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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Mr B3 on June 26, 2019, 10:13:43 am

Title: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Mr B3 on June 26, 2019, 10:13:43 am
Hi All,
Do the 1989 36 foot ORED Grandvilla's Have glued in Windscreens or do they just float in the rubbers,
Do the rubbers get glued in to the Fibreglass surrounds, If so, What is the best Glue to use,  5200 or similar,

Is there a video of the Grandvilla screens being installed available any where that I can watch,
It would make it so much easier for me to install mine if there is one,
The Bus type screens are a different installation,

As my Screens cost $5500-00 to get delivered to OZ,  They are Unavailable in OZ,

I have now gone into Plan B,
I have had two curves made up from Acrylic boat windscreens,
They cover the curved part of the Screens, They come around to the straight part,
I can get the straight part of my screens in laminated glass any where here, Cheaply,
I have a template made up of the straight part so I can get the straight part made to the template, Possibly $50-00 each,
I will put a stainless bar between the curve and straight part to support the screens,
Its just to the side of my view out the screen, Its only an inch and a half wide, Max, So it shouldnt block my vision,
I can say the Coach came like it,  As there are no others like it here to compare, ,
 I will possibly get away with it, As long as the screens are Laminated,

Thanks Brian,
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: fkjohns6083 on June 26, 2019, 10:27:08 am
OK Brian  ----  Let me get this figured out  ----  You won't buy the $5500 windscreen because you are too BLOKE ???  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on June 27, 2019, 11:19:34 am
I can't understand how the cost could be $5500 for two windshields. 99% of the products made in the U.S. are tariff free when imported to OZ.

Shipping by sea is cheap and air shipments are not that much if you contact a freight forwarder. They purchase so many cubic meters on each flight and when they can't fill the space, they deeply discount the space. I shipped a lot of wooden toys and cars this way. A $2800 charge for air freight for one car was discounted to $850 when they were not full, Germany to Los Angeles (LAX).

So, you need to contact a supplier that will give a pretty good discount on the windshield, find a freight forwarder in the U.S. (contact  an OZ forwarder as they may be able to help) and then an import broker to make entry when the glass has arrived. They should charge about $75 to make formal entry if necessary, otherwise, you may be able to make an informal entry yourself. Lots of little steps required but knowledge gained here can make it easy to import other items.

Make yourself a letterhead like The Great Australian Glass Supplier, and send it to the companies who make the Foretravel windshields. The name should be on the right bottom of the windshield on the right windshield, the opposite for the other side. Suppliers typically give at least a 40% discount to the trade. Lots of windshields are made in Mexico so that may also be a possibility. OZ will probably require that it has AS-1 somewhere in the letters/numbers on the windshield corners.

Our windshield floats freely and does move around a bit. I take twisty driveways slowly to let the glass move.

Pierce
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: craneman on June 27, 2019, 11:42:10 am
Not trying to hijack, but shipping could have other issues. My brother is having a windshield put in his Monaco at this time. His windshield weighs in at just over 200 LBS. as it one piece. The shipping weight is over 750 LBS. to protect it. He has been waiting for a windshield to arrive at the glass shop undamaged for 4 months now. Three were rejected at the glass shop as damaged and one was rejected at LAX as they could hear the broken glass in the box. Trying to get undamaged glass to OZ might be an issue.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on June 27, 2019, 01:23:46 pm
Chuck,

We had little damage shipping with ships or air freight but someone would usually steal the toolkits and or first aid kit in the new cars. The surprise was when we shipped cars air freight (Lufthansa 747, 1/4 passengers, 3/4 cargo) our two cars were OK but someone's car had a huge dent in the driver's door. One box of toys had forklift damages to the box with Flying Tiger. Several flights had lots of horses on board. As I remember, it was Wednesday's flight with only a couple rows of first class, same for business and about ten rows for the rest of us. Cheap flight but you could not walk around in the plane. Strange feeling not knowing what was right behind the bulkhead.

P
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: craneman on June 27, 2019, 01:38:16 pm
Update my brother finally has a new windshield after 4 were returned damaged.
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Mr B3 on June 27, 2019, 05:56:43 pm
$750-00 USD each side,  = $1000-00 AUD, Each side,  = $2000-00 AUD, for two screens by them selves,,
Then a treated box to put them in for transport, It had to be made up specially for them, Customs are very strict here,
The box was very careffully made so they didnt get damaged in transit,
Then freight by Air, Customs and import and delivery charges, GST,  No Duty from the USA,
It mounts up quickly,

Cost to me delivered in Australia was $5400-00, AUD,    =  $4000-00 USD, due to our exchange rates,

As I had two broken Screens due to the movement in the front caps, I am repairing it all before I put the new screens in,
It would have been a lot cheaper by sea freight, But at the time, I didnt want to wait for 3 months to get them,

 I could have got a mould made up here so I could have them made here, $3000-00 AUD a side,
I would own the moulds and could sell the screens here to other Grandvilla owners,
But there are only 7 Grandvillas in Australia that I know of, so its financially unviable to go that way,

Some of us arent dripping in money, My Aged Pension isnt that great, I have to make the best of what I have,



Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Mr B3 on June 27, 2019, 06:02:39 pm
OK Brian  ----  Let me get this figured out  ----  You won't buy the $5500 windscreen because you are too BLOKE ???  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Im not sure what that means,  Fritz,
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: fkjohns6083 on June 27, 2019, 08:06:46 pm
Brian  ----  Just a humerus ply on words  Substitute BROKE (no money) for BLOKE (which you call yourself).  Hope my attempt at this humor hasn't upset you.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Title: Re: Grand Villa Windscreens,
Post by: Mr B3 on June 27, 2019, 08:15:17 pm
Brian  ----  Just a humerus ply on words  Substitute BROKE (no money) for BLOKE (which you call yourself).  Hope my attempt at this humor hasn't upset you.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz

Hahahaha, Yep, Im a Broke Bloke,
I have a very good sense of humour, I even laugh at myself,
I thought you might have mispelt the word,

Have a great day, Mate,

Cheers, Brian,