Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am building on a budget, as many seem to be also. I have probably gone through the same efforts that all others have in trying to find low cost windows. I have pretty much given up that quest and am now considering fabricating my own. Maybe people have some good ideas and would like to post them here. I have come up with a couple myself. Here is one I have come up with after a trip to the hardware store. How about taking composite plastic "L" shaped molding that gets used in home construction and frame all around the window opening as you see in white in my crude drawing. Then after that attach 3/4" aluminum "L" as you see in grey in my drawing. Then frame a sheet of plexiglass with a small "U" channel, attach to top of framed opening with piano hinge at the top.



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At the bottom of the "U" channel around the plexiglass you could attach a little tab that, when the window swung down to close, would go though a slot cut in the aluminu "L" channel. You could then form some stiff wire as shown in this bad sketch, that you could attach to the tab and use it to slide the window open.




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So the wire could push the window out and the you could actually use the window as a "bar" to slide into the tab hole to "lock" the window. Crude... It could be done for about $20 for a 20" x 30" window I think.




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How cheep of windows are you looking for? Try some of the larger camper places that also do repairs. I picked up a nice used black framed radioused corner slider for under $30 I also got a used vent and some other goodies for CHEAP as they were all "upgraded" with something better on a larger rig.

$30 would be swell. When you say try a larger camper place that does repairs, are you suggesting calling locations local to me or around the country?

You might take a look at what these eBay folks have. I've ordered a couple of things from them and their service was really good, shipped quickly. Just read their description carefully, some items are new...others used...may not have screens or trim rings.

http://stores.ebay.com/Bottom-Dollar-Surplus-Inc/_i.html?_nkw=windows&submit=Search&_sid=677500137

Trackstriper wrote:You might take a look at what these eBay folks have. I've ordered a couple of things from them and their service was really good, shipped quickly. Just read their description carefully, some items are new...others used...may not have screens or trim rings.

http://stores.ebay.com/Bottom-Dollar-Surplus-Inc/_i.html?_nkw=windows&submit=Search&_sid=677500137

Did you get items from them in auction? or simply buy now?

Being at least 150 miles from any reasonable sized RV repair place, and having sticker shock from pricing AllRite windows (actually the closest place), I built my own windows. Sliders, dual glazed Plexiglas with thick double sided mounting tape as the spacer for the air gap between the two panes. That fits snug into 3/8 channel aluminum from Ace Hardware, then that slides against either an aluminum L or in a channel screwed to the door frame with sticky back felt or the "soft" side of sticky back Velcro as the air seal/slider surface.

Since the 4 edge channels around the Plexiglas are a not quite tight enough force fit, I took #6 x 1/4" flathead machine screws and taped then through one side of the chanel into both pieces of Plexiglas to keep the aluminum from coming off the Plexiglas.

The screens I made with standard home window screen frame and just stuck them in with exterior double sided tape from 3M. I'll reck them if I ever need to replace the screens as the tape is quite a strong bond.

They wound up much more air and water tight than I thought they might, so much so I have to leave the window open slightly for air through the night.

In the exposed slider trough I drilled weep holes for the water to drain out, on the inside I used the wood trim either glued/nailed or screwed to the door frame so I could replace the windows if I need to.

I could take some closeups of the windows and post them if you would like.

The better quality Plexiglas isn't cheep and I have way more than $30 a piece in them, but not near the $750 each AllRite wanted, and they are the size I wanted (big for a TD).

Basically did the skylight the same way though it hinges rather than slides. I built that because I wanted it 2'x2' and dual glazed rather than the 1'x1' of the standard vents.

I agree, windows are high $$$. I was considering making my own as well, great that you posted this. I couldn't find anything on "home made" windows when I was searching. Might even be a good sticky if we can come up with enough ideas. You have some good thoughts on building windows from "scratch", I hope more folks chime in on this.

I found an old camper shell with crank out windows (drove past it for years) for free, come get it. There were 2 windows on each side, made up to be one big window.



I removed them from the camper shell, disassembled, separated, and cut 10" off the length. I now have my 15 High by 18 Wide windows.



I had to round up some 3/16" plexiglass for the panes since you can't cut down tempered glass, well not easily. The only problem I am having with this is finding the right gaskets / seals. It has 3 different styles on it.

I still have the other side left if your interested, I live in Southen Indiana.

Anyway, just a thought, didn't say it was a good one.
Still have my eye on a wreck that is being stored for insurance down the road. Alot left to be salvaged though, windows, vents, lights, etc.

I used the top half of the window from one of those mini school buses. They easily fit in my door and they were already tinted. I got them from a local wrecker for almost nothing(I think five bucks for both) as there is almost no aftermarket use for them.

jhb wrote:...I built my own windows. Sliders, dual glazed Plexiglas with thick double sided mounting tape as the spacer for the air gap between the two panes. That fits snug into 3/8 channel aluminum from Ace Hardware, then that slides against either an aluminum L or in a channel screwed to the door frame with sticky back felt or the "soft" side of sticky back Velcro as the air seal/slider surface. ....

You have explained pretty much my second idea. If two people think of something at the same time it must be logical.

WhitneyK wrote:...
I found an old camper shell with crank out windows (drove past it for years) for free, come get it. There were 2 windows on each side, made up to be one big window.
....

I have been searching Craig's list for such a truck cap for two weeks. The one free one was gone within an hour and I have not found any $75 or less one yet. But I think that there must be truck caps at the auto salvage yard ripe for the plucking.

glenpinpat wrote:I used the top half of the window from one of those mini school buses. They easily fit in my door and they were already tinted. I got them from a local wrecker for almost nothing(I think five bucks for both) as there is almost no aftermarket use for them.

Good idea. I think a trip to the salvage yard is in order.

I thought about "building my own" for a while, but alas did not have the time.

One of the most interesting threads on here was for building a "sailboat window."

Looked easy enough. Opened and closed to let air in, yet cleverly designed to keep rain/weather out.

This thread talked about them a bit.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=33767&highlight=porthole+window

Andrew's suggested design was the one I decided I would build.

StandUpGuy wrote:

Trackstriper wrote:You might take a look at what these eBay folks have. I've ordered a couple of things from them and their service was really good, shipped quickly. Just read their description carefully, some items are new...others used...may not have screens or trim rings.

http://stores.ebay.com/Bottom-Dollar-Surplus-Inc/_i.html?_nkw=windows&submit=Search&_sid=677500137

Did you get items from them in auction? or simply buy now?

I did the auction thing. I don't think they do a "buy it now". It seems like they put stuff up for about a week, usually ending on Sunday. You can track how things sell, but as I recall some of these windows will go at their listed price, not a lot of bids for the items. It's just a matter of what you are looking for and if they have it.