Dometic Seitz windows

JanK · Newbie

RE: Dometic Seitz windows

Grandos · Member

Hi JanK,

I have just acquired a 2nd-hand Renault Master campervan so haven't really had the opportunity to try it out in earnest. It has 2 smallish Dometic push out windows on either side of the bed, which I thought were great with the blind and screen. However, just 2 days ago had the misfortune of leaving 1 open, then moved my van out of my carport and heard the sickening crunch as I ripped it off its hinges. So I've been ringing around to try to get it repaired. The quotes I'm getting are in the $600+ range to replace just this one little window, but, as with most things these days, the whole unit has to be replaced ... no more can we replace just one piece or another!

Having read all the posts about the problems with these windows, I'm now reconsidering my options. I wonder if it would be worth saving that money towards having another type of window (sliders perhaps) put in instead, with decent screens! I have the window fixed in with duct tape for the time being ... can't use it but I'm not ready to travel just yet anyway.

So, on the subject of duct tape, could you use some sort of tape as a way of sealing off the edges of the screens when the insects are bad? I realise it would be a pest reapplying it each night, but preferable to all the other pests invading your space.

Happy days.

Grandos.

Legendts · Senior Member

Not sure how good they are but you can get midge screens where the flyscreen material has smaller mesh so the midges etc don't get through. As I say I don't know how effective they are.

Redted · Member

Ive just joined the forum after finding this thread while doing some research on Dometic windows. Our van is just started being built and the consultant gave us a last minute choice to swap from Camec Pandora back to Dometic windows. Dometic was our original preference after a couple of yrs of shows/research.What are the Dometic windows that you have called? Are they silver framed with 'Dometic' stamped into the tinted window part or black framed with no stamp? Thnx in advance for ANY'last minute' advice.-Redted (Wayne . .& Denise)

busmartins · Veteran Member

Hi Wayne & Denise
Our windows are called Seitz they are the combination screen and blind. I think what you're talking about is something completely different. The windows aren't stamped and they have a cream coloured moulded surround with way too many screws in them. If you can steer clear of anything dometic all the better for happy travelling. We are not happy with any of the Dometic products we have sadly. Good luck with the build and then enjoy every day on the road. Cheers Di

Redted · Member

Thnx Di for the reply. We discovered there were Dometic European BUILT and dometic IMPORTED CHINESE built windows(Mobicool??). The euro built ones have the fury inserts along the edges of the insect screens. Are yours anything like these> https://www.dometic.com/enie/International/Site/Caravan/Window-Systems/products/?productdataid=89128 or a later fitted screen/blind iinside previously fitted windows-> https://www.dometic.com/enie/International/Site/Caravan/Window-Systems/products/?productdataid=89142

-- Edited by Redted on Monday 28th of July 2014 08:33:04 PM

-- Edited by Redted on Tuesday 29th of July 2014 06:35:28 PM

busmartins · Veteran Member

Wayne/Denise
Our windows are Seitz, the second link you sent through, not the pleated blind stye. I see there are lot more of the pleated type around now. I could not recommend the Seitz blinds at all as far as usability goes. The blind is a great block out but that's where it ends. Having said that, we don't have too many problems with the smaller windows over the kitchen and bathroom it's really the large picture windows because the materials simply aren't strong enough to hold up in a breeze. Consultants aren't always the best people to speak to about what is best, as has been our experience. Talk to ask many people as you can about different products that are in motorhomes/caravans that are being used in all types of conditions, not sitting in a showroom. It's absolutely worth taking the time to seek people out before making the wrong decision. Very hard to live with bad choices. All the best.

Redted · Member

Our van is half built. Dometic (euro) windows going in soon. confuse smile

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t54225746/maybe-we-made-a-decision/?page=last#lastPostAnchor

-- Edited by Redted on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 07:02:30 AM

busmartins · Veteran Member

Denise/Wayne - Good luck with the van and more especially the windows. Will be interested to know how they go. Building anything can be a very stressful time, so stick to your guns and don't let so called "experts" lead you away from your dream! Happy trails to you!

Delta18 · Guru

We too have this style blind/screen cassette fitted in our new van.

Initially I was very happy with the appearance & operation of them but in use now for nearly 10 months & 10,000km the first impression is wearing thin.

One screen, (the largest window) was always stiff to operate such that it was always a 2 person job to operate it made worse because it was beside the dining table and was a stretch to reach both ends by oneself.

We also found the problem of slight breeze lifting the blind in particular from it's track, then a slightly stronger breeze would open the screen section.

Insect ingress also is a problem and now I realise they are 'walking' over the roller to get inside.

In the last week of our last trip the large screen failed totally! It appears to me the cord sash that joins the upper & lower rollers is broken or damaged such that the blind will roll up & down but the screen doesn't follow it. Pushing the blind up just bunches the screen section as it won't rewind onto it's roller.

I contacted our Dealer's service centre and have booked the van in for a couple small warranty issues...."no worries about the blind, we can repair that"! Obviously mine is not the first failure.

Cheers Neil

-- Edited by Delta18 on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 12:21:02 PM

busmartins · Veteran Member

Neil and Lynne we are constantly adjusting the tension on the windows and it's driving us crazy removing 20 caps and screws on 7 windows!!!! We were told by Dometic that they had never heard of our issues before, exactly the same issues you have mentioned. Even sending photos of the blinds blowing in and insects squashed into the rollers could not convince them there was a problem. Will be really interested in the repair job, they will probably just re-adjust the tension but the bugs entering and getting squashed in the rollers and screens blowing in, sadly will never end. Hope you enjoyed your trip! blankstare

rasco · Member

I installed Seitz window in our Motorhome.
We have been on the road full time since Dec 2013.
I have experienced the same problems with these windows with the screen and currently replacing with Bunnings sourced Cyclone Miniweave with a 30 x 18 thread per inch weave. Originals seem to be 20 x 18.
Midges are eating us alive at Cabbage Tree Point Qld at the moment. Think they use the original screen as a perch like vultures.
I have also had a problem with wind gusts forcing the open windows up because of no clamp on the struts, to the point of reaching full travel and withdrawing the the strut mount from its cylinder.
I was able to repair them. Another person I spoke to said the same happened to him but his window blew up over 90 degrees and dislodged from it's hinge point and landed a distance from his Motorhome.

I'll see how we go with our screen conversion and pass comment.

Cheers,
Ray

KFT · Guru

Pinto wrote:
We have a dometic skylight/hatch and it is absolute garbage. Too clear and lets too much light in not to mention heat. On a hot day the heat coming through the flimsy blind is staggering. Hold my hand two feet under hatch and it's like putting my hand under a grill not to mention the A/C struggles to keep the van cool. Lousy flyscreen comes out of the track as does the blind in the slightest breeze plus the dirt that collects in the blind has put several holes in it.. Tried to get hatch with darker tint .... they don't have one , tried stick on window tint, was told by several tinting places it won't stick to plastic so now we have a towel ontop to keep the heat out and the cool air in. Would like to remove this waste of time and put 4 season hatchs in but the hole in the roof is too large :(
The only plus is that my lady and I can lay in bed at night and look at the stars when the hatch is shut IF we remember to take the towel off.....................

We have the same in our van and experience exactly what you have.

I went and bought a roll of dark tint from an auto accessories shop and installed it myself. It was a challenge working upside down and next time I will pull the hatch cover off to do it.

BUT it works. we have much less sunlight coming through and a lot less heat.

hope that helps

frank

busmartins · Veteran Member

Ray I'll be really keen to know what difference the Bunnings Miniweave made, if anything. It will not however stop the squashing of midgies, and other flying critters from getting squashed in the rollers. We had one of our windows blow out of the struts and then come crashing back through the window and ripped the screen and cracked the surround.....it was a complete disaster. I wish we'd never heard of Dometic windows, in fact we're really disappointed in all the Dometic appliances and hatches we have installed. Sadly we can't change any of them due to sizing issues, we just have to live with them. The only good point to the blinds is that they are great for keeping the light out...so I can at least sleep in peace (with the windows shut and the airconditioner on). Happy trails to you blankstare

busmartins · Veteran Member

Pinto we have a solution to the light/heat issues with the hatches....we had covers made to fit by Solarscreen, and they are fabulous. Of course they're only work while the hatch is closed, but what they do is keep the heat out and we don't have to worry about the flimsy blind/screen which is totally hopeless. Like you we tried everything. It's just a shame they are effectively useless to have open on a lovely night as any breeze at all makes the flimsy "blind" bang. It's a shame all these very expensive products that are supposed to provide comfort for travellers simply do not cut it. Don't give up....there is always a solution. At the end of the day it's all about the journey and enjoying every day. biggrin

Dunmowin · Guru

Wow, how did I miss this thread.

We have had all these problems with our blinds for the past 3 1/2 years. Then, while we were in New Norcia earlier this year, a rescue helicopter landed beside us on the football field, and blew all our blinds in, so now we are back in Brisbane, we are getting them all replaced - CIL insurance to pay.

busmartins · Veteran Member

I bet you're grateful to the rescue helicopter that now you can have the windows replaced by insurance. Something good always comes out of a bad situation. Enjoy the new windows and the stress free life! blankstare

Dunmowin · Guru

busmartins wrote:
I bet you're grateful to the rescue helicopter that now you can have the windows replaced by insurance. Something good always comes out of a bad situation. Enjoy the new windows and the stress free life!

Thanks, the only shame is that they did not even warrant an apology. We have an excess to pay, if we wanted to pursue the issue we could get the excess waived, but we are not.

rasco · Member

I installed Seitz windows in our Motorhome.
We have been on the road full time since Dec 2013.
I have experienced the same problems with these windows with the screen and currently replacing with Bunnings sourced Cyclone Miniweave with a 30 x 18 thread per inch weave. Originals seem to be 20 x 18.
Midges are eating us alive at Cabbage Tree Point Qld at the moment. Think they use the original screen as a perch like vultures.
I have also had a problem with wind gusts forcing the open windows up because of no clamp on the struts, to the point of reaching full travel and withdrawing the the strut mount from its cylinder.
I was able to repair them. Another person I spoke to said the same happened to him but his window blew up over 90 degrees and dislodged from it's hinge point and landed a distance from his Motorhome.

I'll see how we go with our screen conversion and pass comment.

Cheers,
Ray

Well its been about 5 months since we rescreened all 9 of our Seitz windows.

The midge screen sourced from Bunnings stopped the midges getting through but some still made their way around the track.

I tried adjusting the roller tension on the blinds but only the small windows retract (just) leaving 7 that don't.

Factory pretension was about 13 turns. I tried all the way up to 25 turns but still no luck. They just bind on the roller with the internal frame.

I deburred and polished with car polish the internal frame, still no joy.

If I thump the frame hard where the roller sits it will slowly retract so that is the bind point.

No solution yet.

Problem 2

I've had 2 windows now blow out and land on the ground. What a poor design and extremely dangerous.

Maybe this is a issue to be taken up with Dept of Fair Trading as a safety issue with a possible recall.

Cheers,

Ray

Redted · Member

Still following :-/ We got our van (with a few dramas, long story.) No MAJOR problems with the windows YET, we are being very carefull with them. :-//////////

Ps- Don't have lights on inside to attract insects. ((((

-- Edited by Redted on Thursday 2nd of April 2015 09:01:58 PM

-- Edited by Redted on Thursday 2nd of April 2015 09:03:33 PM

busmartins · Veteran Member

Oh Ray what a shame, to have gone to all that trouble and to have obtained such minimal results.

You're right that the design is absolutely terrible and was never meant for Australian conditions. Don't think there's anything much that can be done except pass the word to other travellers who are thinking of installing Dometic windows...........not too! Dometic products overall are less than average. We've just had to have our awning replaced after 4 months due to it delaminating!!!! When our installer contacted the distributor he was told "well it doesn't affect the operation!!!"....good grief. We wait now to see how long this one lasts. I guess it's a case of buyer beware, but with so few options available we are really up against it. Due to the weather here in Broome we haven't had our windows open for 6 months.....don't know if I'm looking forward to having that option or not!!! It will be nice to have the air conditioner off..........no it's not a Dometic!

Pester power is always a good option....so pester Dometic and send photos until they HAVE TO admit there is a problem and then do something about it!

Enjoy the journey and all it throws at you blankstare

Cheers Di

busmartins · Veteran Member

I wish you well, but we all deserve to be able to have lights on if we want with windows open. But with these windows it's clearly not an option. I guess things could always be worse confuse

Have fun blankstare

rasco · Member

Happy enough with the window itself but not with the struts or screen. The idea of the screen and shade are great but poorly implemented. The idea of the 3 position strut with no clamp or positive stop is outright dangerous if the window exceeds 90 degrees and comes flying out. There is enough weight in a 1200 x 800 window to kill someone.

I'm still trying to figure a way around these windows. Dometic or Seitz obviously aren't interested.

Cheers,
Ray

Hockey Bob · Newbie

Same problems for all owners of the awful Dometic Seitz window. Our solution when we get back home is to remove all traces of the roller blind and insect screens, adhere Velcro to the existing inner surround [now devoid of both roller systems] procure the midgie proof insect screen, sew an edge band of Velcro to all 4 edges and install. Then make a full set of blockout curtains and the needed curtain rails, install and job done. Dometic everything is world class unusables. [Class actions needed.]

rasco · Member

This is what I've done to stop windows from blowing out of their frames. (danger of injury during wind gusts. Ive lost 2 windows so far)

http://myoz.info/temp/Seitz%20Window%20safety%20cord.jpg

rasco · Member

The Bungee cord solution has worked well to prevent the windows blowing out of the frame. We lost 3 windows total before I had all of the windows secured with this mod.

Still haven't come up with a real solution to the fly screen and blind jambs.

Think the only solution is to completely remove the rollers/blinds/screens and velcro screens in as suggested by Hockey Bob with separate blinds.

And to think during the build I picked the most expensive windows at the time. What utter crap these have turned out to be.

btw. my brother in law lost the Seitz window in his Kedron caravan due to blow out recently.

-- Edited by rasco on Sunday 1st of January 2017 12:48:34 PM

NIftymac · Newbie

Just read this post with interest Our Retreat caravan had these Dometic Seitz S4 windows and the Bug Problem is unbelievable! At one of our recent free camp stops I think we had more bugs inside than out! As others have worked out the bugs just crawl over the top roller as there is a gap when the screen is rolled down! I have added some window draft excluder tape to the top outside edge so this acts just like the side fluffy edge sealer! Has improved the bug issue heaps Have tried three different types but the best so far is a product made by Raven - Weather strip model RP14B white . I did use another one of Ravens products - draught excluder RP61 grey, worked on smaller windows where the gap was smaller at the top of the roller and outside edge of frame. But agree would never have these windows again! I am certain under Australian Consumer Law , these windows would be considered "not fit for purpose "!

Happy hour · Newbie

Have had a problem with all of the 5 blinds in our 2012 van. Not prepared to replace with original equipment as I will end up with the same problems. I have repaired the large blinds at leasr 15 times with spring letting go, screen blowing in with wind and insects getting in. Other then that they look good. Any suggestions to use exsisting frame to put a removable fly screen so the window can be opened and curtains?