15 replies to this topic

[Wandering Sagebrush]

living in Arizona. every single car or truck we have is white.

 

I will never buy another dark vehicle. i'm planning to wrap or raptor line a new camper and will likely stay with a white / desert tan / or very light gray as the color. 

I agree!  Function over form.

[ckent323]

When we see colors we are actually seeing the reflected light of that particular part of the visible spectrum.  White reflects more colors (that is why it is white) brown and black reflect the least colors of light and absorb the most light which makes them appear dark to our eyes.  

 

In simple terms, the dark colored items heat up in sunlight because more light is being absorbed by the dark color and less light is reflected.  White or light colored things tend to heat up less because they reflect much or most of the light.  Other colors are in between these two (including gray).

 

We cannot see parts of the spectrum below the shortest visible light colors (violet) or above the longest visible light colors (red) and there are other factors that come into play for absorption or reflection of those shorter (ultra-violet) and longer (infra-red) wavelengths but in general White surfaces tends to be the coolest because white reflects the most light.  Smooth surfaces are also better than rough surfaces for less absorption because smooth surfaces have less surface area.
 

I hope this information is useful.

Edited by ckent323, 29 August 2020 - 07:00 PM.

[camper rich]

I had a black car once (when I was 17).  Besides needing to be wiped down every day because of the dust, it was hot.  I'm now 74 and own a white van, a white truck, a white camper, and a white trailer, plus my wife has a white class B.  

[ski3pin]

We spend so much time on backcountry roads squeezing through brush that "Nevada pin stripping" is an issue. White trucks show the least amount of stripping, the old cowboys know. We have squeezed through pinyon pine and junipers with the camper. We will stick with white truck and camper.

[Andy Douglass]

Another consideration for the smooth siding that comes in colors is that it will be more susceptible to cosmetic dings from flying pebbles on the road. That would be my main reasoning for going with the "corrugated" siding. We have the silver spur corrugated siding on our Hawk. I think it adds a kind of "classic" aesthetic in addition to being more durable. I think it is easier to repair as well, as a section can be replaced without having to do the whole side.

 

I think a black FWC with a white roof would probably be a little hotter than a lighter color. But most of the sun will be hitting the roof and the canvas (when popped up), so heat alone might not be a big enough issue to disqualify it if you really want a dark color.

[idahoron]

I have a solar shower. I laid it on the ground and in a couple hours the water was so hot I couldn't take a shower without putting cold water in it.

A black camper would be like a solar shower, except your in it.