Double Pane Windows - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-29-2009, 12:57 PM   #1
Member
 
Sebastian H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2001 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 71
Has anyone installed double pane windows in your fiberglass trailer? If so, what company did you order from? What did you use to frame the windows since the insulated windows are designed to be used with much thicker walls? Thanks

Nights down in single digits and teens without an electric hookup can be a tad uncomfortable if it is windy followed by days with overcast skies. And then there is all the condensation with two catalytic heaters.

Sebastian
__________________
Meadow, Mesa, and Sebastian
two felines and one provider

https://shalyard.blogspot.com
Sebastian H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2009, 02:49 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
pjanits's Avatar
 
Trailer: 17 ft 1986 Burro
Posts: 889
I would love to put double pane windows on the Burro. I hope you get some answers on this one.

Did you try to crack the roof vent? I seems to cut down on the condensation.
pjanits is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2009, 02:56 PM   #3
Member
 
Trailer: Escape 19 ft
Posts: 35
I'd recommend you contact the good folks at Escape Trailers (http://escapetrailer.com/). They offer double pane windows as an option on their products, and I'm sure they'd give you the contact info for their supplier.

Bruce Wray
Bruce Wray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2009, 05:41 PM   #4
Member
 
Sebastian H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2001 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 71
Always have the range vent pried open with a clothespin and a window by my head where I sleep open a bit. Don't want to crack the roof vents (winterized) since there is so little heat in the trailer as is in these conditions. Remember it is only a problem when the temps are in the single digits and teens and I'm off the grid. 20s seem downright toasty so I can get by with a 3000 BTU Wave. Catalytic heaters put WAY too much moisture into the air. Anyway, back to double pane windows.

I'll check with Escape, thanks.

This is why I generally get electric hookups for 2 or 3 months in the winter (2 more nights with 120V and that might do it for this winter) and run a ceramic heater. The joys of being a perpetual camper and confirmed nomad. Snowed 3" here last night and I'm presently in southern NM. Suppose to warm up to 40s tomorrow. That would be good since I plan to pull my rig over a mountain (past a small ski resort) as I head over towards Silver City for a couple weeks of dry camping. Summer's coming. Maybe it will be here soon.
__________________
Meadow, Mesa, and Sebastian
two felines and one provider

https://shalyard.blogspot.com
Sebastian H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2009, 09:19 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 1972 Compact Jr
Posts: 229
If I am not mistaken, I believe this company were the supliers of windows to Bigfoot trailers.

http://www.sunviewindustries.ca/
Kent I is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2009, 09:58 PM   #6
Commercial Member
 
brian m.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 490
Registry
These guys also make RV windows:
http://www.hehr-international.com/
__________________
brian
2003 Casita SD 17'
https://www.coolcampcreations.com/
brian m. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2009, 11:35 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Sharon G's Avatar
 
Trailer: Aliner
Posts: 528
Sebastian, this isn't about windows, but have you looked at the vented catalytic heaters? They are very pricey, but are supposed to vent the moisture produced by the heater to the outside. That might help with your extreme condensation problems.

http://www.ventedcatheater.com/

BTW, I follow your blog and appreciate your sharing your adventures with Meadow and Onyx with us.

Sharon G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2009, 12:15 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2008 Oliver Legacy Elite
Posts: 904
Registry
Quote:
Sebastian, this isn't about windows, but have you looked at the vented catalytic heaters? They are very pricey, but are supposed to vent the moisture produced by the heater to the outside. That might help with your extreme condensation problems.

http://www.ventedcatheater.com/

BTW, I follow your blog and appreciate your sharing your adventures with Meadow and Onyx with us.
Sharon, That looks like a wonderful new product. I hope they'll be showing it at the Tampa RV SuperShow. I'd like to see one. I've always been uncomfortable with the idea of cat heaters vented to the inside, and drawing oxygen from the inside.
Sherry
SherryNPaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2009, 12:35 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Roger C H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2009 Trillium 13 ft ('Homelet') / 2000 Subaru Outback
Posts: 2,222
Registry
I find it interesting that you are still with us.

ALL combustion processes take a fuel, combine it with oxygen and produce carbon dioxide and water vapor. If there is insufficient oxygen present, the combustion process continues because of the elevated heat of the components but now it produces a dangerous gas, carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an unstable, active gas that wants to be carbon dioxide, the stable form, so what it does is steal oxygen from where ever it can. If it is inhaled, it will actually remove oxygen from the body/bloodstream effectively suffocating whoever inhales it.

I would not have any combustion process in an enclosed space without proper venting.

http://www.rverscorner.com/catalytic.html

Happy New Year and be safe out there.
__________________
A charter member of the Buffalo Plaid Brigade!

Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.
Roger C H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2009, 11:46 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Sharon G's Avatar
 
Trailer: Aliner
Posts: 528
Roger, I'm guessing Sebastian is away from internet access right now, so I'll mention that he blogged about his heater using up so much oxygen that his Bic lighter and a candle wouldn't light one morning.

So he is definitely aware of the need for ventilation. But boondocking in single digits and the teens, and trying to stay warm AND beat the condensation sounds like a huge challenge.

(Sorry to talk about you in the third person, Sebastian. I hope you find a good solution to the problem.)



Quote:
I find it interesting that you are still with us.

ALL combustion processes take a fuel, combine it with oxygen and produce carbon dioxide and water vapor. If there is insufficient oxygen present, the combustion process continues because of the elevated heat of the components but now it produces a dangerous gas, carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an unstable, active gas that wants to be carbon dioxide, the stable form, so what it does is steal oxygen from where ever it can. If it is inhaled, it will actually remove oxygen from the body/bloodstream effectively suffocating whoever inhales it.

I would not have any combustion process in an enclosed space without proper venting.

http://www.rverscorner.com/catalytic.html

Happy New Year and be safe out there.
Sharon G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2010, 06:23 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Sharon G's Avatar
 
Trailer: Aliner
Posts: 528
Just wanted to thank Brian for sending me a link to a thread where the vented cat has already been discussed.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...howtopic=26522

It seems that it might not be as effective against condensation as I had hoped.
Sharon G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2010, 07:17 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Raya's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1974 Boler 13 ft (Neonex/Winnipeg)
Posts: 3,008
I'm going to mention a possible alternative (or interim) solution based on living in cabins up north with single pane windows, a woodstove, and temps that were commonly below zero (yes, those are always the nights with howling winds too...).

I used those 3M window plastic kits where you put double faced tape (comes with the kit) around the window perimeter, stick plastic to it stretched reasonably tightly, then use a hairdryer or heat gun to shrink it taut. When I was done they were tight as a drum and nearly invisible. I've had friends come over who knew I was going to put it up, and they commented "Oh, you didn't get to the windows today." "No, the plastic is on; it's just hard to see!"

On windows with mini-blinds, I just put a small square of clear packing tape over the area where the tilt-wand was going to come through, then poked a very small hole there.

The plastic makes a great double pane window and blocks all draft (this is key). I have spent cold winter nights sitting next to the window (unheard of before) with the plastic bulging from the wind. It really works amazingly well.

Another benefit for a trailer is that they are virtually weightless.

I don't know if your cats might claw them, but I've had them in cat households without trouble, so it depends on the cat, I guess. One good thing is it only costs you about $15 to try it (I buy the "5 window" kit and cut to size for numerous windows).

I've seen kits from other brands, but have stuck with the 3M and been very happy with them.

Raya
Raya is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2010, 07:52 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Mike Watters's Avatar
 
Trailer: TrailManor (Gone to the Darkside)
Posts: 466
Quote:
Carbon monoxide is an unstable, active gas that wants to be carbon dioxide, the stable form, so what it does is steal oxygen from where ever it can. If it is inhaled, it will actually remove oxygen from the body/bloodstream effectively suffocating whoever inhales it.
This is really a quite inaccurate description both of Carbon Monoxide and the reason it is toxic. Although the bond structure appears to vary - it's wrong to describe it as "unstable" - it is not "stealing oxygen" out of the blood in any way shape or form in order to convert itself to carbon dioxide.

The problem lies with the chemistry of the oxygen carrying proteins of the body (primarily hemoglobin). Hemoglobin binds O2 in the lungs and carries it to the cells. Problem is that hemoglobin ALSO can bind carbon monoxide. In fact, it binds CO far tighter than it binds O2. The old story was that CO blocked all the hemoglobins in the blood - thus removing it's oxygen carrying potential. More recent version suggests that the binding of a single CO onto the protein (each has 4 binding sites for O2 or CO) causes the remaining binding sites to fail to release their O2 to the cells.

In short: CO and O2 compete with each other for binding to hemoglobin. CO wins. Cells don't get any Oxygen. You lose. Plenty of Oxygen around in the blood - just doesn't get to the cells.
Mike Watters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2010, 08:46 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2008 Oliver Legacy Elite
Posts: 904
Registry
Quote:
Just wanted to thank Brian for sending me a link to a thread where the vented cat has already been discussed.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...howtopic=26522

It seems that it might not be as effective against condensation as I had hoped.
Sharon, Brian sent me the same links, and I did a little more research. I'd agree with you and Brian, the vented catalytic heater is neither the innovative nor totally safe product we'd like to see.

Sherry
SherryNPaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2010, 06:43 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Sebastian, I don't have time to look for the topics right now, but instead of the expense and problems involved with installing double-pane windows, have you considered covering the windows with some sort of insulation? There's a topic where a member used reflex, patterned and cut to the window size and magnets (preglued) to mount the reflex to the inside of all the windows during cold weather. Worked well in cutting down the condensation and cold.

Just a fairly simple and cost effective solution!
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2010, 07:11 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
peterh's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2005 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 1,555
Registry
There's another simple solution that Lynne and I plan on using: Replacing the trailer screen insert with a thin sheet of Plexiglas where the edge has been built up to match the thickness of the screen frame. You do the same thing on the inside, except teh insert has tabs that slide into the track the sliding window frame moves through.
peterh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2010, 03:14 PM   #17
Member
 
Sebastian H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2001 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 71
Wow, I’ve been off the grid for the last week. I’m sitting here in the library in Silver City, NM. Thanks for all the input and I’ll be checking out the links.

I used plastic on my windows when I had larger RVs and as was stated, it works great. I wanted to use the plastic film on the casita windows but could not figure out a way to get a good seal with the particular metal channel that frames the windows. Any suggestions?

I have panels of Reflectix insulation that I put up against the windows at night in the winter and that definitely helps.

The 2 or 3 months in the winter when I have access to 120, I just keep a ceramic heater on its lowest setting for the really cold nights and life is pretty simple. It’s the low temp nights off the grid where life gets interesting. There’s no heat on during the night and a vent and window are cracked open. With a winter sleeping bag and two felines sleeping against me on a 25” wide bed, there is no way I’m going to be cold. When it’s in the low teens, sometimes I find Meadow or Onyx in the bag when I wake up. In the morning I hit the snooze button, reach over to turn on the furnace, and duck back in the bag. When the snooze alarm goes off, I turn off the furnace, light the Wave heater, and let Meadow and Onyx out. With the stove going to heat up a mug of yerba mate and the rig warming up, condensation starts dripping off all the acorn rivet caps along the ceiling. When the Reflectix panels are taken down as the sun is coming up and the window ice starts to melt, I constantly wipe the water off the windows with an Absorber towel. This is all so much fun. It would be so much easier if I did not enjoy being out in nature so much and just stayed hooked up. I also go through way too many bags of moisture absorbing crystals and I still come across mold from time to time. And this is all happening out in the New Mexico desert! Well, summer is coming.

Thanks again.
Sebastian
__________________
Meadow, Mesa, and Sebastian
two felines and one provider

https://shalyard.blogspot.com
Sebastian H is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
windows


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Who has the biggest double bed ? Kevin K General Chat 30 05-14-2020 02:09 PM
Installing Dual Pane Windows Lisa H. Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 17 08-26-2009 05:11 PM
Sorry Double Post John D. General Chat 5 04-04-2006 07:19 PM
swing down double bed Legacy Posts Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 6 07-17-2003 06:09 AM
Double Axles Legacy Posts Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 26 06-15-2003 01:37 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.