ARE Shell Front Window Shattered

I have a 2018 DCLB. In December 2018 I had an ARE shell put on it. Generally, I've been happy with the shell.

However, the front sliding window shattered - I was out camping (not on rough roads by any stretch and I camp in the back of the truck). I had the front sliding window open to allow air to circulate once I parked for the night (not many bugs in that part of the desert!).

I got in bed, went to slide it shut and it literally exploded all over me. I was real happy to clean safety glass out of my sleeping bag. FWIW, I'm maybe 115 lbs and even if I had shoved it as hard as I could, it probably wouldn't be to the design breaking strength for the glass.
To be clear, I do take the truck on rough roads but for the week prior to the incident, I had only been on highway and a short patch of dirt road.

Anyone have such an issue? The place I had the shell installed sucks as far as customer service, still waiting for a call back from early last week (and follow up call this week). I planned to call ARE today.

 

Good luck. For what its worth, I've had terrible after sale service from ARE from my dealer also. I will never buy another one. Leer or Snugtop for me from now on.

 

The exact same thing happened to the side windoor slider on my Snugtop. It was like I'd slid it open with just the right force or angle to shatter it against the "stop" peice. Unfortunately auto glass shops won't touch truck cap windows. The cap dealer said the only option is to replace the entire windoor at a cost of $450.

My short term solution was to cut out a piece of plexiglass for that pane.

 

Thanks, y'all. Yeah, there was zero help at the ARE customer service line. I persisted and finally talked to someone at the shop who installed it. They don't want to help it seems, and are blaming ARE. SIGH. It was not cheap and this is frustrating. I have plexiglass in there now. That is crazy expensive @Mtn Mike! I had an ARE cap before and the service was way better. I wonder what changed. Oh well, thanks for the input!

 

Try asking some local glass shops, they might be able to replace the glass?

You might be able to replace the whole assy but it probably won't be cheap. I had a slider front window in my Snugtop but it started rattling after a few years. Had to place some rubber wedges to quiet it down. I went with a fold down front window on my new ARE.

 

Maybe give these guys a call.

http://www.provent-windows.com/pages/english/campershell.htm