Windshield Coming Loose

Trawler042

New Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2022
Messages
3
Location
Texas City
I have a 2022 Thor Aria 3401. I noticed the other day that the windshield was pulling away from the unit. On the driver's side bottom corner, I could hear sound and feel wind blowing in a small area. Later, I noticed the rubber gasket around the windshield was loose in some spots.

I purchased the unit new in February 2022. I also purchased a windshield protector to prevent rock chips. Not sure what it was but it claimed to make the windshield stronger. I got a rock chip, a big one. So, the windshield protector company agreed to and did replace the windshield.

While driving in New Mexico the new windshield chipped. I took it to a glass company in Oklahoma to get the chip fixed and while waiting on that I noticed the air blowing through that corner of the windshield. That was when I discovered the windshield problem.

When I got home I took my unit to my RV dealer and we arranged for the company that replaced the windshield to come reinstall or fix it. The windshield company called me late Friday afternoon and said they were going to do a temporary repair of the windshield but that the dash and headboard were pushing against the windshield and pushing it out of place.

I immediately called my service manager so he, the windshield guy who was at the dealership at that time, and I could meet quickly to figure out a solution. The service manager said no. In fact, he basically said the dash was not his responsibility and they would not work on it. I asked who would work on it and he said he did not know, and he was not going to do anything.

I am dealing with the issues between my dealer, the service manager and me...or at least I began the process, but it was too late to contact Thor, etc. so that part of this issue is up in the air.

What I want to know is whether anyone else has had this issue and what did you do? This is a class A motorhome. I've never heard of the dashboard pushing on the windshield. I've never heard of a windshield coming loose.

All suggestions are appreciated.
 
Thanks but I may not have asked the question clearly.

I am asking if anyone else has had the problem of a windshield coming loose or the dash pushing a windshield out, and what did they do? How frequently does this occur? I've never heard of it.

The rest was back story and I can see why you thought I was asking what to do about Thor, the dealer, or the window guy. We will work together on this, whatever the solution.
 
The company I worked before I retired had the same problems with windshield replacements leaking and coming loose, after about a year of issues with this problem the engineers came with the windshield replacement company we used and the engineers finally came to the conclusion that aftermarket windshields were considerably thinner than a Oem which was why the glass would move around in the seals, leak and eventually crack, the company I worked for was a freightliner dealer.
When the windshield in my Tuscany class a got cracked because someone threw rocks at it doing doughnuts in the parking lot I was parked in, I told my insurance company (State Farm) I would only accept the Oem windshield as a replacement because of the reasons above and told them of the damages to interior headliners from a windshield leak and they finally agreed to the Oem that was about 5 yrs ago.
I took m/h to there center and they had me level the m/h inside there shop where they replaced it and let it sit overnight inside there shop and have never had an issue since.
Overkill probably but I have dealt with these issues for about 10 yrs in the heavy truck industry and it could down to price a aftermarket glass is about 1/3 the price of a Oem.
 
The company I worked before I retired had the same problems with windshield replacements leaking and coming loose, after about a year of issues with this problem the engineers came with the windshield replacement company we used and the engineers finally came to the conclusion that aftermarket windshields were considerably thinner than a Oem which was why the glass would move around in the seals, leak and eventually crack, the company I worked for was a freightliner dealer.
When the windshield in my Tuscany class a got cracked because someone threw rocks at it doing doughnuts in the parking lot I was parked in, I told my insurance company (State Farm) I would only accept the Oem windshield as a replacement because of the reasons above and told them of the damages to interior headliners from a windshield leak and they finally agreed to the Oem that was about 5 yrs ago.
I took m/h to there center and they had me level the m/h inside there shop where they replaced it and let it sit overnight inside there shop and have never had an issue since.
Overkill probably but I have dealt with these issues for about 10 yrs in the heavy truck industry and it could down to price a aftermarket glass is about 1/3 the price of a Oem.

Great info here. Def not overkill
 
This helps a lot. I had no idea replacement windshields were different. Now I understand something i can discuss with them
 
Before you confront your insurance company do your research on aftermarket versus Oem windshields, yes I know they work well in cars and light trucks, but they don’t flex and twist like a motorhome does, also ask your insurance company if your forced to accept a aftermarket windshield if they will put it in writing that any damages from water leaks, cracking that happens from a non Oem part they will cover it, in my case the Oem windshield was about $5,000 and after a week or so arguing my point they agreed and only cost me a $500.00 deductible.
Go to your chassis dealer whether it be on a ford or freightliner chassis and ask them about it, then ask a windshield repair company and you will see it’s all about cost and not in your best interest.
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top