MMP Windows Back In

[Russell E Johnson]

It was suppose to rain all day yesterday. By 10AM I thought "OK it is cloudy but no rain." So I tore into the MMP. I removed the plastic to expose the fiberglass where I needed to install screws. Doing this left the window openings wide open. If nothing else I figured that for sure would start the rain coming down in buckets LOL. I got to work about 6 hours in mild temps with a nice breeze and the humidity hovered around 73% with a low dew point. Once again I was soaked to the skin but not suffering from the heat.

This picture is the one that I forgot to take after working on the MMP a few days ago, it is where I started yesterday.

These 3 pictures show how the fiberglass buckled on me when I was putting in the screws. Yes it was loose and flopping around when I started but I did not expect it to end up with such a large hump when I got done. I will be applying fiberglass over the seam to seal it. That silly piece of stripping Fleetwood used to cover the seam did nothing but let the water in adding to the delamination process.

These 3 pictures show the temporary covering of the seam with the bright silver Duct Tape. I like that bright shiny look it gave, reminded me of the glory days of the American automobile--large boats with lots of chrome. I think after the MMP is painted I will get some 6" or 8" wide and dress the old girl up, LOL just kidding. In the background you can see my Kia Sedona. When we were at the hospital my wife was in daughter got in the van to go someplace and was watching for other vehicles and not what she was dong while backing up.  She hit that left fender on one of the concrete pillars holding up the next level of parking. That little maneuver took out the fender, the inner wheel well lining and the headlight. What is really irritating is that I am now paying for and installing that area for the second time and the headlight assembly for the third time. No comments about women drivers will be made LOL.

I don't know what material this black goop is but it is a mess. Took a lot of scraping with a putty knife, elbow grease and denatured alcohol to get it off. It is a sticky, glove staining mess.

But I finally got it off the 2 windows and here is 1 of them with the Dicor butyl tape put on. Much nicer to use and work with.

Alright, success. The windows are in and I did not get rained on at all. I did not take pictures of the inside of the windows as the walls are not finished so things are just there to hold the windows in place.

The passenger side is now done. I will start on the drivers side tomorrow, I hope. This little go round has driven my pain up a lot so I am going to lay low today to recover.

Take care all and remember to enjoy your time. Oh, BTW, just a not so subtle reminder, be sure to keep the greasy side down and be safe when using propane.

[Gary Rowe]

Wow what a difference great job I know that's a load off.

[Russell E Johnson]

Thanks, Gary. It is nice to have it sealed up again. 

[Lakota Wolf]

Wow,,,,, You was just a bizy bizy bee wasnt you? Thats a good amount of work and looks good.

That Black sticky gooey nasty black sealant is the same stuff you seal automotive windshields with,

You get that on your hands and you dont wash it off you wear it off,, Really nasty stuff.. The shop term is window Tar.  Like silicone,road tar,creosole and snot on steroids.

[Russell E Johnson]

That is the best description of that black goo I have heard.

[Daniel Long]

Wow. A window tear out and install is nothing to sneeze at! I've got a simple aluminium skin to deal with so I cannot imagine fiberglass panels and a frame situation. Good luck!

[Russell E Johnson]

Thanks, Daniel. One great benefit of aluminum RVs is not having to worry about delamination. I really wish I knew then what I have learned here at GORV, I would never have bought a fiberglass skinned RV. OK, I would have, but would have been a lot more picky. 

[Daniel Long]

Did you replace all the NASA re-entry tiles as well? Those are the critical parts along with the proper glue to hold them in place....

[Russell E Johnson]

I was thinking that instead of tiles I would use 3M's heat and flame-resistant Nextel fabric. Need good protection when at warp speed on the road. LOL