Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Knowsley]

Got thinking today.....Has any member attempted to double glaze their vans or do we all suffer in silence the perils of condensation on the windows of our classic vans?

Has any member adapted their vans with sheets of perspex inside their vans or built a frame to attach cling film and have any of these provided good results?

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[christine lowery]

hi knowsley as a royale owner it's to your own make you should be looking
the early royale's had the option to doubleglaze the front windows, they were fitted with a rubber doudle seal and an extra pane of glass could be inserted to give the requied effect

christine
royale owners club
t125, t1475, tourranger.

[Knowsley]

Thanks christine but i believe that window fitting was only fitted to the very earliest Royales not a 1972 version like mine!

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[emmerson]

hi David. A competent carpenter/cabinet maker should be able to make up a frame with either glass or Perspex pane.I saw something similar on a house window with an arched top, and it fitted well. It had a thin strip of foam draught excluder around the edge, and simply pressed into the aperture.
This is problem which has plagued early Royale owners for years,and is seriouly affecting the saleability of early vans, but I've not come across a solution yet.
I was told that a company called, Ithink, ECCO or EECO os similar would make dg envelopes to pattern.
That's a lot of "possiblies", but I'm sure a man of your tallents will come up with something. Of course, you could just buy a post 76 Royale.........

Emmerson

[Knowsley]

Thanks for the words of wisdom as usual Emmerson

I used the company Ecco to make a replacement double glazed window for my old Knowsley back in 1985. The price back then for that one off replacement window was £180! Thankfully I claimed on the insurance. Heaven knows what they would charge to make moulds for my old girl now.....I think buying a 1976 of new model would be cheaper than the mortgage for replacing the windows with Ecco!

Ecco even offered to make a couple of wheel spats for my Royale for £300 - as luck would have it I found a donor Royale that was only fit for the scrap heap and got the pair for £60

Doing some research and flicking through some old caravan magazines come up with the following methods that other caravanners had tried

The thought had crossed my mind to build a simple frame around the existing windows and to use Perspex sheeting, allowing for the protruding window catches and to hinge the frame at the top of the window to allow easy access when required.

Another option would be to use cling film sheeting attached to a frame, but I don't think this idea would really be strong enough anyway.

One final solution that was mentioned back in an old magazine from the 60's was one member when touring the French Alps in winter used polystyrene sheeting which he fitted over his windows with a small cut out which he could remove during the day to let in day light......oh the joys of the old days eh?

I think I favor the first option and that most of the frame would be hidden by the curtains anyway

But thanks for the comments guys

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[emmerson]

David, for future reference, the club has brand new first quality spats in stock for not much more than you paid for your s/h ones!
We also have burners for Leisure princess hobs.

[emmerson]

Knowlsely, have look on the Royale website forum re double glazing.

[Knowsley]

Well at least I'll be able to get spare wheel spats now should I need them - and they really do finish off the appearance of the van

Just been on the Royale forum, as not been on there for quite a few months......thanks for the post, I will have a look at the website mentioned by Terry.

Don't want to alter the appearance of my van two much with plastic windows. One of the main attractions that people love when coming up to me on site wanting to look at the van is the fact that it has glass windows which only adds to the character of the van, so I need to come up with an idea of secondly glazing inside - hence building a small frame inside would probably be the best option both cosmetically and economically


David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[emmerson]

Keep us posted, please.