Need help - Problem with my front window Plexiglass

[Ambaz]

I recently purchased my Play-mor II with no front windshield. The owner before me said it blew out while she was driving down the road. I have tried to take the window frame to an RV place here in town to have the plexi cut, but they say they can't help me because the glass needs to be curved and they can only do flat. My understanding was that it was flat and it curves to the shape as it is being installed. I didn't think this would be such a pain. Is the glass flat or curved? If it is curved, no one will help me in town, if it is flat, I'll have to try to replace it myself. I don't think many places in town know about these types of trailers.



As a side note - anyone in Tucson know anywhere I can go?!

[CSiko]

Originally Posted by Ambaz

I recently purchased my Play-mor II with no front windshield. The owner before me said it blew out while she was driving down the road. I have tried to take the window frame to an RV place here in town to have the plexi cut, but they say they can't help me because the glass needs to be curved and they can only do flat. My understanding was that it was flat and it curves to the shape as it is being installed. I didn't think this would be such a pain. Is the glass flat or curved? If it is curved, no one will help me in town, if it is flat, I'll have to try to replace it myself. I don't think many places in town know about these types of trailers.



As a side note - anyone in Tucson know anywhere I can go?!

Try a glass or windshield place. I have my old one out of the frame and I can tell you it is flat. I will take pics tonight.
I have a flat piece that I will cut with a jig saw and install it.

This is the size you will need but not sure its the right shape.

https://www.scamptrailers.com/parts-...ow-detail.html

[Jon in AZ]

Yup. Flat. Bends to fit. Agree an auto glass shop is the ticket, not an RV shop.

[Ambaz]

Originally Posted by CSiko

Try a glass or windshield place. I have my old one out of the frame and I can tell you it is flat. I will take pics tonight.
I have a flat piece that I will cut with a jig saw and install it.

This is the size you will need but not sure its the right shape.

https://www.scamptrailers.com/parts-...ow-detail.html

Thank you, I know you told me it was flat and I believed you. After 2 shops talking to me like I was a clueless child, I figured I should come back on here and see if I was missing something. I will check a windshield place that is by my house.

[Ambaz]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Yup. Flat. Bends to fit. Agree an auto glass shop is the ticket, not an RV shop.

Thank you, I will look there now.

[CSiko]

Originally Posted by Ambaz

Thank you, I know you told me it was flat and I believed you. After 2 shops talking to me like I was a clueless child, I figured I should come back on here and see if I was missing something. I will check a windshield place that is by my house.

It definitely flat. I was working on the camper today. Sanded all the primer on the interior parts today. Yesterday I sanded the primer on the whole camper. Paint this weekend.
You can email me or PM me with questions. Sikocycles at aol dot com.

[Nicolas]

When I saw the picture you posted concerning the trim paint with ply in the frame that plexi replacement was next.
As everyone else has said, the plexi is flat and an auto glass place is your best bet. I had both my front and back done with no fuss or muss. My only suggestion would be to have the rubber gasket checked. If the window has been missing for a while it might become a possible source of a leak.

[Junkndisorderly]

Suggestion, call around to different glass shops to check on price. Auto Glass places much more expensive. I broke small window in playmor. First repair 15 dollars,second repair sent auto Glass repair shop close to 300 dollars,went to local glass shop 15 dollars! Hope this helps.

[Siepierski]

I damaged the one on my escape. I was constantly opening and closing it as I am a full timer. I forgot to lock it one time and damaged the continuous hinge. I took the stock frame to a plastics place and had them use it to cut a smoke finish rock shield out of 1/4. Inch polycarbonate- like what airstream have. It pops into the frame where the fiberglass / aluminum rock shield used to go. Then secured it in place with some white nylon Square picture hanging blocks that were in home depots hardware department. For a nice finished look I used white plastic screw covers and stainless tech screws. Looks like factory and I never have to open the windows for light. If the window is not flat, I'm pretty sure polycarbonate is a thermoplastic. Which means you can buy a heat gun at harbor freight and carefully, gently soften the plastic to cure and fit the original curve. Carefully! Take your time! Buy a little scrap of the same material to practice on. Or maybe have the plastics shop do it. I paid $120. For the polycarbonate if I remember right. Good luck!

[Siepierski]

Oh forgot one thing... Acrylic is scratch resistant but will break easily ie. rocks. Polycarbonate is break resistant but scratched easily. I used polycarbonate and never use paper towels. Just a wet cloth and dry tee shirt. Was like new when I sold the trailer after 6 months

[Lloyd (aka Santa) Coltman]

Most late model OEM motorcycle windshields are made of Polycarbonate (Lexan), and some are 'hard-surfaced'. Cheaper windshields are made of acrylic, harder surfaced but easily fractured (and then sharp as a razor). Permanent bending polycarbonate is possible, but chancy and time consuming (a specialist operation, and only necessary for 'Compound' curves). The 'Blowout' of your original 'Glass' (probably Acrylic) makes me think it was fitted a little loose, and the springiness was enough to 'pop' it out.
I have used flat polycarbonate for single-curve motorcycle windshields numerous times, with good results, but would never again use acrylic, because of possibility of serious injury .
If you use polycarb for yours, just make sure nobody ever uses a 'bug-scrubber' on it (Threaten broken arms, if need be!).
BTW, I have also cut 3/32" polycarbonate into 1/2" wide strips, and you could almost tie in a knot.
Note: On my M/C windshield (compound curve Polycabonate and very expensive) I lay a wet towel on it for a long while, then flush with running water, to clean.

[Ambaz]

Thank you all for the help. I ended up going to a glass place and they also looked at me like I was crazy. I finally got them to believe that it would work and they had it cut for me by the end of the day. I decided to paint the frame around it black and reinstalled everything and it seems to be great. We finally took it out on our first tiny trip and had a great time!