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WeatherTech Vent Visor "In Window" Concerns and Review

Discussion in 'Product Reviews' started by Coreyjon, May 27, 2008.

  1. May 27, 2008 at 7:59 AM
    #1
    Coreyjon

    Coreyjon [OP] Northern Alliance: Airlift Div

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    08 DCab 4X4 SR5 TRD Sport
    iPod Adapter, Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75" front, Wheelers 3-leaf 1.5" + overload rear (2"), custom carrier bearing drop spacers.
    Ok, This is my attempt to contribute to the community. For the first mod to my truck I just ordered WeatherTech Vent Visors to keep the rain out, or to crack the windows while on the highway - and I think they look pretty sharp.

    So far the experience has been good. WeatherTech's website is designed well, and the product descriptions and videos showing installation are a great addition. I do have some concerns that I would like to address, and then once I get them and install them I will write a review.

    Concerns:

    1) The WeatherTech Vent Visor is designed to fit inside the window frame, from what I can see between the window and the rubber weather seal. My first concern is with this installed will it wear out the weather seal and if you ever decide to remove it will the seal need to be replaced?

    2) Since from what I can tell it fits between the window and weather seal, will the window abrade on the vent visor where it pushes against it during opening and closing? Years down the road will the top of the window be scratched, opaque from constant wear?

    I should be getting them by the end of the week, so I'll get them installed, before and after pics, a detailed review, and I'll try to address my initial concerns. If anyone has insight into my current concerns, please contribute.

    Pictures: coming soon.

    Review: coming soon.
     
    coolyouth likes this.
  2. May 27, 2008 at 8:17 AM
    #2
    missileman125fw

    missileman125fw Well-Known Member

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    I have no desire to remove mine. As far as I'm concerned it will stay right where I put them. I think you will be happy with them after the install!
     
  3. May 27, 2008 at 8:19 AM
    #3
    hondabuster

    hondabuster Active Member

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    MN
    Vehicle:
    08 reg cab 4x2
    Tinted window,vent shades
    I had a weathertech in channel vent, on my silverado for many years. I liked it so much, it was one of the first mods I did to my Taco.
    The material is thin,where its in the channel. and the rubber gasket just squishes over. It gets a bit tight, when rolling the window up the last inch or so, but unless its really dusty, i just leave it open at least 1/2 inch all the time.
     
  4. May 27, 2008 at 9:01 AM
    #4
    Simon's Mom

    Simon's Mom Wag More Bark Less

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    NEK Island Pond VT
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    Stock for now
    I have only Weathertech Fronts on my DC. The same for my last two tundras. Ditto what the others have said. My only add-on is the edge that sits on the bottom near your side view mirror is sharp. Weathertech puts a piece of clear thick tape there, but on one of my tundras it cut through the rubber molding & my finger to boot. The edges can be sharp in places. I put an extra piece of clear packing tape prior to install. Sounds crazy but that was my experience. Review: These visor are functional & I like em a lot. :cool:
     
  5. May 27, 2008 at 9:37 AM
    #5
    Coreyjon

    Coreyjon [OP] Northern Alliance: Airlift Div

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    iPod Adapter, Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75" front, Wheelers 3-leaf 1.5" + overload rear (2"), custom carrier bearing drop spacers.
    It's these types of tricks I am trying to amass. I was wondering about adding something to the sharp edge to protect the weather seal from being damaged. Thanks for the input. I'm sure I will love them, but I always try to think down the road as I plan on keeping the truck until it dissolves back into the earth. (or if they stop producing gas first).
     
  6. May 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM
    #6
    warchi81

    warchi81 Active Member

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    Where and how much did you get them for? I'm also looking into getting these as I am a new 2008 DC owner.
     
  7. May 27, 2008 at 1:06 PM
    #7
    mrbjr

    mrbjr Active Member

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    Central CA
    Vehicle:
    '08 DC V6 4x4 TRD Sport
    TRD Exhaust,TRD Sport seat covers, Tube steps,Access Limited Bed Cover,WeatherTech floor mats, Billet Grill,AFE CAI,8"Shorty Antenna,ScanGaugeII.,5100s f/set @ .85, Console Safe.., Pirelli ATR's..,RoadMaster active suspension
    Realtruck.com has them for $94 front and rear. Not sure if they are the cheapest, but they are a good company to deal with.:D
     
  8. May 31, 2008 at 10:33 AM
    #8
    this_is_nascar

    this_is_nascar Well-Known Member

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    I've been using these for years, in every vechicle I've owned. They are great and I've never had a desire to remove them. I've traded/sold vechicles with them installed. What I really like about these ones on the Taco is that they're low-profile and not sticking way out like some of those others you see.
     
  9. May 31, 2008 at 11:09 AM
    #9
    tdm156

    tdm156 Well-Known Member

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    I have a set of those on my Explorer and the ones for the rear windows are great but I had to take the ones off the front as they are so thick that the power windows won't go all the way up and I have to help them get started when I roll them down. I love the look and quality but they are a bit too tight on my current ride. I figured I could sand them down just a tad and they would probably be great. I ordered mine from autoanything.com
     
  10. May 31, 2008 at 12:00 PM
    #10
    MurphMan

    MurphMan Senility Rocks!

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    * AFE Stage 2 XP CAI System * Westin Platinum Series Black Step Bars * TruXedo Lo Pro QT Soft Roll-Up Tonneau * Dee Zee Heavyweight Truck Bed Mat * WeatherTech Extreme-Duty Floor Liners * WeatherTech In-Channel Window Visors * Sony Xplod CDX-GT81UW Receiver * Sony Xplod 2-way speakers * Boss Audio BASS600 Amplified Subwoofer * Billet Grille Mod
    Used that brand on the last two exploders I had. Did the job, but at highway speeds they'd chatter a bit. Cracking the windows slightly made it stop. For the Taco I went with EGRs. No clue if they're any different, but I didn't want to take a chance. So far so good - working like a champ.

     
  11. May 31, 2008 at 2:11 PM
    #11
    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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    Escondido, CA
    Vehicle:
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    Weathertech front & rear mats, rear suspension TSB, Toytec AAL for TSB, Hi-Lift Jack, Bilstein 5100 & Toytec Adjustable coilovers, Built Right UCAs, KMC XD 795 Hoss Wheels, Definity Dakota MTs 285/75R16, Leer XR, Thule Tracker II & Thule MOAB basket
    They currently have a $20 off $100 order using the coupon code DMartin. Add a bottle of Synthetic Oil. The shipping causes the price to go up for the oil but the discount brings the total down to about $3 cheaper (plus you get the oil).
     
  12. Jun 1, 2008 at 9:39 AM
    #12
    Coreyjon

    Coreyjon [OP] Northern Alliance: Airlift Div

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    iPod Adapter, Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75" front, Wheelers 3-leaf 1.5" + overload rear (2"), custom carrier bearing drop spacers.
    Ok, time to post back with what I found.

    The fit - The fit was pretty good (I think they could have done a better job - I think I may be too picky).

    Outcome, I installed them all, was very quick, and all the windows worked out well except the passengers side front window, which when I put up, the vent visor cracked and a large piece ejected off. I took all the vent visors off, and now I guess I am going to call Weather tech and we will see. I did not like the extra effort the windows needed to be put in the up position as it also bowed out the weather seal. Again, maybe I'm too picky . I have an engineering background to go along with my crew-chief occupation so I have a hard time accepting things no matter how little. We will see how their customer service is, either way they won't be put back on. Decided that it wasn't worth it.

    I guess my first mod will end up being an exhaust system or my new in dash navigation.

    Notes: I did like how they looked once they where on. It was good looking, and they seamed to be very well made. except for the one that cracked (it was installed correctly, bottom on the seal and as in place as it could be - again I thought the fit could have been 5% better, it was close but my feelings are it could have been a smidge closer.)

    Not the fairytale story we all expected. I'm glad those who have them, like them. I think I go to too much extreme when thinking about how each thing I do will affect what ever I am doing it to.

    So, final verdict, unless you have to crack your windows when its raining out, then I would second guess the need for the vent visors, unless you absolutely only care about the look.

    Note: I can be overcritical, take everything I say with a grain of salt, and realize that most people are not as critical as I am, and this is actually a very good product - just not for me.
     
  13. Jul 23, 2008 at 6:36 PM
    #13
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

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    I know this post is kinda old. BUT...

    I almost didn't buy these because I was sacred that mine too would break. I called weathertech this morning, and asked about their warentee.. They said they would send me (1) replacement set if anything happened.. I bought them from a local seller, and installed them earlier today... easy as pie... no rub (that I can hear or sense) at all.. Way better than the old "tape application" I had on my '99..
     
  14. Jul 23, 2008 at 7:17 PM
    #14
    zombot

    zombot Scavenger

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    savannah
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    bull bar and offroad lights, tool box and other minor storage mods
    i have another brand of in-channel vent visors, and i love them.
    i don't think the thin strip of foam tape will damage the thcker, more rubber weather strip of the window.
    if anything, your weather strip will dry rot first!
    if you ever remove the visors, you might have to scrape off the foam tape, probably roll it off with a finger.

    installing them, you'll realize they are held in more by the pressure of their length vs the curve of the door.

    i thought they couldn't possibly work this well- figured they would just 'look cool'
    but they do block sun and rain excellently. a true comfort mod. worth it.
     
  15. Jul 23, 2008 at 8:00 PM
    #15
    Coreyjon

    Coreyjon [OP] Northern Alliance: Airlift Div

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    08 DCab 4X4 SR5 TRD Sport
    iPod Adapter, Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75" front, Wheelers 3-leaf 1.5" + overload rear (2"), custom carrier bearing drop spacers.
    Hind sight review:

    The fit was great compared to others, and if you want vent visors, these are the way to go. I just wasn't a fan of the extra rub on the windows as I was worried about the long term effects possibly affected the visibility through the section of window that came into contact with the visor. Unfounded as it may be, it bothered me, lol. I think I am much to particular when it comes to this stuff, but then I think I am slightly OCD, because it bugs me that my passenger side window is 1/4 second slower to close than my drivers side window.

    You don't want to know what I did with my visors, as I am kinda upset with myself....when I took them off, I put them back in the box, and sat them in the corner of my bedroom. I got sick of looking at them....and tossed em..:frusty:

    I should of offered them here for free, to a good home, I'm sorry guys, I'm normally a pack rat, I really am, and I think it was a brief moment of insanity as my apartment was a MESS and I went crazy cleaning (I don't normally let it get any where close to as messy as it was because I can't stand when it does)

    To those who want vent visors, go with weathertech, no finer products exist for what it is, I think I just man handled them a bit too much which caused it to crack, that coupled with my OCD, and frusteration from what I had done may have caused me to over react, something I am not known for doing.

    Thats it for my hind sight is 20/20 review 2.0.
     
  16. Jul 23, 2008 at 8:48 PM
    #16
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

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    Hey OCD can be a good thing.. like making sure she is 18.. hehehehehe... j/k.. I was under the impression there would be some type of rubbing sound or feel when the windows went up to the top.. nothing..
     
  17. Jul 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
    #17
    genxer36

    genxer36 Lord of Tomfoolery

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    Bethlehem,GA
    Tow package, XM Satellite radio, K & N Air filter, & Channel Vent Visors
    I love my in-channel vent visors. You do have some scraping at first, but after a little time the scraping goes away. After the sticky tape has dried, I'm assuming. I don't see why you would ever want to remove them.

    I leave mine cracked every morning when I get home from work, so it isn't too hot in my truck in the afternoon. This works well & keeps the rain out.
     
  18. Jul 23, 2008 at 9:46 PM
    #18
    botayota

    botayota Well-Known Member

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    Blue Crush Metallic
    How about a weathertech stone and bug deflector? Anyone install one of these on their Taco? Or is there a better brand? I had Autovent shade window vent visors on my 2000 but they were stick on, and the bug deflector was Toyota, but I purchase it with those already installed. My 1st mods for my '09 will be Vent visors, and a stone/bug deflector.



    BY
     
  19. Jul 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM
    #19
    genxer36

    genxer36 Lord of Tomfoolery

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    Tow package, XM Satellite radio, K & N Air filter, & Channel Vent Visors
    My in-channels I bought on ebay(not weather tech) for my 05 DC. paid $45 with shipping for all 4 windows.


    Link for Tacoma in-channel vent visors from $24:

    http://motors.shop.ebay.com/_Car-Tr...nelQ20ventQ20visorsQ20tacomaQQ_fxdZ1QQ_ptasZ1
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #19
  20. Jul 23, 2008 at 9:59 PM
    #20
    genxer36

    genxer36 Lord of Tomfoolery

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    How much are the weather tech?
     

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