Eyebrow for Oliver windows

[Minnesota Oli]

When I took my first camping trip with the new to me Oliver I was thrilled with the experience it gave me, and as I added more trips I started a mental list of things that I could tweak or add to the Oliver that would make that experience even greater. Today's post is addressing one of the items on that list concerning the windows and how they are limited to only being able to be open in fair weather conditions. Because they lean inward at the top of the window they can create problems in rainy conditions whether the window is opened or closed. When closed they have to deal with all the water that runs down from the roof and sidewalls, this can overload the drainage holes in the window frames which can result in getting the bedding wet. Many Oliver owners have installed rain gutters to help alleviate that problem, but there's still the problem of having the windows open while it's raining to mitigate high humidity or that closed in feeling.

 What I came up with for a solution I'm calling window eyebrows. I created a list of design parameters or considerations that I wanted to hit for this project.  The first one was I did not want to alter the Oliver in anyway, that included the drilling of hole to mount the eyebrow to the windows, this really slowed my project down. I'm the type of guy that builds it in my mind before the prototype is built, I went through many different design ideas before I settled on this one. I designed a mount that clamps into the window frame and to spread the load out over a larger area I utilize  three of these mount per window. The mounts are inserted into the window frame and the screw on the bottom is tighten which draws down the 5/16" diameter rod in the tapered slot which then spreads the mount to engage the ribs that are formed into the window frame that hold the rubber molding in place. I inserted a still picture in the following video showing that process. To remove the mount you have to take that screw out with the 5/16" rod and there is a hole on the bottom where that same screw is inserted and when tighten it releases the mount.

The eyebrow itself is made of 3/16" thick x 5" wide x 29" long aluminum which has 3/4" of the outer edge turn down. I used a neoprene edging trim bought from McMaster-Carr along the length that mated with the Oliver, my hope was that it could be pushed tight enough to seal the water from coming between the eyebrow and the side of the Oliver making for a easy instillation. When I tested this in the rain it looked like it was going to work but after about ten minutes I noticed each window developed a drop of water by one of the mounts and it would fall and hit against the screen about every couple of minutes. So plan B I was forced to use a 1/4" wide weather strip tape between the neoprene edging and the fiberglass wall of the Oliver. There was one more problem, I had to incorporate a drip edge to the eyebrow to keep the water from following around the edge and falling towards the window. This eyebrow is fastened with two stainless steel 1/4-20 button head hex drive screws to each of the three mounts. This makes for a quick install or removal of the eyebrow,

Here in Minnesota we had a warm up and it rained one day so that is all the testing I have been able to do, so time will tell if all is well with the design. As far as the rigidity of the eyebrow I'm extremely pleased you can literally grab onto them and push and pull with no flex of the eyebrow.

 

 

 

 

[dhaig]

Very impressive piece of engineering to address a complex problem.  Do you have plans to produce these for sale to other OTT LEII owners?  I am interested.

[Frank C]

Very nice!  I’ve been considering something similar.  Boats often have rain guards above porthole windows but I haven’t found any long enough for the Ollie windows except for the Ollie bathroom window.  So now I’m looking at re-purposing automotive sunroof wind deflectors to use as window rain guards on the Ollie, if I can find ones long enough for the Ollie windows. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Count us in as an interested party if you decide to sell these. We've been looking for something like this. Brilliant!

[Mike and Carol]

Nicely done!

[kmoon4545]

Awesome....count me in for a set if you decide to build/sell them.  Really impressive.

[johnwen]

Very nice, are they permanently installed?  How much do they weigh?  🙂  (edit: guess I should have read the intro, I see they can be removed.  I jumped right to the video after seeing the picture and didn't even read the description lol.  Very tasteful and attractive.)

John

Edited March 30, 2022 by johnwen
correction

[rideandfly]

Great modification!

After buying Ollie,  we missed our previous (SOB) camper's Dometic Seitz type hinged windows that could be open while raining. Always wished Oliver would use this style of window.

Keeping the windows open during the rain is a great benefit.

Nice Job!

[Steph and Dud B]

24 minutes ago, rideandfly said:

we missed our previous (SOB) camper's Dometic Seitz type hinged windows that could be open while raining. Always wished Oliver would use this style of window.

The issue may have been that there were no double-pane swing out RV windows at first. Now they are available and and are in use by some of the other fiberglass RV manufacturers. Maybe they'll be included in the re-design of the Elite...? I was trying to figure out some sort of homemade shield to temporarily protect the screens from rain but @Minnesota Oli far outclassed anything I could have come up with. I'd be willing to pay a pretty penny for something like that.

[rideandfly]

3 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:

Maybe they'll be included in the re-design of the Elite...? I was trying to figure out some sort of homemade shield to temporarily protect the screens from rain but @Minnesota Oli far outclassed anything I could have come up with. I'd be willing to pay a pretty penny for something like that.

Yep, hope it's a consideration in the re-design efforts.

Minnesota Oli did a fine modification, and if made available I would want a set, too.

 

[VBistro]

Nicely done!  We'd be interested in a set, too.  

Have you traveled with them in place, or do you uninstall before hitting the road?

mb

[Minnesota Oli]

34 minutes ago, VBistro said:

Nicely done!  We'd be interested in a set, too.  

Have you traveled with them in place, or do you uninstall before hitting the road?

mb

I intended for them to stay in place. They are removable for window maintenance.

[John E Davies]

15 hours ago, Minnesota Oli said:

I intended for them to stay in place. They are removable for window maintenance.

I am concerned about how rigid they are. They are much stronger than the thin walled aluminum window frame. If something should impact an eyebrow, like a falling tree branch or an object thrown up on the highway (a truck tire carcass) it could destroy the frame and perhaps damage the hull’s fiberglass window opening. A plastic one would just flex or explode without transferring all that energy to the Ollie window frame and glass.

Could this design be reproduced in much thinner lexan, while using the same aluminum clamps?

I have actually been through wind storms where large branches came crashing down. I always like to see where the “fuse” in a design is located. I designed in failure (break) points in my mud guard brackets and rear cargo rack mount.  In this case, unfortunately the fuse appears to be the window itself… I am not in line to buy this Beta model. But they sure are pretty. 

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Geronimo John]

Outstanding mod!  Beautiful workmanship!  Should you go that direction, I too am interested in a set!

The fact that they are super strong leads to two possible ideas for V2. 

• If the leading and trailing edges were tapered so as to guide obstructions away from the hull that would be even better.  It would tend to reduce the potential for damage to the eyebrow itself.    Would likely require some increase the length to do so. 
• I  appears that the eyebrow itself is made from very stout aluminum.  It may be possible to reduce the thickness a gauge for weight reduction.  That said, I like that they are stout and as such, lay very straight!  

Amazing Mod!  Thank you for taking the time to post your work.

GJ

 

[Geronimo John]

Were the brackets "printed"?  What are they made from so as to flex for tightness, yet be strong?  Ingenious solution!

GJ

[Minnesota Oli]

18 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Were the brackets "printed"?  What are they made from so as to flex for tightness, yet be strong?  Ingenious solution!

GJ

 John

 These are made from 6061 aluminum and have been glass bead blasted to help break all the sharp edges from machining, so it gives it a even texture. The leading edge of the eyebrow does have the radius to help deflect any object that would strike it. It could of been a longer taper but I was limited to sheet stock drop I had on hand. I think they are tucked in close enough that the benefit of having them outweighs the risk. The eyebrow with out the mounts weigh in at about 2-1/2 pounds. But this is just the prototype and there is always a better mouse trap.

Thanks for the complement and I appreciate your comments.

Paul

[Minnesota Oli]

Eyebrow For Bathroom Window

Well to finish off this project short of the testing, I had to design a eyebrow for the bathroom window. Since this window frame is mounted vertical it required a different approach. I thought it might interest some of the readers to see some pictures of the machining processes. Also I changed the finish on the mounts for all the eyebrows to a polished finish, I think its a better look.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike and Carol]

Nice work!  Yours is becoming a most unique Oliver.  Mike

[AlbertNTerri]

Please sign me up for a set if and when you decide to go public with these, that is a very elegant solution to the problem.