Ceramic tinted windshields at Mansfield

Ken B

Well-known member
Oct 9, 2002
16,834
279
83
I realize that it is Labor day weekend and this should probably wait until Tuesday, but if we are going to pull this off I only have 2 weeks to get it
done. I will re-post this next Tuesday again when everyone is back from their holiday.

This offering is for attendees of the Mansfield GMCMI rally. Installations will be done on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. October 5 - 7, 2019.

This is an add on to the original offer. The windshield installation company will sell and install pre-ordered new ceramic tinted 80% VLT GMC front
windshields. Most states allow 70% or 75% VLT front windshields. As a comparison my Blazer has 70% VLT ones direct from GM when it was built. VLT =
Visible Light Transfer

Here is the story behind this offering. Every time I drive our GMC with our large front windshields in hot weather, especially into the sun, it is
like driving inside a gold fish bowl with the heater on. A few years back I tried to get the only US manufacturer of GMC windshields to make tinted
windshields for the GMC. I almost had an agreement with them until they discovered that they would have to go through the DOT approval process and
get a new DOT number which is not cheap. They required a very high pre-order quantity that was impossible to meet. So I backed out and never pursued
it any farther. A year or two later that company quit making GMC windshields all together.

Too keep cooler inside the coach, a few people have tried the fiberglass awning made by Fred Jenkins and others. A few others have tried tinting the
upper 6" or so of the windshield. Both have helped some. There are now several companies making Ceramic tints with a heat rejection rates of 75% to
90%. We are proposing to use that ceramic tint. The one we are proposing to use has a VLT number of 80% so it is legal for front windshields. The
problem is no one I have found will install any tint on a GMC windshield due to the high curve and dash blocking access on the driver's side.

Last year one GMCer ordered a pair of windshields and we transported them to a well known to him tint shop. The shop tinted them with this Ceramic
tint and then our the windshield company later installed them in his GMC coach.

The owner's one year of use report is they are excellent.

At the end of July I contacted this highly recommended tinter and asked him if he would do 10 or 20 windshields for us. I wanted them tinted in the
suppliers warehouse in Elkhart prior to packaging and shipment to the Mansfield rally. He refused to do it stating that he would only do them in his
shop in his dust proof booth which is 35 miles away from the windshield warehouse. I also asked if he would come to Mansfield and do already
installed windshields. He responded "no" like every other tinter that has told me and other GMCers. They will not do them because of the high curve
in the windshield and the blocked inside access caused by our dash sticking up on the driver's side. Also he wants them done in his controlled
environment shop.

So after three weeks time I got the warehouse to agree to transport new windshields (for a price) to the tinter in special made shipping containers
and then transport the finished ones back to the warehouse a week later after they were tinted. At the warehouse they will then be combined with the
non-tinted ones and shipped on to the GMCMI Mansfield, Ohio rally. I still have a few minor details to nail down. They are mostly to do with exact
dates what steps will happen and some electronic copies of the specifications on the tint.

So here is the deal, If you want new Ceramic tinted windshields installed in your coach, contact me and I'll take your order just like the other
orders I already have for non-tinted ones. If I get enough orders in the next two weeks then we will do this. If not, then I will notify all
concerned that signed up that this will not happen.

PS: I already have 2 orders for 4 windshields. Two of them are mine. I do not need new windshields, but I want the Ceramic tint on my coach. I
chose the most expensive and highest quality tint available. This is the only tint that will be offered at Mansfield.

If you want in on this, here is the information that I need from you:

1. Name

2. Windshield(s) to be ordered (Driver's side, Passenger side , or both) I assume every one wants both.

3. Address (street, city, state or province, and zip code.

4. Contact phone number (before the rally)

5. Cell phone (if you will have it at the rally)

6. Year and model of the coach (for the receipt)

7. email address

8. Any special requests.

To place an order / and installation reservation, before Sept 15th, (this date may change) email the above information to me at:
mailto:GMCWindshield

You can also email me questions (including pricing requests) to the same address.

I would appreciate it if someone would copy this note and paste it on the GMC facebook site(s). I do not do facebook.

Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Ken Burton
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Thanks, Ken. Curious to know the tint cost per windshield.

Shared to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes/permalink/1534534270004438/

bdub

On Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 10:11 PM Ken Burton via Gmclist <

> I realize that it is Labor day weekend and this should probably wait until
> Tuesday, but if we are going to pull this off I only have 2 weeks to get it
> done. I will re-post this next Tuesday again when everyone is back from
> their holiday.
>
> This offering is for attendees of the Mansfield GMCMI rally.
> Installations will be done on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. October 5 - 7,
> 2019.
>
> This is an add on to the original offer. The windshield installation
> company will sell and install pre-ordered new ceramic tinted 80% VLT GMC
> front
> windshields. Most states allow 70% or 75% VLT front windshields. As a
> comparison my Blazer has 70% VLT ones direct from GM when it was built.
> VLT =
> Visible Light Transfer
>
> Here is the story behind this offering. Every time I drive our GMC with
> our large front windshields in hot weather, especially into the sun, it is
> like driving inside a gold fish bowl with the heater on. A few years back
> I tried to get the only US manufacturer of GMC windshields to make tinted
> windshields for the GMC. I almost had an agreement with them until they
> discovered that they would have to go through the DOT approval process and
> get a new DOT number which is not cheap. They required a very high
> pre-order quantity that was impossible to meet. So I backed out and never
> pursued
> it any farther. A year or two later that company quit making GMC
> windshields all together.
>
> Too keep cooler inside the coach, a few people have tried the fiberglass
> awning made by Fred Jenkins and others. A few others have tried tinting the
> upper 6" or so of the windshield. Both have helped some. There are now
> several companies making Ceramic tints with a heat rejection rates of 75% to
> 90%. We are proposing to use that ceramic tint. The one we are proposing
> to use has a VLT number of 80% so it is legal for front windshields. The
> problem is no one I have found will install any tint on a GMC windshield
> due to the high curve and dash blocking access on the driver's side.
>
> Last year one GMCer ordered a pair of windshields and we transported them
> to a well known to him tint shop. The shop tinted them with this Ceramic
> tint and then our the windshield company later installed them in his GMC
> coach.
>
> The owner's one year of use report is they are excellent.
>
> At the end of July I contacted this highly recommended tinter and asked
> him if he would do 10 or 20 windshields for us. I wanted them tinted in the
> suppliers warehouse in Elkhart prior to packaging and shipment to the
> Mansfield rally. He refused to do it stating that he would only do them in
> his
> shop in his dust proof booth which is 35 miles away from the windshield
> warehouse. I also asked if he would come to Mansfield and do already
> installed windshields. He responded "no" like every other tinter that has
> told me and other GMCers. They will not do them because of the high curve
> in the windshield and the blocked inside access caused by our dash
> sticking up on the driver's side. Also he wants them done in his controlled
> environment shop.
>
> So after three weeks time I got the warehouse to agree to transport new
> windshields (for a price) to the tinter in special made shipping containers
> and then transport the finished ones back to the warehouse a week later
> after they were tinted. At the warehouse they will then be combined with
> the
> non-tinted ones and shipped on to the GMCMI Mansfield, Ohio rally. I
> still have a few minor details to nail down. They are mostly to do with
> exact
> dates what steps will happen and some electronic copies of the
> specifications on the tint.
>
> So here is the deal, If you want new Ceramic tinted windshields installed
> in your coach, contact me and I'll take your order just like the other
> orders I already have for non-tinted ones. If I get enough orders in the
> next two weeks then we will do this. If not, then I will notify all
> concerned that signed up that this will not happen.
>
> PS: I already have 2 orders for 4 windshields. Two of them are mine. I
> do not need new windshields, but I want the Ceramic tint on my coach. I
> chose the most expensive and highest quality tint available. This is the
> only tint that will be offered at Mansfield.
>
> If you want in on this, here is the information that I need from you:
>
> 1. Name
>
> 2. Windshield(s) to be ordered (Driver's side, Passenger side , or
> both) I assume every one wants both.
>
> 3. Address (street, city, state or province, and zip code.
>
> 4. Contact phone number (before the rally)
>
> 5. Cell phone (if you will have it at the rally)
>
> 6. Year and model of the coach (for the receipt)
>
> 7. email address
>
> 8. Any special requests.
>
> To place an order / and installation reservation, before Sept 15th, (this
> date may change) email the above information to me at:
> mailto:GMCWindshield
>
> You can also email me questions (including pricing requests) to the same
> address.
>
> I would appreciate it if someone would copy this note and paste it on the
> GMC facebook site(s). I do not do facebook.
>
> Have a great Labor Day weekend.
>
> Ken Burton
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Billy,
Years ago I promised not to post pricing on GMCnet so as to keep peace with the GMC vendors. I was also told by the GMCnet gods at the time that
including prices was advertising and prohibited. I will send you an off net note with the requested info.

Anyone else attending the rally or contemplating attending the rally can get the info by emailing me at GMCWindshield at gmail.com

I am just trying to play by the rules as I understand them.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
I just had my local tint installer put the ceramic tint on my gmc windshield. As ken stated, the guy said he really does not want to do another and
if he does, price is double what I paid him. The dash clearance and that driver corner is a real problem getting tint to stretch and not tear.
He had a trash can full of torn sheets when I picked up my coach.

So if Ken can pull this off, anybody getting new windshields would be a mistake to not get this tint added.

On another note, window installer told me he would not install a window with the film on it because they may be liable for scratches on the tint.
That was what they told me on my rear window- tint it after they install it. So if you do find someone that is willing to tint a new windshield in
the future. You may not find someone to install that windshield for you. Best have Ken's guys hook you up.

I have noticed a big change with the tint. It still gets hot in the sun... but it is a noticeable reduction. It is now some what bearable
driving in the sun. (I am still fighting my generator).

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
> ***SNIP***
>
> On another note, window installer told me he would not install a window with the film on it because they may be liable for scratches on the tint.
> That was what they told me on my rear window- tint it after they install it. So if you do find someone that is willing to tint a new
> windshield in the future. You may not find someone to install that windshield for you. Best have Ken's guys hook you up.
>
> I have noticed a big change with the tint. It still gets hot in the sun... but it is a noticeable reduction. It is now some what bearable
> driving in the sun. (I am still fighting my generator).

That is an interesting comment from the installer. The tint is on the inside and all installation work on a GMC at least is done from the outside.

What do I know. I'm just the order taker and scheduler. I have never replaced a windshield or tinted a window in my life and I do not care to do
either.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana