A shattering experience - Montana Owners Club

stiles watson · 03-30-2008, 02:52 PM

Just spent three hours cleaning up glass - lots of glass - all over the place. When we pulled in for the night we found the glass shower door shattered all over the place. Shattered glass on the floor is anathema to a diabetic with some neuropathy in the feet. Careful cleaning of every nook and cranny was required.

I was scratching my head on how it could have happened.On the 340RLQ and probably the 3400 RL the bedroom slide, in the retracted position, presents a very sharp corner for the shower door to hit should it come loose. It had to happen in the last twenty miles of our travel today because the door was OK at the last stop. Thinking back, I remember a hard stop I made in traffic.

Dianna mentioned that the latch had been loose. For whatever reason, I didn't pick up on that detail and tighten the screw. Therefore the latch wiggled loose and shattered glass is the result. So whoever is the fixer, check that shower door latch.

I already have the glass replacement service phone number for first thing in the morning.

Longwell · 03-30-2008, 03:08 PM

That must have been a shock!
We're glad you found it before stepping on it.
Ah, the pride of ownership, eh? Always something.
...hope all goes well tomorrow - and thereafter!
Larry

Waynem · 03-30-2008, 03:15 PM

So very sorry to hear of your misfortune.
Thank you for the information on what to check for.
May the rest of your trips be uneventful, except for pleasure.

mail2us · 03-30-2008, 03:21 PM

Tks for the "heads-up Stiles on the shower door latch. Glad there were no injuries. Dennis

FLSTS03 · 03-30-2008, 04:49 PM

Hey Stiles,
I was thinking about straping the shower door, as it seemed that little latch was an accident in the making. Thanks to your post I'll be strapping her in(the door, not my wife),before next trip. Also, they do make corner shower rods that anchor to the ceiling, something to consider.

Steve

Emmel · 03-30-2008, 04:52 PM

Stiles, I hope you don't have too much trouble getting the replacement door for the shower. Sorry it had to happen in the first place, but thanks for the heads up on checking the latch! Makes me want to think about maybe a bungee cord to help hold the door shut!

rames14 · 03-30-2008, 05:11 PM

Stiles -

Sorry it had to happen but glad you found it before you got hurt. I will make sure this is something that we check as soon as we get back in the Montana. I hope to plan some work at a local RV service center to replace the plastic under the bedroom slide. I'll make sure I check that as soon as I get it back. Good luck for a speedy repair.

Jolu · 03-30-2008, 05:18 PM

Stiles,
Are you going to use a local glass shop for the replacement glass?

hazmic · 03-30-2008, 05:45 PM

Wasn't there a recall about the glass door breaking?

rving2us · 03-30-2008, 06:08 PM

Sorry to hear about your trouble and glad to hear there were no injuries except to the shower door. Thanks for the heads up on checking the latch. I will put it on the list of things to do before getting underway.

bigmurf · 03-30-2008, 06:25 PM

Hit our door with my butt at 11 PM (getting ready for bed) and spent two hours cleaning up. I went to a glass shop in Superior, WS. and found a piece of plexglass with the same finish on it. It is a bit flimsy(sp) but has worked for two years now.

Waynem · 03-31-2008, 05:32 AM

Bigmurf,
Thanks for the picture. That's all I'm going to say on this subject.

stiles watson · 03-31-2008, 09:14 AM

Jolu, yes we will use a local glass shop if he has the kind of glass I want.

Hazmic, I could hardly call this a recall issue or a manufacturing defect any more than if a stone was thrown through a window pane. This was caused by my own neglecting to tighten the catch. Additionally any glass would have broken with the force that would spread glass all over the room. This morning we found more chards on top of the bedroom slide frame. My unit was manufactured after the recall corrections were made.

Time passes......

Just talked to the glass service owner. I must use tempered glass or plexiglas. Tempered safely glass is what was in the door (tempered safety glass is designed to shatter into small pebble sized pieces when broken so as not to have "spears" of glass to cut you up). Tempered glass would have to be ordered, so I am putting temporary plexiglas (clear) and will replace it later with the "Rain" design tempered glass. Then I will use the plexiglas for another project I had in mind.

rames14 · 03-31-2008, 04:38 PM

Good thinking Stiles, make lemonade out of lemons. Glad things are working out.

rldriver · 04-01-2008, 07:59 AM

Sorry about the door, what a mess to clean up. There was a recall on the shower door because the handle when pulled other than straight out could hit the class and shatter it. All they did was add more plastic washers where it mounts to the door. If the door swung open and the handle hit something hard it could have done the damage.

I think I will duct tape mine closed...

Dick

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