Who is it that makes the window replacement cartridges that gives you a slider instead of the top hinged stock window for the DL3? I can't seem to find that thread.
Jim
Motion Windows, Peninsular Glass.
We have two installed in the front and I just acquired two more to install in the rear.
They are a direct fit in our MCI 96A3, no modifications just remove the MCI windows and install the Motion Windows.
The look matches perfectly with the original MCI windows.
Putting then in was one of the best decisions we made, nice to be able to open screened windows.
The best part is being able to open the windows while we are driving.
https://www.motionwindows.com/ (https://www.motionwindows.com/)
Peter
It was Peninsula Glass in Vancouver WA but I heard Tom won't do replacement windows for bus conversion any longer he only does commercial work now,that is hear say his son may still do it
I sent them an email. What are they charging for them these days?
Jim
They were never cheap, back in 1999 I paid 800 to 1000 dollars each for double pane for my Eagle, 8 of those suckers, only draw back with the screens the cheap plastic fasteners to hold the screens in the channel broke all the time and the rubber seals where not the best grade, Tom always repaired that stuff for me for years @ no charge, I forgot later he made me sliders for the drivers side and the entry door too lol that was not cheap either. If it matters too you or not he uses tempered glass, you will save money buying from a surplus RV place my D had double pane rv windows I didn't see where they were modified to fit they were made by Heir or Attwood
This is all new to me and at close to a thousand a pop (including shipping) they are more than I expected. I'd like to get a dozen of them if I could get a little better price. Screens, tinted, double pane is good, tempered glass is good, please tell me more about these RV surplus places, are these available at a better price or 2nd hand? Jeff Kemp is not offering me any sort of quantity discount.
Jim
LOL you won't get nothing out of Jeff,lot of surplus RV sales in the Elkhart area,I bought windows for a friend of mine from Northwest RV Surplus in Eugene OR they had ton of windows I went through and found him the 6 he wanted for less than a 1000 bucks lol he didn't offer to pay the shipping
I would be more than happy to pay shipping on 6 or more.
Jim
Anybody have a favorite surplus dealer in Elkhart that might have a chance of having some sliding windows that will fit the DL?
Thanks,
Jim
Jim, try Bontrager's Surplus in White Pigeon, MI. Here is their link:
https://bontragers.com/
GaryD
You have Colaw in Cartage MO ,Factory Rv Surplus in Forest City Iowa I think it belongs to Winnebago, and you had Ron the Bus Nut in Specer Iowa I bought a lot from and I think he may have died I haven't heard from him in over 10 years and I don't know if the kids kept it open or no. Northwest RV Surplus in Eugene Or had a lot of windows .Most of those places you need to measure your window size and radius of the window and go in person and find what you need on your own lol they just point the way to the stacks
This sounds kinda like a, "Go on tour and stop by to see" sort of scenario. No other way I foresee driving up to Oregon. Might have to map out the bus's first great loop as a partial parts run. Guess I'd better start collecting names and addresses for the stops and plan to do window swaps at destinations on the route. This would have to come after a couple maiden voyages so I'll be planning pretty far ahead here and I'd better get the HVAC system up to snuff before I start.
Thanks for the suggestions, I will start a notebook with the entries and keep it by the driver's seat.
OTOH, if there was anyone familiar with the windows used in the DL3 who could check out any of these places I'd do my level best to make it worthwhile. In which case just send me a PM.
Jim
Might look and see if there are any places near you that have wrecked motor homes.
I sent Bontrager's a message, will see what they might have. They are probably about as close as anybody. Wrote the other names down in my little notebook and I'll get to them too eventually.
Thanks guys, and if you think of anyone who might have the windows I'd sure like to know. Are the Almish doing anything with them by chance?
Jim
Windows in the D are easy to blank it can be done by 1 person 2 is better ,that may be a option for you then when you get a buy on windows you use any window.Most owners just want no more than 5 or 6 windows on each side to take away the passengers bus look and for better cooling and heat on the D
Jim, ickes rv surplus in Montpelier Indiana has tons of rv windows to choose from. Haven't been there for a few years. Large rv windows used to be $100 each. They have skids upon skids of them. They are directly west of my hometown of celina Ohio. Way closer than driving to Elkhart.
Thanks Gary, I called Ickes and they had plenty of RV windows but didn't have any that were direct replacement cartridges. I feel like that is the way to go with this since you can basically remove one screw and slide the window out of the hinge and slide the replacement in. I've done that with one that had a broken pane and two people can handle it easily with a scaffold.
So to do that I need the identical cartridge with a slider instead of a solid window.
Not really interested in blanking out the windows. I know a lot of people do that but I'd rather have the light.
Jim
Bontragers doesn't have it either.
Quote from: Jim Blackwood on August 19, 2025, 07:07:44 AM
Thanks Gary, I called Ickes and they had plenty of RV windows but didn't have any that were direct replacement cartridges. I feel like that is the way to go with this since you can basically remove one screw and slide the window out of the hinge and slide the replacement in. I've done that with one that had a broken pane and two people can handle it easily with a scaffold.
So to do that I need the identical cartridge with a slider instead of a solid window.
Not really interested in blanking out the windows. I know a lot of people do that but I'd rather have the light.
Jim
You probably don't stay in RV parks ,most will turn you away with all the coach windows, I have friend with a beautiful converted 102 A with a series 50 a spotless RV and he runs into that all the time .His 102 A3 is up for sale on this board he is tired of dealing with it
Sorry I didn't catch you were expecting Direct replacements. They do have very large rv windows in stock that would probably come close to the same size. Thats gonna be a tall order for Direct replacements.
Yes I'm afraid it will. At least I can still get them new, provided I'm willing to pay for them.
I'm not willing to blank out the windows. If it means not staying in commercial RV parks then that's just the way it'll have to be. But since I'm really adverse to paying 50 to 75 dollars a day to use their hookups I'm not terribly disappointed by this. Part of why my tanks are so large.
Jim
I hate pulling windows on a DL-3 most of the DL's used in commercial service leads to a lot of rust repairs above the floor is just mild steel prone to rust from leaks
There could be some rust, the side boards aren't quite straight, but I haven't run into anything serious yet and I installed my water heater in that area. The windows all open and close without too much trouble. Getting the little screws on the end of the rail out could be a little tricky.
I'm just guessing the rust you refer to comes from floor mopping which also leads to rotted floors? My bus was a band bus for much of its life so that wasn't a regular thing for it.
Jim
D,s are bad about rust over the drive and tag axle, I have never removed a window from a D even on the west coast buses there wasn't rust,they are great buses but rust can be a problem
Hi Jim,
Did you end up finding sources for new RV windows for your bus? I can check to see where we got ours for our DL3.
regards, Phil
I would appreciate that Phil, Anything you can do would be helpful.
My bus doesn't seem to be too bad for rust. It spent a lot of its life just sitting I think. But you could be right of course, if I was to pull the window frames there might be rust under them, I plan to avoid that by leaving the frames intact. Just because rust might be there is no excuse to tear the bus apart.
Jim
Hi Jim,
I do have the information, but they will stop building soon. Leisure Coachworks (LCW) provided the info, LCW did the window installs for us and they did a great job, but I hate hearing that another RV / bus parts supplier is leaving.
Here they are:
Se-GI Products Inc.
Lake Forest CA
949-297-8530
Best of success to you!,
Phil
They supplied the windows for Country Coach I had those ,they didn't leak much but were bad about fogging on the dual panes , I had to have 3 of mine repaired
Yike! That fog situation is bad!! We've had no window issues w/our DL3, but obviously that can happen. Ouch.
I think we need someone to open up a new window manufacturing business! Who's ready to jump in? :D
Take care all, Phil