Why do RV windshields take longer to replace?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
RV windshields are larger, often two-piece, and many are special-order, so the part has to be confirmed and ordered before the install. The exact pane is matched from the year, make, model and VIN — chassis and coach — and timing is given before ordering. The install itself needs more hands and the right equipment for a large, heavy piece of glass.
Why motorhome windshields are special order
A motorhome windshield is not a single standard part. Class A coaches carry large, often two-piece windshields shaped to a specific coach builder’s design, and the same chassis can wear different glass depending on the coach built above it. That is why the exact pane is confirmed from the year, make, model and VIN — both the chassis and the coach — before anything is ordered.
Because many of these panes are not held in stock, they are special-ordered, and the lead time is given before the order goes in. Once the glass arrives, the install takes more hands and heavier equipment than a passenger car, since a Class A windshield can be too large and heavy for one person to set safely.
A passenger-car replacement is a one-person, one-pane job much of the time; a motorhome replacement is a team lift with suction cups sized to the pane and a clear path to the opening. Planning that lift is part of why the visit is scheduled rather than done on the spot.
What information is needed to order an RV windshield
- The year, make and model of the coach.
- The chassis VIN, and the coach builder and model where they differ.
- Whether the windshield is one-piece or two-piece.
- Any tint or shade the original glass carried.
- Where the coach is parked and whether there is room to work around it.
Timing is given before ordering
Because special-order glass arrives on the supplier’s schedule, the expected lead time is confirmed before the order is placed. Once the pane is in hand, the install is scheduled at the shop or at the coach’s location when there is clearance to work around it.
More questions about RV windshield timing
How long does it take to get an RV windshield?
It depends on whether the pane is in stock or special-order. In-stock glass moves quickly; special-order panes arrive on the supplier’s schedule, and the lead time is confirmed before the order is placed.
Why are motorhome windshields special order?
They are large, often two-piece, and shaped to a specific coach builder’s design, so they are not held in the same stock as passenger-car glass. The exact pane is matched from the chassis and coach details before ordering.
Does the install take longer than a car windshield?
Yes. A large, heavy motorhome pane needs more hands and the right equipment to set safely, so the install itself runs longer than a passenger-car replacement.
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