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Old 02-21-2017, 02:59 PM   #1
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1976 31' Sovereign
Dallas , Texas
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
1976 Sovereign 31 small windows to be changed

Hello,
My family recently bought our first Airstream, a 1976 Airstream Land Yacht Sovereign 31.
We are in the process of renovating it and we have 5 small fixed windows we need to change.
I think the parts are called "Airstream Flat Fixed Windows (1969-78)"

We contacted an RV repairman and he said the cost is 300$ for the part + 200$ for the labor, so 2500$ in total.

Is this an ok price? got any pro tips / a less expensive alternative for this job?

Many thanks and a beautiful voyage
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Old 02-21-2017, 03:23 PM   #2
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1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
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Welcome to the forums!

Give us a little more information, ie., why are you changing the windows? Can you send a picture of one of the windows you need to replace? Perhaps the cheap option will be to solve the issue without replacing the windows at all--we need to know what the issue is, though.

In general, the best way to get the price down is to do the work yourself. When you say you are renovating the trailer, do you mean that you are sprucing it up (flooring and fabrics), or doing a shell-off?

But...slow down a bit and take a very thorough inventory of the trailer, it may be that there are a lot of repairs that are needed, and your choices will be to learn a lot of new skills and do the work yourself, turn it over to a professional and pay the price, or to sell the trailer and look for something that needs less work.

good luck!
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Old 02-22-2017, 12:09 AM   #3
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1976 31' Sovereign
Dallas , Texas
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Thanks for your reply.

The problem is that the tint between the two layers of the glass has disintegrated.
I'll get a picture and post as soon as I can.
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Old 02-22-2017, 03:32 AM   #4
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1977 31' Sovereign
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Sunset Valley , Texas
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Window fix

Most folks disassemble and completely remove the interior pane leaving just the exterior intact. You may have to break the interior pane depending on the condition of the sealant. It's really not a hard job, but I'm not sure of your level of acceptable adventure.

I have a 77 sovereign and am just down the road from you. Feel free to ask any questions.
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Old 02-22-2017, 08:38 AM   #5
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1976 31' Sovereign
Dallas , Texas
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Iansk is that a common practice? Wouldn't it hurt the isolation?

Here are two pictures:



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Old 02-22-2017, 10:22 AM   #6
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1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
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There are many threads on the forums around correcting the problems with failing tint on these windows, which are generally called "stack" windows or "vista view windows.". Try doing a google search from outside the forums with search terms such as "airforums vista view" or "airforums stack windows" or "airforums vistaview."

In fact, here is one such thread, which also references others:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f454...ws-113847.html

There are certainly reasonable DIY options that will allow you to correct the failing tint without replacing the windows or buying any special tools. If your interior pane is made of plastic, then broken glass isn't even involved.

good luck!
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Old 02-22-2017, 11:15 AM   #7
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1972 31' Sovereign
DALLAS , Texas
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We removed one of the glass panes and it looks brand new now
This is not too complicated if you have patience. Beware of some RV repair people
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Old 02-22-2017, 03:15 PM   #8
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Taos , New Mexico
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I can tell you from experience that replacing these flat panel glass panels is labor intensive and if you have someone that has the tools and experience to do the job right it will cost some $. The worst is having someone tell you they can do it, they can do it right, charge a premium then do a sub-standard job with pop rivets, etc.. Definitely find someone that really can do the right rivet type for the window and make it look factory authentic and then just write the check. But if there is a DIY approach that actually works I'd start with that for sure.
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Old 02-22-2017, 07:09 PM   #9
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1974 31' Sovereign
Milton , ON
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These windows were made in two types, one has two glass panes similar to a sealed double-pane window in a house, and the other has glass on the outside and a plastic sheet on the inside held in place with a "ring" that snaps in. The first type would be more like the wing windows on either side of the front window of your trailer.

If the inside pane is plastic it's easy to remove clean and replace. If it's the second type it's much more involved because you either have to disassemble the window to clean between the panes, or if you can live with a single pane window you can carefully break the interior pane.
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