windscreen lifespan

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Hate to put a spanner in the works but I am onto number 5 and mine is an 04 VX! Lots of road trains throwing up stones mainly. Top end of WA and NT area black top are the worst offenders. None of the windscreens have totally shattered but most have had cracks over the line of vision. I do have a rigid roof rack an ladder, which according to Windscreens O'Briens tech reduces the flexibility of the chassis, hence increasing the likelihood of cracking. Am not sacrificing the roof rack.
Also noteworthy is that they advised me to order a windscreen in advance so that I can get one with the tint!! How does one anticipate that???
On that note, I had a stone embedded in the roof courtesy of a road train. Sounded like a bullet when it hit. :shock:
My brother has an 04 Prado also and has never had to change a windscreen on this one or his 96 Prado prior to that. Some people have all the luck.. :wink: :wink:

[waltec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waltec]

I have to agree with Plucker, the Troopie is bad!!! I can't remember how many windscreens we have put in our work troopie, but more than a hand full, in it's 3yr 120k life.

When I bought my Prado just b4 easter, it had had 2 chips repaired (very poor job), so I thought I'd wait a coouple of months then get it replace under insurance. Whilst driving down to Wooli over easter I had a truck coming other way at some fresh roadworks near Casino. They had just put down new spray pave. We heard at least three rocks hit, and we now have 3 chips as proof. 1 in front of the driver and 2 on passenger side, one of those is the size of your thumb nail.

So I will definately be replacing the screen now!!!

Matt

[Mongoose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mongoose]

Re: windscreen lifespan

OK, so this thread has been hibernating for 19 months.

Last I was doing around 40kmh on a sealed country road. Went over a raised bridge across a railway line, and the weight came off the front end momentarily. As she pitched a little and then re-settled a 50cm verticle crack started from the base of the windscreen in front of the passenger. No impact from stones or whatever, just a smidgeon of body flex and that was that. Only 32000km on the clock and no chips or scratches in the vicinity.

Has anybody else had this happen?

Should I have any recourse to Mr Toyo?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: windscreen lifespan

If you're not cracking windshields then you lot are obviously not getting out enough!

Replaced the screen on my new baby 3 months after I picked it up in January. First decent bullet hole at less than 5,000 kays. Just replaced the screen on my 98 GXL after a massive crack 2 weeks ago on way to Perth. That screen was just on 12 months old and thankfully both replaced "free" care of my insurer.

Also scored a nice big hole in the fog light on my ARB bar 3 days after fitting!

Personally, I think the glass is thinner and more easily chipped than the stuff we had 10 - 15 yrs ago.