I have just brought a abbey gt 212 1986 caravan. All was going well until we tried to remove the ladybirds from inside the front main window, as previous owners had taken the little gromit out and ladybirds quite a few had got in and died. So in our first time caravaners wisdom we though if we drill a hole at bottom of window put hoover end over it suck them out then silicone the hole but to our cost (never underestimate the power of dyson)the window cracked!!!along top edge. So after the long story does anybody know where I could buy a new front window? have tried ebay, looking at salvage yards or could I fix it? currently has good old gaffa tape on.
if you can not find one the other option is to have one made.not cheap.i had three made by them but found the drop of the window had been reduced by a quarter of one inch.just meant raising the catches.it does mean you will need to send the window away to be copied.for the estimate the measurement is the opening in the van not the window.
I've just rung them thanks will take about a week to get back to me (thought it would have been a bit quicker) so fingers crossed. Could I glue it? as it goes along the top? anything until i get a replacement.Am hopefully going to wales on Wednesday to Cardiff so would have been handy if I knew it was there then I could pick it up.
Do you mean it has actually cracked or just that the 2 halves of the window have separated? This fairly common on old caravans. Use a clear glue like Bostick to glue the 2 halves together again.
I would have thought you could glue it ok even if it is cracked. On an old caravan, all that matters is that it works. A replacement window will probably cost as much as the caravan is worth.
If its still a functioning window and as tentz says its just come apart, it probably would be better just to re glue it and make it water tight, if you can find a window it might be quite dear, if you have to get one made, it will be near the price you paid.
Good luck whatever you decide :)
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
went to camping shop for some other bits and they suggested the glue araldite as you cant see the crack, also soldering iron do lots of little dots and then smooth it together showed me a tray they had done it on and it didn't look that bad but think after first bit of Caravaning diy will stick to glue (have picture of totally melted window)many thanks for all the support and advice don't feel so bad now. Am hopefully going Cardiff tomorrow for our maiden voyage
Araldite is an epoxy resin and none of them are UV proof. Over time this will weaken and discolour - going a gungy brown colour. To avoid this it needs to be overpainted with something UV proof. (We have a yacht and have first hand experience of this).