Thermal Pane Window Replacement

OK - finally broke through with Dustin. He had emailed me back and his response went to my spam :facepalm: He did say that he is on the phone pretty much non-stop in the summer and recommended email communications as I now learned.

My story will be a repeat of Rossue. Dustin said that they only order windows with each trailer order. I had hoped that maybe they keep a little bit of inventory.

I would recommend that anybody who needs a window verify the part number with ETI. Dustin told me that the part number for my entire window was V000505731. When I called Lipert, I only had a about a 2min wait. They will sell me just the broken window - that part number is V000580317. The window was $100US. Unfortunately, the shipping was about the same cost. I was told that they need about 2 weeks to make it, and a 1 week to ship. Not too bad.

Once I get it replaced and installed, I'll shoot an email out.

So duct tape will work until I get my replacement. At least we're in the dry season now.
Thank you for the update. It's good to know they're trying and I think we can cut them some slack during these crazy times. I've been going back and forth with wondering about quality and customer service. Then there are the price increases. It's good to get this kind of feedback from owners so us prospective buyers can keep our expectations in check.
 
I have a bike rack, but the end of the handle bar that you see is actually about 1' from the body. I guess the angle of the picture doesn't make that so clear.

My handlebar was at least one foot away as well, yet I know it was what broke the window as I also see marks on the frame like hammering. Your broken window is above the handlebar.

Plan to cover that handlebar with a foam pad of some kind going forward. We've used the 1Up rack for over 5 years with no incidents, yet the last trip had some pretty severe undulating roads- like ice heaves and with shadows couldn't always see them in time to slow way down.
 

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Yikes - I received my new window but it was a single pane. I merely passed along the part number info. along for the entire window and they pulled up the part number for the piece of the window that I needed. I guess it's not obvious from the picture that the interior window is visible.

I called them back and they are going to send me a replacement on them. But the nice lady from Lippert had to dig to find the correct part number.

I guess I didn't think that these windows were available as single pane? Not the end of the world and I still feel pretty good about Lippert. So far they have been very good and are working to clear an honest mistake.

But lesson for me and others - double check the details in addition to the part number.
 
I was given the wrong part number initially by Dustin @ Escape. It was for a Gen2 21 with the frameless even though I provided my year make- which back then was the framed picture window.

Fortunately Ashley @ Lippert after providing the quote wanted me to be sure it was the correct window by measuring. I could see a line down the middle of the glass and having seen that before in a Gen2 knew it was wrong. Dustin provided the correct number and apologized for the inconvenience. Cost me another week, yet the window goes in tomorrow. It did take 5 weeks.
 
we did ours (frameles, thermal) and it was quite straightforward. did some searching on you tube. toughest part was dealing with the blinds and valance. took our time. took pictures as we went so we had an idea of how the end product was supposed to look!

easier on the relationship than backing the trailer into a camping spot!
did you do the door window as well?
 
Sorry, we only did the kitchen window but I can’t imagine it would differ too much in process.
 
I replace my door window because it was broken by thieves to get in, and the bath window as it was one of those units that delaminated. Both were real easy to swap out. Less than an hour for both. Still going strong after many years now.
 
Found this old thread as both panes in my rear split frameless window were broken by a stray hockey puck.

Escape has a full window replacement in stock @ $913.86 (not sure if tax included).

Called Lippert and theirs are $1208.95, presumably USD. You can get the individual panes for $299.95 (left sash, as it's called) and $282.95 (right sash), plus (freight) shipping for around $266 for a total of $839.48. That's still USD so clearly a better deal to get the entire window from Escape.

I'm pondering whether I should buy some Lexan and attempt a repair. Only the outside (tinted) panes are shattered; the inside (clear) panes are intact and include the seal around the glass that fits into the window frame. I'd have to glue these on to the Lexan in just the right position so that (1) they seat properly within the window frame, and (2) the top of the Lexan meets the hinge above the window just right.

Anybody ever tried this?
 
Is the ETI price in $CAD? That's $637US. If so, as cheap as I am, and as always tempted to DIY I'd go that route. :)

I have played around from time to time with sealed units and you can put them back together but they will never again be truly sealed units. They will be subject to fogging, maybe not as much as now but not great for the long term.

Given the cost of the lexan, the matching of the tint to the existing windows, and the value of the trailer and the possible devaluation with homemade sealed units, I'd go for the ETI solution.

Ron
 
Thanks Ron. I'm thinking the same. Too many things that can go wrong, and even if perfectly done it won't be exactly like factory.

That said, I'm not a fan of the rear frameless window. The tint is too dark and it doesn't open up far enough (I know there's a mod for this) so the airflow isn't great. I'd be happy with just a slider.

I found a 48x20 window at Factory RV for $270 including tax and free shipping. I ordered one and will install it next week I hope.
 
Great solution says says the guy who's a big fan of well ventilating, almost bomb proof slider windows. :)

Ron
 
That said, I'm not a fan of the rear frameless window. The tint is too dark and it doesn't open up far enough (I know there's a mod for this) so the airflow isn't great. I'd be happy with just a slider.
There is a reason why ETI doesn't offer a slider window option for the rear. I believe it's due to the angled rear wall.

I know that slider windows are designed to leak slightly in driving rain (even when closed). The water collects in the lower track and drains to exterior through a series of weep holes. That means the window needs to be installed plumb in order to drain properly. If the slider is installed with a backwards tilt, the tracks can't drain and will instead overflow to the interior.

If you want to replace the original frameless venting window, I'd suggest looking for an acrylic unit.
 
I know that slider windows are designed to leak slightly in driving rain (even when closed).
That's news to me. The pilot house on my boat had about the same slope as the rear of an Escape and at times I was pounded with walls of green water running down the deck and slamming into the windows. Never ever leaked a drop.

Ron
 
There is a reason why ETI doesn't offer a slider window option for the rear. I believe it's due to the angled rear wall.

I know that slider windows are designed to leak slightly in driving rain (even when closed). The water collects in the lower track and drains to exterior through a series of weep holes. That means the window needs to be installed plumb in order to drain properly. If the slider is installed with a backwards tilt, the tracks can't drain and will instead overflow to the interior.

If you want to replace the original frameless venting window, I'd suggest looking for an acrylic unit.
I'm in agreement with Ron, my 21 E21C new rear dual pane slider window (angled rear wall) hasn't leaked a drop of water either. I believe I'm the first one to do this rear window, dual slider, double pane window replacement with excellent results. (I'll be at the Quartzsite Fiberglass rally Feb 2025).

In October 2023 I replaced my rear dinette, large one-piece window with a custom dual slider, dual pane window made by 'Motion Windows'. This window works really great for us camping as the airflow is fabulous when one or both sliders are open while sitting at the dinette. I decided not to get the awning type windows that didn't open much (3" on latest model design) with little airflow & didn't want the acrylic window either. I explored other Escape trailers and what they had for rear windows at last years Feb. 2024 fiberglass rally in Quartzsite, AZ & chose to go this route with the dual sliders. I'm extremely happy with how this window looks & functions, including boondock camping in 113 F weather, the airflow is fabulous & it's a huge benefit. This rear slider window has been installed now for over 7,000 miles & 90 nights camping all over the Western US & Canada.
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p/n is 1800 series window. I used the free template from the Motion Windows website http://www.motionwindows.com that you can pick your own style window & slider type, corner radius, dual pane, tint option...etc. I ended up removing my original window myself to get the exact window frame opening cut-out size & wall thickness measurements to give Motion Windows so they could custom fit my window size to my window opening on my trailer.

When I removed my original window, I reused my original factory window rubber gasket as it wasn't damaged to get the exact window opening dimensions. Yes, it's a little work to remove but mine came out within 15 minutes, I measured the window opening & filled in order sheet, then I reinstalled the window until my new Motion Window was shipped to me 6 weeks later. I used my trailer multiple times during this period while it was raining with no water leaks.

My new double slider window arrived in 6 weeks. I removed the original window a second time & installed the new Motion Window including their included factory supplied gasket in about 2 hours.

It's important to take your time doing all the above-mentioned steps & do your measurements 3 times to be accurate.

Exact cost to my door includes tax & shipping was $700.38

Prior to ordering my new rear, dual slider window I did do angle degree measurements of the sloping angles of 2 trailers - on the rear window of my 2021 Escape 21C trailer & the side windows of my 2007 Casita Spirit Deluxe and they are exactly the same slope angle readings of 8 degrees, so both the Escape rear & Casita both side windows I measured were 8 degrees angle of slope. Both trailers were leveled prior to my angle measurements. My 2007 Casita side windows never leaked in pouring rain with this angled slope in the 8 years I owned it.
 
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Great write-up and it will be helpful for others down the road.

I'd never really looked at photos of the rear slider before and didn't realize that both sides open. What a bonus. I usually prop our emergency window open 90* and the ventilation is usually pretty good but this is a case of more is better.

If I see you at Q'site I'll want to have a closer look.

Ron
 
Hi Ron,

We're at the Quartzsite Fiberglass Rally camping now (Wed, leaving Sat). Come on by if you have a chance, would like to meet you & you can check out our new rear, dual slider window as well.

We are camping at Dome Rock on the top of the ridge in our new Escape 21C being pulled by our White Chevy Express 3500 van, our trailer is flying 2 flags, 1st is the "smiling happy face" yellow/pink & the 2nd flag says "yard sale".

Ron
 
Hi Ron,

We're about a 100 miles away. We've always stayed at the lower level because we used to assist with things. I always called the ridge area "snob hill", hi Jim :). But we've decided to try it this year so we won't have to walk far.

We're quite recognizable with the rear box and BC license.

Ron
 

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