I am two weeks into Airstream ownership (1970
Sovereign in pretty good original condition), and have never had a trailer, so bear with me, I haven't learned the jargon so I'm not having a lot of luck searching.
The front window (big square one above the propane tanks) broke this weekend all on it's own (no one around but me - just popped like it was shot out by a BB gun - weird!).
After a lot of shop vac and damp paper towel work I got it all cleaned up.
Next I decided I needed to remove the frame so I can get get a flat piece of replacement glass cut and install it. I noted most of the other windows that tilt out will come out of their channel and can be removed if you open them almost horizontal, so I drilled out the 4 each side rivets to remove the opening arms, and tried to lift the window out. I drilled out the rivets because it looked like there was a C or E clip on the pivot pins, but they didn't look likely to budge and I don't have all my tools where the trailer is.
Anyhow, the hinge/pivot on this glass does not come out, so... Do I need to remove the piece it pivots in at the top that is held on by 5 or 6 philips screws?
These screws look unlikely to come out no matter what I do, so, assuming I have to drill them out, what is the best path forward? Drill them enough to get the piece off and then install new sheet metal screws next to them, or remove them entirely and reuse the holes (which I expect I will make larger and uglier).
Can anyone recommend a glass type to buy locally? I assume it should be tempered, but the original glass is really thin.
Are there any other tasks I should tackle at the same time? New gasket material around frame? Please respond with specifics and supplier if at all possible - I haven't researched suppliers much yet.
Thanks for taking time to look at this long read - I hope I DON"T have to bug you all too often, because it means stuff is broken.