Between the fiberglass, the carpet, and the upholstery, you
take care of your RV. Then, your RV window meets a rock. All that hard work
seems to go down the drain. To keep your RV in top condition, window problems
must be taken care of immediately. Not only do you need to keep a tight seal
for your RV’s interior climate, but the risk of further glass damage and free
shards is too great. Here’s what you’ll need to do to tackle your RV window
repair head-on.
Diagnosing the Window
Problem First
The key challenge here isn’t necessarily the window itself.
It’s figuring out how to proceed. If this is the first RV window problem you’ve
ever dealt with, the temptation is to simply call up a repair company and have
them do the work for you.
This can work, especially if you’re dealing with a
windshield problem. But you might be surprised to find that many auto window
repair companies are about as equipped to deal with other RV windows as you
are.
Another issue you’ll have to gauge is the severity of damage.
If the damage is severe enough that your window is at risk for further
problems, it’s probably best to simply contact your auto dealer and order a new
window from your manufacturer. This will require a total replacement of the
window, true—but it will also help ensure that your RV is as safe as possible.
Replacing Your RV
Window
Once you’ve decided that replacement is the way to go—and
you have the exact window you need from the manufacturer—you’ll need to get
down to the window frame and find the screws that keep it attached to the RV
itself. Make a point of keeping these screws handy—you might need them.
Take the time you have with this opening to clean things
out. Hopefully, you won’t ever have to replace this same window again, so it
doesn’t hurt to get into the little nooks and crannies of your window opening
while you can. We recommend using a general RV cleaner to get the job done.
While you work with a helper, carefully remove the window
and store it in a safe, temporary spot. Then you can lift in the new window. If
the proper window was ordered, it should fit snugly into the opening, with
holes precisely fit to match where every screw went.
Additional Sealing
Required?
If there is some additional sealing required, or if the only
part of your window that was damaged is the frame, it may be possible to use a
sealant to fix the affected area. Be sure you acquire the right RV sealant for the damaged
material.
When to Call an RV
Window Expert
Properly repairing a window this way can save some money on
labor—but if you can’t find the appropriate manufacturer pieces and aren’t sure
how to proceed, you’ll know it’s time to call an RV window expert.
Don’t want to deal with extensive RV repairs? To keep your
RV exterior fully protected, don’t forget to use the RV products available at RV by
LIFE.