Glass roof cover

[White Shadow]

I read somewhere else that tinting the roof could cause the roof to crack. Is the true?

I really want to know the answer to this as well. I've read so many different opinions and I don't know what to believe. A lot of people seem to have the opinion that tinting a glass roof is never a good idea because the heat somehow gets "trapped" in the glass (but does it really?) and can cause it to crack. Or if it does crack and you have a film on it, that it's basically automatically not covered under warranty.

I've heard similar stories about tinting windows in houses. I'd love to find some credible, definitive information on this, but I haven't been able to find anything.

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[Surferdude]

Alternative - what about applying either white or other light colored body wrap film to the two windows? I'm here in the Sacramento Valley literally baking in a solar oven. Yesterday, we broke a lot of records and I had the R1S parked outside. I have the clip in sunshades - the ones with the reflective exterior which blocks 100% of the sun. The amount of heat still radiating above my head is frustrating through this shade. There is a layer of superheated air between the shade and roof glass and we can feel heat radiating downwards into the cabin.

As a starting point we have full ceramic tint on all the side glass - Llumar.

Tried an experiment yesterday to validate my top of head heat sensation...

Placed a flat thin dark (my hair is black and partly gray) cushion on the center console horizontally, out of the sun between the front seats facing the roof sunshade. Test took 3 hours 1 hour per trial truck driven and cooled between trials. Truck windshield pointed due north per the dash display. Ambient temperature about 109 to 113F.

A) Left the closed truck parked outside for one hour in full sun with the shades in place cushion temperature was 131 F. Upper shade surface temperature 141.

B) Removed sunshade, let the sun stream in on the seats and console pad temperature 137 F.

C) Placed a light-colored blanket on the outside of the roof over the glass 121 F.

Potential confounding factors:

1. Incident angle of light between trial A & C moved a bit from passenger biased to driver side biased but no more than 15 degrees.
2. Cooling cabin between trials - checked only as being "comfortable" to passengers and underlying console surface temperature (Ocean Coast) to 80 F with AC blasting.
3. Initial test A may be biased cooler as interior materials had best cool soak from long drive before test.
4. I tried to limit blanket coverage in trial #3 to the glass only but did cover the strip between the front and rear glass.

Findings:

1. Blocking visible light and infrared before the roof glass - like a real roof insulates best.
2. Re-radiation of infrared from either roof or sunshade is similar - validates the finding of some that tinting the roof doesn't have a significant subjective effect.
3. Cooling a hot truck down takes a while with the compressor roaring and takes a lot of energy! This experiment ran my battery down 13%.

Hypotheses:

1. The sunshade, despite blocking all the visible light, re-radiated infrared into the cabin from a layer of superheated air between the reflective fabric and roof glass. Noticeably reduces interior surface heating which likely accounts for the 4 F delta but not much better than the stock glass roof with Ocean Coast interior. Black or green interior may have different results.
2. The glass roof rejects transmission infrared and visible light well but the mass of glass itself heats up substantially and radiates a lot of heat into the cabin (my head feels hot like sitting in front of a wood stove).
3. Blocking light before it strikes and heats the mass of roof glass substantially lowers radiant heat into the cabin and also blocks interior surface heating - simulating a real roof closely.

Therefore, I'm thinking of using either white or yellow PPF wrap on the glass exterior to block heat. I believe there was another person who did this with a large perforated sticker. Anyone see any problems with this approach? I'm really tired of baking in the summer heat!

Yes this would work. I saw a video of a guy that did it to a Tesla roof a few weeks ago. Rivian's roof is nearly black in color when viewed from above. Therefore the glass will heat up dramatically (just like a black painted steel roof would). From a conduction standpoint, black glass performs terribly. From a radiation standpoint, any glass roof performs terribly. Sure it blocks 99% of UV but no human can feel UV so this means nothing when we're talking about heat rejection. Putting a 100% opaque white sheet over the black glass would reduce both the heat that's radiating into the cabin via conduction and also any heat that radiates through the glass (infrared and visible). I can't speak to what degree of improvement would be realized but I'm assuming it would be significant. I am very disappointed with the results of the expensive tint I put on the roof so am considering the white PPF option as well.

 

[CBRacerX]

I am looking into adding white PPF. It shouldn’t be hard.

EDIT: Mirror PPF was also suggested, that seems worth a look as well

 

[Kochusan]

Yes this would work. I saw a video of a guy that did it to a Tesla roof a few weeks ago. Rivian's roof is nearly black in color when viewed from above. Therefore the glass will heat up dramatically (just like a black painted steel roof would). From a conduction standpoint, black glass performs terribly. From a radiation standpoint, any glass roof performs terribly. Sure it blocks 99% of UV but no human can feel UV so this means nothing when we're talking about heat rejection. Putting a 100% opaque white sheet over the black glass would reduce both the heat that's radiating into the cabin via conduction and also any heat that radiates through the glass (infrared and visible). I can't speak to what degree of improvement would be realized but I'm assuming it would be significant. I am very disappointed with the results of the expensive tint I put on the roof so am considering the white PPF option as well.

Okay, I'll be the Guinea Pig. Ordered some gloss white film and will try this. I already have the data from the stock window and shade.

 

[Singletracker]

In my esperience (R1T), it’s not the moonroof that’s the heat problem. It’s that darn windshield! I have never noticed the roof getting particularly hot, even on 90-100 degree days. And, I live at 5000’ where the sun’s rays can be really, realy intense! The windshield is a whole other story. The heat just basts through it. I discovered there is an option in the climate controls settings to direct cold air onto the windshield. I tried it and it did cool the glass down noticeably. Not sure that it woud offer a long term solution, but may be worth a try. Certainly, when preconditioning the interior, it may be a big help to cool that windshield down a bit. I don’t know why else Rivian would have that option. It’s like the opposite of defrosting the windshield.

I’m in the camp that sees little use for a moon roof. From the driver’s seat, I don’t even know it’s there. It’s totally out of sight and out of mind. If there has to be a moonroof, it should be retractable, or at least ventable. A fixed moonroof is just a gimmick, but buyers expect one, I guess.

 

[Mathme]

Vent Windows in the app is your friend…it will allow heat out.

not good in the rain though.

 

[Surferdude]

Vent Windows in the app is your friend…it will allow heat out.

not good in the rain though.

Yes this doesn't work if it rains. And the vent option does very little to reduce the cabin temp anyways. Rivian should have an option to roll down all windows like other manufacturers have. I currently pop my trunk to vent. Of course I do this in a safe location only.

 

[DRJ564]

I read somewhere else that tinting the roof could cause the roof to crack. Is the true?

I read all the same comments but tinted the roof anyway. I have made it through the summer so far with no issues. I even asked the shop about it and he said he has never had a vehicle come back because the tint caused the glass panel any damage.

I had ALL glass tinted with whatever the top of the line Xpel tint is. It definitely made a difference but I don’t have any numbers to verify.

 

[Yossarian]

Vent Windows in the app is your friend…it will allow heat out.

not good in the rain though.

A bit off topic, but since the R1 already has a rain sensor in place, I wonder if there's a way to automatically close the windows that Rivian could enable via software. Is there any reason that the rain sensor could not be linked in such a way that if the vent window function was enabled, and rain was detected, the windows would automatically cycle to close?

 

[KeithPleas]

There’s some merit to the plywood idea. The air gap between the roof and sunshield is great for reducing the radiant heat to the glass.
I admit it’d take some engineering to make sure it’s correctly secured to the roof and limiting drag. Since it would have such a minimum surface area presented to the wind it shouldn’t be great, but without seeing wind tunnel effects I can’t say it would be minimal in the real world…

I believe the basic idea is what Land Rover called their "tropical roof":

Here's a thread on IH8MUD about trying to get that effect with a roof rack: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/thoughts-on-a-tropical-roof-rack.1094181/

 

[ATL_R1S]

Has anyone placed a piece of plywood on the roof carriers to block out the sun? My R1S constantly reaches 125+ degrees inside. I keep reading that tinting the glass roof can create problems.

Don't overthink it. Just get this. Two piece kit for both sections of R1S glass available in black or grey to match headliners for OC and BM. https://www.amazon.com/Sunshade-Compatible-Accessories-Foldable-Insulation/dp/B0D53ZDYQN/

I have the BestEVMod version in gray and it matches my OC interior well, and keeps the cabin significantly cooler while parked in the sun, along with making the pre-conditioning quicker when coming back to a hot vehicle. Plus it's easily removable for winter time.

The above fabric shade will do the job in most conditions, however if you want the ultimate sun blocker and heat reflection that the Rebelle Rally team used in their R1S for desert racing in Death Valley, get this: https://www.heatshieldstore.com/car-window-shades/2023-rivian-r1s-suv

It doesn't look quite as good, but its THICK and highly reflective, and it suctions to the glass in multiple places to keep it up there. I have their front windshield shade and it's super effective and easy enough to roll up and keep behind the front seats for easy access.

 

[iansriv]

I must say I see very little practical benefit from the glass roof. Perhaps from the back seat it looks cool, I wouldn’t know!
Given the choice i would have taken a “normal” roof with a sunroof.
The idea for an exterior roof covering makes sense.
Some discussion here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Rivian/s/EqSHOppd8p
A Tesla roof wrap:

This is a great idea! First time I've heard of it. I'm very sure it will have a huge impact. Only hesitation I have is that it negates the entire purpose of having a gigantic glass roof. Given the choice I'd rather not have a glass roof at all but since we have them, I'm not sure I'd want to fully cover them. I ordered a set of sun shades for the roof so we shall see. Cheers!

 

[RivianRunner]

The glass roof has 100% UV blocking (per Rivian) but not visible light, and by far the best thing you can do is to get a windshield sun shade while parked. Roof sun shade clearly helps but the windshield is the biggest radiation heat source if parked. If driving, its problematic and it is what it is.

Ultraviolet light doesn't carry much heat energy at all (compared to infrared light).

If staying cool is the goal, you want glass coatings that block infrared.

 

[RivianRunner]

This is a great idea! First time I've heard of it. I'm very sure it will have a huge impact. Only hesitation I have is that it negates the entire purpose of having a gigantic glass roof.

The reason glass roofs are becoming more common is two-fold:

1) Increased headroom without increasing the frontal area of the vehicle (and thus aerodynamic drag).

2) Increased crash protection. A glass roof is stronger than thin metal and does a better job of transferring side impacts (like sliding sideways into a utility pole) to the rest of the structure. metal roofs have very little strength once they start to crumple.

 

[Surferdude]

This is a great idea! First time I've heard of it. I'm very sure it will have a huge impact. Only hesitation I have is that it negates the entire purpose of having a gigantic glass roof. Given the choice I'd rather not have a glass roof at all but since we have them, I'm not sure I'd want to fully cover them. I ordered a set of sun shades for the roof so we shall see. Cheers!

A lot of us prefer a conventional steel roof with insulation over a glass roof. Particularly for those living in year round hot climates like us. Covering it with PPF is not permanent. It is easy to remove if and when this is preferred in the future. I bought the same sunshade noted in this thread and it does very little to reduce cabin heat and increase comfort. But for some it is sufficient.

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