Glass for van windows

[Jacob]

I want to cut out some holes and insert glass in various panels of my van.
What to use - ordinary toughened glass or something special? Would a normal glass merchant supply it to size, or is it specialised?

 

[Valhalla]

I want to cut out some holes and insert glass in various panels of my van.
What to use - ordinary toughened glass or something special? Would a normal glass merchant supply it to size, or is it specialised?

Firstly I would check with whoever carries out your MOTs as they might have an idea as to the legal requirements (i.e toughened/safety/kite-marked). Pilkington Glass will probably cut it to your dimensions, but at a price...

 

[dizjasta]

Check Pilkington website for automotive glass. Specification and correct location of glass type will be shown.

 

[Pedronicus]

I want to cut out some holes and insert glass in various panels of my van.
What to use - ordinary toughened glass or something special? Would a normal glass merchant supply it to size, or is it specialised?

If your van can be converted to a camper (you don't say what make or model) then you should be able to buy the glazing kits for the panels so a search for "van window conversion" may turn up something. Bear in mind that very few van panels are dead flat so any glazing fitted would have to be curved to suit.

 

[powertools]

As you no doubt know your best bet is to see what camper van windows are available and select one of a size that suits your needs and fit that.

 

[Jameshow]

Look at horse box windows if you want standard sizes - 18x12" or 36x24" they are reasonably priced, more if you want custom sizes.

Otherwise an agricultural glazer should be able to do what you want.

 

[DBC]

Hi Jacob,

I have always made furniture for my work vans to become campers for a couple of weeks each summer. In the past I have bought and fitted glass first for a t4 transporter and then a t5 transporter off this company who also make glass for most makes of van.

http://leisurevehiclewindows.co.uk/
Between the two vans I have bought all possible rear panels in glass; front side elevation, back side elevation and barn doors. I also use their fitting kit and adhesives etc.

I also just received two pieces of glass for my current van which is Transit Custom LWB; although I am taking it over to Europe on holiday in only 3 weeks and I won’t get a chance to put them in in time due to work pressure so they will have to be for next summer.

If you want some advice on making the cutouts and fitting the glass sign up to this forum…

https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/
This is a really nice community of absolute van self-conversion psychos. But beware that if your van is not a VW they will mock you mercilessly or alternatively commiserate on your behalf but I am sure they will still offer advice.

Finally, unless it has changed in the past few years it is completely legal to install the glass but you probably need to talk to your insurance company. The insurer I have always used since I have lived in the UK specialises in (self)converted vehicles and is competitive in price with regular insurance. They just require notification of any modifications that are made.

I think I have put about 10 windows into my various vans now and it is a very unusual feeling to start chopping a hole in the side of your nice van.

 

[Jameshow]

Insurance wise I've used just kampers who were excellent for my transit conversion.

 

[Henniep]

I want to cut out some holes and insert glass in various panels of my van.
What to use - ordinary toughened glass or something special? Would a normal glass merchant supply it to size, or is it specialised?

In the unfortunate event of having an accident, the last thing you need is glass slivers all over the place. For the safety of the occupants, I would recommend toughened, laminated or other safety glass.

 

[Jones]

Buy a suitable window off one of the many online companies or get one from a scrapyard. Fitting options are a framed one, rubber gaskets or glued in with a special mastic. Measure twice ,cut once.

 

[Doug71]

I could be wrong but I always understood windscreens are laminated so if they break they stay in place and you can still see where you are going but the other windows are just toughened so that you can break them and get out in an emergency

 

[Ttrees]

What about finding existing windows at a breakers.
Could go all out and fit alpine windows like this fella on soup classic motoring.

 

[ian33a]

I could be wrong but I always understood windscreens are laminated so if they break they stay in place and you can still see where you are going but the other windows are just toughened so that you can break them and get out in an emergency

We had a toughened windscreen on an Allegro years ago (don't laugh). Lawnmowing one day a stone flicked up and shattered it totally. While the small cubes are less dangerous than normal glass, they are still sharp and the last thing that you'd want hitting you on impact during an accident. Toughened glass on side windows, yes, for reasons of access. It's probably cheaper to make too.

Modern cars have laminated glass - two thin sheets of glass bonded to an internal plastic layer. On impact the glass will break but, generally it doesn't become displaced from the windscreen and become a massive safety threat.

I had a large bird strike my van window while driving at 70 MPH on the M3 a few years ago. It made a real mess of the windscreen and it was very difficult to drive any distance following the strike.

When I had my cycling accident, I was the object which hit a laminated windscreen and made a real mess of it (and me too). There was no way that the driver was going to be driving onward in a hurry because the windscreen was so badly caved in and, just as importantly, the police wanted to have a little chat with her about how she caused the accident.

 

[Fergie 307]

Easiest way by far is if your van came as standard in a windowed version, a minibus for example. Then you can probably find the Windows and all fittings at a breakers yard.

 

[dickm]

Daughter used to work as an adhesives specialist for Pilkingtons and is still doing odd stuff for them as a consultant. Which, while she was in the UK was useful, as she could get hold of specialist glazing products very easily and economically, but that ended when she was seconded to the USA 20-odd years ago. One of her party tricks in lectures was to get kids to hit a toughened glass screen with a mallet to try (and fail!) to break it. Then give one of them a fine pointed tool to tap it lightly, and instant shatter. She always insists we carry an automatic centre punch in the car just in case we had an accident and need to break a side window to get out.
60-ish years ago my father had an accident in his Morris Minor, which caused the toughened windscreen to shatter. After he died, my wife ran the Minor for a good few years, and we were still finding odd cubes of glass in inaccessible places.