Roadtrek 190 Popular Rear Window Won't Close

[birdo54]

I have a 2004 Roadtrek 190 Popular and the driver's side rear window won't close all the way as you can see in the picture. Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas on how to fix it? The knob that is used to open/close the window seems to be stripped.

 

[rowiebowie]

Welcome to the forum birdo!

I don't have a Roadtrek and I've not had your window problem, but often suppliers like CRLaurence provide windows for many makes. It would help if you can find a brand name on your window. Probably a replaceable part, but may not be easy to find.

Good luck.

 

[birdo54]

That's some good information to start with. Thank you!

 

[jmai]

Check out this article

https://www.doityourselfrv.com/hand-crank-rv-window-repair-how-parts-replace/

 

[Ron J. Moore]

I have a 2004 Roadtrek 190 Popular and the driver's side rear window won't close all the way as you can see in the picture. Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas on how to fix it? The knob that is used to open/close the window seems to be stripped.

I found them a PPL Motorhomes Supply Section.

 

[booster]

I think most of those windows are like that, they are on our 07 190P. Worst on the driver side where you can feel the air leak.


It is probably the biggest contributor to the crank regulators failing as you tend to crank too hard on them.


The problem is the window glass shape doesn't match the body curvature. The window frame pulls down with screws to conform to the body, but the glass doesn't in the lower rear corners.


I plan on fixing ours this coming winter if I don't get to it sooner. I will remove the window and on the bench carefully bend the fame back in that corner so it matches the glass shape. Them I will put the window back in with the screws just snug to see where the gaps are to the body from the frame. The glass should still be hitting the frame at this point. I will make small slip in shims to put in under the frame at the screw locations to hold it in the right place. Loosen the window and put some putty caulk under the frame to seal it to the body and tighten the screws.


Hopefully, it will all work out well.


Be very careful removing the window if you do it yourself, as they will fall right out once the screws are out of them. You need a helper on the outside to hold it up to the body until you can get out and help move it out of opening.

 

[rtbill-ClassB]

The knob that is used to open/close the window seems to be stripped.

You need to replace the window operator. That is box the knob goes into. Not hard to remove. Generic part. They come as left- and right-hand. Closing the window too hard eventually strips them.

 

[bwatters60]

I have the same problem on my RT 210P, on the driver's side, but not nearly as severe as yours. I've tried a couple solutions but really still have to over tighten the crank to seal the window. I replaced this crank four years ago when I bought the RV and that did NOT solve the problem. As booster wrote, I believe the best solution is exactly what he suggested. In fact, I will be implementing his suggestion on my window this fall.

I'm actually on vacation now visiting my son. Along the journey the crank to the rear window on the passenger side failed. Having ordered a set four years ago, I had the new crank for this window with me. So I replaced it yesterday. After seeing this post I sat down today and put together a guide, with pictures, on what I did to replace the crank on my '08210P. Hope the attached helps someone.

 

[ChicagoTom]

I recently replaced mine. Pleasure-Way 09 Lexor TS.

 

[ChicagoTom]

This is the old one and the new is like for like

 

[Thevon]

Ny 2006 190p has the exact same issue. Doesn't leak and screens keep the bugs out so I haven't worried too much about it

 

[birdo54]

Crank Operator Part Number

Thanks for the help everyone! What a good community. Does anyone know what the part number for the operator would be for my 2003 RT Popular 190? (I lied in the initial post haha it's not a 2004). Or does anyone know how to easily find part numbers like these? Seems like there should be an Encyclopedia of sorts for different makes, models, years but haven't found anything very useful after much searching. I've realized I need a left-hand operator, but that's as far as I've gotten. Might just try to find a website with free returns and just buy every one they have and return the ones that don't fit.

 

[ChicagoTom]

I posted a picture of mine above, 09 Pleasureway Lexor TS. Here is a link, and then just do a search. They will give measurements on the item photo for most parts. https://www.pellandent.com/RV-Torque-Window-Parts

 

[sbslider]

I have the same problem on my RT 210P, on the driver's side, but not nearly as severe as yours. I've tried a couple solutions but really still have to over tighten the crank to seal the window. I replaced this crank four years ago when I bought the RV and that did NOT solve the problem. As booster wrote, I believe the best solution is exactly what he suggested. In fact, I will be implementing his suggestion on my window this fall.

I'm actually on vacation now visiting my son. Along the journey the crank to the rear window on the passenger side failed. Having ordered a set four years ago, I had the new crank for this window with me. So I replaced it yesterday. After seeing this post I sat down today and put together a guide, with pictures, on what I did to replace the crank on my '08210P. Hope the attached helps someone.

This is very helpful, thank you so much for the clear instructions!! My windows (2006 RT 190 P) are still functional, but a bit hard to open. I was considering disassembling to clean and lubricate to see if that would make it easier, and to avoid replacement.

Curious if others have tried to remove, clean and lubricate as appropriate?

 

[booster]

This is very helpful, thank you so much for the clear instructions!! My windows (2006 RT 190 P) are still functional, but a bit hard to open. I was considering disassembling to clean and lubricate to see if that would make it easier, and to avoid replacement.

Curious if others have tried to remove, clean and lubricate as appropriate?

It is likely that you have a damaged operator on them, probably from the need to crank them closed to hard t try to get the lower rear corner of the glass to seal. The bummer is that the operators have pretty much gone impossible to find unless you get really lucky.

The operator/gearbox is flimsy diecast box with a gear drive inside, and all the parts are very soft and weak so they don't handle abuse well.

Here is a link to how I fixed my window to avoid the not closing problem, luckily before our actuators failed. The now turn quite easily and closed tight with minimal force required.

Window mod link

You can lube gearboxs like this if you take them apart carefully. Use a good synthethic wheel bearing grease or moly chassis grease. It might help, but if you don't fix the window the actuators will fail if you keep trying to get the windows, especially the driver side, closed tightly. The gearboxs do not come out unless the window is removed from the van, which is not all that hard to do.

 

[sbslider]

Thanks for the response booster. Closing the window is very easy, as the spring provides the force to close. However, opening it is much harder. It does open with a decent amount of cranking, but my wife struggles to open it. Maybe my gear box is in better shape than most, the vehicle has only 65k miles.

 

[booster]

Thanks for the response booster. Closing the window is very easy, as the spring provides the force to close. However, opening it is much harder. It does open with a decent amount of cranking, but my wife struggles to open it. Maybe my gear box is in better shape than most, the vehicle has only 65k miles.

The harder opening is typical so I hope you are right about the condition.

Did you happen to look at the link to see if yours is closing tightly on driver side lower rear corner like the pix show. I sleep on that side and on a cold night cold wind coming in was hard to deal with right on your head.

 

[sbslider]

The harder opening is typical so I hope you are right about the condition.

Did you happen to look at the link to see if yours is closing tightly on driver side lower rear corner like the pix show. I sleep on that side and on a cold night cold wind coming in was hard to deal with right on your head.

My driver's side window rear corner is definitely not all the way closed, there is a gap. I've not really noticed it as an issue for where we have used the vehicle. The rubber seal also is separated from the frame in that area, which would likely contribute to it being colder inside. But at least so far it's not been a real problem. Haven't really gotten rain since I've noticed this, but IIRC you and perhaps others commented rain likely won't be a problem.

 

[booster]

My driver's side window rear corner is definitely not all the way closed, there is a gap. I've not really noticed it as an issue for where we have used the vehicle. The rubber seal also is separated from the frame in that area, which would likely contribute to it being colder inside. But at least so far it's not been a real problem. Haven't really gotten rain since I've noticed this, but IIRC you and perhaps others commented rain likely won't be a problem.

Rain won't be and issue and wasn't for us. The cold air and tendency to overtighten to get it closed are big ones, but a side benefit of fixing it was to get the glass in that corner inside the step in the seal so that is supported going down the road. My guess is that will lengthen the life of the glass adhesives, especially on higher edge on the top.

You may want to pull the spring out to try to duplicate in smaller wire for less force needed, but you need do pull the window to do that. Many of the industrial spring sellers sell direct to you on credit card so you can get more variety of offerings. Search for torsion springs on google. You can also try McMaster Carr but they have been reducing their offerings in springs lately, probably due to many places going direct to manufacurer now. If all else fails, you can heat the spring to stress relieve it and even soften it to lower rate spring rate. Don't go too soft or the window will bounce in the wind when open.