Reflectix Car Window Coverings

For those of you who like to stealth camp in your car, you need something to block out the light from outside.  I've been asked numerous times how I made the awesome window coverings for my car, so I decided to put together a tutorial.  It was really easy to do and doesn't take a lot of materials.  

The first thing you need to do is get some black spray paint, spray adhesive and gorilla tape.  If you choose to cover the inside facing side of your window covers with fabric like I did, then you'll need some fabric as well.

You also need to buy some Reflectix.  I got mine at Walmart.  Measure your windows to see how much Reflectix you'll need.  I have a Dodge Durango and a roll of 16" x 25' was plenty.

Reflectix is thin and comes in a roll....

The next thing you need to do is make a template of each window.  There are many ways to do this and you can use newspaper or butchers paper.   I used old album covers....

Once you've made your templates, trace them onto pieces of cardboard and cut them out....

Place your cardboard pieces onto the windows and check the fit.  Trim the cardboard as needed.  I suggest you label each piece of cardboard with the window it goes on as well as which side faces the inside of the car. 

This is where it's easy to get confused and why it's important to label each piece of cardboard for the inside and outside.  Lay your cardboard on top of the reflectix, trace it and cut it out.  Remember, the reflectix will be on the outside facing side of the cardboard.   Then lay your cardboard on top of your fabric, trace and cut.   Again, this time the fabric will be on the inside facing side of the cardboard.

In order to be stealthy, I spray painted the outside of the reflectix with the black paint.  Then I sprayed the inside of each piece of cardboard with the adhesive and laid my cut out fabric on top of it.  Flip your cardboard over, spray it with adhesive and attach your piece of reflectix with the black side facing up.  I needed to trim my fabric a little here.  It's going to look something like this....

At this point place each piece into the window and check for size.  Trim if needed.  Once you're satisfied, take the gorilla tape and run it around the complete edge of cardboard.  This will give you a nice edging and keep everything together.

Place them into your windows and they should fit nice and snug so you don't need any Velcro or anything else to keep them in place.   I hung a curtain rod behind the front seats and made a curtain, and I also made myself a memory foam mattress and matching pillowcase out of the same fabric.

I'm so happy with this set up.   It's nice and bright on the inside and from the outside all you see is blacked out windows.  Here's a video of all the steps....