Who has protection fitted to their D3 rear window to prevent a ricocheting stone from smashing the back window.
On my Flinders Ranges trip a few months back I saw a D3 and also a Land Crusier with camper trailers and cardboard on the rear windows. I suspect a stones busted their windows.
I saw a commercially made window protector in a mag but I think you could make it yourself if you could get clear flat polycarbonate sheet. This one seemd to be fixed with velcro and had slots cut into it from the edges (not sure what the slots were for).
What are people using?
Thanks,
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
18th Nov 2007 11:07 pm
Swampy
Member Since: 29 Jul 2006
Location: Port Stephens
Posts: 21
Rear window protection
Hello Chris,
Last year I toured Outback Queensland and the Gulf area before driving to Darwin via the Savannah Way. Started out without any stone protection on the window or a stone deflector guard on the van. Met a bloke en route towing the same van and helped him out with some duct tape to use on temporary repair to his shattered window. After that I emptied a couple of cases of beer of their contents and duct taped a double thickness layer of the carboard over the window. Worked OK. There are commercial products available as I have seen them advertised in 4WD mags but they dont come with 48 stubbies!
19th Nov 2007 1:19 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
It's better to prevent them hitting in the first place. How are your mudflaps?
some closed cell foam on the trailer works and for insurance tape some over the back window?
There is a good reson why commercila off road trailers have deflectors fitted.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
19th Nov 2007 1:30 am
norto
Member Since: 10 Apr 2006
Location: batemans bay
Posts: 1605
Chris
I went to the local glass supplier/window manufacturer and
got him to cut a piece of perspex the same size as the rear window,
then drilled a hole to fit over the wiper shaft . The perspex is held on with
double sided velcro.
But you must use at least 3 kg velcro.
Worked great, ihad plenty of chips on the tailgate but no broken glass
As you can see there are built in stone deflectors but I think some additional protection to the back window is still worth the effort if you can get it to stay on the back.
I reckon if you fit something just leave the rear wiper off. It wouldn't work too well with the perspex on the back and might even foul on the perspex.
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
Chris - what sort of van is that? How many does it sleep?
cheers,
SimonD3 - Buckingham Blue, SE, TDV6, 06 model; chipped; underbody armour; Mickey Thompson ATZ 275/65-18 AND MAXXIS Bighorn muddies; rear wheel carrier from 4x4intelligence.com; iPOD aux connection! GME 3200 UHF - aerial mounted on wheel carrier ; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come)
19th Nov 2007 3:19 am
PBob
Member Since: 11 Feb 2007
Location: Mudgee NSW
Posts: 167
I used a doubled over piece of green shade cloth, made up on the track (before any stone chips) and just taped in place. Obviously, a properly made piece of perspex would be the go. Mine got me out of trouble - or at least I copped no chips. I now have a Kimberly Camper LE with a very good stone guard (or I imagine it is) but still might cover the window. Better to be sure than sorry.
I imagine a cut out perspex one would be about $80.00 - $100.00?2006 HSE TDV6 Bonatti Grey, ECB bull bar, tropical roof, LG Next G car kit, Tom Tom GPS, UHF, Mitchell Bros tow bar, Kimberley Kamper Limited Edition camper trailer and 23 foot Haines Signature half cabin (Towed separately!)
19th Nov 2007 3:37 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Umm..........
D3 looks like Haggis's: ARB Bar with winch, twin aerials, rear Kaymar bar with wheel carriers, 17" non LR wheels?
But not his van he just picked up an off road van second hand, can't remember brand, smaller than the one shown but very nice indeed.
PCH I guess you will be getting the Mitchell bros hitch. Haggis's Kaymar bar will need some slight modification to fit but it was an early model new ones may be ok.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
The van is a Kimberley Karavan found here http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/index.php. The same manufacturers as the Kimberley Kamper. It sleeps 4 but really designed for 2. Externally you could sleep many more if you option the annex. Toilet, shower, hot plates, fridge all inside and yes it is a soft option for camping but that's the price to pay when SWMBO needs to sleep under 5 stars . I just got to convince the Financial Controller to part with the funds
CaverD3,
I spoke with Aaron this morning to get my name down for one of the hitches. Haggis was in over the weekend and fitted the hitch with his Kaymar Rear Bar and it fitted perfectly.
The rear sensors still need to be sorted out though and Aaron is working on that. Hopefully it will be rotation of the inner sensors and not needing switches etc...
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
19th Nov 2007 4:54 am
norto
Member Since: 10 Apr 2006
Location: batemans bay
Posts: 1605
I used double sided velcro that has adhesive on both under sides
so it could be tyaken off and leave one side of the velcro on the
window just outside of the wiper sweep.
The wiper is ok on the perspex.
19th Nov 2007 6:54 am
Sniegy
Member Since: 01 May 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 72
Hi PCH,
Yes i also have a clear perspex sheet cut to the shape of the D2 glass & it velcros to the rear of the window.
This way u can still see out the back when you have offloaded the Van & playing Offroad.
Its cheap & works very well, the velcro acts as a cushion & spacer at the same time.
As said the wiper works fine on the perspex. I would not trust just the vans deflector, my father in law was a caravan builder & has travelled this country a few times..lucky b d ..im not that jealous.. but he has had many vans & still the rear window has gone pop occassionally even with the van protector only so go the rear window variant.
CheersD4 Alaska/Almond 2.7 TDV6 with E-diff & extra's..
Keep smilin' Pete.
19th Nov 2007 9:33 am
Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
rear window protector
Hi Simon,
The attaching method needs to be something that can be attached/detached at will, eg velcro. How much do you think you'd charge if you were to market one commercially?
From previous readings on the subject, using the rear wiper on perspex is not a good idea.
Cheers,
MartinMY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
19th Nov 2007 9:50 am
Haggis
Member Since: 26 Jun 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 126
My mates have used and continue use perspex. Personally I don't see any value in a transparent product once the dust gets between it and the glass one of them ends up scratched and you can't see back there anyway. In my case the fridge in the back makes sure I can't see out there at any time.
The preferred method of attachment for these guys is a handful (15ish) suction cups (try Clarke Rubber), and then cloth tape (AKA gaffer) around the edges - and yes the dust still gets in.
As a new owner to off-road camping trailers, I think I am going to stick to the cheaper, readily available cardboard... It will destroy itself rather then the glass as it chaffs (sp?), can be easily replaced if needed, and could even be applied in layers if deemed necessary. I reckon a half decent corrugated core cardboard would easily provide the levels of absorption required. This of course assumes that the tow vehicle has appropriate mud-flaps and the trailer has some kind of guard that repels the stones/rocks out and forward rather than just forward.
Regards
HaggisD3 (06) SE TDV6, Rear Locker, Rear Air, ARB bar w/winch, Safari Snorkel, 110l aux fuel tank, Kaymar rear bar (twin wheel carrier), Black Widow rear storage system, Rhino rack, GME UHF, Codan HF, IPF HID lights, CSA Explorer 17" w/BFG Mud Terrain KM2 - see Australian 4WD Monthly #103
19th Nov 2007 11:41 am
RetiredBob
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 183
G'day All
I have used this product for the last couple of years.
It has done the job but I have had to replace the velcro a couple of times. The velcro does not seem to like the heat or the rain.
Later ----- Have just emailed Altrex about the velcro problem and they have responded that they have had several complaints and they said that more velcro should be used than what they state in their instructions and they are sending me some new velcro.
Later later. Received a stack of velcro in the post today. Will try again on the next trip.
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but no broken glass
; LR roof rails/cross bars; Autosafe cargo barrier, Safari Snorkel; Traxide - aux battery; ARB bull bar with Tigerz11 winch; Lightforce 240 XGT driving lights (mitchell bros tow hitch to come) 
. I just got to convince the Financial Controller to part with the funds 
d ..im not that jealous.. 
but he has had many vans & still the rear window has gone pop occassionally even with the van protector only so go the rear window variant.
