[VIDEO next post]
as a Palazzo owner, with a large windshield replacement recently, and a agent for SAFECO myself, I can tell you some things that will help your decision:
-no 'package' that someone sells you is going to give you any cheaper, quicker, or better windshield replacement service - especially if it supposedly flows thru Safelite, which is the exact SAME provider that your SAFECO policy uses!
-you can easily apply RainX yourself, for about $5 a bottle. It's not anything special.
-every large RV windshield is susceptible to damage, which can be repaired for FREE with your Safeco policy if you have Comprehensive coverage, and can be Replaced for FREE if you also have the Safeco $0 Glass Damage rider as part of your Comprehensive coverage.
my story, which DOES reinforce reports that very large RV windshields can take more time than the typical 'on-the-spot' windshield replacements you see on TV ads:
-in Jan I started a personal auto policy claim for windshield replacement on my Palazzo, a large crack had sprung from a recent rock damage, creating a possible future crack across the whole windshield. Safeco typically hands these 'Glass-Only' claims off directly to their preferred provider SAFELITE(though you can certainly use any body shop or glass shop you prefer, though few can handle such a large piece of glass)...
-I received a call from a Safelite RV glass specialist, who asked me further questions about the approximate size and printed 'model' of the glass, as well as the yr, mk, model, etc of the coach, and a confirmation of whether the windshield had rubber molding around it.
-He mentioned that he would need to find the exact replacement glass, and find out how long it would take to get it as these are not the typical windshields that most glass providers keep in inventory. The factory would have to ship it to the shop where the replacement would happen.
-He asked where I would like the service performed. I said either a SAFELITE corporate shop, or NIRVC, a very large dealership near Atlanta that has a brand new facility and handles very large coaches everyday, such as the Palazzos, Newmars, Entegras, and others.
-He said that he would suggest a shop within 20 miles of me, but the shop he suggested was a very small 'mom and pop' type operation. I declined and pushed for NIRVC, as I have been there before and know there level of expertise and professionalism. I agreed that he would try them and let me know.
-He called about a week later, which I found a little frustrating, and commented that while they could do the work for SAFELITE, they would not provide a 'Guarantee' and therefore he would not approve them. I told him that I would 'waive' the need for any guarantee and still wanted them to do the work. He agreed that he would then allow the work to be performed there, and he would be able to ship the glass directly to them, but would need to check and see how long it would take.
-He emailed me, after another several days had passed, on Thursday, and said that the glass could arrive on the following Friday. I replied, fine, and asked him to have NIRVC set my appointment up for the following Monday after the glass arrives.
-I received a call the next day from Ken at NIRVC in Atlanta, who confirmed my appointment I requested, and to feel free to arrive anytime over the weekend as they have 50a hookups, and also provided me the gate code... Nice.
-I arrived over the weekend for the appointment, plugged in and was ready the next morning for the Monday glass replacement.
-A nice young man, a valet, stopped by to drive my coach over to the service bay, which was on the back side of the large 'all indoor' facility. I walked over to the customer waiting area, where I had access to wifi, snacks, drinks, and could even take a look around the indoor sales floor - this place has MANY new coaches to drool over.
-After a while I walked thru the sales floor to the back end where I found my coach, which was also plugged in, and found the service techs removing the cracked windshield. Interestingly, though, they were NOT employees of NIRVC, but techs for a glass repair and replacement company, ABRA, that NIRVC had hired to do this job, but NIRVC would oversee.
They had arrived in two ABRA vans, as it would take two people to handle this large, heavy windshield. I watched much of their efforts as I wanted to see how difficult the replacement might be.... and it was. It is heavy, it is cumbersome, and is very large. There is no 'machine' to help handle this(though I've seen videos of dealerships using a forklift and platform to help).
-about 3 hours later they had it completed. The actual hardest part of the whole process may have been adding the rubber seal around the edges, as it needs to be very tight to protect from water, of course. It wasn't easy.
I'm happy to say that everything went well, and the new windshield looks great and works perfectly, no water or air leaks.
to sum up: it's not an easy process as with normal vehicles. it's not for just any dealership to handle. and it's not as quick of a process as might to be expected.
Hold on to your money.
That would make me really wonder about the integrity of the dealership on ALL other issues as well.
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