Questions about Dual Pane Windows

[loudounrv]

My wife and I have been shopping for about a year now. The idea of double-pane windows intrigues me for the added R-factor and the added benefit of keeping out noise. But now Im faced with a $2,000 price tag to add this option. A few salesman have also mentioned that double-pane windows can collect moisture in between the panes. Im not sure if they are speaking from experience, or if they are trying to persuade me to the buy the units on their lots which have single pane windows.

So, I have a few questions for those of who with dual pane windows:

a) would you do it again? In other words is this a must-have option for you now, or just a nice-to-have

b) is there any truth to the moisture/condensation issue?

c) would you mind sharing how much this option cost on your trailer? While shopping for a particular toy hauler, one dealer quoted $2,000 and another quoted $1,300 for the same trailer.

Im actually more interested in what this option would cost for other trailers because now my wife and I are shopping for conventional fifth wheels instead of toy haulers. Im much more familiar with toy hauler pricing. So any real-world pricing for this option on other trailers would be very helpful. Thank you!

[tomman58]

Have them and glacier package on our 2012 Jayco TT. Sure do like them in cold weather. Never even checked price didn't care as knew what it was like without them. We winter in the southern US and early spring in the north.

[FlatBroke]

Last two trailers we ordered with dual panes. This trailer we bought used and does not have them. Funny thing, this is the warmest trailer when it's cold and the coolest trailer when it's hot. Don't miss the dual panes. Even funnier is I would probably order them if we were to get a new one because it is easier to see inside when the blinds are up then the ones with duals.
Neighbor next to me has a Mobile Suites with duals and had so much trouble with his getting condensation between the glass he said he would not get them again.

[Lantley]

NC Hauler wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Unless you full time and camp in extreme conditions like Texas heat or North Dakota Cold I see little benefit to the dual panes. Most RV'ing is done in moderate conditions.
The bigger issue for be is there is no rebate/savings for the reduce energy cost the dual panes may provide. In your home dual panes reduce your energy cost. In an RV your energy cost are included in your site. Reducing your consumption does not reduce your cost.
I passed on the dual pane option simply because I did not think they would ever pay for themselves. I would get little to no return on my $2k other than reduced noise. For $2K I can buy a lot of ear plugs.... LOL. I could not justify $2K simply for noise reduction. YMMV

Don't know about "paying for themselves"...I purchased my 06' off the lot brand new in late 07' and a little over $30,000 had been knocked off MSRP, so I really feel like I paid zip, nil, nada for my dual pane windows, along with other "options" that had been added to the unit.....I traded in a Coachmen Somerset for the HR, which also had dual pane windows in late 07' and at that time, you received more on the trade in for dual pane windows than you did for single pane windows. (fact, not fiction)..So I feel like the "so called" 2K investment can be a bit of a "sour grapes" comparison, as well as possibly a "high" "guesstimate", when out of all these post, there have been one or two negatives....majority feels differently about them. So, yes, on a trade in, they paid for themselves....Reduced noise is great, if there is no other benefit...reduced noise to a lot of us can be a major assest. I don't plan on wearing earplugs in my 5er, not worth it, even seems to be a silly analogy..and I don't go around on a cold morning hoping the ice will thaw on the window or spend time wiping water off the windows...MAJOR PLUS..

So for what I paid for my dual pane windows...nothing actually, and with no seals broken,no condensate on my windows since I've owned dual pane windows, no fogging or smoking up....and though I'm not full timing...it is the plan...having camped in temps below zero and near 100% , and that was a humid 100% in Columbia SC.....I've been amazed at how well the unit has heated and stayed warm and cooled the unit down without wearing out my AC's....so , "to each his own", but until you've owned them for years as the majority of these posters on this thread have stated...."won't have a unit without dual pane windows", and I too, have owned 5er's with both single and dual pane windows....

Don't know where you live, but 50% of our camping can be in the snow and single digit camping...and we're not full time....sooooo some of your reasoning is flawed...sorta, don't knock it till you've tried it long term, ie, for almost 7 years like we have and almost 3 years before that.....based on comparison with single paned windows YEARS before that.

Our's have paid for themselves...they're not only dual pane windows but darkly tinted as well....

Hey NC we agree on most things camping but dual panes are not one of them. I ordered my rig exactly the y way I wanted it. Dual panes were not included. They were a $1800.00 option on my rig. I did consider purchasing but in the end I failed to see the value for reasons mentioned above
Just because your rig was bought off the lot does not mean your dual panes were free. There is no free lunch.
They were simply included in the price of the unit.
They were as free as any other option on your rig. Or for that matter unless your rig was free or your dealer sold it at a loss you paid for the dual panes.

You mention camping in 0ºF I never camp and don't plan to camp in 0ºF if I can help it. 99% of the camping population doesn't camp in extreme cold.
When it's hot out my dual A/C will cool the unit as long as I haver 50 amps available. Honestly I'm not concerned about wearing out my A/c units....that a new one LOL! If its hot a crank up the A/C and let them run as long as they care to simply because the energy used is included in my site. I have no incentive to cut my consumption via dual panes because my energy cost are fixed.
In short for a weekender, my thought is too save the $2K and put it towards the fuel bill. If you do not camp in extreme cold and have adequate A/C, Your camping experience will be the same with or without dual panes. I agree duals reduce noise but I try to avoid camping near airport runways!

[botts12]

We full time in our RV. We had dual pane windows on our last two RVs but did not order them on this one. Not only do they cost more but the weight they add is significant . As far as the noise, we notice no difference. On the last RV we had two windows with moisture between the panes. It is very expensive to have them replaced. We have only had moisture buildup on the inside of these single pane windows one time in the two years of having the RV. It was raining and I was cooking spaghetti so lots of moisture in the air. I guess it is what you are willing to pay for. To us, the RV cools fine and heats fine with these windows, the noise difference is insignificant and we do not want to have to replace fogged windows. Therefore, we ordered single pane this time.

[NC_Hauler]

Lantley wrote:
Unless you full time and camp in extreme conditions like Texas heat or North Dakota Cold I see little benefit to the dual panes. Most RV'ing is done in moderate conditions.
The bigger issue for be is there is no rebate/savings for the reduce energy cost the dual panes may provide. In your home dual panes reduce your energy cost. In an RV your energy cost are included in your site. Reducing your consumption does not reduce your cost.
I passed on the dual pane option simply because I did not think they would ever pay for themselves. I would get little to no return on my $2k other than reduced noise. For $2K I can buy a lot of ear plugs.... LOL. I could not justify $2K simply for noise reduction. YMMV

Don't know about "paying for themselves"...I purchased my 06' off the lot brand new in late 07' and a little over $30,000 had been knocked off MSRP, so I really feel like I paid zip, nil, nada for my dual pane windows, along with other "options" that had been added to the unit.....I traded in a Coachmen Somerset for the HR, which also had dual pane windows in late 07' and at that time, you received more on the trade in for dual pane windows than you did for single pane windows. (fact, not fiction)..So I feel like the "so called" 2K investment can be a bit of a "sour grapes" comparison, as well as possibly a "high" "guesstimate", when out of all these post, there have been one or two negatives....majority feels differently about them. So, yes, on a trade in, they paid for themselves....Reduced noise is great, if there is no other benefit...reduced noise to a lot of us can be a major assest. I don't plan on wearing earplugs in my 5er, not worth it, even seems to be a silly analogy..and I don't go around on a cold morning hoping the ice will thaw on the window or spend time wiping water off the windows...MAJOR PLUS..

So for what I paid for my dual pane windows...nothing actually, and with no seals broken,no condensate on my windows since I've owned dual pane windows, no fogging or smoking up....and though I'm not full timing...it is the plan...having camped in temps below zero and near 100% , and that was a humid 100% in Columbia SC.....I've been amazed at how well the unit has heated and stayed warm and cooled the unit down without wearing out my AC's....so , "to each his own", but until you've owned them for years as the majority of these posters on this thread have stated...."won't have a unit without dual pane windows", and I too, have owned 5er's with both single and dual pane windows....

Don't know where you live, but 50% of our camping can be in the snow and single digit camping...and we're not full time....sooooo some of your reasoning is flawed...sorta, don't knock it till you've tried it long term, ie, for almost 7 years like we have and almost 3 years before that.....based on comparison with single paned windows YEARS before that.

Our's have paid for themselves...they're not only dual pane windows but darkly tinted as well....

[Lantley]

Unless you full time and camp in extreme conditions like Texas heat or North Dakota Cold I see little benefit to the dual panes. Most RV'ing is done in moderate conditions.
The bigger issue for be is there is no rebate/savings for the reduce energy cost the dual panes may provide. In your home dual panes reduce your energy cost. In an RV your energy cost are included in your site. Reducing your consumption does not reduce your cost.
I passed on the dual pane option simply because I did not think they would ever pay for themselves. I would get little to no return on my $2k other than reduced noise. For $2K I can buy a lot of ear plugs.... LOL. I could not justify $2K simply for noise reduction. YMMV

[Wiscampsin]

We got the dual pane option when we ordered our 5th wheel. Definatly worth the $1600.

[kennethwooster]

We finally bought a trailer with them.. I love them and will purchase again. I like the way they look. We do use them part time in the cold windy weather of Amarillo.

[kennethwooster]

We finally bought a trailer with them.. I love them and will purchase again. I like the way they look. We do use them part time in the cold windy weather of Amarillo.

[gitane59]

The dual pane windows on our previous fiverwere 2001 vintage and not a single one has every failed or fogged up at all. When I purchase my previous 5'ver used the salesperson did not show the dual pane windows nor were they ever disclosed to me in any other way so I did not knowingly pay a premium for them. First camping trip out with new unit I kept commenting repeatedly to my DW how dead quiet inside of the trialer was. It was only after several days on the road that we opened a window and I notice the thickness and construction of the window glass with the seal between the 2 panes that I realized the unit we bought had dualpane windows. In my experience with the sound insulating value, the lack of cold weather moisture buildup and the heating and cooling insulating values.

I have traded that old trailer now and my new one was ordered with the dual pane windows as I won't be without them now.

Certain manufacturers have had a long history of dual pane window failures. DRV comes to mind. I have spoken with DRV owners who have replaced some windows twice for seal failure and resultant fogging. This was one of several reasons that ultimate caused me to NOT to buy a DRV Mobile Suites.

[Atom_Ant]

To stay competitive, the Dealer inventory units will get ordered with the visible features, but typically are void of the hidden features like better tires, brakes, windows, etc.

We got them because we could when we ordered. They are quieter. As far as R-value, we don't use it in the cold enough to notice. If I had a great deal on a inventory unit that met our needs, I could do without them for our types of vacations.

[Trackrig]

I think you'll loose more than the $2,000 when you go to sell it besides having to put up with the single pane windows until you sell it.

Bill

[SteveAE]

loudounrv wrote:


a) would you do it again?
YES

b) is there any truth to the moisture/condensation issue?
YES
Condensation is not the only good reason to consider them though. They are warmer to sit by and they make the rig much quieter inside. In addition, because mine have a nice bronze tint to them, it is very difficult to see inside the trailer from the outside during the day.

c) would you mind sharing how much this option cost on your trailer?
$2024.00 for custom made double pane windows to replace the single pain OEM windows that came with my trailer.

Hope this helps,
Steve

[glenzo]

I have a 1995 dolphin A-class. I bought it 4 years ago with double windows and I do have a moisture problem with some 2 of them. You have to look at the age and how it was stored/used over its life. I think mine was left in one location for many years and the sun side is now giving us a problem.

Glen Vancouver, Canada

[Ramblin_Recks]

NC Hauler wrote:
Agree with all of you....I won't have an RV without dual pane windows...I've heard no R factor, whatever...I DO KNOW from what my wife and I have experienced...It's quieter in the 5er from outside noise...noise inside doesn't get out as easily with dual pane windows. Some can say what they want, but after having single pane windows and going with dual pane...my 5er seems to cool quicker when it's hot and warm up and stay warmer quicker when it's cold..:)

I agree. We went from a TT to our 5er with dual panes and there is a big difference between the two. Worth the xtra $$ IMO