broken window replacement

Have a snug-top for a gen 1 with a broken side window, non sliding side. I called my local dealer who said they don't have access to snug-top parts right now (they are moving production to Mexico at the moment).

has anyone replaced broken widows with plexiglass (acrylic) or polycarbonate? if so how has it held up over time if it gets scratched to shit after a year or 2 I dont know if its with the effort.

 

Lexan will hold up better but is more expensive. There are a couple of contractors (usually lawn guys) around here with plexi windows and they'd fogged and scratched and look like crap.

Have you checked with your local glass dealers? Tempered glass can be cut with the proper equipment and skills. Depending on the work they normally do and the equipment they have (a kiln), they should be able to cut a piece of tempered glass for you, especially since the shell glass is typically flat.

 

Isn't Lexan more prone to scratching?

I have called 2 places and no dice. I should try more as that was my thought as well, its not a terribly difficult cut.

I ordered some plexiglass already tho so ill try that and if it doest work ill go back to the drawing board. Thanks

 

I actually got curious and looked into it*- apparently lexan is more prone to scratching but I have to wonder if the reason I see plexiglass in such poor shape is that the locals are using the cheapest stuff they can find at Lowe's, etc. I can't say as I've ever walked up and really examined it. What I do know is that I bought some for a project (probably from HD since I generally go there before Lowe's) which included using part of the sheet to make a rigid eave over one of my side windows so that I could leave it open while sleeping in the back when it was raining. Drilling holes in it is a PITA and it scratched just riding around in the back of the truck (to be fair, it was between the bed wall and some Rubbermaid storage boxes). One of the other pieces was used as an observation window in other project and it too got scratched- I can't say whether Lexan would have been more scratch resistant or not but it is less prone to cracking and much easier to drill without cracking (I cracked the corner several times trying to drill holes in it).

Hopefully what you got will work for you but I still think I'd try a local glass place and see if they could help you. Worst case scenario you could cut a piece of aluminum and go with a solid panel.


* Example: https://www.polymershapes.com/lexan-vs-plexiglass/

 

I'm in the exact same boat right now, the dealer told me that snugtop isn't shipping while transitioning to Mexico. I've been waiting for 3 months for a new windoor... for now it's just been lots of duct tape

 

Your guys’ Snugtop dealers are full of shit. I ordered my Snugtop last summer and got it in early November and it was made at the new Mexico facility (and has that stamped on the ser. # tag). So I can tell you for a fact, they have been open, operating and shipping out of their Mexico factory since at least last October.