Our windows start with aluminum bars. Horses (while some can be smart creatures) are still animals, nonetheless. They can be startled, move suddenly because of discomfort, and swing their bodies erratically due to the movements of the trailers. If you had a standard window in your trailer, there is a good chance that it wouldn't last the first trip and it wouldn't be any fault of the animal(s). Tied up in the trailer they have to deal with the ebb and flow of the ride and if they catch a bump (especially in a bumper pull (tag along) trailer, they're going to go where the sway takes them. If it's into the window, you won't have an intact window anymore unless you have a sturdy set of bars between the horse and the glass.
The bars aren't just about protecting the glass from accidental stumbles into the wall. If you are ventilating your trailer, then you may have horses that want to get closer to the fresh air. Their powerful necks and large heads are sure to poke through delicate (in this case) screens that stand in the way of the horse getting its nose outside. The bars keep your screens (which you need to help keep insects out of your trailer) intact. They also serve another purpose that most owners know is a problem.
Chewing. Your curious equines like to chew. The paint or rubber on the outside (trim) of the windows makes an attractive target for your horses to chew. If you want to keep your horses from chewing where they shouldn't, ingesting things that might hurt them, and destroying your brand-new horse trailer windows, then you'll want the added protection that these sturdy aluminum bars offer. With no protruding surfaces to latch on to, this window (and its protective bars)
Another nice feature of having these particular bars on your window, in your trailer, is that even though they are highly sturdy, they are a hollow aluminum construction. This is important because heavier solid bars of steel (or aluminum) would add weight to the trailer. People that live in the equestrian world (especially owners that spend a lot of time on the road) know how important it is to mitigate the weight profile of your trailers and trucks. Each pound of weight that you pile on to your overall total can take a chunk out of your gas mileage capabilities. So, why not install a window that is just as sturdy as the more massive constructed pieces, but at half the weight?
Protection
These windows are more than just security for the animals. They also protect them from prying eyes and people trying to reach in and pet or grab at them. This keeps the animals safe and keeps you from a liability issue that might arise. But, they also offer a tinted glass that keeps the animals protected from encroaching stares (which keeping their anxiety down at shows and other large crowd events are very important) and sunlight that might be bothersome to the animals. UV protection and shading are both excellent reasons to add this window to your trailer.
Our windows are constructed for safety, longevity, and ease of use by the consumer. Knowing the environments, they experience, the designers of these windows opted for heavier materials with stronger tolerances. The bars aren't the only part of this window that can take a beating. The connectors that make this a functional drop-down piece are also heavy-duty.
Hinge pins. The pivotal pivot points see a lot of action over the years of use with your trailer. Not only do they understand the constant forces from opening and closing when your trailer is in use, but they are what keeps your windows in place while you're bouncing down the road. Compared to competitors that use a 1/4" pin for their windows, our manufacturer uses a 1/2" graphite pin. Not only is the barrel of the pin substantially more substantial, which means it can take more weight and abuse, but the pins are also made out of graphite. Graphite is engineered to last longer, absorb more shock, and have a higher resistance to inclement conditions much greater than that of steel or aluminum.
Less up front, but still relevant in the way of problems that need to be addressed in the world of horse trailer windows is the location of the opening latches. Years ago when the manufacturing of these windows began (dropdowns), apparently all horse owners average height was around 7' 2". At least the way these windows were (and some still are) constructed would make one believe that statement. Many owners have complained for years that latches at the top of the windows, with only outside access, made opening their windows a dangerous endeavor. It would be a regular occurrence to see people standing precariously on top of a bucket by their horse trailers over-extending themselves trying to reach those top latches. This is just bad design.
As a solution to this issue, RecPro opted to provide owners with a horse trailer window that was a dropdown with a slider. This means that when you want to open this window, you can do it in stages. The slider will allow you to open the window horizontally so that you can provide fresh air for your passengers. Then, if it needs to be opened for more air or access, then instead of a difficult to reach top latch available on most secondary windows, the lock is located at the center of the window. So, if you install a RecPro horse trailer window, you will have an ergonomic answer to a decades-old problem with horse trailer windows.
So, when you're looking to improve your horse trailer, the windows, and the comfort of your equine passengers, horse trailer accessories from RecPro are the answer to your problem.
Details:
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Width range from 20" to 30"
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Height range from 20" to 24"
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Solid aluminum bars
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Black trim
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Tinted windows
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Heavy-duty construction
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Trim ring option available
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Center lock for securing your trailer
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1/2" Graphite hinge pins
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The window comes with a rubber gasket (no need for caulking)
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Relatively weatherproof because of window design