Lantley wrote:
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!
You're right, we agree on almost everything:) I didn't intentionally camp when temps were actually below zero with wind chill, it was 8 below zero, it was while camping in WV over Thanksgiving, (yeah, it was COLD)...and I've never camped near an airport, though while in the USAF, spent some time on a flight line with B52's (LOUD, to be sure:)).
I've noticed that thy do keep the 5er quieter inside and seem to keep noise from coming out of the 5er better.
other than that, to each his own...like you, I've had both and feel the dual pane window is a benefit...you don't, but figure that isn't going to keep us from being buddies, right? :)....hope not.
Jim & Kathy, (Boxers, Buddy & Sheba)
2016 Ram 3500 DRW Longhorn 4X4/CC/LB/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist ...Pearl White.
2016 DRV MS 36RSSB3/ W&D/ slide toppers/ DTV satellite/ 5.5K Onan propane gen.
B&W RVK3600 Hitch
Fulltiming in WV & TX
USAF 71-75 Viet Nam Vet
