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Old 01-15-2019, 08:09 AM   #1
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Keep An Eye On Your Front Window

We have a new Mini Lite and have taken it on 2 trips now. After the first trip I found 2 sizeable rock chips in the windshield. I had them repaired, and then I put some clear bra material over the window before the second trip. After the second trip I looked at it and you can see where a few more hit, but no damage to the glass now. Both times we were camping in dirt areas, so I think when we get back on the highway, rocks come out of the tread of the tires and are thrown up in the air in front of the trailer.

So, inspect your window after each trip. Catching a chip and repairing it is much cheaper than a new window.
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Old 01-15-2019, 10:05 AM   #2
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Might want to get one of these:

https://www.agricover.com/rockstar/

Not sure how well it works with a WDH.

Here's another:

https://www.agricover.com/roctection/

etrailer has quite a few:

https://www.etrailer.com/search/Hitch+Mount+Mud+Flaps
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Old 01-15-2019, 12:25 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Might want to get one of these:

https://www.agricover.com/rockstar/

Not sure how well it works with a WDH.

Here's another:

https://www.agricover.com/roctection/

etrailer has quite a few:

https://www.etrailer.com/search/Hitch+Mount+Mud+Flaps
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think those would help. The rocks are being flung in the air, not out the back of the tires. I can't see any way a rock could come out from under the rear of the truck and get up to the window.
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Old 01-15-2019, 06:55 PM   #4
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Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think those would help. The rocks are being flung in the air, not out the back of the tires. I can't see any way a rock could come out from under the rear of the truck and get up to the window.
Here are YOUR words:

"rocks come out of the tread of the tires and are thrown up in the air in front of the trailer."

I don't know how rocks can come out of the tread and be thrown up in the air in front of the trailer (i.e., the window) without coming from under the rear of the truck.

Maybe I'm missing something. Unless you think the rocks are coming from OTHER PEOPLES tires. Except you said "...when we get back on the highway..."
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Old 01-15-2019, 07:00 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Here are YOUR words:

"rocks come out of the tread of the tires and are thrown up in the air in front of the trailer."

I don't know how rocks can come out of the tread and be thrown up in the air in front of the trailer (i.e., the window) without coming from under the rear of the truck.

Maybe I'm missing something. Unless you think the rocks are coming from OTHER PEOPLES tires. Except you said "...when we get back on the highway..."
To me the mudflaps stop stuff that is grabbed from the road surface and tossed up. My issue is rocks that are stuck in the tread that become dislodged when on the highway. They don't only come out from under the rear of the truck.
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Old 01-15-2019, 07:14 PM   #6
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A rock coming from your trucks rear tires would have to travel towards the centerline of the truck/trailer in order to reach the trailer window. In order to do that, they would have to come out from under the truck.

Any rock not coming out from under the truck would be moving AWAY from your trailer window.

Again, maybe I'm missing something.
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Old 01-15-2019, 07:19 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
A rock coming from your trucks rear tires would have to travel towards the centerline of the truck/trailer in order to reach the trailer window. In order to do that, they would have to come out from under the truck.

Any rock not coming out from under the truck would be moving AWAY from your trailer window.

Again, maybe I'm missing something.
It's cool. There really is no need to debate or explain further. This post was just a friendly reminder to those with a window on the front of their trailer.
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Old 01-15-2019, 08:57 PM   #8
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There are other vehicles that are on the road that can kick rocks out of their tires... Happens all the time to windshields.
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Old 01-15-2019, 09:52 PM   #9
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There are other vehicles that are on the road that can kick rocks out of their tires... Happens all the time to windshields.
True, but the OP seemed to be discussing issues with rocks from his tires.
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Old 01-16-2019, 06:48 AM   #10
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True, but the OP seemed to be discussing issues with rocks from his tires.
Since you clearly know what's going on, and can't seem to drop it... here is an image of my truck and trailer. The two aren't connected, but close enough. Please explain to me how a rock could come out from under my bumper and hit the window that is probably 5.5' off the ground at its low point. The red line represents the highest a rock could hit on my trailer if it came out from under my bumper. The window is still a few feet higher.
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Old 01-16-2019, 07:40 AM   #11
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I like that our 2013 2306 has the fiberglass cover on the front window. Seems like a fail from FR to put exposed glass on the front of the trailer.

Clear bra sounds like a good workaround.
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Old 01-16-2019, 07:51 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by 24v View Post
Since you clearly know what's going on, and can't seem to drop it... here is an image of my truck and trailer. The two aren't connected, but close enough. Please explain to me how a rock could come out from under my bumper and hit the window that is probably 5.5' off the ground at its low point. The red line represents the highest a rock could hit on my trailer if it came out from under my bumper. The window is still a few feet higher.
Draw that same line from your "Front" wheel. Where does that line end up ? Ever wonder how a vehicle passing you on the LEFT can put a chip in your windshield on the far RIGHT side of it ? Not everything will travel in a "Straight" line.
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Old 01-16-2019, 07:52 AM   #13
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I like that our 2013 2306 has the fiberglass cover on the front window. Seems like a fail from FR to put exposed glass on the front of the trailer.

Clear bra sounds like a good workaround.
I agree, not sure why they don't have some kind of cover. I thought about making one out of coroplast. I still might. I was just worried that it would scratch the film, or window, from resting against it while going down the road.
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Old 01-16-2019, 07:54 AM   #14
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Draw that same line from your "Front" wheel. Where does that line end up ? Ever wonder how a vehicle passing you on the LEFT can put a chip in your windshield on the far RIGHT side of it ? Not everything will travel in a "Straight" line.
I agree with you. That is kind of what I have been saying is that the rocks are coming up from somewhere other than under the back wheels past the bumper. rockfordroo posted links to mudflaps which would not solve my issue imho, and was the reason for posting that image.
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Old 01-16-2019, 08:01 AM   #15
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I agree with you. That is kind of what I have been saying is that the rocks are coming up from somewhere other than under the back wheels past the bumper. rockfordroo posted links to mudflaps which would not solve my issue imho, and was the reason for posting that image.
They use to put covers on those. I haven't figured out why...since they started putting the big windows back on the fronts, that they haven't developed a cover to go with it. Mudflaps might catch some, but not everything. I have a rock ding on the back of my trailer....haven't quite figured that one out yet.
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Old 01-16-2019, 08:52 AM   #16
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Ours has a cover.

Marty
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Old 01-16-2019, 08:54 AM   #17
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Ours has a cover.

Marty
Yeah, ours is a completely different style of window. This is a pic from the net, not my trailer, but same thing.
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Old 01-16-2019, 09:30 AM   #18
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Yeah, ours is a completely different style of window. This is a pic from the net, not my trailer, but same thing.
Yep. It's a redesign and not a good one in my opinion. We saw those come out on Rockwoods and my first thought was exactly what you describe. A problem waiting to happen.

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Old 01-16-2019, 09:52 AM   #19
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I read that yesterday and knew that double-step would be confusing: rocks are coming out of our tires after traveling on dirt roads and flung up in front of the trailer ... rocks aren't coming out of our tires, so big mudflaps won't help. I think this got worked out, which is good, if not a bit exasperating for both parties. Kudos.

Rocks coming out from the backs of your tires aren't perfect spheres. They are all kinds of odd shapes and sizes that will actually travel in various arcs. You also have lots of metal surfaces at various angles -- hitches, bars, trailer frames, chains, etc. Rocks will hit those things and maintain quite a bit of their momentum as they also change paths. So, I don't think it's as simple as drawing a line and concluding that the lack of a straight line of sight means a lack of potential for rock damage.

Similarly, for oncoming rocks, it's not really fair to compare to our front vehicle windshields. There isn't any obstruction there. An oncoming rock can travel in a fairly nicely defined path and strike our windshield. The same isn't true (or as true) for the trailer. Rocks that would otherwise be on a path to hit our trailer will often hit our truck/TV first. It takes a very specialized path to fit the small window between where the TV obstruction ends and the open air begins that has a path to the trailer's windshield.

These are probably the reasons for no factory window protection. High enough to be out of the path of rear tires and the TV protects from oncoming rocks. Done and done ... ship it. Of course, we know that neither are fail-safe. Rocks can and will get through both of those tortuous paths and find that windshield.

I'm wondering if there's a 3M product that adds a transparent film over the top. Protects from impacts, but doesn't hinder light transmission too much. Perhaps even an automotive window tinting company could have some opinions. I have zero experience here, so cannot comment beyond this speculation.

Good luck.
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Old 01-16-2019, 10:31 AM   #20
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Hate to even post a reply to this thread due to the possibility of bringing on Murphy! We have a 2018 Rockwood 2306 with the big glass front window and love it. So far have not experienced any rock damage after logging about 5,000 miles since March of last year when we picked up the TT. I have seen a few post about this issue and have decided that we would just deal with it if we do receive rock damage. Agree with original post that it is easier and cheaper to deal with a chip as opposed to letting it go then having to replace entire window. Basically I just do a visual inspection at every stop when I do a walk around checking the trailer before hitting the road again.


Safe travels everyone...
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