Gonna try to tint my own windows

No looking to spend $180+ to do my 2 front windows. Was looking at buying a kit to do it myself for around 1/3 of the price.

Anyone try doing it? I was thinking that would pull the door panels off and all the exterior trim pieces to make it a bit easier.

The pros make it look so easy on YouTube.
https://www.rvinyl.com/Toyota-Tundra-2007-2020-2-Door-Window-Tint-Kits.html

 

$180? My 2 fronts were $99 I would call around to other shops

 

Yeah you're gettin hosed at that price. Local shop here quoted me $100 to do just the front two and brow on my Sequoia

 

Attempted several years back on my Wrangler. The 'premium' kit was shit tint (purple-ish even though it claimed black) and a waste of time and money. All the cleaning in the world but still had a couple of specks of dust get under while I was applying and turned into bubbles later and the color was off. Maybe with more patience and a hermetically sealed environment you'd have better luck than me. I ended up just ripping it off a week later and bringing it to an adult to tint it properly.

And $180 is high unless it's ceramic tint. I paid closer to $100 for the windows on my Taco but that was 3 years ago. Bringing it to my local tint dude in Windham again (Tints R' Us) for my Tundra next week, if you feel like driving 45 minutes, i'd highly highly recommend him.

 

I did my own on the last two Tundras. I can comfortably do the two fronts by myself but if it were four side windows and a rear, forget it. I ordered the precut tint from filmvantage on eBay and made a slight adjustment to their precut pattern

 

The options are far and few between where I live. My buddy just paid $170 to have his front doors done. He drove 50 miles round trip to get it done.

 

I’ll take a look at that. What kind of adjustment did you have to make?

 

Might be worth doing that. My garage is far from hermetically sealed lol.
My son is moving to So.Po in 2 weeks so maybe I’ll just make an appointment for the middle of July and go visit him while I’m up there.

 

Tinting windows is something that you get better at with a lot of practice. The more you do, the better and easier it gets.
That's why I would shop around for better price.

 

I trimmed off a little bit of extra film in the vertical section near the sail panel/mirror area. I always order 2-3 kits that way I have a 2nd or 3rd try for each window. Without making the extra trim I couldn’t get that edge to lay flat.

 

IMO, just pay the money and have it professionally done. Perhaps start a go fund me or something.

 

I think I’m gonna check out who @FlyingWolfe recommended. Sounds like it’s worth the drive if I can get it done for are $100 or so.

 

I have watched tint being installed by a professional enough times that I believe I could do it if I had the tools ( super sharp razors ), and a large glass top work table. The key is to clean the inside of the window you are about to tint, and keep it wet as you position the material on the glass before pressing the bubbles out with a squeegee

 

Yup lots of soapy water

 

That was a few years ago and a much smaller truck but I just called Snook up (he owns the business) and he said he's booking into the end of July right now and prices did go up a little bit, the two fronts are $150. He said to give him a call in a couple of weeks to firm up an appointment (that's what I'm currently doing anyways but if you decide on that I mentioned someone down south with an idential truck as a possibility). If not, nbd. Just a tried and trusted dude around here.

 

I've had decent luck with the $13 pre-cut Ebay stuff. Did my Tundra front windows last week. Like someone else said, it gets easier with more practice. This is my 5th set of front windows. Just heat to shrink prior, then apply with a bunch of soapy water (I use baby soap). It also helps to have a plethora of tint applying squeegees.

Pictures don't really tell much, but I'm pleased. 50%. Just needed something to help with sun block on my 1 arm tan.

 

As has already been suggested the real keys to success are to clean more than you think is needed and then apply film with intention of just fitting it first when floating on top of soapy water.

You can always get rid of the soapy water but can rarely get rid of any dirt once it is on adhesive.

So keep it wet and cut with a fine blade metal OLFA knife to the exact fit that you want including tucking it in on the bottom so the edge is not sliding across weatherstipping as the window is rolled up and down and once positioned and ready to set hose the shit out of the glass again and also the back of film before placing and sliding into position and setting any edges that will be hidden and then just slide the water out with a good squeegee.

Cutting the top window edge profile with the film hanging over a little slowly with the film set by getting water out from a center part of the film so that it stays in place during cutting just cut along the window edge and then re-wet and slide down into position.

It is a lot easier looking than it is for sure and only practice makes improvement.

 

clean clean and clean again.and indoors if at all possible to prevent dust under the tint.Just had mine done ,looks awesome and took 30 minutes for 2 front door and sun strip on windshield.$160.

 

Thanks for the info. I’ll give him a call when I decide what I’m gonna do.

 

I’ve tried it a couple times, I won’t do it again. Good luck to you! Some people have skills , I’m not one of them when it comes to this job. I paid $180 for all of my windows, in and out in two hours.

 

Good call!

 

Got my two front done for $104 Top of the line tint + lifetime warranty

 

I just had mine done a month and a half ago. Stripped old tint and installed ceramic to include the windshield was just under $400.

 

I’d love to tint my front but the highway patrol and local law enforcement would be all over that! Looks great!

 

I used this one off Ebay and super easy to install 140943775501

 

I've bought the precut ebay kits for under $30 and installed it on a Prius and old Honda Passport. It wasnt perfect, especially the rear window but it was good enough. I was thinking about doing it to the Tundra too.

 

That’s more than worth it at that price!

 

It looks dark because of the 5% on the rest of the windows. This is from the inside.

 

Good luck with that!