Windshield Repair

Topic: Windshield Repair (Read 2274 times) previous topic - next topic

Windshield Repair

October 27, 2010, 09:48:45 am

Guys, we just cracked, ie a spreading chip. our drivers side windshield.....any advice? can we use it til we get home? chip repair helpful? cost and source for replacement when home? It is small , about 12 inches, and not in the field ov view...other advice...Thanks, dave and wendy, 99u320....

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #1 – October 27, 2010, 09:58:34 am

We have the same situation,,,I'm not going to replace it until it gets worse and gets into my Vision area... I'd have a Auto Glass place look at it for "chip" repair. Sometimes they can stop it from going any further...

They cost from 1K up on my 03.....

mike

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #2 – October 27, 2010, 10:05:50 am

Based on experience we "insure" we have full glass coverage on everything we own. I have replaced two windshields on our '98 U320; one probably precipitated by parking in a very un-level area and the other courtesy of a gravel-truck.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #3 – October 27, 2010, 11:08:27 am

U320 Windshield:
I replaced the passenger windshield in the U320 I bought in April at MOT, but MOT did NOT replace windshield.
MOT wanted $790 + $420 (4.0 hours).
FOT wanted $700 + $350 (3.5 hours) and could not do for 3 days.

I paid $785 at Quartzsite installed by:
Windshield Magic
Owner: Jeff Jennings
Phones: 541-998-3397 or 800-560-061
Summer: Junction City, Oregon (North of Eugene)
Winter: Quartzsite, Arizona.

Jeff replace this windshield by himself in just 1.5 hours.
He worked hard and had a platform in Quartzsite.
He said OK to drive right after done, but MOT & FOT both said that motorhome must sit parked for 48 hours after install to let sealer setup.

Six months have passed with lots of rain, no leaks.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #4 – October 27, 2010, 12:47:11 pm

Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin – October 27, 2010, 11:08:27 am

He said OK to drive right after done, but MOT & FOT both said that motorhome must sit parked for 48 hours after install to let sealer setup.

I don't remember exactly, but the windshield installation industry standard was at least 24 hours, if not longer. Found this out reading one of the industry magazines that consumers don't normally read. Most installers say OK to drive right away, but if you question them they will tell you not to slam the door with the windows shut and don't hit any bumps, etc. Those kind of warnings set off my alarms!

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #5 – October 27, 2010, 01:07:04 pm

We had a couple of dings in the windshield of our coach repaired by a local guy who makes a full time job of repairing windshields. Who has a regular schedule of setting up his sign and van in three small communities. He seems to take great care in his work and seems to have experience in doing it right. He commented on how much harder the glass was in the coach than the glass in most cars. He could feel the difference with his tools.

The ding had not started running a crack yet. After he finished, the dings were barely visible. We have driven several thousand miles since having the windshield repaired. There have been no changes in the area of the repair.

It might be worth a try to repair the crack if it is not a safety or vision issue.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #6 – October 27, 2010, 03:01:44 pm

If you replace it make sure it has the same name on the glass. I had someone install one that he said was same size and it had a stress fracture two days later and so had to go back and get right kind the second time.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #7 – October 27, 2010, 03:41:08 pm

When I had both WS's replaced in my 95 I was told that Guardian the glass maker would sell WS ONLY to FT and that they had to be bought from FT. Duncan Glass shipped two from another manufacturer and they would not fit, had to reorder from FT.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #8 – October 27, 2010, 03:58:16 pm

Gary,

This matches up with what I had been told from a good source.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #9 – October 27, 2010, 04:16:42 pm

Just to add my 2 cents, replacing the windshield half, 1 side, been thru this twice, they run $1.050.00 each.
Repair stone chip, $65.00.
For me, the most likely area for cracked windows has been in LA on I-10 and I-20
Hate em both.
Dave

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #10 – October 27, 2010, 04:20:44 pm

I think Jeff and Carol had the same experience. They had to get their Grand Villa windshield from Foretravel although it was installed elsewhere. The other brands are close but do not fit the same. Stress fractures are common.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #11 – October 27, 2010, 05:48:15 pm

So far, foretavel, tells me they have the mold, and do not know anyone else that makes them, in addition they do not recommend anyone else doing the job.....700 for the windshield, 350 labor, plus travel to and from, and one extra day waiting for it to cure......they say other companies make the windshield out Any other input? of substandard glass, and they do not fit right.......I am leaning toward biting the bullet and travelling to them .....anymore options, i am all ears........

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #12 – October 27, 2010, 06:50:09 pm

We had to have a repair done on a cracked windshield in our 1993 U225. We bought the glass from Foretravel. We were in North Carolina when the crack appeared and had no intention of going to Texas, although there is no better place to have the work done. Foretravel shipped the glass to Tennessee RV ... an authorized Foretravel facility ... for installation. If you are going through your insurance company, there may be a separate division that handles glass repair. Our "rep" tried to tell me that they could supply glass from their warehouse in Elkhart, that would fit our motor home. I insisted that she could not .... as Foretravel OWNS the molds for these windshields and they are very proprietary. I explained to her that based on my personal research, and the advice of people who knew the product, we could handle it 2 ways. She could insist on my using her glass ... and in 3 months when it cracked again she would be replacing it without my deductible ... OR she could call the Foretravel factory and assure herself that their glass was the only one that would fit and we could do the job just once. She DID call ... spoke to Billy Jack ... and we did it my way. Having the glass shipped to a facility near my location was cheaper than driving to Nacogdoches ... and it gave me time to make an appointment for the install. That is my experience with our 1993 Unihome. Hope it all turns out well.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #13 – October 27, 2010, 06:58:01 pm

Just FYI ... Tennessee RV is just off I-40 just a tad NE of Knoxville. Very easy in and out. They have a place for you to plug in and stay in your coach ... Outback steakhouse next door to walk to and other restaurants down the street. They also cautioned on moving the coach. Did the job first thing in the morning, left the coach inside all day and asked us to stay the night to allow curing of the sealant. I would not be afraid to have them do serious service on my coach. There is a Camping World attached to their location, as well.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #14 – October 27, 2010, 08:02:55 pm

I had Guardian Glass install drivers side recently,,,, $600,,,,1999 295

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #15 – October 27, 2010, 09:13:47 pm

I think the real issue is with the Grand Villas.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #16 – October 27, 2010, 09:23:11 pm

Gary,

Was the $600 the labor; deductible. glass or the total bill?

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #17 – October 27, 2010, 10:41:48 pm

As I recall, the glass was right around $600 and the labor was $100, less than $750

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #18 – October 27, 2010, 11:08:07 pm

On my U320 both windshields have the following etched on them:
VIRACON
Laminated
AS1 M-103
DOT 129
Made in USA

Driver side is marked on bottom center and also has "4 98"
Passenger side is marked on bottom outside and also has "69426 C1491"
Passenger side bulges out in the center while driver side is flatter.

Jeff told me he went to Phoenix to obtain the passenger side windshield and that "C1491" is the mold number. The removed passenger side windshield also had "C1491" etched on it.
In six months, no leaks and no stress cracks.

Do perhaps Foretravel windshields have no mold numbers, while other manufacturers windshields do have mold numbers!

I wonder if stress cracks are more common in Unihomes than Unicoaches. I have a friend who has a 1992 U300 Unihome who told me that one time he was parked where it was so off level that he could not get level. He got as level as he could and the next morning he could see out between the windshield and the rubber seal. He immediately started and drove to a level spot and winshield resealed itself. Strange but true.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #19 – October 27, 2010, 11:49:08 pm

Quote from: dstrat1 – October 27, 2010, 09:48:45 am

Guys, we just cracked, ie a spreading chip. our drivers side windshield.....any advice? can we use it til we get home? chip repair helpful? cost and source for replacement when home? It is small , about 12 inches, and not in the field ov view...other advice...Thanks, dave and wendy, 99u320....

Dave,
You might read the following:
http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9753.msg43724#msg43724
We drove from VA to Tampa FT with the first cracked windshield (from bottom to top) and from NH to FOT/NAC with the second. Even though drilled to stop the crack advance, the second windshield crack split off into multiple cracks on the driver's side curved section, all the way from the top to the bottom, before we got to NAC. Neither drive had a comfortable feeling, but we did not have problems, just as advised by FOT.
I would still have the propagating crack drilled to stop it's advance, if you have the chance. We've had good luck with several "Bull's Eye" chip "epoxy injection" repairs. We have three or four that are many years old and still appear to be perfectly stable. All chip repairs have been free and the glass replacements have been fully covered (minus deductible) by our National Interstate Ins. policy. As far as I know, any Auto Glass Repair shop can do drilling and chip repairs.

Be careful with any driving or leveling that induces "twisting" or thermal stresses. Twisting and thermal stresses had far more effect on advancing our cracks than road shocks or jolts did.
I'd try hard to get the windshield sealing gasket replaced as well as making sure that I or FT authorized service closely inspects the edges of the replacement glass.
Good Luck,
Neal

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #20 – October 28, 2010, 12:30:21 am

Get any chip or crack repaired right away if you want to save the cost of a new windshield. If it spreads it may be too late. There are probably several good glass repair places where ever you are. All insurance claims glass or otherwise can come back in the future as increased premiums or non-renewal. Insurance is not designed for maintenance or repairs.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #21 – October 28, 2010, 08:14:15 am

Unless you live in FL. Glass replacement or repair is required at no cost and cannot be used as a basis to increase or non renewal. The state is very aggressive about complaints... Two years ago I had windshields in both cars replaced within a month (USAA). Not a peep out of them. I have two repairs due on the Foretravel - one per windshield. Different company but I don't expect a problem especially after four plus years, two coaches and nary a claim.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #22 – October 28, 2010, 08:48:02 am

Quote

Unless you live in FL. Glass replacement or repair is required at no cost and cannot be used as a basis to increase or non renewal.

Zero Deductible States—FL, KY, MA, SC

If you live in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, or South Carolina, you live in what's called a "Zero Deductible State." That means that your insurance company is required by law to allow you to purchase a windshield replacement using insurance with no deductible—as long as you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle. If you live in one of these states, and have comprehensive insurance, it makes sense to use your insurance to pay for your auto glass replacement. Florida and Massachusetts only fully cover windshields, but Kentucky and South Carolina cover all glass replacement.

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #23 – October 28, 2010, 09:34:34 am

Thanks for all the input...we are in TX and had a 1000 deductible, so it may be time to bite the bullet, as well as reexamine our insurance. We are heading back to Galveston this morning from marble falls and will soon find out whether it spreads or not....

My hat is off to this forum, Very helpful.......d

Re: Windshield Repair

Reply #24 – October 28, 2010, 09:57:11 am

We, too, have had several of the "bull's eye" type cracks repaired using epoxy injection. They were done through FOT back in 2004 or 2005 and never gave us another problem, nor can you see them.

Interestingly, we got to see the new model FT being built at the factory a couple of weeks ago and Tyle pointed out to us that the windshield was going to be more of an "automotive" installation than currently used with the rubber flange.

I did take the opportunity to see what adding $0 deductible glass would do to our Progressive insurance policy on our '03 (you can do this online with Progressive). With our current $1000 comprehensive deductible, it would add $380 per year to the policy. If I increased the comprehensive deductible to $2500 and added $0 glass coverage the net increase was $270/year.

Michelle

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