Hi,
I have bought a window from Leisure windows (http://www.leisurevehiclewindows.co.uk/)
It's to go in the sliding door of my panel van.
I have just been out measuring and marking the outside of the door with the sizes that I was given by leisure windows. Looking on the inside of the door there is quite a lot of metalwork to cut through as its fitted with some strengthening.
Does anyone have any experience of firstly fitting these windows and also cutting the slider to fit the window? If you have any pics that would be great!
Cheers
Tim
Cutting sliding door to fit window
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Poseidon
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Cutting sliding door to fit window
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Tim,
I fitted windows to my van last year. I think that they were from LVW, too - good windows. Sorry, no pictures - too busy making sure I got it right - it takes some mental strength to make that first hole in the side of your van!
As you say, the door has an inner frame with shaping around two 'square' openings at the window level. This sits within the main shaping around the top part of the door.
All the 'two squares' part has to be removed, leaving just a flange of about 20mm at each vertical edge and along the bottom edge of the opening. This flange is slightly bigger at the top edge - maybe 30mm. See below.
What I did was to cut the carefully measured and marked hole in the outer skin (Use a pot of the right size to get the corner curves smooth. Measure 3 times; check twice; say your prayers and then cut once!) There is enough room between the skins to do them one at a time.
The hole in the inner skin is then cut to a smaller size (about 20mm less all round) so that it leaves the metal edge within the thickness of the sliding window frame. An edging trim (U section with rubber tube on the side) then neatly finishes things off.
I used a pneumatic nibbler to cut mine - the type which lifts a 3mm wide strip outwards between two 'feet' that run along the surface. I found that this strip tended to spiral off to one side and had to be cut off every now and then to stop it scratching the surrounding paintwork.
Once it is cut, make sure that you clean up the edge and give it plenty of rust preventative treatment. Rusting window openings are common on van conversions. Also make sure you get any cuttings, etc out of the bottom of the door or they will start rust there, too.
Did you get the fitting tools with your window? They certainly help get the rubbers into place and the locking bead properly aligned.
Good luck.
Garyd
I fitted windows to my van last year. I think that they were from LVW, too - good windows. Sorry, no pictures - too busy making sure I got it right - it takes some mental strength to make that first hole in the side of your van!
As you say, the door has an inner frame with shaping around two 'square' openings at the window level. This sits within the main shaping around the top part of the door.
All the 'two squares' part has to be removed, leaving just a flange of about 20mm at each vertical edge and along the bottom edge of the opening. This flange is slightly bigger at the top edge - maybe 30mm. See below.
What I did was to cut the carefully measured and marked hole in the outer skin (Use a pot of the right size to get the corner curves smooth. Measure 3 times; check twice; say your prayers and then cut once!) There is enough room between the skins to do them one at a time.
The hole in the inner skin is then cut to a smaller size (about 20mm less all round) so that it leaves the metal edge within the thickness of the sliding window frame. An edging trim (U section with rubber tube on the side) then neatly finishes things off.
I used a pneumatic nibbler to cut mine - the type which lifts a 3mm wide strip outwards between two 'feet' that run along the surface. I found that this strip tended to spiral off to one side and had to be cut off every now and then to stop it scratching the surrounding paintwork.
Once it is cut, make sure that you clean up the edge and give it plenty of rust preventative treatment. Rusting window openings are common on van conversions. Also make sure you get any cuttings, etc out of the bottom of the door or they will start rust there, too.
Did you get the fitting tools with your window? They certainly help get the rubbers into place and the locking bead properly aligned.
Good luck.
Garyd