Are All Escape Windows Dark-Tinted?

[MrLynn]

Every time there's a thread about windows, I think about mine, but rather than derail a thread, I'll start one of my own:

I notice, especially in Autumn as the days grow short, that sitting in our 2019 Escape in early morning or late afternoon, I turn the lights on because it's getting dark out. But then I step outside, and it's not dark at all! The rather smoky tint of our frameless windows has shortened the day even further.

Well, the obvious solution is to spend less time inside and more out, but sometimes it's cold outside, baby.

Doubtless many camping in hot summer afternoons and running their ACs will relish the darkened windows, keeping the cool in and the heat out. Maybe we will, too, though we've yet to need the AC since we got Farther Along (our new trailer name) last April.

Anyway, I was just wondering whether tinting, and its degree, is ever an option, or is it decreed by the Escape Production gods on high? I think if I had a choice with a new build, I'd pick a lighter tint for some windows, and maybe no tint at all for some others (e.g. the one over the galley).

It's just an idle question, as we're not building a new one anytime soon, but might be of interest to some in the process.

[cpaharley2008]

Every Escape I have owned and seen has the tinted windows......

[Eggscape]

Yes they are all tinted except the front window of your 19. You can be thankful of that and that you do have a front window. The 5 does not and the 21 if selected is a much smaller window.

We agree the trailer is darkish inside. Our last 19 ft stick trailer with smaller and few windows appeared lighter. We got the kitchen window which helps but I would have liked it to be 3 times the width.

[WillyB]

We ordered our 21C with the additional front window and the window over the drawer set so we would have more natural light.

I'm okay with the tinting though. Having had cataract surgery in both eyes I where sunglasses a lot.

[Selkirk]

Just a guess, but since all windows (except for the front covered one) are double glazed, I bet that Lippert uses the same tinted float glass for both panes when they are manufactured. That would explain why the windows appear darker on Escape trailers vs much of the competition (which tend to use single pane windows as standard).

If that is indeed the case, I doubt Lippert would offer any option for a lighter tint version of a double-glaze unit. However, if you are able order a single-glaze version in the same size, the tint might be lighter (though much less thermally efficient/condensation resistant).

[SageRpod]

We had the opposite experience. The 5.0 has more windows on one side than the Rpod had in total. It is considerably lighter (the modern interior panelling helps too) inside. The darkened windows did fool us though, on our first couple of nights in the PNW a few weeks ago. With the sun rising at 8 and setting at 4 with clouds and rain all day, along with dark windows to boot, you kinda felt you should be wearing your headlamp all day. A little too much for this desert rat.

[Rossue]

I believe our 2010 17B with single pane windows were a lighter shade than our "thermal windows". ETI's Hehr rep told back in 2014 that the best attribute in his opinion of the dual pane was sound attenuation, i.e. quieter. He said Hehr was hesitant to go the dual pane route, yet the competition made them do it.

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by Rossue

I believe our 2010 17B with single pane windows were a lighter shade than our "thermal windows". . .

That would tend to validate Selkirk's hypothesis.