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08-17-2014, 09:26 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,579
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Windshield protection from chips?
Those giant, flat windows are magnets for rock chips or cracks. I have had three in two year. In all cases it was when I was being passed --drivers in the left lane kicking up rocks over onto me. So I'm not driving too close to the guy in front of me...please avoid the urge to scold me for that.
I have Diamond Shield on the front of the rv fiberglass. It gets negative reviews, but I wonder if there is something like that (a totally clear sticker, essentially) that can be applied to windshield to help protect the windshield?
Even with my zero-deductible glass policy, it's a serious PITA to deal with these chips and cracks.. I'd prefer prevention over repairs.
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Discovery 40G, Cummins ISL,Freightliner Chassis, Allison 3000.
2017 Ford F150 Lariat toad w/
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and M&G Braking System
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08-17-2014, 09:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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I don't know of any protective coating that wouldn't seriously impede vision. Stay off chipseal roadways. Keep as far right as you can. Other than that, I don't know how you can avoid some 'stone bruises.'
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-17-2014, 12:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Statgeek
Those giant, flat windows are magnets for rock chips or cracks. I have had three in two year. In all cases it was when I was being passed --drivers in the left lane kicking up rocks over onto me. So I'm not driving too close to the guy in front of me...please avoid the urge to scold me for that.
I have Diamond Shield on the front of the rv fiberglass. It gets negative reviews, but I wonder if there is something like that (a totally clear sticker, essentially) that can be applied to windshield to help protect the windshield?
Even with my zero-deductible glass policy, it's a serious PITA to deal with these chips and cracks.. I'd prefer prevention over repairs.
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There is NO WAY you can avoid chips in windshields, PERIOD! If it's going to happen, its going to happen. You just happen to be in the right place, AT THE WRONG TIME!
When we purchased our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C7 330 CAT just over 3 years ago, the unit was about 8 years old, had right at 40K on the clock and, had flawless windshields. Well here we've now owned it for the three years and I've had about 5 major chips "installed" the two. Each one has cost me about $50-$75 for repair. I hate it when it happens.
The cost of each side for our coach is between $700 and $800, not including installation cost. So far, the repairs have been done quite well and, are barely noticeable. You have to know where they all are, in order to see them. I have also one, 13" crack that has been stop drilled and repaired and it too, is almost invisible.
I've been told by many Glass repair shops that, almost no matter how many chips you receive, if it's the original windshields still in place, leave them in there, as long as you can. Well, as stated, I've got around $350-$400 invested in crack and chip repair so far. When those two windshields are really clean, it's hard to see any of them. I'll be dam... if I'm going to replace them or, any one side, only to have them chipped again, knowing my luck, until I absolutely have to. It's inevitable.
As for something to be placed on them to protect them, well, it's not a bad idea but, would it impede your visibility? That would have to be tested, to be sure. Not a bad idea. NASCAR and other race type situations have what's called "tear-offs" but, those are for limited use. So, maybe worth looking into. If it wasn't too harsh of an investment and, it didn't work out too well, then simply remove it and, nothing gained, nothing lost.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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08-18-2014, 12:26 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 26
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Same boat, two windshields in one year a real PIA. I too wondered if they made something to protect it after the last one busted two days before a 1600 mile trip. Thinking of getting a punch card at the glass repair place. At least we have the process down easy now and next time it happens I'm putting in a residential refer when they kick out the old windshield.
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Scott and Ruth
2007 HR Ambassador 40DFT
03' Jeep Cherokee
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08-18-2014, 12:40 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 721
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The first day driving my new RV home from the dealers only about 80 miles, half way home a stone hits the passenger windshield and forms a spider web. I had that fixed at a windshield company and it has been fine for 8 years and 60,000 miles. Two years ago, coming east on I-10 a stone hit the drivers windshield bottom. I put scotch tape at the top and marked it --- sure enough it was creaping up. NEXT DAY --- on I-10 another hit the drivers side right in the middle. When I was in MS I had the drivers window changed.
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2006 Damon Daybreak 3274 35' Ford F53 V-10
2006 Ion Retired Navy, FAA and PASS Union VP
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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08-18-2014, 01:55 PM
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#6
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FIRE UP
Well here we've now owned it for the three years and I've had about 5 major chips "installed" the two. Each one has cost me about $50-$75 for repair.
Scott
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I don't have an RV yet (soon). But my auto insurance company pays in full for the invisible repair of windshield chips. No deductible. It costs them much less than they would pay to replace the windshield. We had it done several times on my wife's car, but then this last winter, on a VERY cold night, the window cracked when using the defroster. The crack started near the windshield edge near the defroster, not near any of the repaired cracks, and spread across the windshield. So it had to be replaced and we had to pay our deductible.
If you haven't already, you might want to check with your RV insurer to see if they cover the cost of invisible crack repair.
__________________
2010 Winnebago Adventurer 35Z
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08-18-2014, 02:24 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,579
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BlueMoose--I have glass coverage. On our last RV, the repair did ok, but the chip was pretty deep so it was clearly visible after they were done with it. With the current RV, the first chip is barely visible after repair, but the second one is a crack about 4-5"long in a C-shape. The glass repair guys (Safelite Autoglass) did their best, but it's still nearly as obvious/visible after the repair as it was before he started. Hopefully their "repair" will prevent the crack from creeping, but I suspect it won't.
My issue is not cost, as my insurance pays for these minor repairs--and even a new windshield should I need one. With a car, it's not a big deal to have the windshield replaced, but I've read horror stories about RV Windshield replacements. There's so much glass that the job has to be done 100% correctly. For starters, insurance replacement glass is NOT the same as factory. Secondly, I think the installs at the factory are done better than at local glass repair. These issues combined likely result in some of the problems that I read about on this forum and elsewhere.... leaky seals, windows popping out, etc..
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Discovery 40G, Cummins ISL,Freightliner Chassis, Allison 3000.
2017 Ford F150 Lariat toad w/
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and M&G Braking System
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08-18-2014, 07:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Well Gang,
We've recently moved from So Cal area to Lake Havasu City AZ and, there are differences in insurance coverage, between the two states. We kept the same company but, we altered the coverage. It's easy to say "just let your insurance cover a chip or, even a replacement". There's only about a zillion different insurance coverages, rules, state mandates, county requirements, and more, all across the U.S.
Yes, we could have purchased a policy where the insurance WOULD cover chips and "FREE" replacements but, our premiums would have been, just like So CAL, a lot higher. So, my outlook on it is, pay a lower premium, year to year and, then deal with either high or low deductibles, on whatever type of repair is needed.
There are "Glass" riders on some policies and with some companies and, in some states, are mandatory but, not always. If you live in a state or, have an insurance company that provides "free glass replacement" and does not have ANY additional or, higher priced premiums, I envy you. If we want a "free replacement" we're going to have to pay higher premiums, PERIOD!
And we don't have bad driving records or problems of any type. Our insurance coverage is actually cheaper here in Havasu than it was in So CAL.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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08-18-2014, 08:10 PM
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#9
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 64
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Sorry if I offended you. I was only suggesting that you check your insurance about free crack repair in case it was a benefit that they offered. As you indicated, there are so many differences in coverage by company, policy and state that it is tough sometimes to know/remember what is covered or not without checking the policy.
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2010 Winnebago Adventurer 35Z
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08-18-2014, 08:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4,190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Statgeek
but I wonder if there is something like that (a totally clear sticker, essentially) that can be applied to windshield to help protect the windshield?
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I've seen this product advertised:
Crystal Fusion | Windshield Treatments and Vehicle Visibility
I have no idea if it works as advertised.
Take care,
Stu
__________________
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned."
2018 Anthem 42DEQ
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08-18-2014, 09:25 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,579
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Interesting product 777.
Anyone have experience with that stuff? Seems a lot like Rain. X to me?
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Discovery 40G, Cummins ISL,Freightliner Chassis, Allison 3000.
2017 Ford F150 Lariat toad w/
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and M&G Braking System
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08-18-2014, 09:34 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Statgeek
Interesting product 777.
Anyone have experience with that stuff? Seems a lot like Rain. X to me?
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Except RainX doesn't claim to protect from stone bruises and cracks. If this product really works, I'd think insurance companies would be in full support of this treatment. When we see them getting on board, we'll know it's a good idea.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-19-2014, 12:29 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueMoose105
Sorry if I offended you. I was only suggesting that you check your insurance about free crack repair in case it was a benefit that they offered. As you indicated, there are so many differences in coverage by company, policy and state that it is tough sometimes to know/remember what is covered or not without checking the policy.
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BlueMoose105,
No offence was taken or, implied Sir. I thank you for wanting me to check with insurance to see what, if anything could be done about our situation with ours. The Wife is pretty diligent about digging into important stuff like that. I'm just the driver, so to speak. If there is/was a way to set our insurance up so that, we had minimum premiums and, had glass replacement at no cost, we'd probably jump on it. But, apparently we're not as lucky as other folks in the country that have that luxury. In my book NOTHING is free. You're going to pay for it, one way or another. Thanks again.
Scott
P.S. When we purchased our motor home back three years ago, the previous owner has coughed up, $1,000.00 for a "Paint protection" sealant that was put on the coach and, was told by the "company" that the coach would NEVER have to be waxed again. He also coughed up, $995.00 for a "WINDSHEILD" sealant and protectant that, the company stated would "repeal" rock chips and protect that windshield.
Yeah, sure it does. Boy, they (those companies) saw him coming from miles away. Did he get taken or what? As stated, we've got no less than 5 chips and one crack that have been repaired since we've taken ownership.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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08-20-2014, 03:24 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 175
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I have a '96 Damon Daybreak and it had a crack about 3" in from the edge of the drivers side, no obstruction of view so I haven't done anything about it yet. Question: does anybody know where to get a replacement windshield for a '96 Damon Daybreak? I went to me local windshield repair shop and they had no idea where to get one. They need to make some things standard on these RV's.
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