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11-24-2022, 04:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 576
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Why are MH Windshields so Tall !
Anyone have a reason as to why class A motorhome windshields are so tall?
They start at or below dash level and go all the way above the cabinet area to just below the roof.
Realizing that a larger viewing area is better, but you can’t see out the top area of the windshield anyway due to the cabinets.
Less glass would also keep more cold out in the winter and less heat out in the summer.
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11-24-2022, 05:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Brenham, Texas
Posts: 2,278
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SAS30
Anyone have a reason as to why class A motorhome windshields are so tall?
They start at or below dash level and go all the way above the cabinet area to just below the roof.
Realizing that a larger viewing area is better, but you can’t see out the top area of the windshield anyway due to the cabinets.
Less glass would also keep more cold out in the winter and less heat out in the summer.
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Like any other vehicle you can think off, cars, trucks,tractors,etc., windshields go to the top. RV’s are the same.
There could be exceptions, but I can’t think of one.
__________________
Eddie and Jomaye, Retired
2018 Newmar Ventana 4369
2021 Jeep 4 dr Wrangler
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11-24-2022, 05:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Solo Rvers Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,773
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Could you do this to achieve your goal?
__________________
2009 Monaco Camelot 42PDQ
2011 JK
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11-24-2022, 07:14 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,417
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Emergency exit in a roll over, maybe.
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11-24-2022, 07:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Merritt, BC
Posts: 3,753
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They're tall so you can have a clear view of the low overpass that is about to peel your roof off.
__________________
Bob, Sherron & Kinsey (RIP 2013-2022)
2017 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited
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11-24-2022, 07:44 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,222
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On class-a's do believe it has to do with how far back you sit, from the windshield. In our Explorer we sit about 2 feet from the windshield, in the RV we sit about 4+ feet away.
__________________
Always bring your A game.
1996 Flair 29V, 454 TBI, 4L80E. Your life is your story, don't let someone dictate your story.
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11-24-2022, 07:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,442
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JMHO: Windshield height is a holdover from busses, where the majority of the windshields originated, viewing area for a bus driver is very important (up to see traffic lights if stopped first in line) down to see, possible issues low, and no over driver cabinet to interfere with view.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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11-24-2022, 08:39 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,441
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Just cheaper than building walls
__________________
2004 Dynasty 4
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11-25-2022, 05:39 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,964
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I have wondered the same thing. I have the top 18 inches of mine limo tinted.
The windshield could be much smaller and cheaper and the front cabinets could be molded in instead of stick built and hung from the roof.
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11-25-2022, 10:24 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,676
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My guess is the same as Skip46 - holdover from the buses they are modeled after. Some of it practical, some of it just styling. Then somebody complained about sun glare and they started tinting more heavily at the top, negating most of the benefit the bigger glass may have had.
As others have mentioned, our coaches are designed to use existing windshields from buses or heavy trucks, where practicality triumphs comfort & styling.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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11-25-2022, 11:24 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,131
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Coach Glass told me our windshields interchange with 80's-90's Greyhound bus windshields. Glass availabity will never be an issue.
I'll take that all day long over a one off design.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
04 Jeep Wrangler TJ
"On the road to find out..."
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11-25-2022, 07:12 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 576
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bentjm
I have wondered the same thing. I have the top 18 inches of mine limo tinted.
The windshield could be much smaller and cheaper and the front cabinets could be molded in instead of stick built and hung from the roof.
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Plan to tint the top of mine also. And the upper part of driver toll window with limo tint. 32% on the driver and passenger side windows.
Molded cabinets with rounded corners would also be nice. Have already punched 2 holes in my scalp.
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11-26-2022, 08:18 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,756
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Is the OP thinking something more like this?
__________________
1998 Min Winnie, 2000 Winbago Journey, 2015 ACE 29.3
2016 Thor Miramar 34.2
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11-26-2022, 12:54 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,283
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Oh lordy. Do we want to go back to the 70s?
__________________
Full Timers.
2015 Fleetwood Discovery 40E on a Freightliner XCS chassis with a Cummins ISL9 pulling 1 and/or 2 motorcycles, '07 Honda Accord OR a 17' Runabout Boat.
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