Glass v Plastic windows and the legalities

[Brian M]

Thread from Facebook. Too valuable to lose over there.

Christopher Beresford Is it colder with glass?
16 hours ago via mobile · Like

Valerie Morgan Glass look nicer x
16 hours ago via mobile · Like

Mark Braley Glass: looks better, prone to condensation, heavy in comparison & relatively cheap to have replacements made. Plastic: lightweight, better insulation properties, tinted, prone to fading/scratching & look rubbish if fitted to a really old caravan
15 hours ago · Like · 1

Christopher Beresford Did someone also bring up the subject of law when it comes to glass on the road? Also I've read somewhere that some campsites don't allow glass windowed caravans?
15 hours ago via mobile · Like

Caroline Longman There are legal problems with glass-check it out. I remember the condensation running down glass windows like rivers, from when I was a child. Not everything retro is cool.If you can keep the spirit of a classic van without the downside, do it.
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Christopher Beresford I have found out that caravans with glass windows have 'grandfather rights' such as classic cars that dont need seat belts or wing mirrors. But it is advised to have laminated or strenthened glass.

I am worried about the condensation.... would a dehumidifier or scatters of salt sort this?
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Valerie Morgan Keeping the glass in ours but changing to laminated! ! X
via mobile · Like

Mark Braley You could have the glass fitted with security film - not the cheap DIY rubbish! The decent stuff will provide safety, heat reflection and retention properties and UV protection. You can also have it in a variety of tint shades and colours - even mirrored lol
11 hours ago · Like

Caroline Longman Proper ventilation helps a lot with condensation- that's what the little vents in the roof are for. If you look in the handbook, it tells you to open the vents on a diagonal at all times to cross ventilate.. There's no draught and fresh air circulates. (This is very important when you are using gas.)
2 hours ago · Like

Dee Marsden My Safari has glass windows Chris, never had a problem with them and tbh my van always feels warm even in winter. No condensation problems either, as Caroline said the top windows are a godsend, I've always left them or a couple of them slightly open to let some air circulate
2 hours ago · Like

Christopher Beresford Surely opening the top vents defeats the object of trying to keep warm in the winter with heaters or is asking for damp when it rains? X
about an hour ago via mobile · Like

Dee Marsden No not really, I only leave them open slightly and just one or two. Generally I've never used the van in winter and it used to get covered up anyway
about an hour ago · Like · 1

Caroline Longman No Chris, that's not the case. Living in a hermetically sealed box causes damp because the moisture has nowhere to go . If you cross ventilate ie, open every other vent on both sides, you will still keep warm and there will be no draughts. Burning gas...See More
about an hour ago · Like · 2

Dee Marsden Couldn't have said it better Caroline
about an hour ago · Like · 2

Christopher Beresford So very informative thank you both of you - I'm guessing the difference in the plastic lantern windows that I'm thinking about has already got built in vents! I remember being in my parents motorhome when I was little and always the bottom strip on the glass windows were always soaking wet! Can't wait to pick her up now! Want to do it now 1 more sleep to go!

I feel like I'm a kid going to Disneyland!!!
about an hour ago via mobile · Like · 1

Christopher Beresford Mark, I couldn't tint the windows! Would ruin it!!
about an hour ago via mobile · Like · 1

Nicole Grr Some tints don't have much colour, just go for the uv ones. They seem to do it cars like vw's and mercs and they just have a subtle green tone. If you are using gas I suggest you ventilate the c'van like you should do in any space. Its not good for you!
about an hour ago · Like

Christopher Beresford I have black tints in my vauxhall - it definitely made a difference when you think about the heat! It's so much cooler and leather doesn't get too hot!!
58 minutes ago via mobile · Like

[henry]

The two side front windows on mine are plastic but the rest are glass all single glazed Im not sure if the two plastic ones are factory or have been replaced because of breakage

Of course double glazing offers more insulation but they don't look the part like the single glazing does

[Deleted]

I have never noticed that Henry! If its past 76 it should all be plastic!

[henry]

So did they do single glaze plastic before double glaze plastic? if so do we know when it started?

[Brian M]

From my personal experience of looking at Safaris, I believe that pre-1976 all Safaris were single glazed and during the period 1977-1978 double glazing was an option and may have been available on selected windows, but I have no printed evidence of this. Does anyone have an invoice for a new Safari of this period?

Certainly I have come across several with a mixture but as Garry says this may be later replacements rather than original spec.

[Deleted]

I have seen a few models in 1976 that have plastic windows all round but glass lantern roof windows. I have never came accross single glazed plastic windows? Maybe they are not the original onces.