Frameless Window Failure

[CADreamin]

Sitting here with windows open and MaxxFan on ... and lots of air going through the trailer. Posting photos of the sliding windows with the awning (manual) not deployed for those who are interested.

[Greg A]

Rain here in AZ if and when it happens causes quite a stir and is talked about for months.
Now that I've met many of the Escape owners from the PNW at the Quartzsite gathering I have a better understanding of the vast difference of having to camp frequently in the rain and the different needs that requires on the trailers.
I personally still probably wouldn't go with the frameless windows if I lived in the PNW just for the potential stress factor of something failing while I'm out camping and trying to relax. I certainly understand how the awning window would be more preferable in a rainy environment.
It is a big difference in the awning discussion as well. In the SW where the sun is always out, we need to be able to tilt and slope the awning to match the angle of the sun for the awning to be able to provide shade. Awnings here have nothing to do with rain occuring, only providing shade. In the PNW the awnings are mostly needed to provide cover from rain so not as much need for tilt and slope.
When one is making decisions on these items, a big factor is where you are going to primarily use the trailer. No need for frameless awing windows or power awnings here in the SW but a bigger need for those items if you live in the PNW.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I gave one away at an Escape Rally, just to be clear, sliders will leak if you do not maintain them and clean out the weep holes.

Jim in all our 30plus years and other RV's never had leaking slider windows . Never drilled holes either , not to say it can't happen , just not our experience . Pat

[gbaglo]

Has it rained in California in 30 years?

[CADreamin]

Jim is spot on about keeping the weep holes clean. We found out about these little gems when we owned a houseboat and walked in one day after the area had experienced heavy winter rains. Nothing like finding a wet wall growing mushrooms. The repair guy admonished us for having 'plugged' weep holes and told us we could have saved ourselves a bit of money by just maintaining these holes which allow water to drain outside instead of overflowing inside.

[Bakes99]

I guess a future concern is what happens when the warranty expires. I'm assuming that you would go through ETI and just pay out of pocket or would you go through Hehr? Little a head of the game, but something i've been thinking about?

[cpaharley2008]

Nah, I'll just continue to buy a new one before the warranty period expires, do not want to risk running out of propane.............

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by Bakes99

I guess a future concern is what happens when the warranty expires. I'm assuming that you would go through ETI and just pay out of pocket or would you go through Hehr? Little a head of the game, but something i've been thinking about?

There are companies out there that specialize in repairing RV windows. Both framed and non framed styles , single and dual pane. We have one up in Hudson Fl that is very highly rated. and if mine are out of warranty I'll probably have them repair them. They offer a lifetime warranty on their work and have been in business for over 20 years. I contacted them to make sure they do work on our style and they do. He did say the dual pane framed style have higher failure rates as they tend the suck moisture in and it etches the inside of the glass. Ours do not to do that.

[cpaharley2008]

Florida is a lot closer than Chilliwack.....good to know.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by CADreamin

Jim is spot on about keeping the weep holes clean. We found out about these little gems when we owned a houseboat and walked in one day after the area had experienced heavy winter rains. Nothing like finding a wet wall growing mushrooms. The repair guy admonished us for having 'plugged' weep holes and told us we could have saved ourselves a bit of money by just maintaining these holes which allow water to drain outside instead of overflowing inside.

I keep a little drill bit in both of our campers just big enough to slide up into the weep hole while twisting it with my fingers. The flutes in the drill bit help grab stuff and pull it out of the hole while twisting rather than pushing it back up in. Works for us...

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Folks on FGRV were saying they are no longer made.

They are not, or at least were not, for awhile. I called the company once to ask about them for our EggCamper, and that's what they told me. BUT! With the resurgence of interest in camping and small campers among retiring baby boomers, they said they might do a market study and bring them back into production if warranted. So they might be available again sometime in the future, if not already.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Has it rained in California in 30 years?

Our kids know what "rain" means, so- Yes.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Has it rained in California in 30 years?

Rained last year and we travel through Oregon and Washington yearly .Pat

[Bakes99]

It appears that i'm the only one they've heard of having the same window delaminate twice. Just my luck.
Really concerned about after warranty coverage as they are covered for one year.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by Bakes99

It appears that i'm the only one they've heard of having the same window delaminate twice. Just my luck.
Really concerned about after warranty coverage as they are covered for one year.

Are you saving the old ones since they do not want them back?
I saved one and hopefully will not wish I had saved both. I figure I can send that one to a window rebuilding place to have it fixed if needed. Or use a part off it if the glass is ever shattered or something breaks.

[SBuckner]

I too had a small kitchen window separate - it happened earlier this summer and I just got the replacement window delivered yesterday...hope Hehr has it straightened out. I've had my trailer about 10 months so hate to be on the hook should another one fail after the warranty expires.

[suncoastdancers]

I had three delaminated windows replaced by ETI today. I also had a chance to talk with Reace.

Reace told me that the problem is only with the small split windows. The other size windows from Hehr are not seeing the same problem. He first felt that it was a "poor batch" but now feels that it is a quality control problem leading to random failures. There are apparently 5 steps in curing the adhesive on each window, so it is more complex than one would have assumed.

He said that the replacements have a 12 month warranty and would be replaced again if they failed during this period.

More clarification on the Carefree awning option. The awning post clearly restricts the opening of the frameless window. Closing the awning on a fully opened window would likely damage the window or winding mechanism. A consideration if you are considering this combination.

[cpaharley2008]

and something else to remember in those early morning sojourns to quickly go out and manually take down and close the manual awning.....wait.....did I close that window first....oh, no. Help....I have one awning arm closing and the other one about 3" from my window....scenario. With the power awning. just...wait for it...........push the button and close halfway...while standing inside the safety of your trailer....leaving your windows open to collect the cool air when it is raining outside.

[Oldtimer]

If one can not notice that their window is open when taking down their manual awning, what else are they missing putting up. Stinkiy hose, power cord, raising stabilizer jacks......... off on and so on

[Iowa Dave]

Checklists with an order of execution are the only way to go for us. Posted on the inner door frame and added to or modified as conditions change, they have saved me money from leaving things behind several times.
Iowa Dave