Posted 2011-05-08 6:33 PM (#133940) Subject: Bus Window Shatters
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: La Cygne, KS
Hi all, was wondering if anyone else has ever had this happen. Yesterday I was getting my trailer ready to take a mare to the vet so I opened the roof vents and then proceded to open the bus windows on the hip. When I got to the second window (3 horse) it shattered before I even got it all the way open. It didn't feel "sticky" when I slide it open, it just shattered as it pulled away from the gasket.
Needless to say glass fell all over my mare face since she was tied directly underneath and it spooked her so bad that she broke the tie on the trailer too.... she is usually a bomb proof mare, but the noise was so loud like a bullet had it the window.
We had a low temp in the morning of 43 and when I was getting ready to load the mare it was 82. Don't know if the temp contrast in the trailer caused it to shatter.
Now it looks like I can't purchase the window glass piece, but the whole bus window assemby.
Posted 2011-05-08 6:40 PM (#133941 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN
Is there any chance something hit it? I've never had any problem with any of mine and I think I've owned at least five trailers with them. That's not to say that maybe there wasn't a defect in the window that caused it to shatter. Thank God it didn't shatter with the horse in the trailer going down the road!
Posted 2011-05-08 6:48 PM (#133942 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Tempered plate glass... It happens. Had one spatter in my Gore last winter, started sliding it and it exploded when it got about half way.... Still finding little pieces in the DR carpet.
Posted 2011-05-08 10:14 PM (#133954 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Usually the glass can be replaced with 1/4" Lexan. If the frame can't be disassembled, we have a forum member that was able to bend the polycarbonate, and snap a replacement panel into place.
Posted 2011-05-09 3:36 AM (#133962 - in reply to #133944) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by ponytammy on 2011-05-08 7:56 PM
Retento - where you able to find the sliding glass replacement or did you have to purchase the whole assembly?
The trailer was less than a year old. Mfg. replaced the broken window free of charge. Any glass shop can cut a window to size. This window was in the bulk head wall betwen the DR and horse area....
Posted 2011-05-18 3:35 PM (#134203 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: Northwest Ohio
We had one half of the window above our sofa burst one afternoon (the stationary side...not the side that slides) No idea why. Trailer had been parked for several months. Hadn't been mowing to throw stones....No evidence of a bird....Hadn't been terribly windy. No idea.
We were told the same thing by Sundowner...can only buy the whole assembly. Hubby didn't want to replace the whole thing. Figured original was better. Replacement has better chance to leak. He cut a piece of plexiglass to fit and plans to give that to glass place as a template to get tinted tempered glass replacement.
Posted 2011-05-20 5:45 PM (#134256 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Regular
Posts: 52
Location: East Aurora, NY
Yes- any glass shop can cut a piece of glass to size, BUT it would be regular plate glass which would be TERRIBLY DANGEROUS. Tempered glass breaks into tiny pieces to be safer than big jagged shards. That does have to be special ordered- and isn't cheap! Either plexiglass or the whole replacement assembly is the best way to go for sure.
Posted 2011-05-21 11:56 PM (#134277 - in reply to #133940) Subject: RE: Bus Window Shatters
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: La Cygne, KS
We ended up buying the whole assemby. Cost wasn't too bad...under a 100 bucks. Just waiting for it to arrive as it had to be scheduled as part of their manufacturing dates.