Front curved window insulators and protectors.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by whitefawn

I have a question for those of you who have the padded window protectors- why do you need the canvas cover for the padding? I was thinking about using the padding alone-- stitching binding to the edges of the "camping mat" padding for strength and edge protection and attaching to the windows with fasteners sans canvas covers- why is the canvas cover important on top of the padding?

Thanks--

Kathy

Canvas is much tougher against abrasion and in tension than foam padding, and is easier to clean.

[gatorboy]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Canvas is much tougher against abrasion and in tension than foam padding, and is easier to clean.

My covers were made with industrial grade vinyl. Thet have proven to be quite strong and are extremely easy to keep clean. Vinyl also comes in a plethora of colors.

Gatorboy

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by gatorboy

My covers were made with industrial grade vinyl. Thet have proven to be quite strong and are extremely easy to keep clean. Vinyl also comes in a plethora of colors.

Gatorboy

I'd think the differences between sunbrella-type canvas and vinyl would be mostly aesthetic, yes. I was comparing to unprotected foam padding, which was what whitefawn seemed to be asking about.

[desertair27]

We are getting ready for our first weekend trip in our Airstream and I just realized we don't have any kind of front window protection.I've been reading up on the rock guards and can't afford one right now but I do like the idea of having one made.My local fabric and foam retailer has tons of sunbrella fabric for sale so I bought some Airstream blue fabric along with some dense foam.I'm not really crazy about drilling holes in the window frame and I'm thinking how cool it would be to fasten the cover with magnets to the windows,Im thinking some 1"magnets sewn into the corners and along the edges with the other magnet epoxied or glued to the window frame.What do you think?Are there magnets out there strong enough to hold my custom cover?

[idroba]

Originally Posted by desertair27

(snip)

Im thinking some 1"magnets sewn into the corners and along the edges with the other magnet epoxied or glued to the window frame.What do you think?Are there magnets out there strong enough to hold my custom cover?

There might be, but are you willing to have one of your new covers blown off and lost to find out? Remember the 50 to 70 mph wind you are towing into, and gusts from passing vehicles.

Also the glue to hold the magnets; if it is strong enough to keep them there, and you ever want to remove them, how do you do it? I put turn clips on my Argosy with screws (or was it pop rivets, forgot now) and the work well. If I ever wanted to remove them and have no window protection again, guess I could fill the holes fairly easy, and touch up with paint.

Just some things to think about anyway.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by desertair27

We are getting ready for our first weekend trip in our Airstream and I just realized we don't have any kind of front window protection.I've been reading up on the rock guards and can't afford one right now but I do like the idea of having one made.My local fabric and foam retailer has tons of sunbrella fabric for sale so I bought some Airstream blue fabric along with some dense foam.I'm not really crazy about drilling holes in the window frame and I'm thinking how cool it would be to fasten the cover with magnets to the windows,Im thinking some 1"magnets sewn into the corners and along the edges with the other magnet epoxied or glued to the window frame.What do you think?Are there magnets out there strong enough to hold my custom cover?

BAD IDEA.

When your towing at 60 mph on a 2 lane road, and meet an on coming vehicle that's moving at 60 mph, you have a 120 mph wind that hits the trailer.

That's simple Pysics.

Surely, that gust will tear off the cover, and wind up where?

If it lands on someones windshield, obviously it will blind them. That being the case, your totally liable for what ever may happen.

Don't go there.

Do it right, or leave it alone.

Andy

[desertair27]

Thanks for the great advice,I'll be using some snaps instead.

[desertair27]

Our local fabric supplier ended up have a nice assortment of Sunbrella fabric at really good prices($12 a yard 60 inch width)so I bought some and had local upholstery guy stitch me up a cover. 4 snaps in so far 8 more to go.Hopefully the additional snaps will smooth out any wrinkles.Total cost was around $100 bucks.Now I'm thinking about making some matching wheel covers.

[SmokelessJoe]

Looks very good. I'd use more snaps if I were you. No matter how many you use the thing will still go off and on in less than a minute.

Sergei

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Looks very good. I'd use more snaps if I were you. No matter how many you use the thing will still go off and on in less than a minute.

Sergei

Thanks Sergei
I've got 8 more snaps to install,just had to snap a quick picture and post it.

[DreamStreamr]

Yeah, it will need a lot of snaps to overcome pysics

[saburkha]

Got my canvas rock guards and I installed one this morning. I pre-painted my fasteners and rivets with enamel paint from a spray can. Two coats, but it didn't do much good, the paint scraped off when putting on and taking off the canvas many times for fitting. The base of the fasteners look pretty good, but the knobs are pretty scraped up. I went with the True Brown Sunbrella fabric. Its a good match to the banana wrap color from 1976.

[nickcrowhurst]

Update: coming up to eleven years old and thousands of miles towing, the protectors are still in great condition.
Nick.

[Pavery]

Originally Posted by COArgosy78

I have had 1 PM about these since we got them done. I will mention here that David (the upholsterer) kept the pattern on our windows and I think is willing to duplicate and mail them to anyone interested for a small fee. He actually does very large commercial awning applications for his business, so not sure if he would take on a lot of these as they are a very small job. But, he is very nice, and I think he would be willing to copy and mail. If interested, PM me and I will check w/him.

I am very interested in contacting whomever made your window covers. I am retiring in -4 months and we plan to spend a year on the road. I currently have nothing covering the front windows at all.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Pavery

I am very interested in contacting whomever made your window covers. I am retiring in -4 months and we plan to spend a year on the road. I currently have nothing covering the front windows at all.

You wouldn't want covers made from the same pattern, the panos on an Argosy (standard width or Minuet) are different than the "wing windows" on a '73 Excella. I think you could still use a soft or semi-soft cover for the front windows of your trailer, but they also make a hard rock guard for those years that is one piece across, and the entire cover hinges open for light and views when you're camped.

[mtbguy]

I have an argosy 26 and want to do this.Anyone still have the patterns or contact info for the people that did it? Thanks!

[Argosy 7728]

I just ordered a pair like in post #52 from Hornsbycanvas.com.

[gatorboy]

I had Mine custom made at, BACA Upholstry, 2100 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713 520-622-2898. He may still have the pattern.
If you're close to Atlanta, check with some upholstry shops. I took pics from this thread, blown up to show the fasteners, along with an estimate of the dimensions.
Everyone was able to give me an estimate from this info. Good Luck!

[mtbguy]

Thanks for the info guys.

[n2916s]

My wife just finished our set and we took them out to the trailer to mark where the common sense fastener bases need to go.

Looks a little tight -- fasteners actually need to go on the window frame. So, the question is, does anyone know how far in from the outside edge of the window frame can I drill the pilot holes without hitting the glass?

Might nerve racking setting a drill bit on those frames...

Mike