Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Viracon vs Coach glass

April 10, 2020, 12:42:00 pm

Did the search, got a lot of older info
Safeco is replacing both our windshields in our 97 U 295

Any experience between Viracon and Coach Glass? I was told the original Viracon is more flat, and Coach glass is more curved
( bubbled ) which can cause a bottle glass look/vision.

Matt who is doing it, has done lots of FT's (I probably did 40-50 myself). He says he uses Coach glass, and is not sure if they make Viracon still?

I am probably over thinking it!

Comments please

Thanks in advance
Chris

Quote Selected

Re: Viracon vs Coach glass

Reply #1 – April 10, 2020, 01:05:10 pm

Yes, Viocon went out of business years ago.  I remember being able to see a difference, Viocon was higher quality.  Coach glass use to be a distributor for Viocon.  They ended up buying them out when they wanted to sell and then closing them down.  They really were Coach Glass's only big competitor. 

Now approx 10-15 years later, I've had a couple of Coach Glass windshields, with no complaints.  With my customers they were always consistent with good work.

Quote Selected

Re: Viracon vs Coach glass

Reply #2 – April 10, 2020, 01:23:55 pm

The three windshield brands that we come across are as you said: Coach Glass, Guardian, and Viracon, with the first 2 being what are available now.  We have dealt with this exact concern first hand.  We were as concerned as you were, and were able to do a side by side comparison with the windshields laying on the ground, and the angles of the curves, the thickness of the glass, the radius, size, etc. were all identical.  The difference was in the tinting color and height of the tinting at the top of the windshield.  We have had Guardian (original) and Coach Glass in both sides of the windshield, and there is no difference in quality from what we can tell.  We thought we had to be pretty insistent on getting Guardian (OEM), and we did, but when it happened again and we replaced it with Coach Glass, in the end, we see no difference.  Since you are having both windshields replaced together, either Guardian or Coach Glass will be fine, with Coach Glass being more readily available.  Just make sure the tints match at the top, and all will be well.   

Quote Selected

Re: Viracon vs Coach glass

Reply #3 – April 20, 2020, 10:50:02 pm

                                                                         **********UPDATE**************

Thanks for every ones input. Had both windshields replaced with Coach Glass Brand.

The tint band is way different, so if you have a Vicon glass, get them both done together as mentioned above.

Coach Glass was not curved or bubbled, very flat like the Vicon

Bill was $3000.00 installed. No cost to us, 100% covered with Safeco.

Novus glass in Coeur D Idaho did them at my shop.

Known the owner Matt for years, sent him tons of work when I worked for La Mesa RV, and RnR. Great company

Chris

Quote Selected