Exploded window pane

MarkoPolo · 09-29-2014, 07:38 PM

We are camped near Bryce Canyon for our last outing of the year. Very rainy the first two days and when we got back to our trailer a big storm was coming in and while I was closing the pick up, my wife was closing the windows. The large curbside window has always been "balky". It has never moved smoothly, very jerky. You would have to move the bottom, then the top to get it to close and even then it was the hardest one to latch, you really had to force it. At any rate I hear what sounds like a large bucket of water being dumped and hear my wife yell "Oh, no!" I run into the trailer and 90% of the glass is gone from the sliding side of the window. She was about two inches from it being closed it started to bind and bam, the window pane is in a thousand pieces. I managed to tape a garbage bag over it before the rain got really heavy.
Since that window has never worked normally and it is less than a year old, I hope this will be covered by the warranty. I suppose the whole window will have to be replaced. I am concerned that the cut out might be binding the frame and a new window will have the same issue.
I have never heard of anything like this before.
Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Padgett · 09-29-2014, 09:50 PM

Rare but I have heard of safety glass doing that if chipped or twisted. Just all goes at once with a bang.

Know of one RV that used too long a screw and the point was exposed in the sliding glass window frame. Had a number of similar happenings.

ps looks like the street side window.

tentcamper · 09-30-2014, 08:06 AM

That sucks!

There must have been something in the track that was blocking the movement and chipped the edge of the glass. I have been wondering how you replace the glass, other then removing the window and un-assembling part of it.

Let us know know how they replaced the glass?

**Bill** · 09-30-2014, 08:51 AM

I'm kinda with Tent Camper. If the window won't slide, try to lube the track. A quick shot of an aerosol Teflon (rather than silicone) lube, would be easy to try. Lowes has a good one but there are others. What you want is a spray in which the vehicle (oil, etc) evaporates quickly, leaving the Teflon behind.

Bill

MarkoPolo · 09-30-2014, 06:46 PM

Padgett, you are right it is street side.
It is more of a binding issue rather that not sliding or needing lubrication. It was a minor annoyance to first move top, then bottom or vice versa. I had no idea this might happen, but honestly the window was not forced when it broke, I just think it got out of square and literally got in a bind. Hope it's a warranty fix, but I doubt it. Would hope so as much as I spent for the trailer, but I suppose they don't know I didn't throw a beer bottle at it or some such thing.

Padgett · 09-30-2014, 07:32 PM

Suspect you will find that the frame is not straight (maybe even has a sharp edge) and that caused the bind. If so it should be obvious to a technician and a factory defect (would not hurt to look for yourself an photograph any misalignment).

**mjlaupp** · 10-01-2014, 04:07 PM

You may not have to replace more than the safety glass. A search for "Broken Window" will turn up the following thread: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...=broken+window

Padgett · 10-01-2014, 04:50 PM

If there was a reason it broke (warp, sharp edge) and you do not correct it, a replacement is liable to do the same thing. I'd consult a professional.

**mjlaupp** · 10-01-2014, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padgett

If there was a reason it broke (warp, sharp edge) and you do not correct it, a replacement is liable to do the same thing. I'd consult a professional.

If you had read through the broken window thread you may have found reference to the HEHR service manual in post #21: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...9&postcount=21

Padgett · 10-01-2014, 06:06 PM

Link has changed: http://www.hehrintl.com/pdf/Hehr%20Service%20Manual.pdf

See particularly pages 5 and 6