Replace A Broken Frameless RV Window

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Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, walks you through replacing a broken frameless RV window on this fifth wheel toy hauler.
If you are in need of RV Repairs in the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state, submit a service request on our website at myrvworks.com today!
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
- Heavy Duty Mounting Tape 3M VHB Waterproof Foam Tape: amzn.to/3bV3Rdu
- Rapid Remover Adhesive Remover: amzn.to/2J1yJcV
- Non-marring Plastic Chisel Set: amzn.to/2WRHw6k
- DEWALT 12V Cordless Screwdriver & Impact Driver Combo Kit: amzn.to/2X0sMH5

[@bryonleche3627]

I love watching masters of their trades, especially when they have such a good attitude

[@kmac1991]

Good video. I had a broken window last summer in Boise ID. I was new to RVs, went to a dealer service center and got the contact the manufacturer order a new window replacement and weeks or months to get it installed. Went to a second dealer service center, yes we can order a new window BUT here is a card for an RV window glass guy, try him first. He came within a couple of hours, took some measurements, noted the radius of the rounded frameless glass and tint and the black painted edge. He had a local glass shop make the tempered replacement to spec and installed it within 6 days total! $400. Please consult a glass pro before ordering an entire replacement window.

[@scottjansen3569]

I learn so much from Darren University!

[@J.Cameron.Stuart.Adams.]

Excellent work and info.. Thank you. That thunderstorm we had yesterday exposed a failed window seal. Luckily I was watching the thunderstorm and heard the dripping and saw the water dripping from the top of the window in the slit of the retainer screw trim. As some of you reading this may or may not know DRV has wood trim around the windows. This trim is finish nailed to the wall. Meaning you can't simply check and snug the screws. To do so you must first pull the wood work off the wall to access the screws. Once I pulled the wood off I was confronted with a few loose screws; one screw was backed out about 1/4 inch. For the meantime I snugged up the screws. This should keep the water out until the new seal and a dry day arrives. I was thrilled to find this video as I've not been able to find out what type and size seal to get. A few things to note for those taking on their own work. First and foremost, do not wrench on the screw. These screws should just be snug. Trying to tighten them down can result in stripping out the window frame, requiring you to drill a new hole above and below the stripped out area on the retaining trim. The other issue with over tightening is causing areas with more compression of the seal. This could result in a leak over time. As you can see these windows do have a frame despite the namesake. Aluminum expands and contracts all day and night 365. Overtightened screws limits the window frame and the separate interior retaining trim from expanding and contracting independently. Additionally there is a lot of movement during travel. If the window and retaining trim become too ridged or the seal becomes too compressed from overly tight screws the window becomes prone to seal failure. Due to the thermal expansion and contraction and movement during travel you should check to ensure all screws are snug in the spring and before storing the unit at the end of the season. There is no set seal replacement schedule to follow. Your local environment, use, and travel each unit experiences varies widely. My unit is now five years old. It spent the first three years in Florida. Now I am in Seattle again. Having one seal begin to fail during a brief torrent of rain tells me it's time to replace all of the window seals. From the extreme baking in the Florida sun for three years before moving back to the much cooler and wetter Pacific Northwest likely shortened the life of these seals. I would say seals last longer in mild climates than they do in heat prone regions. And regions with extreme temperature swings. Despite the seals being protected from direct and damaging UV exposure, thermal extremes do seem to take their toll quicker. Aluminum heats and cools rapidly. Meaning it expands and contracts rapidly, weakening the bond as the seal and frame expand and contract at different rates. If my unit stayed in mild Seattle since new, with limited travel and I had access to the screws without dismantling the woodwork, I have no doubt the seals would have lasted ten years or more. The issue with removing the wood trim around the windows is having to add more holes in the beautiful cherry woodwork each time I check the screws. But!!!! Filling pin holes with colored filler is much easier and less costly than a leak going unnoticed causing costly damage. Admittedly I have not been as proactive with snugging screws. I shared my concerns with DRV regarding window frame access and a few other issues I've had (roof bowing of the large dining, desk, and theater seat slide being a major issue)..... I never heard back from them. Anyhow, no matter how budget friendly or bank busting your unit is many of the components are the same. Do not judge a manufacturer for issues with products they do not manufacturer. That said it is the responsibility of the RV manufacturers to properly install these components. When repairing or replacing say window seals, follow the window manufacturer instructions and use the manufacturer suggested seal. A lot of time if an RV manufacturer runs out of something they'll substitute it to keep the production line moving. You may find a window was fitted with buytle tape by the RV manufacturer. Do not substitute a seal with putty or caulking. They've designed the window to fit and remain watertight using a seal. In other words do not rely on the RV manufacturer to install components correctly. RV manufacturers are known to use poor substitutes. Often times these rash substitutions, absences as well, do not cause issues until well after the warrant has expired. Take the case of hole grommets to protect wiring from sharp edges. Often times when they run out of protective grommets an employee will simply use a bit of duct tape on to protect the wire, or nothing at all. A few years later the lights suddenly stop working. Or worse yet the unit burns as ours did when some left the light switch on despite the lights not working. Or when nails substitute screws on the plywood roof sheathing. Just after the warranty expired on the new trailer that replaced the burned unit, I noticed the roofing had a very noticable bulge. They peeled back the EPDM to find nails instead of screws were used on one half of the roof sheathing. The aft half had staples. There were no screws at all holding the decking down. Of course Keystone refused any responsibility claiming I had two years to bring defects to their attention. OMG.... Wow ... Listen to me ranting and rambling. Sorry. All this....while simply writing to thank you for providing a link to the seal I need. 😂 Cheers!

[@lifeandtimesofunclebob9591]

Thank you very much for sharing. We had our window brake and its 2 months out to get an appointment to have it fixed. I have already got the part number and cost from the factory for replacement. After seeing your video, I have decided to do it myself. It looks to be a very easy job!

[@MyRVWorks]

Glad it helped! All the best of luck. Happy camping!

[@CAL6465]

Great tutorial. I have to replace a smaller one on my Palomino Columbus in 2 weeks once it arrives

[@MyRVWorks]

Hope it helps! Thanks for watching.

[@rolaonhitson9617]

I have been doing Camper Appliance Repair for a few months as a side business to my original business: A&A Salvage - Old Camper and Boat Removal out of Cleveland, TN and as I am on site sometimes I refer to your videos as a guide. I think you do a good job explaining things and I have found most all of the videos I've watched informative. Keep up the good work.

[@MyRVWorks]

Thanks for the comment. Good luck in your endeavors. Sounds like it would be a good business.

[@OurCoupledAdventure]

Nice and helpful video. When we are in your area and in need of a repair, it is nice to know who to call!

[@MyRVWorks]

I expect to be in this area for a while and will leave the light on for you.

[@lisatodorovitch4231]

He is a master at it

[@MotFPS]

I just found your channel. Excellent video quality and you're funny! Subscribed!

[@MyRVWorks]

Thanks for the comment! We are having fun and getting more comfortable putting these video's together for everyone.

[@elimorfin1694]

Very good video

[@jackmason7518]

Good Morning. Thank you again for a great job. Jack fome Indiana

[@MyRVWorks]

Our pleasure! Thank you for watching. ;)

[@phillipc4865]

Excellent video. Only thing I'm not 100% clear on are the spaces you spoke of. Thanks.

[@MyRVWorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jdwht2455]

Good video and just in time for me. I just about to order a 57x47 inch replacement window for one that "mysteriously" showed up broken about 2 hours after we left for the day. Looks like a good DIYer project. Thanks for the good job and explaining what those spacers did

[@MyRVWorks]

Glad we could help! Happy camping!

[@Deb5char]

No cap seal?

[@73av8r5]

Thanks for this. I just destroyed my slide window on one of those damn state park kiosk things. Didn’t swing wide enough. Going though the ordering process now....

[@MyRVWorks]

Happy fixing!

[@richardgagnon5978]

Thanks for all your excellent vids. Wish you were here in New England. I have smaller but same style window that the top stationary pane has broken. Have you been able to replace just the glass, or do I need a completely new unit like this one?

[@RVHelper]

Or there might be a manufacturer label on the window frame.

[@fredel7784]

Can you please assist me with foam seal. Link. Looks to be 1/4x1/4 in size. One side has sticky, I have looked through your Amazon store supplies and I am just not finding what I’m needing. Love your videos!! You are the best!!! Thank you very much!!

[@Scorpiomary]

I did enjoy and find that your video was very informative. Enjoyed your assistants. Good job...👍

[@MyRVWorks]

Thanks Mary, I am starting to involve more of the family. Soon I will have the cats with me as well LOL...

[@Scorpiomary]

@@MyRVWorks cats have their own union and they dont negotiate very well. We backed in driveway and caught end of Ralph's tail. He hollered and flopped around. Didn't hurt him but still lays in the driveway. Thanks for sharing your vlog

[@russnichols7011]

Changed my first frameless window after watching this. It was a curved front cap window on a travel trailer. I saw some differences and was curious if there are several ways these are made and installed. The most noticeable difference was there was not double sided tape. The window had a rubber gasket built into it. When installing the screws on the inside I had to drill thru the aluminum of the window for each screw. I verified that's what the original window had. It took considerable ore time then I expected. It took two of us 2 hours to complete this job. The most time consuming part was removing the silicon caulk that was installed along the top edge of the window. The product you mentioned in this video for removing any glue from the double sided tape worked well.

[@MyRVWorks]

Are you telling me that all of these manufacturers did not get together and come up with one standard way to install a window! LOL I am being silly and I meant that as a joke. I'm glad this was able to offer a bit of guidance but yes, you will run into all kinds of things which makes this craft so exciting. Never a dull moment and I'm learning new things everyday. Happy camping and enjoy your new window

[@tracyvetter7468]

Another job well done, as always!

[@MyRVWorks]

Thanks for the comment!!!

[@chriscyrus4197]

I just replaced a somewhat larger window in my 2015 Jayco Pinnacle. Weed eater shot a rock up🤪. We followed your video and it was spot on 👍✌️. Thanks for the assistance and cudos for not showing the stuff we didn’t need to see AKA blind removal, screw removal.

[@MyRVWorks]

Sorry to hear your window broke but I am glad we were able to help you. Happy camping.

[@chuckmac6541]

Have you ever worked on any Toyota chinooks

[@toddubois3315]

Serious issues with ordering replacement windows from Jayco and Cleer Vision the manufacturer, we probably need to start asking for alternative suppliers as I've waited 4 months and they are now telling me maybe two more months. Bottom line is these frameless and framed window have issues and the market for replacements is not working.

[@MyRVWorks]

Sadly the RV industry has been hit so hard due to the high demand of RV'ers during Covid times. Be a little more patient and the manufactures will get caught back up. Happy camping!

[@RichPlakas]

Great video! Can you repost the link to the VHB tape on Amazon? The current link isn't working. Thx!

[@MyRVWorks]

Here it is: amzn.to/3bV3Rdu. Thank you for letting me know it wasn't working. ;) I have updated it. Happy camping!

[@frostriver4547]

So Isopropyl will get rid of the dark areas that have appeared around, and look like under, caulk lines? That’s cool!

[@MyRVWorks]

I don't think it will get rid of the existing mold but before I apply new sealant I always wipe the surface with isopropyl to sterilize it.

[@STEVE-lk2ft]

So basically a frameless window has a frame on the outside that is hidden behind the glass. I'm thinking about painting my truck shell and wondering if I should just mask windows or try to remove them. BTW the windows are frameless on my truck cap. Any suggestions?

[@hinoonenterprises]

How does the actual new window attach to the frame?

[@marcusmorgan1419]

I couldn't get a new window for our fifthwheel from the manufacturer or lippert, since only 1 of the 2 pieces of glass are broken, I cut a pattern and took it along with a piece of the broken glass to a local glass company and had a new window made, it has taken right at 3 weeks, I haven't installed it because I am looking for the rubber hinge material now, any idea where to find something like that? Its a frameless exit window on a slide out, the top on the outside is an aluminum rail with a few screws holding a rubber strip in place, with all of the pieces of glass stuck to whats there, I don't want to reuse it and actually it would be easier to glue the glass to a new rubber and then slide it into place. The new glass was a tenth of the cost for a new window had I been able to get one, and I really didn't want to replace the entire frame ect...for one side of it, had both sides been broken I may have considered it. The new glass is tempered and tinted, just need to glue the latch handle and rubber hinge onto it, so probably 15 minutes to do the job if I can find the rubber I need.

[@funkydb]

Your VHB tape link is broken. What is the width of the tape you used?

[@MyRVWorks]

Here it is: amzn.to/3bV3Rdu. Thank you for letting me know. ;) Happy camping!

[@davidgallagher2240]

@@MyRVWorks it's broken again, could you update this link again? I have been unable to find anywhere on hehr's manuals where they list the seal used. I have seen butyl tape used in some other videos, but I am inclined to use a 3M product as you have done here.

[@mrstimpy100]

Link broken again, want to give you the amazon benifit. Couldmyou please renew the link...thanks ​@MyRVWorks

[@alicerobinson4816]

My 2020 jayco redhawk frameless window has two screws on top, the company set me a complete window, what do I do?

[@noeleenfalkner4557]

Thanks for the video. Living in a Cottage from Cedar Creek the bedroom window had a leak from the screw in the square box pelmet up above the window so wet that i took it down. I dont know where the water not a lot is coming into the bedroom and the carpet is wet just a little bit I dont know if its the seals around the window or the roof. I think the roof is all encased I cant see any rivets up there. Hope you can suggest where the water would have an entry point from. This only happens when we have very heavy rain.

[@MyRVWorks]

These water leaks are very tricky sometimes to identify their source. I had one RV where the leak was in the front and it was leaking inside of the roof and came out in the back LOL. One issue we see a lot of times is humidity inside of the RV masquerading as an official leak, when it's really just the humidity inside the coach. It really throws us because on humid days that's also the days that we get rain. But you state that this only happens when it rains. Without actually seeing it it would be difficult to try to help troubleshoot. One idea would be to maybe take painters tape, or duct tape or something, and tape up the outside of the window frame before rain is forecast and while it is raining see if it leaks then. If it does not leak then you can assume that the leak is getting into the window frame on the outside. Hope this helps. Happy camping.

[@mdterh1]

Loving your videos. Nice to benge watch i can't get enough. This window is like our windows. My Question if you shorten the plastic stop in the crank slide can you open the window wider? What would be the negative affect or would there be one?

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Elgin, Not really sure on the modification question, something Darren would have to have a closer look at. Usually he keeps things the way engineers designed them, having been an engineer himself for over 25 years before he started this company. We are so glad to hear that our videos were able to help you! If you would like to support us please consider becoming an "RV Community Supporter" on our Patreon site: www.patreon.com/myrvworks Happy Camping, My RV Works Media Team

[@robmerrill7713]

Elgin Houchins , did you ever get an answer to your question? I’m wondering the same thing. Rob

[@mdterh1]

@@robmerrill7713 no not really... we gust pried it out so far so good. I could see where someone got a little crappy with it if it would bend it

[@goalie2998]

I have a question regarding windows, that I havent found referenced on any videos on your channel. I have a 2011 thor class c. The 2 windows in the sesting area directly behind the cab rattle terribly. My first step was to remove the screens and set them aside. Then I grabbed some thin weather stripping foam and applied it to the fixed window at the overlap with the moving pane of glass. I also tucked a piece on the end channel of the sliding window to help cushion the glass from the frame. I've got the noise down about halfway from where I started. But it's still very loud while driving. Is there any hope or tricks to make these windows quieter? Thanks

[@MyRVWorks]

I would reach out to Thor directly and see what they suggest. These are very difficult to resolve. All the best! Happy camping!

[@MatthewMello]

For shipping, ever consider having the camper company ship it with a camper being shipped? I had a Roo Bunk door shipped when my dealer got a new Roo in. Saved like $600 in shipping. I did have to wait a bit longer. May not be a good option with a window.

[@MyRVWorks]

We have done that in the past but we are not a dealer you see... We offer mobile service and there are no dealers in our area. But for others it is worth looking into if the RV dealership is willing to do that for you. Cheers, Darren

[@r.j.schubert9222]

Where do you actually get your windows from? I have a 1986 Class C, and am thinking about replacing some windows. Thanks.

[@MyRVWorks]

We purchase them directly from the manufacture of the RV's. Thank you.

[@jackmason7518]

Good Morning you change a window on you Tube. How can I find out who is the manufacturer of the window. I have an open range buy Highland ridge . it was bought by Jaco and then bought buy someone else. I called Jaco but they are close because of the vires. Any help would be great. Jack PS be safe out there.

[@MyRVWorks]

You need to work with your manufacture directly for these parts. Be patient during these high demanding times. Thank you.

[@nathanwilliams2212]

How much did the 3 rail per side slide cost to repair?

[@lisatodorovitch4231]

I have a rockwood with seamless windows, I want a window cooler? Help

[@garyduran1]

Nice job. Do you have to replace the whole window if one of the little vents breaks? Thank you

[@MyRVWorks]

The simple answer is yes. These are manufactured as a one-piece unit.

[@garyduran1]

@@MyRVWorks thank you ;)

[@scottfirestone9321]

@@MyRVWorks I had to replace a broken vent window on my frameless window. Jayco would only sell me the whole window. I got in touch with the manufacturer's (Lippert) representative, Duncan Systems. They shipped me the replacement vent window in two weeks. I had to remove one screw and drill out the pop rivets for the crank. Thirty minutes later it was done without replacing the whole window and frame. I don't know if it is as simple for the fixed upper window. I thought you would like to know because your answer, for Lippert windows, is incorrect. I love your videos.

[@davidgahafer3115]

Thanks for the video. I have a window ordered for a customer. Your link for the foam tape doesn't work. Can you give me a link for the tape needed to do this job?

[@MyRVWorks]

We've got that tape on our Amazon store located here: www.amazon.com/shop/myrvworksinc/list/HUM4FFXXXL9S?ref_=cm_sw_r_apann_aipsflist_aipsfmyrvworksinc_MD4C5ZWXRAMZKGFP6WYY

[@davidgahafer3631]

@@MyRVWorks .4 inches is all the width it is

[@Letsgobrandon-h7w]

where do you get that vet to the right of you? top right corner

[@MyRVWorks]

We would advise you to reach out to your manufacture for that part number. Happy fixing!

[@ajjohnkay5793]

A bit of light inside would help the video

[@hojo70]

I wonder if a little hot glue would have kept those spacers in place?

[@MyRVWorks]

I have used a piece of that double-sided tape under them as well.

[@jackmason7518]

PS the stile looks the same as the one you installed. Jack

[@roamfree2757]

👍

[@stevebag3720]

I'm looking for how to replace a rv window not how to remove plastic.

[@MyRVWorks]

We show you how to replace the window in this video. Thank you.