Rear window protection

Lively - My mechanic mate Joe has just fabricated a "stone catcher" for his camper trailer by welding four short (900mm) upright RHS (box section) steel posts to the drawbar of his camper, mounted in a semi-circle.

He doubled up a length of heavy duty shadecloth and slung it around the posts and attached it to the two outside/end posts by several big springs.
The shadecloth isn't taut, it's just barely tight, and it springs and moves readily when you whack it.

His theory is that the shadecloth will act like a catchers mitt, and catch and drop any big boondies that might take out the back window of his 'Cruiser.
I think it'll work O.K. He's off to Lake Eyre on July 9th, so we don't have to wait too long to see if it works!

I took the back window out of my 80 series around Nullagine in 1995, when a fist size rock bounced back off my car trailer!
I couldn't believe it, there was so little flat area on the front of the trailer for anything to hit and bounce back - but one rock found that sweet spot!!
That was an expensive BANG! - $800 worth at that time!

Cheers - Ron.

Use the search function on this site and search for 'stone' then sit back and read all the former threads for ideas.
See Camper Trailers stone guards for some ideas
I use a Stone Stomper Works well.

www.obiesoutback.com.au I have used this product on heaps of trips and it works great.

Boof

Beer cartons, Corflute (adverstising boards from grog shops or real estate agents) masking taped on, I've used a neporene type rubber from Clark Rubber with velcro effectively, Obies products. As said above do a search.

Stone Catchers seem to be the very best.

We're doing a 8 week trip soon from Melbourne - Alice - Darwin - Cairns and back to Melbourne. We'll be in a 2WD station wagon towing a trailer to hold our camping gear. As we are planning on staying on the bitumen, is it recommended that we fit a stone guard or is it primarily used for off road / gravel work?

Cheers & Beers

Rob, Kim & Will

I use a coreflute protector gaffer taped on. Its light and stops the stones from hitting the rear window but not the ones hitting the caravan. Before that I had a perspex sheet cut to shape and held on with suction caps. It lasted two long trips but the suction can couldn't handle the corrugations so I had to built a couple of perspex hooks to hook to the top of the rear door. It went to god somewhere between Tom Price and Port Hedland. Coreflute is a cheaper and lighter solution for me.

IMO One of those shade cloth arrangements would certainly solve the problem but I think they make it difficult to access the rear of the vehicle or the boot of the caravan. They also get pretty grotty in the wet.

WBS

I can 'second' the suggestion of beer cartons or convoluter cardboard to the back window as a simple preventative measure.

One thing we learned on a recent trip from Auski roadhouse to Karattha via Millstream after 2 of our 3 vehicles suffered broken rear windows was that the 'luggier' the tyres the greater the risk.

2 vehicles had All Terrain tyres and 1 had highway tyres and suffered no damage. Obviously the deeper tread picked up and threw more rocks.

Cheers Neil

If you still want vision out ya back window get some clear plastic from bunnings.

I still think the best way is to make your own stone guard. I have just finished making mine and I am going away this weekend coming to give it a real good try but if you are after a quick and easy solution as stated before cardboard or coreflute is quick and easy to get through a trip.

At the end of the day some prevention is better then none.

Cheers

Chris

I can vouch for the others who have suggested Beer cartons my creation shown below after the cost of a replacement window, well insurance covered it but the next would have been at my cost so thought a box of beer was cheaper & more enjoyable

I addition to the standard A-frame mounted deflector, & extended mudflaps,

I'm using ? Altrex Light Skinz film on the rear windows of both of my Patrols...

Been on there several years now.. Put it on once, and forget about it.....


I will not be going back to the perspex sheet/suction cap arrangement!
(draw your own conclusions)


:)