Replacing glass in a solid window on a trailer ?

[Guy_Roan]

I am thinking of taking the glass out of one of the windows on my travel trailer and replacing it with a piece of plywood and then installing a window air conditioner in that.
Has any one done anything like that?
The window is a solid non-opening one with all four corners curved.
Is it a hard job to take apart the molding to replace the glass, substituting it with plywood?

Guy

[qtla9111]

Dave H M wrote:
I like your ingenuity there 9111

Thanks! It was supposed to be a prototype (I used material I had around the house) but it worked so well I thought I should leave well enough alone.

The Honda really loves a small a/c and it never even burped when the compressor came on.

[Dave_H_M]

I like your ingenuity there 9111

[qtla9111]

As I said earlier, I used corrugated plastic with the clips to hold it inside the emergency window. This is not a permanent setup and was never intended to be. I was able to set up and take down in less than a few minutes.



On the outside, the shelf was made from a piece of board and a metal rail than simply hung on the edge of the window frame. To keep the window from leaning on the a/c and creating vibration I used the long handle that holds the window open to prop the window open over the a/c.



The a/c never caused vibration, ran on low fan speed, and did a wonderful job of cooling.



My current trailer has the same emergency window but it is in a bedroom slideout. Sounds good but the a/c caused the slide to vibrate creating quite a bit of noise.

I guess I should pursue a solution. I have never used the roof air. I consider it a boat anchor that won't run off of my Honda 2000 and turns the trailer into an icebox not to mention the fan noise and overall vibration.

I'm thinking of going to a high-wall or minisplit.

I hope you find this helpful. Any questions feel free to ask.

[Grit_dog]

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

I'll overlook you always smart remarks.

Seeing that it is an emergency window, you just push and everthing would fall to the outside.

Keep racking up posts my friend, you'll comment on anything.

so you don't think that one needs to construct this with the idea that it might need to be kicked/pushed/etc. out in case of an emergency. that is not a "smart" remark.
bumpy

Dude, go take your Metamucil. You're getting a little bound up........

[Bumpyroad]

Guy Roan wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

I'll overlook you always smart remarks.

Seeing that it is an emergency window, you just push and everthing would fall to the outside.

Keep racking up posts my friend, you'll comment on anything.

so you don't think that one needs to construct this with the idea that it might need to be kicked/pushed/etc. out in case of an emergency. that is not a "smart" remark.
bumpy

It was obvious to me that you wrote it as sarcasm, so I ignored it since I was looking for someone who had done it.
If you can't add anything helpful you might want to refrain from posting.

Guy

so you don't think that reminding somebody of a potential issue is helpful. if not you are not very helpful and could refrain yourself.
bumpy

[Guy_Roan]

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

I'll overlook you always smart remarks.

Seeing that it is an emergency window, you just push and everthing would fall to the outside.

Keep racking up posts my friend, you'll comment on anything.

so you don't think that one needs to construct this with the idea that it might need to be kicked/pushed/etc. out in case of an emergency. that is not a "smart" remark.
bumpy

It was obvious to me that you wrote it as sarcasm, so I ignored it since I was looking for someone who had done it.
If you can't add anything helpful you might want to refrain from posting.

Guy

[Bumpyroad]

qtla9111 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

I'll overlook you always smart remarks.

Seeing that it is an emergency window, you just push and everthing would fall to the outside.

Keep racking up posts my friend, you'll comment on anything.

so you don't think that one needs to construct this with the idea that it might need to be kicked/pushed/etc. out in case of an emergency. that is not a "smart" remark.
bumpy

[qtla9111]

Guy Roan wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.

This 5000 btu a/c kept the 18ft TT completely cool and ran off of the Honda 2000 on economy mode for up to 14 hours over night.

That is exactly what I want to do.
Did you remove the entire frame and start from scratch?

Guy

I have pics. I tried to post last night but both Woodalls and Rv.net wouldn't let me.

I'll try again later today.

[qtla9111]

Bumpyroad wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

I'll overlook you always smart remarks.

Seeing that it is an emergency window, you just push and everthing would fall to the outside.

Keep racking up posts my friend, you'll comment on anything.

[Bumpyroad]

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.
.

that would make an exciting exit in case of a fire emergency .
bumpy

[Guy_Roan]

qtla9111 wrote:
In my last travel trailer I used corrugated plastic for the cut out. I built a shelf that hung on the emergency window ledge with an angular support underneath.

This 5000 btu a/c kept the 18ft TT completely cool and ran off of the Honda 2000 on economy mode for up to 14 hours over night.

That is exactly what I want to do.
Did you remove the entire frame and start from scratch?

Guy

[Guy_Roan]

DrewE wrote:
On most non-opening RV windows, at least the ones I've seen, the glass is held in not with the rubber molding (which is mainly for appearance, though it probably does add some strength) but with an adhesive sealant between the glass and the metal frame towards the inside of the glass pane. I wouldn't attempt to remove it unnecessarily.

Travel trailer glass is not required to be tempered/safety glass, so far as I know, since people wouldn't be in the trailer while driving down the road. It may very well still be tempered, though. Windows in passenger vehicles including motorhomes must be some sort of safety glass, either tempered or unlaminated with a safety film or laminated with a safety film.

If this is a side window, how will you deal with the air conditioner sticking out while driving?

The trailer is on a permanent site and will never be moved.

Guy

[DrewE]

Gdetrailer wrote:

:R

I have been down this argument road before..

YES, "tempered" glass IS "required" in travel trailer windows, it is now days called "safety glazing". I would rather have billions of smaller rounded glass pieces flying at me or other motorists if the trailer was involved in a wreck on the road..

If you do not believe me, go take a hard look at YOUR trailer windows.. You should find a small triangle watermark in one of the four corners of the glass which will state either tempered or safety glazing.

I know ALL of the windows in my 1984 TT HAVE the tempered marking as well as my previous 1981 TT..

The tempering process is a GOOD THING, not a bad thing. Tempering strengthens the glass and the process creates a surface tension on both sides of the glass which when broken, makes the glass break into millions a less sharp pieces unlike untempered plate glass where you often get huge jagged shards..

I do not disagree that safety glass is a good thing, nor necessarily that it's not typically installed in travel trailers. I have a motorhome, not a travel trailer, so it definitely does have safety glass (and indeed is required to legally).

So far as I can find from some searching, the only DOT requirements are that motor vehicles, including truck campers and truck caps, be equipped with safety glass. There is no legal requirement (at least that I have been able to find) for it to be installed in trailers. In nearly all states it's also not legal for passengers to be in trailers while on the road.

I would not be the least bit surprised if RV windows simply aren't available with anything but safety glass.

[Lwiddis]

Guy, how have you determined the trailer wall will support an AC? Static and then movng down the road?