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CamBess · 07-13-2015, 11:08 AM

Hi all,

We ordered a replacement window for our 1971 Tradewind pretty much as soon as we bought her back in February. After she sat with a polisher we hired for 5 months (long story), we've finally got her at home, and our first order of business was to replace the broken window with the replacement one we bought from Inland RV.

Problem is, it doesn't seem to fit correctly. It's the right size and fits into the groove at the top of the window, but it looks like it's too curved on one side and so it closes asymmetrically and leaves a big gap (to the outside) on one side. We tried reinstalling the old frame to make sure we were doing it right, and the old frame fits like a glove (just doesn't have any glass in it).

Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips or tricks (or is there some weird law that says the curve will settle in correctly after a while?)? Or is it just a badly fit replacement product?

I'm attaching photos here--can't seem to get them rotated the right way, but I think you can still get the gist.

Thanks for any help!

Cam

Belegedhel · 07-13-2015, 01:26 PM

I would recommend taking it up with Inland. They should have folks there with the expertise to tell you whether you got the right window or not based on part numbers VINs, etc.. No doubt, your new window doesn't fit the curve of your trailer's body--there is no trick to getting it to work--looks like a square peg in a round hole to me.

Have you taken your original window frame to an auto glass place to see if it is possible to get a curved pane installed in your frame?

good luck!

dljosephson · 07-13-2015, 02:03 PM

I had a similar problem with Inland about ten years ago when I ordered a front curb side window for my 1971 Tradewind. They responded quickly and got a new one sent out from Ohio ASAP but it was scratched (which I would have lived with) 3/4" short of fitting in the old opening. I returned it, spent a lot of time on the phone and email with Inland and they have yet to issue a refund. I tried to open the issue again with Andy in 2009 and never got a reply. I have basically given up on it, and made my own Lexan replacement before selling the trailer to a friend, who is still happy with my handiwork. The message I think is that Inland sells whatever Airstream provides, which may or may not fit, it doesn't seem to be their problem to resolve. Please let us know how it works out.

drboyd · 07-13-2015, 02:25 PM

If you want a good one, go with Silver Trailer Supply and get a used one.

CamBess · 07-14-2015, 09:39 AM

Thanks so much to everyone for weighing in. Sounds like our best bet is to go the used route OR see if we can get curved glass installed in the old frame. I guess this is good "practice" for what I'm sure will be lots of moments like this as we fix her up (most of them probably involving a lot more sweat equity)!

dljosephson · 07-15-2015, 01:03 AM

It was much less hassle than I thought just getting a piece of polycarbonate (Lexan) and trimming it to fit, using gray polyurethane sealant to bond it in place. Unless you know ahead of time you wouldn't notice that it wasn't original, or so the current owner of the trailer told me. The trick is to mask the plastic with heavy paper and good masking tape, so you won't get caulk on the window. You can feather the edge and once it's set remove the tape.