Community Forums

what next · 01-14-2016, 10:30 AM

So only 3 months with coach and I have two chips. One is an inch long easy to fix, the other starts right at bottom edge rock chip but it extends 10 inches. One glass places says cannot fix the other says he can stop it from extending. If it didn't get longer I am ok with that it is at very bottom. Anyone with experience on cracks?
I know insurance would replace , but this is getting common and I would like to wait till it is really bad.

jondrew55 · 01-14-2016, 10:55 AM

I had my first chip about 6 months into my coach. About the size of a nickel. insurance had Safelite come in and repair it and it is virtually invisible now.

A 10 " crack sounds to me like new windshield time. I think it's already a problem. Why risk having a larger failure ruin a trip?

My 2 cents

Melmoses · 01-14-2016, 12:21 PM

All it will take on that 10" crack from a bottom corner to cause a big problem is for the chassis to twist. It can happen going in a driveway or a gas station. I would not want that problem on the road somewhere trying to find an installer. Any crack along an edge can expand quickly. One in the middle OK but not an edge. Friend of mine had one on the edge and his whole windshield popped out on that side when the crack expanded turning into a campsite that had a gravel road.

Bruce C · 01-14-2016, 03:56 PM

Time to replace. Don't even wait for it to get worse. It's not worth taking a chance on. Good luck on your choice.

jacwjames · 01-14-2016, 05:05 PM

We were in Alaska 2009 driving from Denali to Fairbanks. A rock hit the windshield right at the bottom at the gasket. Did not notice a problem until the next morning when a crack migrated up about 10 inches. I did not want even contemplate trying to get a replacement in Alaska so I went to a auto glass company. The drilled a small hole right at the end of the crack to stop it from extending and then used a resin/vacuum system to seal it. We made it all the way back to TN via California and the patch held, no extension of the crack. This was driving over some very rough roads.

We also had a rock chip, about the size of a quarter, in the passenger side about 2 foot up, had a company come in and use the resin/vacuum system and it filled it in pretty well. I can see it because I know where to look.

jmcannonball · 01-14-2016, 05:43 PM

+1 on getting the windshield replaced. I would only "repair" it as needed to get to a safe place to replace. That 10" crack can instantly develop into a disaster and disasters never pick a convenient time to happen - IMO.

mojoracing · 01-15-2016, 05:47 AM

Just a side note, if you have ever applied rain-x to the winsheild, make sure you tell the repairman. Safelight has a special procedure for their repairs if you have. Apparently it causes problems with the bonding. Ask me how I know. My repairman came out and after fixing it said "oh yea, I was supposed to ask you before I repaired it if you have rainx on your windsheild". He noticed the repair was visible and said it would have been much better had he known! Great, now I have to call safelight and get the windsheild replaced.

inlineskater · 01-15-2016, 05:53 AM

I was in insurance for 35 years. Normally they do not recommend repairing if it is in your line of sight or longer than a dollar bill. That is what most of the glass vendors I spoke to said. You do not want of have it replaced too often as all claims eventually affect your rate. Just had mine replaced last summer. Most vendors use Duncan for MH's.

Cat320 · 01-16-2016, 07:09 PM

Get it repaired by a repairman who specializes in RV repairs. I had one on a previous coach about 8" long repaired at a rally in 2012...had not moved since repaired when I sold the coach last summer.

**TonyDi** · 02-11-2016, 08:33 PM

The common way that they try to stop a crack from spreading is to drill a small hole at the end of the crack this is supposed to stop the crack from getting worse. All it does is buy you time.

Replace the windshield glass.

Ray,IN · 02-12-2016, 08:11 PM

Obtain repairs NOW! If you wait until water seeps into the crack and chip all is lost. Having a professional, temporary repair made now, should prevent the crack and chip from worsening.
Do not think a home repair kit will work, you only get what you pay for. I had some guy in the RV park where we wintered come and repair some chips in my dually windshield; he used a small repair kit. By the time I got home the chips had turned into long cracks. So then I had to have it completely replaced.