Cheap replacement window?

[jornvango]

The small front window (curbside) broke on our '95 Sovereign. This is the side window sitting behind the sunglasses. It broke on a very bouncy dirt road (washboard).

We're on our way south from Alaska and are passing by Seattle currently.
I called the dealer in Seattle and they quoted:
$800 replacement window
$300 shipping from AS to the dealer (2nd day)
$400 installation

We recently had our car front window replaced for a total cost of $300 (not an original Jeep part).

What is up with Airstream charging a total cost of $1,500 to replace a window?
And, more importantly, is there a (much) cheaper alternative?

Thanks.

[jornvango]

Update: I've been calling some glass replacement companies but no luck so far. They don't sell the curved AS glass. Looks like AS has a reason to be asking $800 for a 2 sqft window: no competitors ...

I'll keep looking before caving!

[RM66caravel]

Keep looking and add some used or scrap air stream parts to your list. If you look up the abandoned airstreams page maybe it will help! Sorry that I am not much help it is just that I dislike source parts!
Cliff

[overlander63]

Is this a fixed window? Or does it open?

[Bex]

Buy a piece of Lexan from a sign or glass shop. Should be able to form it to fit.
Bex

[BoCox]

My USAA insurance has covered two window replacements. $100 deductible on a $1300 job per window. Have you tried your insurance company?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by jornvango

Update: I've been calling some glass replacement companies but no luck so far. They don't sell the curved AS glass. Looks like AS has a reason to be asking $800 for a 2 sqft window: no competitors ...

I'll keep looking before caving!

Airstream's suggested price for a wrap window is $ 860.00.

Freight to any place in the US from Ohio, would be $ 85.00.

Total labor including potty breaks, coffee breaks, cigarette breaks, lunch breaks, and gabbing is only 4 hours.

Most anyone can install one since all you need is a drill, some Olympic rivets and some Vulkem sealer.

Andy

[Naper]

I replaced a side window $200. Plus $50 FedEx next day shipping.
Try calling Airstream service direct.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Naper

I replaced a side window $200. Plus $50 FedEx next day shipping.
Try calling Airstream service direct.

Please be advised, that by agreement with it's dealers, Airstream cannot and will not sell any parts to anyone, unless your in Jackson Center at their store.

That's why Airstream has dealers.

They support their dealers who in turn, support them.

Andy

[jornvango]

I like what I'm reading about Lexan plastic glass replacement. Better than glass as far as impact resistance and insulation and supposedly easy to cut to size.

Has anyone here done an installation of Lexan glass in his AS?

[jornvango]

Quick update: where the AS dealer in Seattle quoted $800 for the window (plus labor), the San Jose CA dealer quotes $1,100 plus labor ... don't these dealers shop at the same place for their parts?

[Foiled Again]

Try Colaw's Salvage yard.

Paula

[jornvango]

Now that we're back in Texas, after our long trip, it's time to get the window replaced.
I'm waiting on a quote from the dealer here but also talking to a store that cuts plexiglass to size (they have all kinds of tints to match the existing window).
But ... how/where do I find the exact measurements of the window to tell the store what to cut? After all, it's curved ...

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by jornvango

Now that we're back in Texas, after our long trip, it's time to get the window replaced.
I'm waiting on a quote from the dealer here but also talking to a store that cuts plexiglass to size (they have all kinds of tints to match the existing window).
But ... how/where do I find the exact measurements of the window to tell the store what to cut? After all, it's curved ...

Turn the glass loss into your insurance company.

plexiglass windows are taboo.

Why????

When exposed to the sun, they crack and craze in as little as 30 days.

Replacement windows for your trailer are always easily available.

Andy

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by jornvango

Now that we're back in Texas, after our long trip, it's time to get the window replaced.
I'm waiting on a quote from the dealer here but also talking to a store that cuts plexiglass to size (they have all kinds of tints to match the existing window).
But ... how/where do I find the exact measurements of the window to tell the store what to cut? After all, it's curved ...

One possibility, take out the good window out on the other side and ask them to match the size and curvature.

But if you are not dealing in person, that's not an option, so try this:
Measure using a flexible tape (a fabric tape like tailors and seamstresses use is better than a metal one for this) along the curve, to get the right overall size to cut the flat plexiglas. Be sure to tell them if you've measured along the outside or inside of the window, because the outside dimension will be slightly longer around the curve.
Then measure corner-to-corner to get the chord of the curve, top and bottom. Not quite as good as knowing the radius of the curve, but a lot easier to measure than the radius of curvature. If they do a uniform bend to attain that chord, they'll have it close enough to the right curvature that you can flex it enough to fit.

And send them a picture of the opening it's to fit in, while you're at it, just to be sure.

[Melody Ranch]

You will be way ahead by just taking the Sovereign to a place like Tops' in Harker Heights or up to North Dallas RV and have 'em do it right. Screwing around with Lexan and glass installers, the curved window, potential for leaks and the fact that those shops will have the correct window at hand…..you won't be sorry you did it right.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

You will be way ahead by just taking the Sovereign to a place like Tops' in Harker Heights or up to North Dallas RV and have 'em do it right. Screwing around with Lexan and glass installers, the curved window, potential for leaks and the fact that those shops will have the correct window at hand…..you won't be sorry you did it right.

Only an authorized dealer can buy parts from Airstream, unless your in Jackson Center.

That window takes less than 5 minutes to install, if it's an opening window.

Assuming an opening window, any parts selling dealer can have that window shipped to the owner.

However, the way that project is handled also depends on the question of an insurance company paying most of the bill, including the shipping costs.

The easy way, when insurance is involved, is for the owner to buy the window from a parts selling dealer, have it shipped to him, install it himself, and then present the bill to the insurance company.

They, depending on the type of coverage, will pay all or most all of the bill.

Don't have to take the trailer any where.

Andy

[Lumatic]

If you go Lexan use UV resistant or it will yellow in a couple of years. It is a labor intensive job if you are going to take the frame apart. My guess for the high AS price is the new window also includes a new frame.

[jornvango]

It's not an opening window: per the dealer, there's about 100 rivets involved.

Anyway, the window quotes that I got from the dealer in Seattle and San Jose (both over $800 for just the window not including shipping) don't compare to the quote from the dealer nearby Austin TX. That dealer quoted $260 for the window! I ordered it.

Hopefully it's what I expect it to be. If it is then what is up with the dealers that quoted over $800 for the same window?

[Ganaraska]

Use a piece of thick cardboard to make a pattern.