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Topic: So all my windows are glued shut! (Read 1816 times) previous topic - next topic

So all my windows are glued shut!

So I took the coach to Suncoast Designers end of July, spent 3 days, de-snaked all 8 windows + door. When I checked out (over $2,500) they told me to leave the windows alone for a day or two, I guess to let the glue set or ?  Took the coach back to storage, never thinking about it again til this trip....tried the driver's window, couldn't get it open, thought I'd best get to NAC before attempting again in case it was gonna break.

Well the troops at FOT could not get any of the windows open...I had to give them the OK to try the driver's window & they had to see if they had a new one in stock before trying to open it. Bob finally got the driver's window open but no way would they try to do the others.....now am stuck with 7 windows glued shut!!!!!  What the H-E-double-hockey-sticks is going on and why would they do such a thing and why didn't they tell me that I should try to  open the windows in a day or two instead of just telling me not to open them for a day or two? I am plenty ticked off.... >:D

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #1
I might would be calling Suncoast!!!!!
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #2
...well Bruce, they are definitely going to get a call/visit/something-or-other when I get back, am in NAC at the moment, coach won't be back in FL til 10/17....they also left a mess of tiny metal shards & bits & pieces of 'whatever' all over the coach...and for this fine experience they also have a gigantic fish bowl/tip cup (I kid you not) right in the window where you pay your bill.....(on this last note, I asked several long time FT folks what their opinion was of said 'tip cup' & got every kind of 'exciting' answer, none of them positive!) 

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #3
Take close up pictures of what is holding them windows closed.

Shoot them to Suncoast.  They have been in business a long time and have a good reputation.

Per their website, they have a lifetime warranty on their work.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #4
At Suncoast I tried all the windows after they were re-installed.  Several of them were too tight.  They removed them, broke them apart and re-assembled them.  All were fine except the driver's side window, which was still tight after rework.  They sprayed silicone on it adequate at the time.  Since then that same window has continued to stick.  I have to check it before each toll booth to make sure I can get it open.  I regularly the perimeter with silicone spay.  To make matters worse, snakes have appeared in three of the windows.  I plan to return next year to test their lifetime warranty.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #5
Glad I have single pane!!!!!!!
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #6
Ok I give!  What are window snakes? 
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #7
Glad I have single pain, yes I spelled that correctly. Rubber between glazing expands from heat into a sine wave snake shape, cause it's got no where to expand to.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #8

The black mastic between the two layers of glass in double pain (of, sorry pane) windows migrates in from the edge and becomes an eye sore/obstructs version.

Several companies have made a cottage industry of doing nothing but repairing these issues.  Most are in the $300/window price range.

Here is the company in Hudson FL that Miz is working with: Window De-fogging | RV Window Repair Specialists in Hudson, FL

You can see snakes in the entrance door and in the window over the dinette is this VERY unusual floorplan/handicap equipped coach:
1999 Foretravel Motorcoach U295, Class A - Diesel RV For Sale in Mesa,...
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #9
Take a close look at the warranty.  Ours decreases by 10 percent per year after the first year.  I have one sticking window unfortunately over the sink.  I made sure I was there for every step.  One of the three installers, lead, had two years of experience and the other two less than two months.  I was happy at the time and have no snakes emerging in the 5 we had done.  If they are not retaining employees, their past reputation may be suspect.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P


Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #11
Motion Windows was over $550 plus shipping another $150. Just ordered a drivers window $694 plus $150 shipping. Wish there was a way to get discount. I called FT and they just sold one that was $1100. So I guess I got a discount and did not know it,
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #12
We replaced all windows with Motion when we painted 5 years ago, then later had the opportunity to visit Motion Windows in Washington State.  Learned that their dual pane spacer is solid and attaches to the glass with a black sealant, so no chance of getting our 'snakes' back with Motion.  The motion shop will also re-glaze existing window frames that have snakes.

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #13
How much is a new window, say a dinette slider?
Are you asking how much to de-snake them or how much they are to replace? To de-snake, $250 per window (door is considered one) and $300 for driver's side...don't ask me why they want $50 more for a window smaller than the 4 big ones....

Have no idea what an actual replacement window costs...as for getting this re-done somewhere else, heck no, this was over $2,500 & I aim to hold them to their lifetime warranty....

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #14
And thankfully close to your home base Dani
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #15
And thankfully close to your home base Dani
.....not for long, Tim, moving back to the Pacific NW (Olympic Peninsula) in spring/summer....have had a snoot full of Florida....moving my mom back to Hawaii in December & going full time so got to get this mess fixed the sooner the better....last thing I needed was another trip up there, even though it's less than 50 miles from coach storage....

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #16
....so after 6.5 weeks on the road & nearly 3,500 miles I finally got back to Suncoast Designers yesterday to get the windows un-stuck...in about an hour they managed to hammer, pry, chisel, & tweak 'em so I could finally get all 8 windows open. They also used a very interesting item, to wax the tracks, CRL Tube Wax, comes in a stick tube, they used a wooden stick to dig into it then their fingers to moosh it down into the tracks...said good preventive maintenance would be to use it about once a month in every window. Also said some of my tracks are bad, driver's window track is slipping forward & catching on some kind of obstacle, that needs replacement, a couple of other windows need new tracking.  One more item on my already growing list for FOT in February when I go back for FBP....

 

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #17
Are you having FBP at FOT?
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #18
...yes, they (at Grandvention) made us all an offer we couldn't refuse, first time ever...starting work Feb. 12th, take about 5-6 weeks....working up the designs now....this offer + other friends (happy customers) I talked to at GV pushed me over the edge to make the decision finally....while I was there recently, Biscuit came out & we did a complete walk around & I got all the questions answered...he also did a seminar at GV + David F did one....Sarah (FOT graphic artist) is working up some really nice simple 4 color designs....also had David F put some shelves in, place is taking shape nicely for full timing in the spring.... ^.^d

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #19
Reason I asked is that Extreme removes all the windows on FBP, so no extra labor charge to replace windows during FBP, only the cost of the windows - I assume FT removes the windows during their FBP?

Keep us updated, sounds neat!

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #20
OK. Tim,
What is FRP?
Jim

20020 U320
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #21
FT does remove the windows for Full Body Paint. (Tossed gently into the coach with window valences, MCD shades, etc.) Ladders and awnings get stored "outside."
Paul & Kathleen
1995 U320c SE 40'
Build 4681 --Cummins M11 /17511
"That Irish Girl"
Red MINI " 40"

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #22
Motion did all new darker windows in our coach 5K. The galley and passenger are lift bay's. Love them.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #23
Typo on FBP
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: So all my windows are glued shut!

Reply #24
Miz Dani
Glad to hear you're coming back to the North Blessed, we need more FT's out here on the left coast. We're on Lopez Island.
As unsightly as they are I'll live with my snakes, they're way down on my list. Hope the problem is resolved.
Cheers Ric  8)
Previously:'66 VW Bus"Turtle 1";'65 VW Riviera Camper "Turtle 2";
';'91 VW Syncro Camper"Syn";'92 Barth 30' -"The Big Easy"
Currently: 2000 FT U270 40', #5634 -
"Le Bons Temps"; 2003 CRV
Ric & Leslie
"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"