Airstream window shattered on cross country trip

[mswegs]

Hello all,

My husband and I are on our first cross-country trip (Iowa to Moab, Utah) with our ‘68 Ambassador. Last night, the front and side window shattered when we hit a major pothole. Is this something that an auto glass repair shop could fix easily? Right now we have it rigged with a ton of duck tape, but it’s an eye sore and definitely not safe. In the meantime, if you have any good ideas of how to secure the windows, please let me know!!

Thanks in advance!

[DaveP]

I recommend going to a Home Depot and picking up a Lexan sheet to cover each window. Cut it to size. Hold it in place with Gorilla tape on the edges. Replace it when you get home at your AS dealer.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

[Bubba L]

It’s thin tempered glass. You may want to consider going by one of the big box stores and have them cut you a couple of pieces of plexiglass the exact size as replacements that you can temporarily install until you get back home. Not sure if an auto glass shop has that type of glass in stock. We have a 66 and the flat glass windows have the aluminum strips holding the glass in place with glazing tape. That must have been a heckofa pothole to cause that much of a percussion. Good luck

[DaveP]

Where are you right now?? If you are close by to Monument CO, I'll help you fix it.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by DaveP

I recommend going to a Home Depot and picking up a Lexan sheet to cover each window. Cut it to size. Hold it in place with Gorilla tape on the edges. Replace it when you get home at your AS dealer.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Not that I’m a great mind, but some great minds think alike.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Not that I’m a great mind, but some great minds think alike.

Agree!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by mswegs

. . .
My husband and I are on our first cross-country trip (Iowa to Moab, Utah) with our ‘68 Ambassador. Last night, the front and side window shattered when we hit a major pothole. Is this something that an auto glass repair shop could fix easily?
. . .

Welcome to the forum . . . sorry for your baptism by fire. Are you close to Dave in Monument, Colorado, by any chance?

Originally Posted by DaveP

Where are you right now?? If you are close by to Monument CO, I'll help you fix it.

A very generous offer . . . thank you . . .

[CA_CAJUN]

Duck tape held mine in place from southern New Mexico to SF nay area to Las Vegas where we had it fixed. Definitely let Airstream techs do it. More complicated for vintage trailers.

[dbaur]

We had similar problem in Canada and a fellow at Ace Hardware cut us a lexan piece which he taped on and lasted us back home with no problems. Only charged us $20.

[guskmg]

The last time I hit a bad pot hole the rear end separated, but no glass broke. However, a while back I had a frame that was found to be cracked. The Airstream Factory Service Center welded it for me. This history is offered so you can look over these items to see if you experienced any of them. Some are not obvious on a walk around like a broken window.
guskmg

[spclkaz]

In 22 years of Airstream Ownership, I had two broken windows. Both times occurred while boondocking in the middle of nowhere. Both were caused by Guests who did not use both hands (despite being briefed) to raise or lower the windows using both window arms. After the first window broke, I now carry a small piece of blue insulation board in the truck topper that I can cut down to size and duck tape into the window frame as a temporary fix. We now have a new window rule for guests... ONLY I CAN raise or lower a window. Just ask! ...you should take it to a dealer for replacement... just bring plenty of $$$$. After the first time it happens to you... you'll understand....

[Maven2]

Enroute the Dallas, the front window on our AS shattered. We called the Dallas Airstream dealer who told us it would take weeks to get a replacement and would cost about $2,000. We found a plastic fabricator in Dallas who would cut the plastic (Luxan - supposedly the strongest), but wouldn't install it. We found a mobile window installer who agreed to meet us in the parking lot of the fabricator and install it. The whole cost was about $400. Insurance would have paid, but it wasn't much more than our deductible.

Good luck.

[Boondocker]

Front window is flat glass and can be fixed with glass or plexiglass. The side, I suspect is curved glass. The curved glass is much harder to come by but you can temporally place plexiglass in the slot but you will not be able to open it most likely. The patch will get you through the trip. Hope the rest of the trip goes well.