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08 Monaco/HR window manufacturer???


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Call your RV insurance folks because you may have full-glass coverage. If you do, they will take care of EVERYTHING for you and for no deductible. It cost me $4/year and is the best insurance I've ever had (two windshields and two double-pane windows)! If you don't have that coverage, then here are some glass specialists for RV's:

888-596-9626    Gerber National Glass Services 

888-781-7372    Duncan Systems

877-858-5356 Harmon Solutions

888-777-6778 RV Glass Solutions

Bob Dinsmore 2000 Diplomat

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Perhaps Atwood although they sold off a bunch of their divisions.  My Atwood driver side power window regulator assembly is now Challenger Door.  When the L shaped outer  pane of my driver side fixed window broke Auto Glass Boss had a new one cut for it & they installed it.  When an outer pane broke on my last coach door it was replaced by Duncan.

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15 hours ago, Ivylog said:

Had the outer pain of a side window shatter...tempered glass. These are the thin dual pain with a small air space. Trying to find the manufacturer. Thanks

Been THERE.....DONE THAT.  This is my experience in 2018.  FIRST....verify that you have ATWOOD Windows.  That should be stamped on the panes.  If you can NOT read it, then I will assume that Monaco was using Atwoods, as they did in almost all their MH's, from the early 200's to even when Navistar had them.  Mine is a 2009.  I had the Drivers Large Pane, SHATTER" (bb gun or lawnmower....who knows) in July 2018.  Here is who you need to call....

https://www.rvglass.com/

Duncan is the company (I don't know WHO owns them NOW) that has the "Atwood" knowledge.  They have a special setup for that.  You will have to give them your MH info and such.  They will send you prints.  NOW....the ISSUE.....their prints are for the INTERIOR (memory) of window as it that is what would be needed for the MH opening.  These are NOT the exterior.  So, you have to sort of GUESTIMATE the interior window dimensions WITHOUT the exterior or the interior frame.  Once they sent me the prints and I started to measure the actual panes (mine was a THREE Pane Window.....two Fixed and one "Sliding"), I knew that I had the same window and that their prints were correct and that I would be getting the exact OEM replacement.  Here is a copy and paste from my email....

Tom,

This is the print for your window. Thank you,

Jeanine Keb

Customer Service Representative

Duncan Systems

800-551-9149  ext 2019

OK.....NOW READ THIS.  I spent about 3 days looking at options and this is what I found out.....There ARE other sources, but they do NOT use the Tempered and Tinted glass.  So if you choose NOT to go the OEM route, then my homework will still, I HOPE, be of assistance.  I found the OLD emails that I posted on the Yahoo site, so that refreshed my memory....

Atwood was sold and it ended up BACK in Elkhart.  When I had mine broken, Jeannie said that the lady that ran the ORIGINAL ATWOOD Window Company still worked for them.  She was right.  This lady was a wealth of INFORMATION.  Here was the drill.

The window has to be CUSTOM MADE from a factory that makes a LOT of glass.  The window typically takes about 4 weeks to be hand made.  It is THEN inspected.  Duncan has an assembly shop.  I can't exactly remember the drill but I was having work done in Elkhart later that month and I opted to go the OEM route.

FOR THE RECORD.....ATWOOD/Duncan is the ONLY company that will put in the ORIGINAL AND TINTED AND TEMPERED GLASS.  They OTHER GUYS (one in Oregon with locations in TX and/or AZ and/or FL) use "WINDSHIELD" glass.  That is NON-Tempered and NON Tinted.  The scuttlebutt on the net was that some were dissatisfied with the "color" or side by side match.....but others had no issues.  I decided that OEM for all three panes was my route.  They cut and grind and fit in the new pane.  You have Laminated Windshield Glass in that pane....not the tinted tempered.  YOUR CALL.  I spent about $900 for the NEW three panes.  That included the Duncan labor to tear down and rebuild and refurbish my OLD frame.  If you get the glass alone....I THINK it is cheaper.

The window needs to be pulled.  Fortunately, the shop in Elkhart  had a lot of old Monaco folks and they pulled it.  The shop foreman WARNED ME....and was right.  The assemblers actually BEAT IN the windows and the frame had some outer damage that had to be straightened out.   I took the window myself over to Duncan and they installed the THREE (I replaced all of them).  The big was was the broken....but since they were doing it....I decided NEW is better.  I DID call Northwest RV and spent a lot of time with them.  They could NOT find the window.

OK....then the window was put back in.  DONE DEAL.

NOW.....there are several ways to approach this....not knowing WHERE you are located.  IF you have a competent window shop, they can pull out the window.  THEN they have the option of crating and packing and sending to Duncan....who will (back then....2018) reframe the window and ship it out.  BE AWARE.....the current vendor sometimes makes mistakes....so the Duncan Shop inspects and makes SURE that the window matches the prints and also that the glass and the seal is good.   You COULD order the window pane(s) and when Duncan said GREAT - they are OK.......then I would decide HOW to get it disassembled and reassembled.

The original Atwood glass had NO inert gas sealer or vacuum.....that is a MYTH.  NOW, it MIGHT be possible to have a glass shop disassemble and CUT and GRIND a new piece....then send it off for TEMPERING.  That is ONE local option.  Tinting will NOT be the same....but who knows.

That is about it.  I lucked out.....  OK....remember that I was in Portland.....and I had to DRIVE to Elkhart.  I refused to CHIP OUT the window.  If you get hit with a stone or something....then the interior pane will shatter.  You do NOT want that.  I opted to "tape it".  I put on 3 layers of Clear Gorilla.  DO NOT DRIVE IT NOW.....do this immediately.  That worked for a while.  I laminated it and then overlapped the gaskets and such.  I drove with that for a while.  But, since mine was the long vertical pane, it started to ocsillate and the interior shattered glass was falling.  I stopped at at Lowes and bought more GORILLA TAPE (the regular Duct Tape).  I also bought TWO thin strips or "cold rolled" aluminum strapping.  Maybe 1/16 or 3/32.  It was about 3/4" wide.  Mine was "warped" so I preformed the strapping.  I then laminated the top of the strapping with duct tape to the clear laminated Gorilla tape and bonded it to the FG.  It looked UGLY.  I had limited vision.  BUT, I drove almost 3,000 miles and NONE of the outer pane dropped or continued to disintegrate.  The shop foreman laughed and said.....I've seen a lot of repairs for windows.  Typically with plywood and such....  Yours LOOKED ugly, but it was the best "fix" that I have seen.  SO....don't knock success...

Hope this helps.  I have the original emails if you email me directly.....that was posted after the fix on the old Monacoer's site....that is what refreshed my memory.....  It has been over 2K miles and several seasons.....still looks great and no issues now....

7 hours ago, bobdinsmore said:

Call your RV insurance folks because you may have full-glass coverage. If you do, they will take care of EVERYTHING for you and for no deductible. It cost me $4/year and is the best insurance I've ever had (two windshields and two double-pane windows)! If you don't have that coverage, then here are some glass specialists for RV's:

888-596-9626    Gerber National Glass Services 

888-781-7372    Duncan Systems

877-858-5356 Harmon Solutions

888-777-6778 RV Glass Solutions

Bob Dinsmore 2000 Diplomat

IF you google RVGlass.com, you get Duncan.  That is how I FINALLY chased them down.  I had done a whole lot of "research" and found that Duncan bought Atwood.....

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On 8/11/2020 at 2:41 AM, bobdinsmore said:

Call your RV insurance folks because you may have full-glass coverage. If you do, they will take care of EVERYTHING for you and for no deductible. It cost me $4/year and is the best insurance I've ever had (two windshields and two double-pane windows)! If you don't have that coverage, then here are some glass specialists for RV's:

888-596-9626    Gerber National Glass Services 

888-781-7372    Duncan Systems

877-858-5356 Harmon Solutions

888-777-6778 RV Glass Solutions

Bob Dinsmore 2000 Diplomat

This is interesting as I have been trying to get one of my bedroom windows repaired and RV Glass and Duncan could not help. Coach Glass will replace my 12”x12” window with 7/16” thick safety glass fo $350 which seems extreme. Mine are Atwood with 2-1/2” radius which are obsolete as windows now have 3” radius. Ill try the other two phone numbers.

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51 minutes ago, Gary M said:

This is interesting as I have been trying to get one of my bedroom windows repaired and RV Glass and Duncan could not help. Coach Glass will replace my 12”x12” window with 7/16” thick safety glass fo $350 which seems extreme. Mine are Atwood with 2-1/2” radius which are obsolete as windows now have 3” radius. Ill try the other two phone numbers.

That is areal BUMMER.  Maybe things have changed since July of 2018.  When I contacted Duncan, it took all of 10 minutes and the lady sent me the print.  I measured and muddled over it and wanted to make sure that if fit....as the prints were for the "Frame" without the interior and exterior bands or bezels.

I then contacted the folks in Oregon (about 4 hours SOUTH of where I was) and they were totally booked up.  They went through the same process and told me about how they used the laminated NON Tinted safety glass.  I chose, as I said, NO TO GO THIS ROUTE.

I can't remember the costs per pane, but the OEM Atwoods were $875 total.  That DID include Duncan doing the window disassembly, but NOT the window removal.

Dad gummed shame if Duncan has "downsized" and does not have the same level of support and knowledge as they did in 2018.  They had ALL the prints on the windows and they had a cross reference system that quickly identified WHICH Monaco (HR) that they went in (Model, Year, Location, Etc).  SO, it was NOT a big deal to get the right window.

Gary, reread your post.  You may have hit on the issue.  My windows were "Straight Cuts".  You cut the raw glass and then tempered them and maybe "tinted" (that might have been built into the raw glass).  Your situation and your older radius may be the issue in that Duncan's vendor does NOT have the capability (or wants to set up for it) for a non standard radius.  

From MEMORY.....the glass vendor that Duncan is using is NOT the same vendor that they had years ago, before they downsized (due to the economy) and the lady told me that she had to spend (as the Operations Manager for Duncan....when they BOUGHT ATWOOD....a LOT of time with the new vendor to set them "set up" so that they could supply the same (equivalent) panes.  

Your radiused window may be the culprit.  If you find out, let us know.  If you keep calling and try the Duncan numbers that I have....that would be a GOOD question.  I regret that I do not have the name of the "Manager" that handles the replacement glass area.....if you ASK who is in charge or runs that department and can get to her, I guarantee that she will know the answer.

Thanks for the input.......

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Thanks for all the leads....been on the road from MT back to GA. Car was passing opposite direction on a very clean road, when a very load crack...almost like a small cal gun going off. Impact was high on the sliding portion of the window, over 8’ high. A glancing blow that high up would not break it. I think it was a metal ball out of a slingshot.

Tried the RV fog doctor in AR... have the #s off the identical window but they would have to make a pattern from the other half, cut a new one and send it off to temper...6+ weeks.

May try the place in Hudson Florida.

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Sun Coast Design in Hudson, FL, did ours. We arrived in the evening to full hookups. Next morning, they came out, removed the whole window, placed cardboard over the hole. In the afternoon, they remounted the window with new glass, job well done. You have to make an appointment as they have many camping spots but are usually full.  Good service.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Update: even though the glass has Apex on it, it’s not the company in PA. I was not the first to call them.

Took accurate measurements and several pictures of the window pane and Sun Coast Designs (Hudson, FLa) is cutting and sending it off to be tempered... they thought they might have it in stock, not. Will stop by after Christmas on our way south and have them install. 

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5 hours ago, Ivylog said:

Update: even though the glass has Apex on it, it’s not the company in PA. I was not the first to call them.

Took accurate measurements and several pictures of the window pane and Sun Coast Designs (Hudson, FLa) is cutting and sending it off to be tempered... they thought they might have it in stock, not. Will stop by after Christmas on our way south and have them install. 

Curious.  You have glass that says APEX?  I was told by the former PM at ATWOOD (now part of Duncan  - see the original or the first posts) that Atwood (when they were Monaco Supplier) was the sole supplier for several model years.  Just like A&M was for the windshield wipers.  Did not know there was another brand called APEX.

Atwood sold the "Glass" business to Duncan.   Have NO idea what Atwood makes now, but it is NOT OEM windows and frames.....of that I am sure.  Duncan had to chase down a new Glass vendor and set them up as Atwood's was "turned off". 

Clarify if you can so we all learn and there is no confusion....

Thanks.

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Update: even though the glass has Apex on it, it’s not the company in PA. I was not the first to call them.

Took accurate measurements and several pictures of the window pane and Sun Coast Designs (Hudson, FLa) is cutting and sending it off to be tempered... they thought they might have it in stock, not. Will stop by after Christmas on our way south and have them install. 

Should not rely on memory ... glass has EXCEL on it.

Edited by Ivylog
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12 hours ago, Ivylog said:

Update: even though the glass has Apex on it, it’s not the company in PA. I was not the first to call them.

Took accurate measurements and several pictures of the window pane and Sun Coast Designs (Hudson, FLa) is cutting and sending it off to be tempered... they thought they might have it in stock, not. Will stop by after Christmas on our way south and have them install. 

Should not rely on memory ... glass has EXCEL on it.

thanks for the clarification.  Looks like, as usual, not every Monaco is created equal.  All the ones that I was familiar with or had folks comment were Atwood.  I do NOT (now....MY MEMORY) think that there were any other etched names or trademark  BUT, that might not be correct.  I know that Atwood had only one vendor....or that is what the ex Plant Manager told me and she worked for them for over 20 years and when they sold or folded that all the critical "expertise" sort of vanished.  She had actually gone to work for Duncan.  Duncan bought Atwood (now were there other products....I don't know).  But, they knew that she was one of the ones that knew the vendors and the processes and they also got the prints and specifications.  

They put her in charge of the "Replacement" business.  That included getting a NEW vendor for the glass and qualifying them.  That vendor is a leading supplier for other manufacturers and Duncan sends them the prints for each pane and they custom cut and assemble (seal) the two panes.  They send it to the Elkhart location (or they will ship to Duncan's other location or even drop ship to a glass shop or the customer)

The Elkhart operation then removes the old frame and installs the new panes inside the original frame....which is a bit of a "trick" as the frames have flex and the glass maybe me off a few thousandths.  They had to pull mine down twice to get it fitted.  Now, I had THREE panes.  Two fixed and one sliding.  So that was the most complex case.  To get the new panes in the old frame and then get the sliding one to work was a matter of finness, and experience.  BUT, the proof was that the entire frame then screwed back together (was also sealed) and the sliding pane worked.  It fit fine going back in as Chris' friend, P J had already knocked off the poorly cut corner of the MH.  He told me going in not to be surprised with the frame was sort of "beat up" on the portion you could not see as Monaco really did a poor job of the window cutout and the fix was not to grind or fit but to use brute strength and rubber mallets and that he had pulled many frames that had dents and marks and some really bad spots.  BUT, that he would work on the opening and that Duncan would also work on the frame to straighten it out.

Duncan MAY (pure memory) also supply a replacement frame or parts.....that is a little fuzzy.

If you are getting tempered glass and it is tinted to match, the you should be good to go.

Thanks for the info....makes us all a bit smarter....and we can help out others.....  

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