I have a friend from Arizona.  He faced this problem with his blue truck.
He ended up spray painting it with dull primer - no paint on top.  This
significantly lowered the temperature on the outside of the truck, and I
assume on the inside as well.  Of course, it looks funny - all primered...

Z

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill [mailto:bill@FREEHOLDER.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 1:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Anyone ever try a Westy "Chrome Dome"

Actually, living in Arizona, this sort of thing is near and dear to us.  I
read a study.  White cars stay cooler.  If it isn't white, it doesn't much
matter what color it is.  In other words, beige cars get just as hot as
black ones.  White reflects the most.  Maybe if it was chrome, but silver is
not chrome.

----- Original Message -----
From: Joe L. <mailto:jliasse@TOAST.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 9:52 AM
Subject: Anyone ever try a Westy "Chrome Dome"

   A whole lot longer ago than I really care to contemplate I spent a sultry
summer going through Marine Corps boot camp in South Carolina. On days when
the sun really beat down and the temps climbed our tormentors would hand out
"Chrome Domes". These were helmet liners painted silver to reflect the sun
and (theoretically) keep our heads cooler than they otherwise would have
been, thus allowing a continuation of the fun and games without the
inconvenience of having too many collapsed bodies littering the area.
   Every now and then I look at the fiberglass top of my non-airconditioned
Westy and wonder if a silver paint job would cool things down any better
than the present white paint job. Anyone ever try this?

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