I am an industrial design student from the Technical University Delft in the Netherlands. I am currently developing a new sun visor for a trucking company in Europe and I am interested in your opinions and experiences with external sun visors (like the example on the image).
You would really help me if you could answer the following questions, and this feedback will be directly used in the design of the new sun visor.
· Do you consider a sun visor as a styling feature or as a purely functional object? (or a combination, and why?)
· Does a sun visor protect adequately against the sun, or would it be an improvement if it would be more or less transparent or smaller/larger in some situations? (for example a sun visor that is bigger and/or darker during daytime)
· Does a sun visor blocks the overview in some situations? Would you be interested if the sun visor is not visible when it is not needed?
· Are there any other wishes or complaints? (for example integrated lights, or annoying noise from wind)
Thanks for your responses!
New 66 - 2016 Merc Actros has graduated tinted glass so no need for an external visor.
The problem with having an external visor is it can be broken and also makes cleaning up inside the visor difficult.
A pointless exercise trying to improve on something the American and Australians have used tried and tested for well into 80 years or more .
I think the job can be done with tinted glass as Nick has said. As in coaches and some cars. So really its a styling accessory, manufacturers spend a fortune developing the most streamlined cab within the constraints’ of function and legislation. But sadly what they produce always seems to look far better with a visor fitted.
The biggest problem I’ve seen with a lot of truck visors is they break over time. Due to the airflow acting on weak spots.
Wear a cap. There you go mate, don’t need to bother with your research now.
Go and get a job.
As mentioned, trucks seem to look better with them than without. I think they’re essential on an man, but everything else is more vanity than functional. If I was designing one, I’d probably make a rubber or foam dam to go between the visor and the cab, and try and get the visor as tight to the cab as possible, like the 4/r series scania, to try and restrict the wind lifting it.
It’s more a styling feature, than a functional object.
Most trucks without them look like an old bloke, with his baseball cap back to front (wrong in more than one way)
If you made them bigger, they would be in the way to see road signs, or in case of distribution, overhanging shopfronts when manoeuvring.
Have a look at the old Daf 2800 / 3300, you had to lay with your head on the dashboard to see the Dutch traffic lights (they are not placed across the junction)
In general they are very vulnerable, overly expensive, and don’t really offer anything than ironing out a design problem.
Electric operating sun blinds as in many modern truck are a much better solution.
A band of photochromic material at the top of the windscreen would be a much better solution.
On a different subject, in general sun visor have a negative influence on the streamline = equals fuel consumption.
I’ve got an Actros, not a truck designed for anyone over 6ft.
I actually look straight ahead, and I’m half looking through my sun visor. The pull down ones in the cab will never be touched by me, may as well paint the windscreen black.
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