Need to do window repair in a 1985 Limited

[Janderson592]

Hi. Several of the windows have the black seals bulging up into the space between the double pane windows. Also some of them look like they have "sand" in between the window panes. I have been researching the internet to see if there are instructions for repair. Does anyone have good suggestions on how to go about these repairs?

[dbj216]

My 85 Limited has the same condition on all 4 stack windows. All 4 have failed seals and moisture in them. It is going to be a job to replace them. I'm told they are 250 to 300 each. There are 52 buck rivets holding the frame to the outer skin. There is a lot of calking goop around them on the inside behind the plastic trim pieces.

I posted pictures of mine under repair, exterior, windows.

One fellow suggested just breaking the glass on the inside and then clean up the mess. At least the moisture would be gone. But you loose the insulation of the double pane window.

Replacing them is more of a job than I want right now. And I'll bet a Jackson Center repair would be expensive due to the labor involved. But they could do it well.

[AirToronto]

I just bought a 1984 Limited that has the same issues with the windows. Any new developments in regards to how to repair them?

[Rhino33]

A few of the windows in our 1980 International have the same problems. We must have had a leak above the stationary window just to the right of the entry door because right after we brought her home we could actually see water inside after a hard rain. Granted, ours sat outside for years due to the PO's illness, so we scraped and sealed and sealed and scraped and now no more water when it rains. However - we still have the gasket warp and can still see the crystal/sand on top of the gasket between the panes. It doesn't bother us, but then, our trailer is much older than yours and she has several 'characteristics'.

[dbj216]

I applied a window tint on mine and I can no longer see the failed gasket from the outside. But it is still visible on the inside unless I pull the blinds down. They all 4 hold moisture between the panes. I'm going to live with it for now as they are too expensive to replace.

I think some of the newer Airstreams have darker windows. The tint helps keep the glare down and the heat out.

David

[mariusg78]

All the new windows are single pane. So just break the inside one and clean it out! There are a few string that talk about how to do this. I did it myself on my 77 vistas and it worked great and looks great!

[perryg114]

My windows have a tint made into the glass. The question is are both pane tinted or just the outside one? That sand stuff is silica gel used to absorb moisture. Double pane windows on houses don't use silica gel so I don't know why Airstream did. I have thought of breaking the inside pane. My worst problem windows are the bottom stack windows. The are mounted at the bottom if the opening windows in a single larger frame. I have wondered if the lower stack window can be remove from the frame without removing the big frame.

Perry

[dbj216]

My 86 four stack windows are a separate frame. I don't know about the 81. Jackson Center has them as a service part for $250 or so each.

I have often thought about taking a hammer to my inside panes. But then I believe I have to have a way of glazing the outside pane. The forums talk about the right butyl tape to do this. Maybe this winter I will develop a plan.

I didn't realize the new stack windows are single pane.

David