Weathertec. They hang down about 2"....meaning no matter the weather you can have windows down a tad. Plenty of ventilation, rain can,t get in. They install in about 45seconds, and are a compression fit, no glue, tape,etc. Also less wind noise if windows just cracked at highway speeds. Love mine

 

Nice.. but first thing that popped in my mind was a baked potato.lol

 

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I think I will pick up a set from WeatheTech PN 80411 which fit my 2nd gen Tacoma Standard Cab.

 

I added the side window wind deflectors as suggested by studunk1.

I also measured the temperature inside the cab as follows:

1) three consecutive days without the side and rear shades (just the windshield shade) and the max temperature recorded was 99.3 degrees Fahrenheit


2) three consecutive days with the side and rear shades (along with the windshield shade) and the max temperature recorded was 97.2 degrees Fahrenheit


So it looks that the shade helps a little bit in terms of lowering the internal cab temperature.