poor mans windshield

K

Kerry

Member
This is my poor mans windshield. I make one every year late Oct and rip it off every spring. I buy a “window insulation kit” made from shrink film. A package for a 42 X 62 inch window cost me $2. I put a piece of PVC as a bottom brace. It is just wedge fit. Then you put double sided tape that comes with the shrink film on the roll bar and bottom brace. Put the shrink film on – trim – then cover with duck tape. Hit it with a hair dryer and the film pulls it all tight. This one has been on from last Oct and is still clear and tight. I will throw it away next month.
 

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Very nice. I was going to say many times I would not want a windshied ...ie: summer. You've already thought of that. Good thinking!!!!! :thumb: :tiphat: :D
 
Kerry,

I like that idea.

How does it hold up against wind? If I recall correctly, the film you used is for inside a window on a house.

What happens when rain or snow gets on it? Does it run off easily? Streak? Can it be wiped?
 
I drive on the roads here WOT. Wind is not a problem. I power wash it to clean it and dry with a towel. In the photo it has not been washed for a month. I started doing this 10 years ago with a Mule I had and have done it for the last 5 with the 900. This stuff is really strong and dirt cheap.
 
how to cut the bottom brace

I just took it off for the summer. Attached is a photo of the bottom cross brace for the windshield. It is 2 inch PVC. Cut it so it wraps the roll bar and make it a tight wedge fit.

Don't let it touch the dash as it will put rub marks on it.
 

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Kerry -

After reading your original post I made the same windshield for my 900... it works great! I have a plastic hard top on mine, and the u-bolts that hold it on created a bit of a problem at the top... I ended up with a small tear near one of the u-bolts when I heat shrank the window film, but the hole hasn't spread. I think next year I will make a cross brace for the top also so that I have a flat surface to attach at the top as well as the bottom. I ended up getting black schedule 40 plastic pipe for my bottom support, and it looks like factory framing!

I will be removing it soon for the summer... are you able to get the double sided tape off without too much of a problem?

Thanks again for such a great idea.
 
Did you put the black duck tape over the film before you hit it with the hair dryer?? I overlap the trimmed film with duck tape about ¾ of an inch. This covers the film and the double stick tape and adds a lot of strength.

I have never had a problem getting it off. I do wipe down the bar with a gas rag to clean off the tape residue.

You are right on using black PVC. I used scrap that I had and am too cheep to buy black.
 
drawing below

The drawing below should make this a little clearer
 

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Kerry,

I did put the duct tape on before I heat shrank the film, but at the top the film was stretched across the u-bolts that hold the top on, so it didn't have a full contact flat surface at those points... that is where I had the one small tear.
 
Good Idea

Thanks, I will use one of these next year. It will be real nice to have a cheap wind break! Might even experiment with the spray on rain x Bordercollie
 
I live in the Ozarks of Missouri. We get down to 0. Never had a problem with it. Just put mine on for this 11th year of doing it.
 
Impressed by the creative use of the shrink-film window plastic. But clearly you guys are not using your 'botas to navigate through thick forest and brush. But still impressed.
 
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