Vent shades - In-channel or stick on?

Auce

New member
My stick ons, cheapo ebay ones I got years back are about done. I was looking into the AVS or weathertech. Are there any cons to in-channel? Do they put any strain on the power window motor? I like to drive with the windows open a lot, I'm also a smoker.
 
Register to hide this ad
i prefer stick on. i have avs on my 4runner. my son got in channel for his taco. one day....on a bumpy back road with windows down the rear pass side 0ne popped out and he did not know till he got to the campsite. by then long gone.
plus I think the avs stick ons look better on the 4runners
 
I prefer the in channel deflectors because they have shown me to be more durable. I put a set of Wade (Westin) on my '96 SR5 about 8 years ago. When that 4Runner was totaled by a near head-on, I removed them and put them on the replacement 4Runner, a 2000 SR5. They have been great.

We had a set of AVS stick-ons on my wife's 2005 Outback and they sucked. Seemed like every spring I had to replace the adhesive on at least one of them.

I've done a little shopping for you as I was curious. I used Autoanything because they have served me well over the years for this type of stuff and are very price competitive.

Westin/Wade in channel deflectors - Autoanything
AVS in channel deflectors - Autoanything
Weathertech in channel deflectors - Autoanything
 
Last edited:
I prefer the in channel deflectors because they have shown me to be more durable. I put a set of Wade (Westin) on my '96 SR5 about 8 years ago. When that 4Runner was totaled by a near head-on, I removed them and put them on the replacement 4Runner, a 2000 SR5. They have been great.

We had a set of AVS stick-ons on my wife's 2005 Outback and they sucked. Seemed like every spring I had to replace the adhesive on at least one of them.

I've done a little shopping for you as I was curious. I used Autoanything because they have served me well over the years for this type of stuff and are very price competitive.

Westin/Wade in channel deflectors - Autoanything
AVS in channel deflectors - Autoanything
Weathertech in channel deflectors - Autoanything
All of those links lead to westin in channel deflectors which is weird. Got any pictures of your in channel deflectors?
 
All of those links lead to westin in channel deflectors which is weird. Got any pictures of your in channel deflectors?

Lol. I probably pasted the same command-v link for all three. I think I fixed it, now. Try again!

You'll have to enter the vehicle info to get the price on each. The Wade/Westin are the least expensive for a four piece set, I believe. And I've had no issue with quality.
 
Last edited:
On the '96.
1150992_10151787473559598_864330583_n.jpg


On the 2000. A poor picture of the visors, but a good picture of my Thule rack.
riceye-albums-ric-s-pics-picture51829-unadjustednonraw-thumb-1152-a.jpg
 
On the '96.
1150992_10151787473559598_864330583_n.jpg


On the 2000. A poor picture of the visors, but a good picture of my Thule rack.
riceye-albums-ric-s-pics-picture51829-unadjustednonraw-thumb-1152-a.jpg

Happen to know the part number for the Thule rack the towers? My stock crossbars are showing signs of weakness after carrying a Yakima skybox 19.
 
Happen to know the part number for the Thule rack the towers? My stock crossbars are showing signs of weakness after carrying a Yakima skybox 19.

I do like my bar setup. They install/remove in a minute, and are bombproof. I take them off in winter because of salt and corrosion.

If you're made of money, you can get the newer Thule Podium 460 with either the square bars or the aerodynamic wing bars...

Thule fit my car - 2000 Toyota 4Runner

Or, if your cheap (like me) you can watch fb marketplace, craigslist or ebay for these feet...

Set of 4 Thule 430 TrackerII foot pack

And these bars. The LB50 will span the width, but the LB58 are the same price and I find the added length useful...

Thule LB58 load bars

Also, check out Yakima. They have similar stuff and accessories are all compatible anymore. The feet and crossbars need to be the same mfr, though. Another platform is Malone racks. Not quite as high a price as the Thule or Yakima, but also (imho) not as robust.
 
I do like my bar setup. They install/remove in a minute, and are bombproof. I take them off in winter because of salt and corrosion.

If you're made of money, you can get the newer Thule Podium 460 with either the square bars or the aerodynamic wing bars...

Thule fit my car - 2000 Toyota 4Runner

Or, if your cheap (like me) you can watch fb marketplace, craigslist or ebay for these feet...

Set of 4 Thule 430 TrackerII foot pack

And these bars. The LB50 will span the width, but the LB58 are the same price and I find the added length useful...

Thule LB58 load bars

Also, check out Yakima. They have similar stuff and accessories are all compatible anymore. The feet and crossbars need to be the same mfr, though. Another platform is Malone racks. Not quite as high a price as the Thule or Yakima, but also (imho) not as robust.

Thanks, I didn't want to spend 500 bucks on the new thule components.I am looking at fb market place and Craigs list. Appreciate it.
 
On a non Toyota product I had in channel visors. They created problems for the electric motors. I have had AVS stick on multiple vehicles with no issue. They have been thru many car washes.

I make sure the vehicle is clean. Wipe down the area with proper alcohol wipes. Typically install after the vehicle has sat overnight in our heated garage.
 
On a non Toyota product I had in channel visors. They created problems for the electric motors. I have had AVS stick on multiple vehicles with no issue. They have been thru many car washes.

I make sure the vehicle is clean. Wipe down the area with proper alcohol wipes. Typically install after the vehicle has sat overnight in our heated garage.

That was my fear WC, the motors. I'll probably go with the stick ons.
 
Ive had AVS in channel for the last 7 years and i think they look way better. The motors handle them just fine.

I put some double sided 3m tape on mine then rolled up the windows to seat the glue better. I think ive replaced the tape once but I always live in the desert.

calimobber-albums-pictures-picture49218-visors-1.jpg


calimobber-albums-pictures-picture49217-visors-2.jpg
 
Last edited:
I love my wade in channel ones. No issues with the window motors. They look good and work well.
 
I have the in channel weather tech ones a few years now. The first couple times the window motors worked a little harder. After the visors found their positions there have been no issues. They haven't got loose and I have had no problems. Highly recommend them. Great product and great quality.
 
I have the in channel weather tech ones a few years now. The first couple times the window motors worked a little harder. After the visors found their positions there have been no issues. They haven't got loose and I have had no problems. Highly recommend them. Great product and great quality.

Are they the ones Dave that are like 120$+? I wonder what makes them twice the price as the AVS?
 
I have the weather tech in channel for about 15 years. No problems except in winter. They rattle with the window open because the cold causes the rubber window seal to shrink. Other than that I love the look.
 
The in channel look better, but I didn't like the idea of wearing out the motors and scratching up the window tint so I've had the stick on for 8 years. No issues with them coming up or off. They cover a little more also. One got broke in a hail storm last year so I have another set waiting to go on whenever I'm bored. Probably in the fall when the threat of another hail storm goes down.
 
The in channel look better, but I didn't like the idea of wearing out the motors and scratching up the window tint so I've had the stick on for 8 years. No issues with them coming up or off. They cover a little more also. One got broke in a hail storm last year so I have another set waiting to go on whenever I'm bored. Probably in the fall when the threat of another hail storm goes down.
Window tint is applied to the inside of the window so I don’t see how the in channel window visors would scratch the tint
 
Window tint is applied to the inside of the window so I don’t see how the in channel window visors would scratch the tint

They don't. I ran In-Channels on my Chevy for the better part of 6 years on 2 different trucks. I even removed them and gave them to my Uncle when I traded in the truck!
 
I have external on my 2WD (for several years) and bought in-channel for my 4WD but hadn't installed them yet.

What are the disadvantages of in-channel, if any, when you want to replace the window seals?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,120
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top