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Plastic vs Glass windows? Plastic vs Glass windows?
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Heavy Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
OVER 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Tatra, Unimog, Iveco etc.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 5 Apr 2010
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Plastic vs Glass windows?
I would appreciate any comments re Glass vs plastic windows for my conversion.

Glass is cheaper but need to add the cost of fly screen/blinds, plastic is light expensive and scratches easily.

Double glazed is good for cold weather and reducing condensation.

Glass is stronger.

What are you lot using and what has been your experience.

Graeme
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  #2  
Old 5 Apr 2010
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graeme

Mine has plastic windows with fly screens and blinds, double glazed

They've been in place for 18 years and the truck has done transafrica, australia, west africa etc etc and they are still fine - i do have mesh screens to go over them - i'll send you some photos when i'm at home again . I have a mix of sliding and opening outwards windows

So i'd be happy with the plastic ones, and if you go to caravan breakers or ebay you can get them fairly cheaply
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  #3  
Old 6 Apr 2010
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I have plastic "Seitz" windows, some are top hung and some slide. Both are proud of the body by maybe an inch, and there are quite a few scratches. I've since put some spare 3M clear paint protection film on some, and some left over office window mirrored tint on another which may help prevent more damage in the future, but may just get ripped off by a big overhanging branch! The relective film coating hugely reduces the heat coming in from the sun though, handy when its hot, not so good when its cold and you want all the heating you can get!
They are double glazed as far as that sort of thing goes, there's an air gap in the middle that gets smaller towards the edge. When its really cold some trimmed to size foam camping mat between the window and the "thermal" blind helped a lot!
The mozzie net/ blinds are good, keep out most insects and just about all the light, both from inside while covert camping, and from outside in brightly lit carparks.

A dutch camper on a truck I saw had steel grills welded over all his windows, which, if you can still get out if you had to is good, if you are going on tree lined tracks slightly narrower than your vehicle.
Top hung windows are good for ventilation when its raining though!
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  #4  
Old 7 Apr 2010
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Windows (mine too are seitz) with window grills, can be a bit group 4
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  #5  
Old 2 May 2010
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Hi glass can easier to replace than plastic if you break one!mark
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Old 5 May 2010
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Personally I'd go for the plastic, double glazed, tinted jobbies that most campervans/motorhomes have fitted nowadays. You can easily install rollup blockout blinds and or insect screens to each window. Most open right up to let the breeze through.

Plastic is a pain if it gets broken - but I've seen an old VW with a glued together window so they are a DIY repair whereas moulded and laminated automotive glass is definitely return to supplier for replacement.

Security - if someone is determined to get in security grills wont stop them, just takes them a bit longer or they use a longer crow bar to really damage things. You are only stopping the sneak thieves and probably putting a big sign on the vehicle saying "rob me, I've got valuables inside" with the security screens installed. You can get internally installed wire mesh/insect mesh style security screens, but they need to be built in.

Trouble with all security screens is, if they cant get in, you cant get out in an emergency - plenty of people die in housefires because of security screens on all windows - housefires are a lot less common than vehicle accidents.
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