New rear window protectors
Submitted: Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 15:01
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Willem
Well, its trailer season again.
Last year I 'acquired' some clear plastic sheets and fitted them to the rear windows with velcro. This worked
well in the southern latitudes but in the north the tropical sun melted the glue and they peeled off.
So now I have refitted them with Duct tape. I cut the plastic to a smaller size and have stuck the duct tape only to the glass. Trimmed the edges with a small
stanley knife and removed air bubbles with a pin. Its a bit of a bush job but its OK with me...:-D
I also have the same plastic glued on to the front metal of the trailer and hopefully this will help to dud flying stones as
well.
Will report back at end of year to see if it stood the
test of the season
Cheers
Reply By: Member -Signman - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 15:26
Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 15:26
Have you got the clear 'material' flush against the glass? or do you have a slight gap?? And is it a rigid material or-as you described- a plastic sheet??
AnswerID:
236198
Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 15:35
Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 15:35
There is a slight gap(some air maybe?..lol) between the glass and the plastic.
The plastic comes from those plastic outdoor screens you see at wineries, restaurants or private homes. It is not rigid and can be rolled up.
FollowupID:
497305
Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 21:34
Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 21:34
Hey Willem
We used to have the same problems with stones of the trailers eg: tour vehicles, This was solve when MVR allowed us to fit perspex rear windows, but we were only allowed to use Lexan perspex, at least I think it was Lexan, apparently you can say back into something and it will push out as opposed to cracking and splintering.
The cost from memory was about $70 for the large window, as to $280 for glass, something else I couldn't understand was a windscreen was only $180 fitted.
Anyway food for thought. Cheers Steve.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 09:25
Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 09:25
Broke one of the windows in the
barn doors of my old 55 series about 7 years ago and replaced them both with tinted perspex, about 4 - 5 mm from memory, You could not tell the difference.
Although the ol girl is long since retired and laying out the back, the rear windows are as good today as when i put them in, and they are facing the hot north sun.
Cheers Pesty
FollowupID:
497433
Reply By: D-Jack - Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 21:05
Friday, Apr 27, 2007 at 21:05
Willem,
I have exactly the same for the Jackaroo. I'm using clear packing tape, if that won't work then I'll use duct tape (carry with me) as I haven't tried it yet. I reckon it will work
well, and because it provides a perfect seal the dust/grit/moisture won't get in between the glass and plastic, just need to clean the plastic if at all. Then peel off, store and use again next trip. Knowing my luck, I'll probably get a stone right on the edge where there is only thin packing tape, but I reckon it will be structurally stronger right on the edges and the packing tape will provide a little but limited absorption.
Picked up
mine from Spotlight, was the end of a role (enough for me) so cost only $3.
Be sure to post initial results, I'll do the same after my June trip up north to Inamincka.
D-Jack
AnswerID:
236276
Reply By: Member - Julie P (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 08:15
Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 at 08:15
The reason the velcro fell off is because they glue melted - the same thing will happen with your duct tape - the secret with the velcro is not to leave the cover on if you are not towing - the glue will get soft on the part stuck on the window, but the weight of your protector is what made it fall off - doesn't happen when you are travelling - usuallly just when you stop, and the sun beats down continuously on the window. We have had
home made cover for rear window for a couple of years - first time we used it, we just left it on - we were in
Mildura at Christmas - came out after lunch at Trentham Estate - the cover was just hanging by a thread.
So from then on we take it off when we are stopped anywhere for any period of time.
The product we used was a product called "Tuffex" similar to perspex - but uv impervious - so doesn't break down under the suns rays - 2mm is flexible enough to go with the contour of most windows.
jules
AnswerID:
236347