Extending the opening on a panoramic front window.

artyboo
artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
edited January 2017 in Caravans #1

Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right section but here goes.

we have an Adria Astella Rio Glam with a Panoramic window above the front kitchen. The window is great for letting out cooking smells but we would to open it a bit wider. 

Has anyone, ever, extended the window stays to open their Panoramic window, wider?

We thinking it is possible if we are careful but has anyone encountered pitfalls?

Thanks for advice in advance.

Happy New Year to all BTW.

ARTYBOO

Comments

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #2

    Hi,

    I,ve never tried to extend the opening angle but i.ve had windows in and out before now.On most van windows the opening range as we know is governed by the length of the telescopic struts on each side of the window so to extend you would think that longer struts were needed.Now where these struts fix to the perspex is a fixed point so the fixing point on the frame is the only one that could be moved.If i was tackling this job i would obtain another strut with a longer action and try it in different positions with the window in the open and closed positions too give me an idea of how the strut will react to the movement of the window as it may not be quite as straight forward as we think.Doing this first would give a possible new position for the frame end of the strut without drilling any new holes until you are satisfied its going too work.

    How far are you wanting too open the window ? does it go too 90 degrees at the moment or less ? Also bear in mind that some windows are only kept on by a curved folded lip at the top which means the window can only open so far before it will detach from the frame and fall off.

    v9

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited January 2017 #3

    This is an example of the top edge of some windows and how they fix to the van.The one in the picture is from my Coachman and you can see the metal folded hinge.This is one i had too replace and the shape of the fold is crucial as i found out as the first one i was sent had a slightly different shape and just would not fit onto the hinge section.Now once the struts are undone and the window is opened wide enough it can be slid out sideways.The rail it slides onto is fixed above the window frame and is an opposite shape to the one on the window so they slide into each other if you see what i mean.

    v9

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited January 2017 #4

    Thank you V9.  I guess we would want an opening as big as we can get. At the mo we get about 2", good enough to let cooking smells out but we would like more. We will experiment with the hinge tomorrow (if it isn't raining in Derbyshire). 

    Thnak you for your response. Happy New Year and may it be everything you want and more xx