Stone Protection for rear windows

Take t his in three stages:

1. Top of the range would probably be Obie's Outback

2. Find someone who can cut perspect (or poly carb) to suit and fit it on using velcro or straps or similar.

3. Cut up a cardboard box and gaffer tape it on (if rear vision is not an issue).

Seen all three work effectively. Amazing the number of dents on the cardboard box, but the window was intact.

Jack

I went to our local guy who cuts perspex for signs. He cut me a piece of clear lexan the shape of my rear window held in place with suction cups. I tape around the outside edges so dust cant get in and an easy clean every time I get fuel. Cost around $100 but last forever if you look after it.
Cheers Rob

Patrick,

You say Obie's was the one you contacted in Adelaide????

Obie's Outback is located in Melbourne Mate.
This is a real coincidence. I discovered their Web site by accident and have just ordered a rear screen kit. They will courier the product anywhere in Australia.

You can email Mike (the Proprietor) direct from the Website and he was only too happy to answer any queries I had. Come across as a good bloke.

Not the cheapest product, but......

My rear window on the Jack bleep tered on the Birdsville Track and replacement cost would have been > $1500 if my Insurance Company hadn't covered it.

I thought of the cardboard idea but if it rains............!!!

Now you got me curious, reflective stone damage?? Where would that stone have gotten its initial speed from and where is it reflected of? I assume from your vehicle's rear wheels and bounced off the van you're towing, correct?
Would not fitting decent mud flaps fix that? And, perhaps, add one of these padded covers that one sees on the front of caravans?

Me thinks preventing might be a better idea than target protection.
Klaus

There are a lot of options out there. Most caravan place sell a light weight tubular frame that has shadeclothe on it, mounts to the draw bar and deflects stones down. There are several variations on this around the place.
Then there is the old 'full width mud flap' made from second hand conveyor matting. Take it off when not wanted, also reduces the amount of dirt thrown up behind you.
The 'bra' idea is out there as well, a protective pad that goes over the front of the camper/van.
The choice is yours.

If you're not worried about rear vision, get one of those reflective sun shades that you put inside the windscreen to stop the sun getting on the dash. Cut to shape and secure with double sided tape.
More robust than a beer carton and re-usable.
Only advantage of the beer carton is you get to empty the carton first :--)))

Probably a combination of methods is a good idea.

Stone guard on the trailer , maybe with some extra rubber guards , and mud guards and window guard for the vehicle.

I have seen a number of vehicles with just the Window protection , which works well, but doesn't stop the paint work getting blasted.

Cheap option is some cardboard and gaffer tape.

I purchased some matting (the camping mattress type) from Clarke Rubber cut to size and attaches with velcroe tabs. The other side of the velcroe is positioned inside the door. Travelled from Darwin to Cairns without a drama.

Wizard
Prado TD
Gold Coast

i have used carboard cutouts gaffer taped to the back windows for years with no dramas. as for getting wet, i took the time out to put 3" overlapping sellotape over the cutouts. this not only stops them getting wet but allows you to remove the gaffer tape to re-use them over & over again.
also, i noticing that my tyres and suspension had increased the gap between the bottom of rear mudflap and road.
last big trip i fitted extensions to my mudflaps with 2 strips of aluminum,wing nuts and piece of rubber. definitely improved stone deflection dramatically as the front lip on my cavaliar usely needs emptying every day.

Hi Patrick

I have had the Obie system on my 80 series for about 5 years now and can highly recommend. Had a problem with one of the velcro pieces and obtained a replacement from Obie...... no problems.

His web address is

www.obiesoutback.com.au

Regards

Graeme SW Vic

Hi,
been there, done that.
I travel about 70 to 80,000 km each year and most of it on roads like the Oodnadatta Track, Birdsville Track, the GRR, Tanami Road, Gary Junction Road and Talawana Road etc..
After the first busted rear window I cut two pieces of the clear plastic runners that are used to protect high traffic areas on carpets. Just taped them to the 2 windows. That plastic has lots of little dimples on one side to prevent it slipping on the carpet. This, facing the windows adds ( I think ) to it's ability to absorb shocks.
Then when I build a new trailer a couple of years ago I fitted one of those angled deflectors to the draw bar and covered it with 8 mm thick rubber mat that is used as non slip deck covering on boats.
All was well for over a year and then again had a busted window. Didn't even hear when it happened. A stone had hit right at the bottom of the window and even nicked the wiper rubber.
So, now I again cover the windows when on dirt roads with the plastic covers.
They work, are transparent and it's cheap.
Cheers,
Mike

Patrick,
For what it is worth, I have years of experience towing a trailer in the outback.
I have seen all the systems, and think some get by with a bit of luck.
My experience is you have to screen the spare that the rocks (not stones) bounce off. i agree with the suggestions of shade cloth. Mine is timber lattice (absorbs impact) with s/cloth over it. On the rear window I have a perspex screen held in place with suction caps from Clark rubber. I also have wide mud flaps that give me no problems, but mostly serve to stop the trailer lights being broken.

I like the idea of a fair gap between the perspex and the rear glass, supported by the suction caps. Maybe it is overkill, I am not sure, but unlike my travel companions, I still have my original rear window.
regards
Ian

The best answer to this problem that I have seen, is a screen made of shade cloth (3 layers thick) that goes UNDER the drawbar from the rear bumper of the car to the body of the camper or caravan. It is the full width of the car.

All stones are deflected under the trailer and it is easily unhooked when you want to seperate from the car. One of the offroad camper manufacturers has this as an option, and the one I saw in Carnarvon was the smartest thing I've seen in a long time.

It was ironic for me, as I had just bleep tered the glass in the small rear door of the patrol, and Nissan wanted $700 to replace it. HHMMPPH !!!

Instead of the cardboard idea we use corflute - the stuff real estate signs are made of - has to be the 5mm thick stuff - has ribbing like cardboard but stiffer - easy to cut to shape and goes on with duct tape, reusable, folds down, doesn't mind water, easy to clean, but not see through.

Go to any sign maker and they will have it. - costs ~ $25. Trace pattern with say butchers paper then cut away with stanley knife, be careful here, the knife slips easily cutting this stuff.

cheers
John