Replacing a flat TRAILER window: is auto glass what I need?

[profdant139]

My front window cracked, spontaneously. Nothing hit it. One morning, there was a little crack working in from an edge. I covered it with duct tape (we were on the road.) . The next morning, the crack extended across the narrow dimension of the rectangle. I slapped on more duct tape -- the window held together till we got home.

Of course, the glass is not covered by the extended warranty. I am pretty sure that I can safely remove the old window myself. A local auto glass shop told me to bring in the old window and they will cut me a piece to match, from a sheet of auto glass.

So that is my question -- is that the right stuff to use? Or maybe the glass they use in clear shower doors? I am not worried about the tint -- I can apply an after-market tint kit, which will be adequate.

Thanks in advance for your advice!!

[profdant139]

Thanks!!! Very helpful.

[opnspaces]

You want standard tempered glass. Find a shop that specializes in windows and shower doors and they can make a template of the frame and order a new piece of tempered glass to install.

[profdant139]

So if auto glass is overkill, what is the right stuff to use? What is it called?

Again, thanks.

[wa8yxm]

Nothing wrong with Auto Glass for any window with very few exceptions. (THe window in an oven door would be such an exception)

IT is a bit more costly than regular window glass but it is also superior in nmy humble opinion, in several ways.

But... It is overkill for a trailer window.

[profdant139]

This is the front window in the trailer -- it is always protected by the rock guard when we are in motion. If this had been the windshield of the truck, it would have been covered by insurance.

I suspect thermal shock was involved. I did not put any water on the window, but the trailer was parked all day in 105 degree heat with the air conditioning on full blast inside. We had to leave the trailer at an RV park all day for a family party, and we left the A/C on in order to keep our ice chest as cool as possible. The little crack appeared the next morning. The window never shattered, despite 1600 miles of rough Calif. freeways.

Judging by the answers so far, is there some other kind of glass (other than auto glass) that would do the job? I do not want to put in glass that is too thick -- it might not fit well into the frame and might cause a leak.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

When I was building Quicksilver I did handstands trying to price a 2' x 3' flat 1/4" laminate glass. The price was close to $3,000.00 32 years ago. So I robbed the laminate 1/4" glass from adjacent window and framed them in marine aluminum. Robbed panels from junked Crowns to blend.

Thickness is crucial to know. Tempered glass is a lot stronger than residential glass.

yA friend ignored my advice to not spray cold water on a hot motorhome windshield. He had to learn the hard way. It did not thermal shock crack until the following day.

[campinghut]

I would think if it was on the trailer it would have been tempered glass but it would have shattered and not cracked. Laminite glass would work it is like your windshield on your vehicle.

[DutchmenSport]

If you are putting auto glass in your trailer, the only downside I can see if the weight. Auto glass will be a bit heavier than a normal window pane for your camper. But, I see no reason why it would not work, and probably work very well.

[egregg57]

fj12ryder wrote:
You didn't say, but is this the glass from one of the front passenger/driver windows, or from your trailer? It makes a difference.

I agree heartily!

[fj12ryder]

You didn't say, but is this the glass from one of the front passenger/driver windows, or from your trailer? It makes a difference.