Window NOT made from safety glass

HappyCamperWives

Hey all,

A semi kicked up a rock and shattered our front window a few days ago but the biggest problem was it wasn't safety glass :(  We had shards of glass throughout the entire house- blarg! We picked the trailer up in Arizona and I guess each state has different regulations for the front window but may be a good idea to check and have it replaced if it's regular glass, no fun.  We are replacing with the plastic version needless to say. 

Happy and SAFE travels everyone.

rfuss928

The tiny little nuggets of glass that were all over your interior are proof that the tempered safety glass performed exactly as intended.  If the window had not been tempered there would have been long, pointy shards scattered about and remaining in the frame.  The small pebble like pieces are relatively harmless in comparison and exactly what makes it "safety".
A new plexiglass window that opens will be a nice upgrade if you look for the positive in your adventure!
Have fun!

LauraRey

Nice video ladies!   

BirdieJane

We love these girl's!!!

wizard1880

Same thing happened to us!  Except our window stayed in place.  It was webbed in cracks and some pieces started to fall out where the rock hit.  That must've been one large rock!

If you replace it with the new style that opens, the first thing you'll notice is the tinting is much less, which I found as a good thing.  More daylight and better view!  (Not to mention the Acrylic will never shatter again!)

Smullis7

Great video.  I cringed when I saw the window.  I have the plexiglass version that opens, but it's still a fear of mine...I've already had it replaced after hail damage.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Does everyone drive with their shades in place?  We contained them (lowered them) en route.

Verna

I leave mine shades up, and the screen door in the open position (not slid out across the doorway). With the window screens in place it is very difficult to see inside. 

The screen door door is a lesson from experience--something fell against it while traveling, tore the bottom string and there's no fixing that. It's a rather expensive mistake to make. 

HappyCamperWives

wizard1880 said:

Same thing happened to us!  Except our window stayed in place.  It was webbed in cracks and some pieces started to fall out where the rock hit.  That must've been one large rock!

If you replace it with the new style that opens, the first thing you'll notice is the tinting is much less, which I found as a good thing.  More daylight and better view!  (Not to mention the Acrylic will never shatter again!)

It's the worst! We are thinking it was a windshield type glass and nope- little baby glass splinters everywhere! But at the end of the day no biggie just know for next time- glass is a no go

HappyCamperWives

BirdieJane said:

We love these girl's!!!

Aww thank you!!!

HappyCamperWives

rfuss928 said:

The tiny little nuggets of glass that were all over your interior are proof that the tempered safety glass performed exactly as intended.  If the window had not been tempered there would have been long, pointy shards scattered about and remaining in the frame.  The small pebble like pieces are relatively harmless in comparison and exactly what makes it "safety".
A new plexiglass window that opens will be a nice upgrade if you look for the positive in your adventure!
Have fun!

Safety I guess is relative- we were thinking it would be like a windshield but were def wrong. We still got cut a lot and it splintered making all of our things sparkle with mini glass shards. It was a real mess. But again! All is ok, it worked out fine and we're super excited about an opening front window  

irvingj

I suspect it's a matter of terminology: someone feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe "safety glass" refers to the automotive-style glass which is made of two thin layers of glass with optically-transparent, rubberized adhesive sandwiched between the layers, the idea here being to keep all the little pieces together even after the glass has shattered.

Those windows, and all other high-stress glass applications, are made of glass which has been "tempered," i.e., heat-treated, to a)  be stronger (more resistant to impacts) than non-tempered glass, and  b) to "explode" into all those little, mostly squarish pieces of glass when they do break, reducing the risk of severe cuts. As rfuss928 said, all those little pieces of glass are an indication of the glass having been tempered, which is actually better in terms of safety....
 Our DM T@B didn't have a front window, but it sure strikes me as an excellent idea to use plexiglass in that position.

That certainly wasn't in my thoughts when, working for a pinball machine maintenance company many years ago, I slid out the playfield glass for servicing a machine when there was a loud "BANG!"  My two hands slapped together and I was suddenly holding nothing! It took me an entire day to remove all those $#%$# little pieces of glass from between the hundreds of relay contacts all over the bottom of that machine.

That glass had apparently suffered a multitude of indignities over its life, and just got to the breaking point, literally. Tempered glass. Would have been nice if it had been safety glass!

Restless_Native

I follow you on YouTube and saw the video! But what a great attitude! Love your channel! 

T@Balong

At the risk of hijacking this thread, what are the pros and cons of shades up or down while traveling?  I did a search of this topic and nothing came up.   It would seem that shades down would at least provide a bit of heat relief inside the T@B, right?   Or is there some reason why it is better to travel with the shades up and perhaps just the window screens in the up position?

HappyCamperWives

T@Balong said:

At the risk of hijacking this thread, what are the pros and cons of shades up or down while traveling?  I did a search of this topic and nothing came up.   It would seem that shades down would at least provide a bit of heat relief inside the T@B, right?   Or is there some reason why it is better to travel with the shades up and perhaps just the window screens in the up position?

We travel with our shades down for a few reasons I guess- to not let anyone see inside if we park somewhere, to help with heat, and in the event the window breaks (haha we were right on this one!) to help keep the glass outside if it explodes. Can't tell if that worked or not but it seemed most glass went outside but we do have to replace the shade now. 

HappyCamperWives

Restless_Native said:

I follow you on YouTube and saw the video! But what a great attitude! Love your channel! 

Aww thank you

HappyCamperWives

irvingj said:

I suspect it's a matter of terminology: someone feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe "safety glass" refers to the automotive-style glass which is made of two thin layers of glass with optically-transparent, rubberized adhesive sandwiched between the layers, the idea here being to keep all the little pieces together even after the glass has shattered.

Those windows, and all other high-stress glass applications, are made of glass which has been "tempered," i.e., heat-treated, to a)  be stronger (more resistant to impacts) than non-tempered glass, and  b) to "explode" into all those little, mostly squarish pieces of glass when they do break, reducing the risk of severe cuts. As rfuss928 said, all those little pieces of glass are an indication of the glass having been tempered, which is actually better in terms of safety....
 Our DM T@B didn't have a front window, but it sure strikes me as an excellent idea to use plexiglass in that position.

That certainly wasn't in my thoughts when, working for a pinball machine maintenance company many years ago, I slid out the playfield glass for servicing a machine when there was a loud "BANG!"  My two hands slapped together and I was suddenly holding nothing! It took me an entire day to remove all those $#%$# little pieces of glass from between the hundreds of relay contacts all over the bottom of that machine.

That glass had apparently suffered a multitude of indignities over its life, and just got to the breaking point, literally. Tempered glass. Would have been nice if it had been safety glass!

That makes sense! Tempered glass. I've broken a few windshields and never have we had such a mess. It was impressive, really, how much of it was everywhere!!! Haha glad we can share our stories. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Tabalong, The newer (2015 or 2016 and on) Tabs are made to raise the shade and lower the screen.  The older Tabs shades pulled down and as I recall there was a sag issue.  Also, the current shade/screen placement allows you to keep a window cracked at night with the screen in place and pull up the shade for privacy.  We were told to store the shade during travel - I think to reduce the wear/risk of damage during travel.  I know a lot of people keep the shade deployed to prevent peepers and keep it cooler but it sounds like Verna deploys the screen which helps obscure the contents of the Tab.  We may have to try that.  

rfuss928

irvingj said:

I suspect it's a matter of terminology: someone feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe "safety glass" refers to the automotive-style glass which is made of two thin layers of glass with optically-transparent, rubberized adhesive sandwiched between the layers, the idea here being to keep all the little pieces together even after the glass has shattered.

The rubberized laminated glass is mostly unique to windshields to help prevent objects from penetrating and entering or exiting the vehicle.  Side and rear automotive glass, shower doors, storm doors, skylights, commercial displays and many other applications where long, dagger like shards present a likely risk when the breakage occurs use single layer tempered glass.
"Safety glass" is a general term and not a technical specification. 

In this situation everyone was safe and free of serious harm so the fun can continue.

HappyCamperWives  - Enjoy your new window and the adventures ahead !

Cyclonic

SAM said:

Does everyone drive with their shades in place?  We contained them (lowered them) en route.

I travel with the shades closed, keeps prying eyes away, and our shades are the older roll up ones that are reflective on out facing side, so it helps keep the camper cooler.

T@Balong

In our 2015 T@B, the shades pull down and the screens pull up from their "at home" position. I guess I'm still wondering if there is some harm being done to shades like mine if we travel with the shades in the down position.   That would be my preference since I believe the shades keep out more sunlight than the screens alone do.

JohnDanielsCPA

I read a lot of RV forums.  The general consensus is to travel with the shades down (for numerous reasons).  I don't see where there would be any risk of traveling with the shade down in the T@B (but not the screen part of the shade - the hard part).  But, like many things RV, everything comes down to preference.  I travel with my shades down in both of my rigs.

rfuss928

The shades and screens that were used in the DM T@Bs and possibly early LGs pull down from the top.  They are held in their lowered positions by small plastic pins engaging in notches in the tracks.  Many people have problems with the pins breaking as the trailer bounces down the road.  Kind of a PITA to find replacements and fix.  The consensus recommendation is travel with them up to avoid stressing / breaking these pins.  I'm sure different shades use different latching mechanisms.
I think I would prefer down for sun and security reasons but have always followed the recommended up position with these shades.

JustJohn

Yikes girls, sorry about your window.... just glad it wasn't your truck windshield!!

ontheroad

I think there is a picture on the windows showing shades up if I recall, look at your windows there is a decal by the manufacturer on it...only travelled from our dealer so far...

mickietucs

SAM said:

Tabalong, The newer (2015 or 2016 and on) Tabs are made to raise the shade and lower the screen.  The older Tabs shades pulled down and as I recall there was a sag issue.  Also, the current shade/screen placement allows you to keep a window cracked at night with the screen in place and pull up the shade for privacy.  We were told to store the shade during travel - I think to reduce the wear/risk of damage during travel.  I know a lot of people keep the shade deployed to prevent peepers and keep it cooler but it sounds like Verna deploys the screen which helps obscure the contents of the Tab.  We may have to try that.  

I think this applies to even newer models (maybe "late 2016's"? Mine is considered a '16 (made in late '15) but the shades are still on top and the screen is at the bottom.  I must have just missed the newer install.

Sharon_is_SAM

Yep, could we that recent.  

wizard1880

The keyword here is "laminated" -- this means if it breaks it stays in place mostly.

In the OP's case, it was not laminated, so the pieces went everywhere.  It's safety glass for sure, since it broke into tiny pieces.

Ours was laminated, so when it broke it held in place even towing at highway speeds.  Knowing how the factory and parts availability is, perhaps some got laminated, others not.  They're all safety glass, in any case, by DOT regulations.

fuzzypinkbunny

I just watched your video! How are you getting it replaced on the road? Did you just have to find a T@B dealer? (BTW, your Key West video made me want to immediately get on the road and drive south!)