Need some advice on window replacement

[Ted B.]

Hello everyone. Purchased a 1984 Scamp 13' last fall and have taken it out twice this year. It is in ok shape...needs a bit of care and some repair. I have some ideas for winter mods based on what I have seen here. Some of you have done amazing things! Now, for my question. I would like to begin replacing the windows in the Scamp two at a time. I wanted to start with the big one in the back and one of the smaller ones on the side. I found a window on Ebay for the side, no problem...and one for the back too. The back window on Ebay is just 2" larger than the cut out for the current original window...I don't think 1" cuts on each side will be too much to handle...but my concern is the curvature of the Scamp. Has anyone replaced windows in your Scamp...how did it go? Any advise and did you run into problems with the curvature of the body in relationship to the window...if so how did you make it work. As you can see I have more questions than answers . Have a good one, and thanks.

[Capt Ron]

I've been thinking about the same project but the cost of windows has slowed me down. I was thinking of replacing the side windows of our 83 mainly to update them to windows with rounded corners instead of the square corners. I think the rounded corner ones would help the appearance of the trailer since the door and front/rear windows have rounded corners.

Anyway on my 83 the rear window appears to be flat. If there's a curve to it, it's too small to see. Also there can't be much curve to it or the sliding window wouldn't work. On mine the lower sill is recessed maybe 1/2 inch in the middle and tapered to the edges to provide the flat plane mounting. The header and left/right sides are not recessed.

I would think that a window 2" longer (horizontally) would be ok but the vertical dimension should be close to the original. An inch or two larger in the vertical might give you curvature problems. If the new window has a gap on the left/right sides such that pulling the screws or rivets tight might bend the frame, then I would just make plastic shims cut to the shape of the end of the window and then use caulk to make it watertight/look nice.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

[Ted B.]

Thanks Capt Ron for your suggestions and insight. I need to check on just how flat the face of the front and back end of the Scamp are to see if a slider would work. I have also found a solid tinted window with curved edges on Ebay that is about the same size at the slider...that may be a better way to go. Anyway, thanks again and I'll let you know how the project goes when I get it done later this fall.

[Donna D.]

I'm not certain what year Scamp starting putting the rear window in a flat space, it was prior to my 1988. However, I know some of the earlier Scamps have enough of a curve to the back area, Scamp is VERY hesitant to sell a sliding window to the owners. The risk of a leak is too great. I'd suggest you take a straight edge (a 2x4 or 2x2 would do), place it dead center in the back window and see where the curve starts. Your eye may be fooling you!

[Ted B.]

Donna D. Thanks to you also...your idea is a good one. It may be that my eye is seeing some curvature, when in fact there is none or very little at all. The straight edge would sure allow me to see what is there. Thanks to you and have a good day.