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Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:17 pm

Prompted by the jalousie restore topic....I'll be taking a road trip to arizona shortly, where its hot hot hot! I would really like to drive with my windows open as much as I can. Although I really like the look of the jalousie windows, you aren't supposed to drive with them open (weakens the hinges or somthing). Plus the seals need to be replaced on them eventually, which I think is over my head. Should I keep them and one day restore them, or replace them with sliders which seem to be easier installed and can be open while driving...

Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:20 pm

That's what the rear vent window is for, you can scoop up a bunch of air with that sucker! Plus I've driven with my jalosies cracked open and no harm has come to them...

Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:27 pm

I drive with my jalousie open no problem. And replacing the seal is a piece of cake. A bit of prying and pushing, then you're done.

Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:22 pm

I leave mine cracked open in the summer with slight sunroof open, and the vent wings fully open to push air into the bus and hopefully sucked out the jalouse windows. I know some people hate them, but I really like them because you can have screens on them to keep the bugs out when camping.

Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:23 pm

I voted keep the Jalousies if you already have them in. If you're just replacing vent wing windows, I'd probably go for the sliders. I just picked up a pair of sliders to replace my vent wings...and now there's another set of cheap Jalousies on E-Bay. Now what? I know...get it running first :roll: :wink:

Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:17 pm

I drive with the jalousies open and I haven't lost any glass. :D

I've never had the sliders so I can't comment on them, but if you can't put a screen in a slider what use is it when camping?

I like my jalousies. :)

Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:42 pm

Duncwarw wrote: I drive with the jalousies open and I haven't lost any glass. :D

I've never had the sliders so I can't comment on them, but if you can't put a screen in a slider what use is it when camping?

I like my jalousies. :)

I recomend RIVIERA camper sliders as a replacement, they have screens, that can be slid back while driving. If you only have the stock sliders, keep the westy windows, however you spell them! :lol:

Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:50 pm

I would say keep it original.....things just seem to work out better that way :D

Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:37 pm

One of my jolouses fell out and I had to back track four miles to find it. I didn't notice until I went to paralell park and notice that I had not window on the sliding doors. It was fine when I got it. A cop was about to pick it up off the road and I got there just in time.

Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:43 pm

How in the world did that happen? What happened to all the little screws that hold em in?

Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:47 pm

not even so much as for keeping it original, I like the look of the jalousie a lot better

Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:51 pm

who knows....I probably didn't put all the screws in when I installed them. My bus had the vent wings previously. Too hot for camping.

Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:56 pm

I'll keep in the original jalousies then. I love how they look as well...It was appearance vs. functionality. The task of actually restoring them one day makes me sweat...all the rubber is cracked and hard.

Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:27 pm

I keep them closed while driving. The bottom of each window frame has a small channel in it where a grey seal fits in, mine are all intact but I can slide them out without too much force, this is reason enough for me to keep them closed.

The jalousies are one of the westy's trademark features that made it unique. It needs to be there, just as much as the peashooter whiffle of the exhaust.