Hi CCD4US -- Somebody was having a related problem recently -- Algae growing rock guard. What you observe about lack of tight fit is a common occurrence. Some installations might be lucky on some counts (not all!) but I'd say that the numerous complexities will usually yield chaotic results.
I've installed rockguards on my '74 Argosy and have seen the pano rockguards on my '06 Safari too. The big soft gaskets do little more than abrasion control. There are bound to be gaps. The front window, its flat rockguard's width and the rib between the front & wing windows limit the wing rockguard latch placements. I suspect a tight rockguard installation would require repositioning the hinges -- potentially to the troublesome window trim-side skin junction. And this would not guarantee elimination of leaves from above and road spray from any direction I would guess. Get used to carefully opening the rockguard wings (don't let them blow in the wind). I suspect I clean this area at least 3 times a season and I store my Safari inside!
Do your rock guards fit flush to the skin so that water does not drip on the windows when it rains or gets washed?
Nope. We need to open them up (carefully!) and clean between the guards and the windows every so often. Leaves and pine needles are what we collect the most.
Ours do not fit flush/tight...wish they did but they don't and I doubt that many do. They do keep out a lot of stuff, but not water nor dust/dirt/small leaves, etc... They do serve their primary purpose, however...to sheild the windows from rocks, etc on the road...without them our pano windows would not be around long.
Glad I found this thread in the archives. My 07 Classic rockguards fit great on the bottom, hinge side and 1/3 to 1/2 the way along the top. The rest of the top toward the rear corner grows to a gap of at least an inch. Guess you can only bend aluminum so far before it kinks. At least I'm not the only one with this problem. I'll just keep opening them up and cleaning out the leaves.
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Rgds,
Scott Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
They are there to save you the $700 or so expense of replacing a wing window. I've installed a set of these on an Argosy. I'd say there would be no satisfaction to the effort of trying to install one with a complete seal. And then it might never dry out and grow funky things.
Do your rock guards fit flush to the skin so that water does not drip on the windows when it rains or gets washed?
Thanks for responding.
Rockguards can be adjusted to fit the trailer.
The plastic "MUST" be hot from the sun, if not, it will break.
Raise the rockguard almost parallel to the ground, and place one hand on the vertical stiffner, then placing the other hand on the outside molding, pull downward some what.
Alternate between the top of the rochguard and the bottom, until the fit is correct.
CAUTION. If the plastic is "NOT" hot, it will break when you attempt to make that bend.
If the plastic "IS" hot, then make the adjustments as outlined, not more than about 1/2 inch, at a time.
A perfect seal cannot be obtained, but about 90 percent isn't bad.
Your are correct. When she assigns me window cleaning detail, she means ALL the windows, including the ones behind the rock guards. Small price to pay to save $700+ windows.
__________________
Rgds,
Scott Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
As always, Andy has a fix for it. Think I'll live with the gap, but thanks for the advice. Who knows when I may get brave enough to try it. Thanks, Andy.
__________________
Rgds,
Scott Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
This past weekend I decided it was time to clean the rock guards (since they don't fit tight, never will, and "leak" rain and dust)...I had washed them before, but there was a residue/mineral build-up from water dripping inside, etc, so they didn't look clean... But I didn't want to scratch the heck out of the plexi (or whatever it is)...I used Flitz Wäxx Wax Protectant (with white caranuba and bee's wax) to clean and polish the plastic...Google it and you'll get lots of hits. It really did a nice job...a little elbow grease was required for some of the build-up, but it did take it off without scratching... and now I know if I do it more frequently, it wil keep them nice and shiny and un-scratched looking. Man, I was so proud of myself! The view out the pano is SO much nicer now!
TB
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TB & Greg...and The Girls—Annie & Sadie
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