Door window, replaceable?

Simpleton855
Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
edited February 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1
Afternoon. I've just visited our van for the first time in around a month. The weather has been poor recently so it was just a quick visit to make sure everything was OK prior to us using it in a few weeks. Once I had finished I shut the door and noticed
there's around 5mm of water trapped in between the two transparencies of the door window. There's no evidence of moisture or water below the window so somehow it's getting in and is trapped there. Any ideas what my options are? Can the window unit be replaced
separately?

Comments

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #2

    Just re read and realized it's the door window, does it have any holes with bungs in?

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited February 2016 #3

    Just re read and realized it's the door window, does it have any holes with bungs in?

    It`s interesting that you`ve mentioned that as I`ve just `googled` it and one of the results was a thread on here debating the misting of windows....

    I can`t for the life of me remember if it had visible bungs or not. I`ll pop back at the weekend and have a look.

    Other results on google suggested that the window unit is indeed a complete unit along with the upper door and that it can`t be replaced individually....

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #4

    The other post you refer to is in the Caravan section above and it was me that made the last post 3 days ago, because I have just dried out a front window with an air pump.

    I have just been out to my caravan and looked at the door window, it is the only window that doesn't have any plugged holes. However if I took off the cassette with the pull down blind, approx 4 screws, the rubber holding the window in the door doesn't look
    too difficult to prise up to remove the window. I wouldn't lose any sleep about this as there are various options for you to consider.

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited February 2016 #5

    That`s excellent. I was a bit rushed at the weekend and I only noticed it when locking up. I`ll have another poke around this weekend hopefully.

    The other windows were fine, I made a point of looking at them before I left.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #6

    My caravan is now 13 years old so I am not too proud to try to fix it myself. If removing the window by lifting the rubber surround you could examin the edges for any tiny hairline cracks. Creeping Crack Cure is very good at finding and sealing hairline cracks. I've no idea how much a new window would cost.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #7

    If you took the window out, it might be harder getting it back in, probably need about eight hands.  Surprised

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #8
    There's a door for a 2002 bailey (no other details)  on Ebay for £60.  Might be worth having a look to see if it fits.
     
  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #9

    Many thanks for the replies. I`ll head over this weekend and see what the possible options are.

    I know a good mobile repair man so I`ll give him a call, send him some photos and see wha the says.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,394 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2016 #10

    You could drill a small hole in the outer skin to drain the water out and then reseal it. If it does not work it has cost you nothing.

    peedee

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #11

    I too was thinking about Pedee's suggestion.  Read somewhere that this was ok - and VERY cheap!

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #12

    You could drill a small hole in the outer skin to drain the water out and then reseal it. If it does not work it has cost you nothing.

    peedee

    To be fair this is probably the solution I`ll try first. I`m confident that there`s no moisture ingress inside the van and I`m happy to reseal it.

    I can also get some rubber bungs from work so I can empty it out if need be at a later date...

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited March 2016 #13

    The holes in caravan windows that have bungs in them are usually 6mm. The bungs are often available in caravan spare shops.

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #14

    The holes in caravan windows that have bungs in them are usually 6mm. The bungs are often available in caravan spare shops.

    Right, I`ve ordered some bungs from flea-bay (4 for £3) so I`ll report back once I`ve sorted it.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #15

    Good luck with the drilling!

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited March 2016 #16

    Also consider "Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure" to seal between the rubber window surround and the door. It might stop the water getting at the window itself. You only need a tiny drop, best used on a warm sunny day and wipe off any excess immediately and it dries in a couple of minutes. It looks like diluted milk, when dry is like plastic and it seals hair line cracks.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #17

    Good stuff Captain Tolley's.  Have some in my tool box which llives in caravan.

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #18

    Well, I finally managed to visit the van this weekend, the water has vanished!

    My door window does, however, have a window bung already fitted. I`ll keep my eye on it over Easter.

    Anyway, van cleaned, aired and is ready for the first trip of the year on the 24th!

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #19

    It's magic isn't it!  Have a good season.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited March 2016 #20

    Well, I finally managed to visit the van this weekend, the water has vanished!

    My door window does, however, have a window bung already fitted. I`ll keep my eye on it over Easter.

    Anyway, van cleaned, aired and is ready for the first trip of the year on the 24th!

    Write your comments here...Thanks for posting an update. I often wonder what happens, when the person starting a thread never returns. 

  • Simpleton855
    Simpleton855 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited March 2016 #21

    Well, my optimism was misplaced.

    Over the Easter weekend the window delaminated around perhaps 50% of the circumference. The wind caught it and the window now has a 3 inch crack stretching across the window. I taped it up and it survived the worst of the storm on Sunday night and the drive home.

    I've spent today trying to sort it. Hartal say the window can't be replaced and that I have to purchase a new upper door section, as you can imagine this will be £££££ and is a pretty poor design that doesn't allow for pane replacement. 

    I'm going to get the window repaired by my local repair man and then the whole window unit will be wrapped with a dark tint film in an attempt to disguise the repair. 

    I'm pretty fed-up to be honest as the rest of the van is immaculate but that's life.

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