Sliding windows - pain in my a**

[TantoTrailers]

Building my first trailer has been an adventure filled with excitements and heartbreaks and quite a few annoyances. I have been working hard on knocking out all of the annoyances on the list and I am down to the last few. The one I need some help on is my sliding windows tend to leak a bit when driving through a heavy storm. I have determined that the leak is somewhere within the window itself, likely in the track where the glass slides or in the seal between the two panes that slide past each other. I have tested the seal around the outside of the window and I also tested the weeps, neither of those seem to be the issue. I know this may be a generic question but is there a quick fix anyone knows of for the issue I am having? Assuming the issue is with the track that the windows slide in, how would one fix that? Assuming the seal between the panes is the issue, how would one fix that? Assuming I'm an ass and am totally wrong, how would one fix that haha?

The windows I have are the WD3020 type in this link: https://www.teardroptrailerparts.com/pricing.html

One thing is for certain, trailer #2 is going to use much better windows.

 

[luthj]

Arctic tern windows?

Did you mount the frame seam at the top?

 

[TantoTrailers]

Arctic tern windows?

YUP, those will be the windows and doors for #2 however I am stuck with what I have for #1. The frame seam is on the bottom.

 

[luthj]

I am not familiar with your windows, but these formed extrusion windows almost always have the seam at the top, otherwise water in the glass channel finds its way through the seam inside

 

[Teardropper]

"Weep drain holes Top and Bottom of Window
for Placement on either side of trailer"

Have you considered sealing the drain holes on the tops?

T

 

[ottsville]

I am not familiar with your windows, but these formed extrusion windows almost always have the seam at the top, otherwise water in the glass channel finds its way through the seam inside

I just looked at my Jayco camper and some seams are at the top and some at the bottom. All have weep holes in the bottom though. Actually, some have weep holes top and bottom, but the top ones are all sealed up.

You've got the horizontal window? I'm guessing these should be installed so that the sliding piece is towards the rear so that the wind doesn't drive water into the seam between the sliding and fixed glass?

 

[TantoTrailers]

I am not familiar with your windows, but these formed extrusion windows almost always have the seam at the top, otherwise water in the glass channel finds its way through the seam inside

These windows were drivers side and passenger side and the way they were labeled put the seam at the bottom of the window.

I just looked at my Jayco camper and some seams are at the top and some at the bottom. All have weep holes in the bottom though. Actually, some have weep holes top and bottom, but the top ones are all sealed up.

You've got the horizontal window? I'm guessing these should be installed so that the sliding piece is towards the rear so that the wind doesn't drive water into the seam between the sliding and fixed glass?

Yep I have the horizontal window and the sliding piece is towards the rear as you stated for that exact purpose. I did seal up my weeps at the top but the result is the same. I am finding the water inside the track that the window slides on the inside of the trailer, once that gets full it leaks down the wall. This leads me to believe the track is not sealed up well along the bottom.

Next step is to have a buddy hose down the camper while I am inside and see exactly what is happening when water is hitting the window.

 

[luthj]

Sometimes a wind deflector on the edge of the window helps with air driving water through the seals. Plugged drain holes can also be a problem with dusty environments. I have blown amazing amounts of dirt out of the channels/drains of my rear sliders.

 

[ITTOG]

The sliding window should be towards the front. This prevents the seal between the two windows from being exposed to the driving wind/rain.

 

[ottsville]

Are there weep holes in the track itself between the glass and the outside edge of the trailer) so that once it has water in it the water can drain out of the track? I'll look closer at my windows tomorrow, but I would think that would be in there.

 

[ottsville]

The sliding window should be towards the front. This prevents the seal between the two windows from being exposed to the driving wind/rain.

Is the sliding piece on these windows the outer piece?

 

[ITTOG]

Is the sliding piece on these windows the outer piece?

I don't recall for sure but I believe yes. But the window that moves should be towards the front of the trailer when it is in the closed position.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[TantoTrailers]

So I did a closer inspection and I was wrong these windows have no seam. Only my front window that is not a slider has a seam in the frame. I did notice a small 1/16" gap in one window and some smaller gaps elsewhere in the gasket. Sealed it up with some Airstream sealant. I will give it another test when it cures.

 

[TantoTrailers]

I don't recall for sure but I believe yes. But the window that moves should be towards the front of the trailer when it is in the closed position.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

These windows have the sliding part on the inside track so they are designed to be towards the back. If installed in the opposite direction the wind would have free access to the gap seal between the two panes.

 

[ITTOG]

These windows have the sliding part on the inside track so they are designed to be towards the back. If installed in the opposite direction the wind would have free access to the gap seal between the two panes.

Yes then in the back. Basically whichever window is behind the other (when looking from the outside), should be in the back.