It is not news to someone who has a penchant for RVs that it is easy to give in to the temptation of attractive interiors or a powerful engine while choosing the most suitable camper. While obsessing over various such attributes, it is very likely for someone to overlook the type of windows that an RV carries.
While shopping for an RV, you must remember that windows are essential components.
Investing in an RV with a first-rate window is bound to help you maintain cost-effective insulation and enhance your experience of the RV. Let’s look into the various kinds of RV windows from which you can choose and keep your RV in the best shape.
Types of RV Windows
1. Frameless Windows
Frameless RV windows are a more recent design of windows made out of a single piece of glass. These windows don’t open completely, and one has to slant open from below. These frameless windows will provide your RV with a smooth and clean look.
Advantages:
- They often offer protection from UV rays
- Protects the insides of the RV from rain when open
- Provides the RV with a sophisticated and seamless look
Disadvantages:
- Restricts air circulation since they cannot open completely
- Expensive to install and replace
Most frameless RV windows come with some UV protection, but it is still advisable to add another resistance layer. Adding a Camco Sun Shield helps to add an extra layer of UV protection and helps maintain the temperature inside your RV by serving as a reflective and insulating sheath.
2. Radius Frame Windows
You can see these windows in new RVs. Radius frame windows come in various sizes, and circular corners happen to be their key feature.
Advantages:
- Their corners are more long-lasting
- In case of a fractured frame, you can replace it without replacing the entire window
- Since their corners are circular, they are safer when kept open
Disadvantages:
- They are pricey
- With time, they may face problems with seal
3. Sliding Windows
Sliding windows slide open either in one direction or both. These windows come in three different types- vertical sliders, horizontal sliders, T-sliders.
As one can guess, horizontal sliders slide laterally while vertical sliders slide up and down. On the other hand, T-sliders comprise an immovable window pane coupled with a sliding window on the top.
Advantages:
- Budget-friendly
- High durability
- Can be opened and closed with relative ease
Disadvantages:
- The seam at the center is more susceptible to seal problems
- Collects dirt more easily than the other types of windows
4. Crank Windows
There are a lot of names by which the crank windows are referred, for example- torque, louver, jalousie, and awning. They either possess a single pane or multiple ones. Crank windows operate on a hinge mechanism. Hence, they need to be opened outwards by the crank of a handle.
Advantages:
- Makes way for brilliant ventilation
- Easily cleanable.
Disadvantages:
- You might face some problems with insulation
- These windows might have a leakage problem, even when shut
5. Exit/Egress Windows
Egress windows pose as escape or exit windows. These windows open entirely and act as emergency exit paths. Each egress window has a painted red latch and can quickly open the window.
Advantages:
- Comes in a wide range of varieties to suit your choice
- Adds a safety feature to your RV
- Acts as an added light source
Disadvantages:
- Requires more regular maintenance than other windows
6. Concession Windows
More commonly spotted in food trucks than in RVs, concession windows are large windows that can be slid open with a detachable awning on the RV’s exterior.
Advantages:
- Comes in a myriad of dimensions and types
- Adds a hint of uniqueness to your RV
Disadvantages:
- It is not possible to open the outer awning from the inside of the RV
- Not a common appendage of an RV; hence, it needs to be especially attached
7. Picture Windows
These windows have fixed panes, so you cannot open them anyhow. They are useful in allowing a lot of light to enter.
Advantages:
- They are cheap
- Provides better views of the outside
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be opened
- Does not provide ventilation
8. Bay Windows
Bay windows are picture windows with two windows on either side, which are relatively small. They are usually at the end in RVs.
Advantages:
- Provides better views of the outside
- Gives the RV a more open feel
Disadvantages:
- Installation is expensive
- More the number of windows, the more you lose heat
9. Double Pane Windows
Double pane windows have a dual layer of glass for improved insulation. It is extremely common in almost all RVs.
Advantages:
- Provides brilliant insulation from heat, the cold, wind, and noise
- Helps to lower the air conditioning or heating costs
- Provides improved security from forceful entries or burglaries
Disadvantages:
- More expensive
- More heavy
Can You Use Regular Windows in an RV?
For starters, RVs are not to be stationary like traditional houses. Even if you choose to take your RV out for a spin on smooth and well-constructed roads, which are not very bumpy, you will still expose it to great jerking. It would help if you didn’t use regular windows in an RV.
Regular windows aren’t built to sustain this constant jerking and are bound to succumb to such effects over time.
Secondly, the insulation requirement of an RV is very different from that of a house. Setting up regular house windows in an RV will mess with the insulation thoroughly.
Are Dual Pane Windows Worth it?
Dual pane windows are thermal windows that use heat insulation properties to help maintain a steady and comfortable temperature inside your RV when the temperature fluctuates outside. But it isn’t worth the investment.
The cost of maintaining them and the amount of effort required to upkeep them is too much. It is only advisable to use dual-pane windows if you camp in extreme conditions or permanently residing in your RV.
These windows have two or more glass panes that encompass a layer of air or gas (nitrogen/krypton/argon) between them.
They also have a layer of UV protection and are framed with insulating material. The inclusion of all of these features substantially raises these windows’ prices. It is also why repairing them is a cumbersome task.
Do Frameless RV Windows Leak?
Frameless windows are high in demand for RVs. These windows give an RV a seamless and neat look. But they come with their own set of drawbacks. Frameless windows do not have openings for water to drain since they do not have aluminum or plastic frames. However, these windows still tend to leak due to the weakening of their seals.
Since frameless windows are attached to the RV with the help of double-sided sealants, which can easily disintegrate over time, they are very much susceptible to leakage.
One must make sure to check these windows from both sides of the RV for any visible spaces or gaps opening up between the windows and the body.
To ensure better inspection, spray water along the periphery of these windows to check for leaky spots. Also, periodically tighten the screws that hold the windows against the body of the RV to reduce the chances of water seepage.
Conclusion:
RVs are the ideal companion for you to hit the road with your friends and family for prolonged periods. They are also perfectly equipped to be habitable for anyone, either permanently or part-time. No matter how you choose to use your RV, it is necessary to maintain it well enough.
One of the key features of the RV is its windows, and we often overlook their upkeep. To have the optimum RV experience, you must pay keen attention to its windows. If you own an RV or plan to buy one, you will need to be soundly informed about its windows.
With a compilation of a list containing the various kinds of windows for you to choose from, a few insights into their maintenance, and a few do-s and don’t-s, this article is sure to help you take the right and the most feasible decision!
