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07-26-2019, 12:56 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 56
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DIY double pane windows crazy?
I plan to delete the last 3 rows of windows on my 6window international. I was dreaming up cheap ways to make the windows better insulated since I will be mostly around CO.
My first and perhaps best idea is to make simple, modern style window boxes that protrude past the finished wall material by 3/4” so that I could easily put on that window film stuff you can buy real cheap at the hardware store. This traps air between the window and the film, making a poor man’s double pane during the winter when you are less likely to open windows.
My second, perhaps crazier idea, is to use the deleted windows to make interior storm windows. I already plan on furring out the steel studs quite a bit with HardyBreak thermal break strips (or some such similar product) and wood nailers. Then the thickness of my wall material. This works out about perfect to mount the salvaged windows from the back 3 rows sandwiched to the original front row window with butel tape in between. Both windows can still be opened, and I can sorta get in there and wipe up any condensation in between. My passenger windows have a pretty good tint on too, so doubled up, they could keep it pretty cool in winter too.
My third idea which is compatible with either of the first two as an additional measure, is to make really well fitted, refletix and air-gap insulated blackout curtains. Obviously the downside here during the day is the blackout bit. Turns into a feature when urban camping i guess.
I’m interested what others on a budget have done? RV windows just seem a bit $$$
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07-26-2019, 01:08 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Howdy Tawdbb,
Good question. There was a great discussion of this a week or two ago. The consensus was that it was not a good idea.
You may enjoy reading it. Try the search function above and it should be easy to find.
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07-26-2019, 01:13 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawdbb
I plan to delete the last 3 rows of windows on my 6window international. I was dreaming up cheap ways to make the windows better insulated since I will be mostly around CO.
My first and perhaps best idea is to make simple, modern style window boxes that protrude past the finished wall material by 3/4” so that I could easily put on that window film stuff you can buy real cheap at the hardware store. This traps air between the window and the film, making a poor man’s double pane during the winter when you are less likely to open windows.
My second, perhaps crazier idea, is to use the deleted windows to make interior storm windows. I already plan on furring out the steel studs quite a bit with HardyBreak thermal break strips (or some such similar product) and wood nailers. Then the thickness of my wall material. This works out about perfect to mount the salvaged windows from the back 3 rows sandwiched to the original front row window with butel tape in between. Both windows can still be opened, and I can sorta get in there and wipe up any condensation in between. My passenger windows have a pretty good tint on too, so doubled up, they could keep it pretty cool in winter too.
My third idea which is compatible with either of the first two as an additional measure, is to make really well fitted, refletix and air-gap insulated blackout curtains. Obviously the downside here during the day is the blackout bit. Turns into a feature when urban camping i guess.
I’m interested what others on a budget have done? RV windows just seem a bit $$$
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like the old fashioned storm windows in houses, it should help - the better the fit and less draft the better - there are better ways of doing it, but with taking a bit of care with fitting and caulking, it will certainly be better than just the normal single pane window - where do you plan to be in the cold weather?
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07-26-2019, 01:18 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 56
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I’ll be in Durango Colorado, so hot in summer, cold in Winter. PNW Steve, what keywords for that thread? I’ve looked on google for Skokie.net threads on diy double pane; double pane windows, and double windows. I havn’t found any meaningful discussion.
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07-26-2019, 01:29 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawdbb
I’ll be in Durango Colorado, so hot in summer, cold in Winter. PNW Steve, what keywords for that thread? I’ve looked on google for Skokie.net threads on diy double pane; double pane windows, and double windows. I havn’t found any meaningful discussion.
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if you're careful with sealing both the existing window and the storm window, you won't have many days when your windows frost up ( just checked your average and extreme temps for Durango Colorado )
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07-26-2019, 01:32 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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I have had factory made double pane windows loose the seal and they fog badly in cold weather.
Unless you can seal and purge the space between the panes you may suffer the same issue.
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07-26-2019, 01:38 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawdbb
I’ll be in Durango Colorado, so hot in summer, cold in Winter. PNW Steve, what keywords for that thread? I’ve looked on google for Skokie.net threads on diy double pane; double pane windows, and double windows. I havn’t found any meaningful discussion.
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Now I get to look stupid
I try to encourage the use of the search feature as we tend to see some questions asked repeatedly. Better to engage in the existing discussion than to start another thread on the same thing.
I just tried to use search find the recent thread on this subject......... I can't find it either...
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07-26-2019, 01:41 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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I spent almost a week on the Albertsons parking lot in Durango in my first bus.
Parked right on the Animals River. Really was a nice spot. Was quite a while ago though...
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07-26-2019, 01:44 PM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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found these threads when I searched for double pane windows on the forum
https://www.google.com/search?q=doub...ch=skoolie.net
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07-26-2019, 01:48 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleddgracer
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Same here.
Frustrating....... I was looking at the recent one just last week
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07-26-2019, 02:13 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
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I used to rent a house from the guy who had built it and tried to roll his own double-paned wall-of-windows in the living room. It was like living in a fish tank with all the condensation.
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07-26-2019, 02:25 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f27/co...ane-27966.html
Found it by searching "Converting windows to double pane."
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07-26-2019, 02:27 PM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Western Oregon
Posts: 876
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue-Bird
Chassis: TC RE 3408
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 12V Mechanical/Allison MT643
Rated Cap: Blue-Bird says 72 pass.
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http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f27/co...ane-27966.html
And I could not remember the title, so I found it by putting 2019 in the search terms. The first one was still from 2011 but I did get more results from 2019, and the one I was looking for was high on the list.
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07-27-2019, 08:27 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 56
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Sweet, thanks for finding that! So, it seems that two panes’s magic comes from insulating gas, not from any old trapped air. I guess that well fitted, insulation curtains are the best “cheap” solution. That, and I am going to try and install a thermal break of some sort between the steel frame and the aluminum windows, even if its just insulative paint.
How thick are most RV walls/window frames? I have an RV salvage yard I can hit up not too far away
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07-27-2019, 08:58 PM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawdbb
Sweet, thanks for finding that! So, it seems that two panes’s magic comes from insulating gas, not from any old trapped air. I guess that well fitted, insulation curtains are the best “cheap” solution. That, and I am going to try and install a thermal break of some sort between the steel frame and the aluminum windows, even if its just insulative paint.
How thick are most RV walls/window frames? I have an RV salvage yard I can hit up not too far away
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a vacuum between two panes of glass works as insulation - when certain inert gases are used it works better than plain air, both work better under negative pressure, but both work with degrees of efficiency
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07-27-2019, 09:41 PM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: pa
Posts: 2,498
Year: 98
Coachwork: 1. Corbeil & 2. Thomas
Chassis: 1 ford 1998 e350 4x4 7.3 2 mercedes 2004
Engine: 7.3 powerstroke & MBE906
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Worked good for us. More to do if I find more projection television for free " plexiglass"
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08-10-2019, 07:28 PM
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#17
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BC Rockies
Posts: 125
Year: 93
Coachwork: Corbiel
Chassis: Ford
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 36 pass
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawdbb
I plan to delete the last 3 rows of windows on my 6window international. I was dreaming up cheap ways to make the windows better insulated since I will be mostly around CO.
My first and perhaps best idea is to make simple, modern style window boxes that protrude past the finished wall material by 3/4” so that I could easily put on that window film stuff you can buy real cheap at the hardware store. This traps air between the window and the film, making a poor man’s double pane during the winter when you are less likely to open windows.
My second, perhaps crazier idea, is to use the deleted windows to make interior storm windows. I already plan on furring out the steel studs quite a bit with HardyBreak thermal break strips (or some such similar product) and wood nailers. Then the thickness of my wall material. This works out about perfect to mount the salvaged windows from the back 3 rows sandwiched to the original front row window with butel tape in between. Both windows can still be opened, and I can sorta get in there and wipe up any condensation in between. My passenger windows have a pretty good tint on too, so doubled up, they could keep it pretty cool in winter too.
My third idea which is compatible with either of the first two as an additional measure, is to make really well fitted, refletix and air-gap insulated blackout curtains. Obviously the downside here during the day is the blackout bit. Turns into a feature when urban camping i guess.
I’m interested what others on a budget have done? RV windows just seem a bit $$$
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Look for places that wreck buses in cold climates A lot of our buses in Canada come with some double pane windows in the first 3 rows for driver visibility. I would think places like Michigan would do the same.
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