Need a new windshield

Earlier I got home from a 2,600 mile road trip. No problems. Taking my g/f home (she was house sitting) and a rock hits my windshield. Didn’t crack instantly, but by the time I get home it has probably a 10” crack.

So does it matter where I get a replacement? Long ago there was chatter in the performance car world that safelite glass was lighter, but that isn’t terribly important on a truck.

Thanks in advance.

 

Do you have the camera? I would go OEM

 

I think 2017 didn’t come with the radar camera, just the GoPro mount.

 

My 2017 has the camera mount. I don’t think it has a front facing camera.

 

All I can say is safelite was 35% less than dealer. They claimed it was Exact same windshield dealer would install. Picked up at same warehouse.
Looked same to me. I took the savings. no issues. Have used them a few times over the years.
Sometimes they even fixed window in my driveway.

 

Ask whoever does it to see your frame after they remove the windshield.
Our last suby had the hatch window done and they never repaired places that had paint removed.
I replaced the hatch 9 yrs later because it rusted around the window.
If your not gonna keep it for that amount of time then it doesn’t matter too much.
There is only a handful that actually manufactures the windshields.
I’m sure specs are less on the cheaper ones.

 

Toyota safety sense started in 2018, which was the last year of the GoPro mount. My windshield on my 2021 just cracked from picking up a rock on Labor Day weekend and I confirmed that the 2018 windshield is identical to My 2021 and will be getting the 2018 for the added utility of the GoPro mount that can be used to mount a dash cam. Your 2017 should take either 2016 or 2017 glass. I would stick with OEM.

 

I would recommend everyone upgrading their comprehensive insurance to a $0 or $100 deductible if their plan doesn’t cover windshield replacements off the bat. Broke a few of these already within 2 years and so happy I didn't pay anymore than insurance premium for replacements.

 

Exactly. The premium change is not that much and will usually pay for itself with first windshield change.

 

Right! $5/month extra. $60 over a year. New OEM windshield is about $800. It would take 13 years to break even, IF only replaced once.

 

I had mine replaced by Safelite. I requested OEM and my insurance covered it.

As they explained, insurance won't typically cover OEM glass if it is more than 3 years old. However, sometimes they tell the insurance company that OEM is all they have when a customer requests it and the insurance company decides to cover it.

They also explained that windshields are manufactured by only a couple of different companies. Toyota uses Pilkington, for example. Getting Pilkington glass is going to be the same as OEM, you're just paying extra (if paying out of pocket) for a Toyota logo on the windshield.

 

Safelite replaced the windshield on my '06 TRD OR AC.
The only replacement available was OEM (with Toyota etched in the glass).
My insurance covered it.

 

I ask my insurance Company if they have a favorite Provider !

I like Safelite they come to work to change the glass .

I have comp on all my vehicles to me it is well worth it.

 

I just replaced mine. Insurance went through Safelite.

They installed OEM since my truck is lifted 2” and had to go to a dealership for the calibration.

 

You can easily argue that installing non factory glass may require dealership calibration which costs insurance $$$ so they’ll most likely just give you factory oem glass.

 

They'll all need calibration and Safelite does that as well.

 

shop that passes on deductible

shop that can calibrate the camera

shop that provides same visor tint

 

Just recently went through this with my 2019. Insurance company likes Safelite so that’s where I went. I asked for OAM and they told the ins company had to approve it, I called them and they said, “yeah, no problem - approved”. Brought the truck in the following week and 50 bucks later, new OAM windshield installed and camera calibrated. No complaints.

I have used Safelite in the past on other vehicles where they installed the non OAM glass. No issues there either.

 

I had to replace my window when it got cracked by a rock, and went with the aftermarket that met the spec. My insurance would only pay for aftermarket, and I would have had to pay the difference if I wanted Toyota.

Noticed no difference whatsoever in cabin noise or appearance. The aftermarket even came with the GoPro mount.

The Toyota glass is crap anyways and chips easily. Might as well give another vendor a chance and save a buck.

 

Call Safelite and see if they can use your truck on a training day for the installers and get a free windshield