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Topic: Window Cleaner and Window Repair Recommendations (Read 1172 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Window Cleaner and Window Repair Recommendations
Reply #25 –
So who removed the windows?
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Window Cleaner and Window Repair Recommendations
Reply #26 –
ProRV removed the windows and did the repair onsite, right where you see the photos taken.  I will clarify that in my write-up and write up the process of removal, effort, installation...etc.  I can also answer the questions regarding the option of replacing the windows and other questions as well.   Give me a couple of hours.

ps.  I would not recommend trying to do this yourself, unless you have at least two other people you trust with you during the extraction and insertion.  Some of the video online are deceptive and make it look the windows just pull out with your hands and some gentle prying.  Not the case for these bad boys in a Lazy Daze.  The mothership did not intend on them coming out, ever.

Robby
2004 Mid Bath
 
Re: Window Cleaner and Window Repair Recommendations
Reply #27 –
Technical Discussion on the ProRV Removal, Cleaning and Installation of the Windows. and a few other details.   

Every window in the coach was foggy, however, the wife and I decided to only do the 3 panoramic windows in the rear and the one over the dinette.    As for the remaining windows our reasoning for not doing; bathroom we didn't particularly want it easier to see in/out and while sitting you are faced opposite of the window anyway. 8) , the window over the kitchen counter requires anyone over 5ft. 5 to bend over just to see out and the wife keeps the blinds closed anyway there, and finally the two windows in the cab-over area are never used, even by the kiddo.    

Trip details.... Arrived on Sunday Night around 8:30.  Dawn Cass, the manager over the Window Repair area provided me a code to open the main gate and I hooked up to an electrical outlet for the night.  I talked with her at length as well as the Lead Technician, Jesus (pronounced Heysoos, not Jesus, our Lord and Savior).  I was more than anxious and concerned about the potential damage extracting the windows.  We started on Monday morning 9am and finished Thursday evening.  Basically, Jesus and one assistant.  I headed home on Friday morning.  I stayed in a hotel about 4 miles away and rented a car.  Dawn also has a small rental fleet of RVs and will be setting up a costing model for staying on one of those or renting one while you get your windows done.  This is not a Suncoast drive through with a small army unscrewing and yanking the window out....damaging your coach in the process kind of deal.

Window Removal...This is and should be the topic of any LD owner to contemplate.  Is it worth the risk? For me, as a perfectionist, it had to be done or sell the LD immediately.  I stayed with the coach for a period of time while this was underway.   When talking with Dawn and Jesus prior to arrival, I told them others in the LD world would be very interested and I would be documenting the experience for all to see.  Plus, this was the first older LD  with the Large windows in the rear and they welcomed my information on how they were double sealed and what to expect.  Honestly, they were being nice to me understanding my anxiety of having someone else work on the coach and "Show Car" mentality.  I am restoring this coach back to like new condition..  The techs were able to remove the inside rail without removing all the window dressing.  Then we started with the outside seal(s).  The original neoprene/foam gasket was hardened on the outside edges between the window and aluminum side.  Jesus has a trick up his sleeve with heating the edge of painters tool and pushing it up through the seal till it hit the bottom of the frame.  Carefully doing this for a 12" area and placing a pry bar with a wood board between it and the aluminum coach side, he carefully starting trying to pull the window frame away from the side of the coach.  The side and the frame flexed just enough to get a razor blade knife to get to the inside PL1 seal.  Now where that seal material was and where it is between the frame and the window opening is a mystery and was inconsistent.  You cannot see up in there, nor is there such a razor blade device that can turn 90 degrees between the frame and the coach side.  So this was a very very slow process, requiring lots of patience.  Balancing how much force to avoid bending the frame or the coach side just enough to cut away the inner seal was the hardest thing to accomplish.  LD did not plan for those windows to ever come out.  So carefully repeating this and keeping a board between the window frame and side area and moving to the next 12 inches repeating the process, inching the window out was painstaking.   Did we bend the exterior window frame a fraction as it was flexing, only visible to the eye of a painter or someone who does sheetrock, maybe.  But no major bending or frame twisting or any damage to the side of the coach.   ;D  More importantly, no damage to the window opening (wood inner frame) and no dents or dings to the aluminum siding.   The first window took almost 3 hours to get out.   On to the rear window... feeling a bit more confident, understanding what to expect, it still took 2.5 hours...big window and 3 people to handle to avoid the window being damaged or falling out.  It was very heavy.... on to the next...  Now a few words about LD construction.   I understand what they hoped to gain by putting the inner seal of PL1, but how it appeared to be applied in random amounts and there not being any sealant between the inner window frame and aluminum skin is questionable and a good topic for discussion.  I've built many cars, restored homes, and I've helped build airplanes with aluminum skins and there are better water-proofing models and a few subtle things that could be done to protect the wood or prevent a leak in the advent of a broken outer seal. Water could have gotten onto the window frame if the outer seal failed...on every window.   Another topic for another day.

Cleaning, Repairing and Defogging.... Here is a bit of mystery, as I was not allowed into this area.   But there are a couple of photos showing what the windows looked like.  I include one of those earlier....  The tech did say it was like cleaning most other windows.  Since they do window repair work for Newmar, who also uses Hehr windows, the size and thickness were not unusual. 

Installation...  Installation was a bit straight forward with 3 of us handling the window... I ordered the window seal material from LD who was assisted in getting this shipped 2 day express.  80 ft. at $1.50/ft plus shipping.    What was shipped and was we pulled off the window was different.  So I imagine what they use has changed in the past 16 years.  After putting the seal on the window, we applied a 1/2 bead of PL1 between the seal and the inner angle of the metal frame where it makes the 90 bend.  That should evenly apply the inner sealant between the window metal frame and coach window opening edges.  Now as controversial as this may sound, I don't agree that this is foolproof for sealing the window and never having or obtaining water damage.  So, I applied a 3rd seal on the outer edge, using white PL1 on the upper and side edges where the paint is white and using black silicone on the bottom edge.  I'm guessing that should stop just about any good old southern thunderstorm storm but possibly fail in a hurricane Cat 3 or greater or a tornado.  

All for now... questions?  ...If you decide to have your windows done, I can not guarantee what your outcome will be, since I do not know the condition of your coach.  If you have water damage on the sides or near the windows, it would be pretty much impossible to pry the windows out.  None the less, I don't think anyone else in the whole country would take any better care of you than these folks.  Tell them Robby referred you and you just might get a discount or charged more.    :D   I am in no way affiliated with or work for anyone, except NASA.  I will for the sake of conversation offer $1 for anyone who can guess where I am in the picture of my profile and $5 to the first person.   Private messages only.  Offer good for 48 hours..   Let's get started...
2004 Mid Bath