Jalousie Windows -- Pros & Cons

[Charlotte's Web]

Some old RVs have jalousie windows. 
(windows with multiple horizontal panes that can be "cranked" open to varying degrees) 

If you have personal experience with these in an RV:  What are the pros & cons?

Are they useful for catching cooling breezes?   How are they in the rain?
Are there security issues? 
What about affixing insect screens to the inside? 

Your thoughts, please.

 

[highdesertranger]

Pros
the are great for letting a breeze in.
not really any more security issues then a regular window.
yes you can have insects screens on the inside, if fact most come this way.
they work fine in the rain.

Cons
they are drafty as all h*ll.
they let dust in during dust storms.
they bleed heat to no end.
they also bleed cold air if your running an AC.
with out screens they let bugs in.
the crank will eventually fail usually at the worst possible time, kinda like power windows.
highdesertranger

 

[GotSmart]

You can remove the glass extremely easy.

 

[Charlotte's Web]

Pros
the are great for letting a breeze in.
not really any more security issues then a regular window.
yes you can have insects screens on the inside,  if fact most come this way.
they work fine in the rain.

Cons
they are drafty as all h*ll.
they let dust in during dust storms.
they bleed heat to no end.
they also bleed cold air if your running an AC.
with out screens they let bugs in.
the crank will eventually fail usually at the worst possible time,  kinda like power windows.
highdesertranger

Thanks Stranger, exceptionally helpful info!
Next question:  if you found a rig with jalousies that you really liked, how big/costly of a job would you guess it might be to replace them?

 

[Queen]

Thanks Stranger, exceptionally helpful info!
Next question:  if you found a rig with jalousies that you really liked, how big/costly of a job would you guess it might be to replace them?

I'd be more inclined to go cheap and insulate behind them and leave them in place.

 

[Charlotte's Web]

You can remove the glass extremely easy.

Good point!  And sounds like a "security" issue to me...

HDS mentioned crank failure akin to loosing power to doors/windows. Years ago, traveling thru the Dakota Bad Lands with a friend, & temps well over 100 degrees, the power windows on the Volvo quit with windows all CLOSED (& no AC).  ***Nothing*** worse than electrical problems, especially in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

If you have personal experience with these in an RV:  What are the pros & cons?

Are they useful for catching cooling breezes?   How are they in the rain?
Are there security issues? 
What about affixing insect screens to the inside? 

highdesertranger covered the pros and cons well.

I have a 40 year old camper with jalousie windows (never knew what they were called).  They work fine.

• They catch breeze just as well as any other window.
• They keep rain out unless the wind is blowing into them.
• No camper is secure.  If someone is willing to break something to get in it's easy.
• Unless the windows are a custom size screen frames are available.  Or they are easy to make.

If you find a camper you like at a price you like I wouldn't let the windows be a show stopper.

There are easy fixes to the drafty issues.  My windows are still working at 40 years, so I don't know about the breakage issue.

 -- Spiff

 

[hepcat]

Once again... HDR covered the issues well. A quick word on security. There are two tabs at the bottom of each pane's frames. Bending those tabs allows the glass pane to slide out. I've seen those tabs break from metal fatigue and the panes just fall out.

They are, indeed, a security issue... particularly when the trailer is parked and you're not around.

The UP side to them is that they're fabulous during rainstorms as you can leave them open and still get fresh air circulation.

 

[highdesertranger]

someone is not going to remove the panes to break in. they are going to take a hammer or a rock and break the window just like if it where a regular RV window. as far as replaceing them the problem is modern RV windows have radius corners(for good reason). you can replace them but there is no bolt in replacement extra work is involved. highdesertranger

 

[hepcat]

someone is not going to remove the panes to break in.  they are going to take a hammer or a rock and break the window just like if it where a regular RV window.    highdesertranger

Actually, I've investigated a half-dozen burglaries in SoCal in my former career where the crook(s) did, in fact, just remove the panes of jealousy windows, and reach in and unlock the door.  No noise, and it was really easy.  Fortunately, I got prints off of a couple of the removed jealousy panes.

There's as many MOs as there are crooks, and each set of circumstances is different.  

Honestly, most conventional, stick-built RVs can be most easily opened with a small pry bar at the door latch, but that's a 'nother whole topic.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

. . . What we did was to take the screen frames out, cover them with plastic sheeting and put them back, made a big difference in comfort but a little hard to look through.

From what I remember the glass was pretty easy to pop out and sometimes it was so easy that it did it by itself. A big 10-4 on the crank failure!

Guy

I made/cut plexiglass rectangles to fit where the screens go.  Taped around the edge I get no draft.  If more insulation wanted I would use the plastic window covering sold to put on the inside of house windows in the winter; tape on and use a hair dryer to shrink/stretch.  If done right, no distortion looking through.  For winter I have thick thermal curtains, since it is dark most of the time anyway.

 -- Spiff

 

[Weight]

My jalousie window has a screen insert and a glass insert, like a storm window.

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

Pros
the are great for letting a breeze in.
not really any more security issues then a regular window.
yes you can have insects screens on the inside,  if fact most come this way.
they work fine in the rain.

Cons
they are drafty as all h*ll.
they let dust in during dust storms.
they bleed heat to no end.
they also bleed cold air if your running an AC.
with out screens they let bugs in.
the crank will eventually fail usually at the worst possible time,  kinda like power windows.
highdesertranger

Hello highdesertranger!

The crank has gone on two of our windows - the bedroom ones, with two more promising to follow. I haven't been able to find out whether or not the mechanisms can be replaced, or if I'll have to replace the windows. Do you know?

Thanks in advance!

Jess.

 

[hepcat]

Vintage Trailer Supply carries a large assortment of operators and parts...

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks hepcat that is who I was going to recommend. highdesertranger

 

[rvpopeye]

I always had spare crank mechanisms and handles .
Got them at a mobile home supply place and sometimes at a hardware store ,even at an RV supply place but that was in the 70s-80s !

 

[hepcat]

thanks hepcat that is who I was going to recommend.  highdesertranger

You're welcome.  I met Steve at a rally many years ago when he was first starting out sourcing hard-to-find parts for Airstreams.   Then-hard-to-find Vulkem sealant and wedding cake taillight lenses were some of the first products he had.  Good people, and a good company.  I'm not flipping old trailers any more, but it's still good to keep the contacts for when you need parts.

 

[Canine]

I love the look of these windows, especially on some of the vintage campers. Can you get custom storm covers for them. I saw an article about this a while ago. I'll try to find it.