Rain guards, or sometimes referred to as wind deflectors, are some of the most overlooked automotive accessories. This is mostly due to the fact that people who never experienced their effects, don’t know what they are missing out on. However, once you fit them to your car, it can be hard to imagine how you ever got along without them. They can improve your vehicle’s aerodynamics, allow you to drive it with the windows down when it’s raining and reduce noises from wind when driving with the window cracked. So, let’s jump right in and see what the two types of rain guards are and which one is right for you.
In-Channel Rain Guards
In-channel rain guards are mounted on the inside of the upper part of your windows. They stay in place relying on tension, or in some cases tape – it’s important to clarify that this tape is not the same as the ones found in our desks. This tape is 3M™ automotive-grade double-sided foam tape. Due to its strength, many auto-mobile manufacturers use it for the attachment of chrome trim parts on their assembly lines.
The advantage of in-channel rain guards is that they are very easy to install and you don’t have to worry about any adhesive residue sticking to painted surfaces as the tape comes with a protective backing that is to be peeled off before final installation. These car window rain guards are the better option when it comes to installation in my opinion. The tucked-in look of the rain guard gives it a more neat appearance and with the right colour, it can look as it was made for your car especially.
Exterior Mounted Rain Guards
Unlike in-channel rain guards, exterior window visors, as you’d probably guessed, are attached to the exterior of the car, specifically to the top part of the door frame. They are attached using the same tape mentioned before for the in-channel model. However, because they are being attached to the door frame, these rain guards require more precision when applying the tape. In order to align the guard properly, you need to position it evenly between the top part of the window and the top part of the door.
The advantages that exterior mounted rain guards have over the in-channel type is that they don’t interfere with the inner working of the window since sometimes the guard can prevent the window form opening and closing the window properly. However, in most cases this happens due to improper installation of the car window rain guards.
