D4 Windscreens and service

[SteveL]

Hello Aulro people. Our D4 is our first LandRover and its very interesting. People we meet on our trip ask questions which make us think that we have joined some sort of masochistic club!
We have fitted 18" rims with BFG AT's, Gordons rock sliders and a snorkel. Otherwise, its standard.
We came up to Darwin via Birdsville, Mt Isa, Borolloola, Roper Bar etc, bloody awful roads and managed to break both windscreens, front and back.
On one ten hour day, we averaged only 49 Klm per hour! We won't do that again, its just to big a day. We usually try to pull up by 4.
I'm leaving the front screen until we get home but the rear one was replaced here in Darwin. Ouch!
I'll be trying to get windscreen O'Brien to fit an OE item. Agsain as a result of something I read in this forum.

The car itself has handled these conditions beautifully, it is absolutely unreal to travel in, we love it. We have towed an Ultimate all the way and have had no problems at all.
We're due for a sevice shortly, cant get it done in Darwin until next week. No good to us. I have brought oil and filters with me and have been thinking about doing itmysel but as usual, this forum tells me that a garage in Broome will be able to do the job. I'll be ringing them on Monday to book in as I can imaging how busy yhat place is and I don't want to stay there any lomger than I have to. Way too many people.
Regards
Steve L.

[ADMIRAL]

Hi Steve,

Where did the damage come from. Other vehicles or a bounce off the trailer ?

[d3syd]

If you haven't already done so, get windscreen replacement cover. Particularly if you do a lot of country driving.

[Weird Al]

Bugger, I thought the shape of the Ultimate would help protect me from smashing my own back window.

It would seem it isn't so.




........ bloody awful roads and managed to break both windscreens, front and back.

............. We have towed an Ultimate all the way and have had no problems at all.
......
Regards
Steve L.

[john_paul_128]

Bugger, I thought the shape of the Ultimate would help protect me from smashing my own back window.

It would seem it isn't so.
Steve, I cracked a windscreen (200mm) after a stone flicked up from a passing car. D4 is only 10 weeks old and I was towing the van also.
After stressing about it all weekend, I was pleased that my insurer happily accepted replacement with an OEM windscreen, fitted by Windscreens O'brien.

Rgds, John

[Fatso]

Years ago people used to put a comercialy made mesh protector in front of the windscreen when going bush , dont know if they are still available but i know they saved a lot of heartake .

[JamesH]

When you're towing a camper trailer or van a good trick is to cover your rear window in that plastic cardboard sheet stuff. I ve seen too many cars in roadhouses on trips with cardboard inserts where the window used to be, they learned too late.

[Tombie]

Years ago people used to put a comercialy made mesh protector in front of the windscreen when going bush , dont know if they are still available but i know they saved a lot of heartake .

Years ago your windscreen also shattered into a million pieces or before that it was dangerous shards...

Hence the mesh screens...

[Fatso]

Years ago your windscreen also shattered into a million pieces or before that it was dangerous shards...

Hence the mesh screens...

Yep they sure did !!! , dont much matter how they break the end result is there broken , a bit of prevention is better than a whole lot of cure. :BigThumb:

[Tombie]

Yep they sure did !!! , dont much matter how they break the end result is there broken , a bit of prevention is better than a whole lot of cure. :BigThumb:

15 smashed windscreens over 25 years and goodness knows how many kms..
With 12 of those broken in the city(s) - errant stone of a car/truck...

Of the 3 broken out of the city (the only time anyone would run a mesh shield) the drag (extra fuel used), impairment of vision etc is hardly worth it.

A modern, laminated screen can take a bloody decent hit before chipping / cracking.

I've had a piece of Iron Ore hit the windscreen at an estimated 160km/h from a passing Ore transport and we suffered a single "bullet" crack.

Outside the drivers viewing area, so a simple stone repair sorted it... $50.00 done!

And you dont need to butcher a vehicle bolting mounts etc :cool:

Sometimes that Ounce of Prevention can be more expensive then the cure :angel:

[Tombie]

When you're towing a camper trailer or van a good trick is to cover your rear window in that plastic cardboard sheet stuff. I ve seen too many cars in roadhouses on trips with cardboard inserts where the window used to be, they learned too late.

A better trick is to get a better stone system...:D

Windscreens easily protected but the duco gets a flogging too... And thats damn expensive :(

[oldsalt]

This guy may be able to help with rear screens ..... Rear Window Saver Page (http://www.obiesoutback.com.au/obie1.htm)
cheers

[SteveL]

Bugger! I just typed up a huge reply but it dissapeared when I went to post it.
Short version. We think the stone came off the trailer. Its been known to happen.The new one has a huge sheet of very heave cardboard taped over it. Hope it doesn't rain.
We do have windsceen insurance but they only give me one per twleve months between claims. AAMI are fantastic to deal with by the way.
We also have just about every kind of ins you can think of as we travel on our own.
Sorry about the delay. We've only just come in to Kakadu from the Mary river N. Caught my first Barra! Sensational. Perfect weather.
Regards
Steve Lovett

[stray dingo]

This guy may be able to help with rear screens ..... Rear Window Saver Page (http://www.obiesoutback.com.au/obie1.htm)
cheers

You beat me to it.
My neighbour bought one a few weeks back, and I was talking to the seller last week intending to order one...
About $260-$280 inc delivery. But...it is soft perspex and will scratch when the window wiper turns on automatically. Best to remove the wiper blade when installing.