Dear Dave,
The window of our RV shattered on the passenger side by the dinette. This happened in the middle of the night for no reason. There was no damage to the screen that would indicate something hitting it from the outside. The window was open at the time. Have you heard of this before?
Second question (and more important) is that I had to remove the inside window frame to get the numbers so that the window could be ordered. There were/are two different size screws holding it in place. The larger ones are near the corners. Is this normal? Thanks. —Russell, 2021 Coachmen Freelander 26DS
Dear Russell,
According to the Coachmen brochure for 2021, they only offered the following models: 21RS, 22XG, 23FS, 27QB, 30BH. It does show they have a 260DS floorplan in the Leprechaun series. It most likely doesn’t make a ton of difference. I was just trying to see what type/model of window was used and if it was in a slide room or flat wall.
Type of windows
Most of what I see is a large, two-pane slider window that has a visible frame, not the frameless type. And nowhere in the 57-page brochure does it state that any of the windows are dual pane; so I will assume the window in question is a single-pane double-slider. I also assume since it is on the passenger side, it most likely is not in a slide room.
For years, the large slider windows were made by Hehr International, which was acquired by Lippert (what wasn’t?!) in 2018. This type of window is a simple sandwich design with the glass and exterior frame fitting inside the wall opening and an interior ring frame screwed to the outer frame.
Typically all the screws are the same size that fasten this ring. So I would imagine when it was being installed the installer might have run out of screws and substituted whatever was available. Or maybe production had stopped for the day and when it resumed, the unit may have made it further down the line before someone realized there were screws missing. Might have even gotten to inspection or to the dealer—I have seen this happen.
What could cause a window to break
There are several things that could cause a window to break or shatter without getting hit by something. If the cutout was a little small or crooked, it would put pressure on the frame and ultimately the glass. Twisting and jarring going down the road just makes it worse. Even a slight twist or movement walking in the rig or sitting in the dinette could push it over the brink.
If the larger screws were installed at a slight angle, they could have nicked the edge of the glass, creating a weak point. Once again, any movement could make it break. Any sharp edge of the frame inside or out or even the seam could cause pressure.
Both the inner and outer frame is bent and has a seam or splice. You can see the brace being installed in the above photo. That seam could become weak and move and cause pressure.
Temperature changes
One last issue is temperature changes. If the outside temperature is extremely different than the inside temperature, it could cause a thermal break. Typically, it would only happen if there was a slight crack in an edge or pressure from one of the issues mentioned earlier. Since the glass shattered, it would be almost impossible to tell what caused the break since you cannot inspect the edges.
I would, however, check the tolerances of the opening and the frame of the new window before installing it. Also, use butyl tape around the entire exterior frame between the frame and the sidewall. This is a putty-like material and not only seals but also is flexible.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
My RV’s frameless window leaks. How do I reseal it?
Dear Dave,
I had a frameless window leak water from the top inside during a rainstorm, resulting in water running down the bathroom wall and pooling on the floor. How do these seal and how can they be maintained? —Steve, 2017 GD Momentum 388
DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
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