[glen]

Brett, I have been fulltiming in my 99 XL since April of 16.

The biggest problem I see with the windows is in the winter.

There is a lot of air filtration around the windows and the window stools depending on how the converter finislhed out the walls and window seals.

A lot of cold air comes off the windows but the heat of summer doesn’t seem to be as big a problem.

I think it may take more to warm the bus than to cool it.

I would like double pane windows but I would have to trade coaches.

With all that said I don’t spend time in the southwest as much as I do in cooler climates.

[glen]

Brett,

Whatever you end up with, I would highly recommend double pane windows. We get absolutely no draft from the windows, which we got in our last coach. Heat transfer is significantly reduced, and we stayed comfortable at 110 degrees in Las Vegas last month. Would an H3 work out better for full-timing with the increased basement space? Heading up to Prevost/Marathon tomorrow. Marathon has a nice 2004 H3 on their lot, plan to check it out for fun next week.

[Archived]

Per, my desire is an H3 for the basement storage. I will find one one of these days that fits the bill…..maybe…lol. If I had another $100K this would be pretty easy…lol

[Dan]

Brett, for heat there is a 3M window film that very significantly cuts the heat but adds no tint. It is even legal for windshields. I plan to install on the toll and door windows. If it’s as good as it sounds I will also add to at least the top portion of the windshield. Glad to hear you haven’t stopped looking completely.

[Dick]

Brett, this last winter part of our time was in the Pinedale Wy area, affectionately known as the icebox of America. Most nights were down in the -teens with a couple reaching -22. Coldest it got in the bus was 63, when we remodeled The Redhead bought some high dollar blinds to replace the originals. I’ll have to look up the brand, but they have aluminum between the cloth layers. It is absolutely amazing the difference in temps from one side of the blinds to the other. Same with heat, cool on one side, extremely warm on the other. The one thing we experienced was frosting of the inside of our single panes, then the melting of the condensation as the sun hit the windows. Little puddles on the corian at the base of the windows.

[Hugh]

There is another thread active today about creating inserts to put between the blinds and the windows of (especially) single pane coach windows. If I was full-timing … or visiting Dan and The Redhead in Wyoming to go snowmobiling in the dead of winter I would seriously consider making those for our coach. They could be stored below and pulled out and installed quickly when the temps hit extremes.

Dan mentioned the Corian window sills. We also have Corian window jams, I suspect Dan does too. When I first saw those in a coach I was really, really impressed thinking what a great idea. I’ve chased condensation puddling on wooden window frames and windows sills for decades. Watching it over time ruin and degrade nice windows because you can’t always be there to mop up the condensation. I liked the concept so much that when I bought the race shop two years ago I had the carpenters trim out the windows (jams and sills) in PVC trim; they both thought it was a great idea. We just finished remodeling the main bath of home we own on the Wolf River in NE Wisconsin … I told the tile guy and the countertop guy I wanted the window fully trimmed with Corian … they both thought it was a great idea.

So … as you continue your search (which I think is a great decision on your part), keep in mind how the windows are trimmed out and finished. Will the surfaces be protected from condensation.

[Archived]

Dan

The blinds
are Douglas Hunter duettes, they are foil faced in the center, they are also
called night shades, they completely block light when are down. they are very
effective for both hot and cold weather. I highly recommend them. They are costly about $6000 to $10000 per window depends on the size. It a Pervost !!!!!!!.

[Archived]

Yep, that’s what they are Hish.

One other thing you can do to cut down draft is a $2 fix, on the hinged windows I put o-rings on the push out rod where it seals on the outside of the window. Simple and very effective.

[Archived]

As much as I like the looks of the rivited buses, I think I am just gonna have to look and admire them from afar…lol

I install perforated vinyl on coach windows as a part time gig to make a little fuel money. This stuff works great, especially in the heat. It reduces heat input by 90%. You can littleraly place your hand against the inside of a window in direct sun and it will be cool. It doesn’t do a whole lot for heat transfer out tough. Best thing I have foun for that is just good inside shades. We put all MCD duo in our Eagle and they work great.

I have about the most energy efficient coach I can possibly get between the additional 3/8″ lifetime roof over the standard fiberglass I had installed, all blown in insulation in the front roof cap, perforated vinyl window coating and MCD shades. I have very little heat or cold transfer. BUT it aint a BUS….lol

[Archived]

Brett posted: “BUT it aint a BUS….lol”

But it should be a BUS Brett. You not only want a BUS, you deserve a BUS. We all want you to have a BUS. And this isn’t an “lol” matter. Keep us with your search until you find yourself the right BUS.

[Dick]

After all we been thru it really is an “lol” matter…

Brett Wants a bus, brett deserves a bus, “brett needs money for a bus”, “brett needs the right bus to come along…lol” “brett sometimes looses sleep over not having a bus”. “brett often dreams of a bus”. “brett sometimes cries to his wife abou a bus”…..no wait, I never cry…..lol

Brett will someday find a bus….maybe. If not, he drives the wheels of his Eagle and smiles…..

How bout a “go fund me page” anyone care to set up and sponsor a go fund me page to help a dying man fullfill his dreams…lol

Nothing wrong with me, we are all dying…lol

[Archived]

For the moment ignore all the stated reasons for not being able to have a bus.

But do think about how your existing coach is constructed and place some value on a chassis that surrounds you with a welded frame and that will remain relatively intact even if the coach rolls over. After seeing a couple of accidents prior to buying our first coach it was clear to us that with the conventional motor home construction practices even a gentle collision is likely to have the lower chassis and the upper house stucture go their separate ways relatively easy.

The accidents we passed by, both prior to and after our purchase were very scary because the upper structure that should have protected the occupants was gone and pieces were spread over a relatively wide area.

[David]

Ya know Jon, I have almost a million miles on a motorcycle, and raced for several years. In all my riding, I ALWAYS dressed for a crash. I do the same thing in my coach. However; while I always dress for a crash I don’t always have the means to have the very best protection money can buy. Because I didn’t get to dress as well as the elite, or didn’t have the money to have all the super gear the cool people had didn’t make me less a person and I still did everyhting I could to be safe.

I look at this in the same manner. I do everything possible to make this coach as safe as humanly possible. I ensure all maintenance is done, I ensure everything is in good order and working, I make sure momma and I wear our seat belts…..etc, but I don’t always have the means to dress like the cool kids, in this case you prevost owners. BUT that doesn’t make me less consious, less safe, or less responsible. (and no, I am not saying all Prevost owners are loaded…lol)

There are a few different reasons I would like to have a bus, safety is certainly one of them, but I can’t just damn the torpedos, full speed ahead. If I had more money it wouldn’t be such a search, If I didn’t full time in this coach it wouldn’t be such a search. You have always schooled me and anyone else looking for a bus on the safety issue and that it is hard to believe anyone would have anything less (paraphrasing). The truth is, we all just can’t run out and buy a Prevost. The key is not ALWAYS to worry about the crash, but rather focus more on remaining safe. I am going to continue to be as safe as I possibly can. If at some point in life I can increase that safety margin with a bus then so be it. But if not and I crash, my unsafe fiberglass coach is destroyed and my number is called, GOD will receive me saying he did everything he could to be safe, but I needed him. 🙂

[Brett]

I respect your attitude about safety.

Maybe it is age, but I think my concerns about safety have increased significantly since we have had our coaches to a great extent influenced by widespread cell phone use. But I would be lying if I did not mention truckers now are scaring me because they are not only driving distracted also, but they seem to lack the skills professional drivers used to exhibit.

When you ride that motorcycle just remember they really are out to get you.

[Doug]

Some people find this odd, but I actually feel safer on my bike than I do in my truck. I am more aware, and constantly looking. But becasue I have so many years and miles on a bike it has also made me much more aware as a cage or coach driver. Granted you cannot control the other guy, and I do lose situational awarenss sometimes as we all do.

I agree as I have aged I have become more aware of my inability to remain bullet proof, even though I have tested that theory a few too many times and with real bullets. lol I have finally gotten to a point in life that I actually care and cherish life, not so in years past. I lived hard to say the least.

Always enjoy this board and the conversations.