Broke my rear window, Dangit!!’

Glen Even

Active member
Jan 16, 2023
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Has anyone have any experience getting a replacement & installing one. I’m going to need some advice. 😩
 

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Some owners have easy time. Others struggle…


My local glass company came over. Taped up the broke glass to remain as one piece. Then Removed the glass and plastic up the hole. They used that glass as template, had a new one made and a week later installed the new glass. It was a little clear, so brought it in and had window film installed for tint. A year later found a crack and they did it a second time. No issues.

Some say window should be tempered. Mine was not, and was not an option for a replacement. (Cost). I know some have gotten used glass.

Some have has to make a template.

They reused the gasket on mine. No big deal.
 
That's the only piece of flat glass on the coach, so any glass shop should be able to make you a new one. Or find a parts coach with one in it
 
Some owners have easy time. Others struggle…


My local glass company came over. Taped up the broke glass to remain as one piece. Then Removed the glass and plastic up the hole. They used that glass as template, had a new one made and a week later installed the new glass. It was a little clear, so brought it in and had window film installed for tint. A year later found a crack and they did it a second time. No issues.

Some say window should be tempered. Mine was not, and was not an option for a replacement. (Cost). I know some have gotten used glass.

Some have has to make a template.

They reused the gasket on mine. No big deal.
I had assumed that the rear window from the factory was tempered. I went and looked at my coach and looked for a label that showed if it was either tempered or laminated like the windshield. Nothing was there. So I am assuming it is laminated and can't be broken to be used as an emergency exit. Except you could exit the rear if the "pull ring" is still present.

Reason for my concern was using it as an emergency exit in the event of fire or accident rendering escape by the entrance door impossible. I still have the pull ring that allows the window to fall out. In addition I could escape through the newer windows as they are tempered and I have 3 of those tempered glass hammers hanging on hooks in the coach.

I think it makes sense to have plans in place on how to get out of the coach in case of emergency and do practice (without breaking glass of course) fire/accident escape drills.

1726589569313.png


 
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I had assumed that the rear window from the factory was tempered. I went and looked at my coach and looked for a label that showed if it was either tempered or laminated like the windshield. Nothing was there. So I am assuming it is laminated and can't be broken to be used as an emergency exit. Except you could exit the rear if the "pull ring" is still present.

Reason for my concern was using it as an emergency exit in the event of fire or accident rendering escape by the entrance door impossible. I still have the pull ring that allows the window to fall out. In addition I could escape through the newer windows as they are tempered and I have 3 of those tempered glass hammers hanging on hooks in the coach.

I think it makes sense to have plans in place on how to get out of the coach in case of emergency and do practice (without breaking glass of course) fire/accident escape drills.

View attachment 11727


There is a possibility that rear is tempered from factory, but I cant guarantee it. I think over 50 years now there maybe have been lots if replaced glass so who knows.

Photo above obviously not tempered. Mine was not tempered. I had different answers from suppliers when I called.

Either way, there are many, including mine.. that put film on windows. It sure helps with heat and some privacy. Film on window will
Make a window not bust apart to escape.

The ring is just a wire ring that goes around a round rubber rope. Grab the ring to start, And pull, pull around glass. And the glass will easily push out.

I am fairly certain little old me if needed could push hard enough to get glass to push out without removing that rubber rope.

In event of emergency, it is hard
To say what could happen. There are simple tragedies, and there are miracles of survival in many incidents/accidents. I am fairly confident my window rope would pull out and i vould push the window aside. But not sure how agile I could be climbing out without hurting myself.
 
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Tempered glass makes no sense for the rear window. A stone thrown up by a mower or truck and the glass would shatter into those little tempered glass marbles...you'd now have to do something about it immediately.

I'm 99&44/100ths % sure it's laminated, which makes sense because of the emergency release pull ring. The whole thing comes out in one piece whether the glass is broken or not, and people wouldn't have to scramble over broken glass bits.

Any glass shop can cut a new laminated glass replacement. Have it tinted prior to installation.

R
 
Well those sure seem like contradictory entries in the parts book and maintenance manual. Is it possible they made a running change one year? That looks like one of the earlier maintenance manuals if I remember the part numbers correctly.
 
It has been suggested that I take out the rear window I cracked by backing into an oak tree branch. Then place it on a sheet of paper & daw a template. Tempered glass is about $400.00’s. Another option is a Polycarb plastic. It also can be tinted & costs $134.00 to $150.00. Sounds better to me.
Has anyone tried it?
 
It has been suggested that I take out the rear window I cracked by backing into an oak tree branch. Then place it on a sheet of paper & daw a template. Tempered glass is about $400.00’s. Another option is a Polycarb plastic. It also can be tinted & costs $134.00 to $150.00. Sounds better to me.
Has anyone tried it?
Plastic will scratch and cloud up over the years. Certain dusts are very abrasive, so even cleaning it will degrade it over time. It's cheaper for the short term, if that's what is most important.