Gravel Shield for front of T@G

csonni

Will be picking up our new T@G at some point in the New Year. Would like to get it when the road is snow covered to keep the gravel from beating up the front. But this Covid thing we're in may not allow travel till late Spring when the snow is gone. More road has been paved but we still have 3 hrs plus on gravel road. I'm wondering what is the best way to protect the front of the T@G from the gravel. I pull a trailer once and the paint was all sandblasted off the front and pitted. I'm really not excited about doing that to our new T@G to start off.

beaky

we pull thousands of miles in the South West, BLM roads, etc. Haven't had any damage as the tow vehicle dwarfs the trailer. Putting mudflaps on your TV will be enough methinks

HikinMike

I could be incorrect, but dont all the new T@G trailers come with the rock shield?

csonni

@HikinMike said:
I could be incorrect, but dont all the new T@G trailers come with the rock shield?

Yes, I think you're referring to the diamond plating. Maybe that's sufficient.

HikinMike

I am. Although I have heard of people cracking the stargazer window in the front.

csonni

@HikinMike said:
I am. Although I have heard of people cracking the stargazer window in the front.

I think we'll probably affix something to the glass to keep ricocheting rocks from doing that.

csonni

I remember seeing rolls of plastic magnetic film that some have used on the Alcan (Alaska/Canada) highway. That might work. This option doesn't look cheap as it requires professional installation. https://www.getexoshield.com/persona/adventurers
If putting a screen protector on your smart phone costs about $30, the T@G stargazer window must be about the size of 80 smart phones.

csonni

This is an interesting approach, but any rocks hitting that will ricochet back at our van. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imyb9eFBXyo

csonni

And this. http://stonestomper.com.au
We've had wheels go way out of balance due to wet gravel and sand coating the insides of the wheels and hardening nearly as hard as concrete. This "screen" may fill up with some pretty messy stuff.

Sharon_is_SAM

@csonni - over on the TaB forum, someone created a protective shield for the front window. We copied it and it works quite well.
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/4874/front-window-rock-protection/p1

csonni

@Sharon_is_SAM said:
@csonni - over on the TaB forum, someone created a protective shield for the front window. We copied it and it works quite well.

That's a great solution. Does anyone know the exact dimensions on the T@G stargazing front window?

Michigan_Mike

I lost a stargazer window up in Montana on my former 5 wide trailer back about 6 years ago. I’ve also driven the entirety of the ALCAN highway up beyond Delta Junction and back home the Cassiar Highway.

I contemplated the same thing you are now and will say that the window covering above sounds like a reasonable solution to the problem. I made the mistake of having a front bra made for my trailer with a pocket on the inner trailer side to protect the stargazer window on our way up to Alaska. The issue I found out to be the negative was that the bra (although seemingly attached tight) created a small amount of flapping motion on the sides and this marred the paint during travel.

Here is another alternative that will protect your window. This product was developed by one of our former members over on the Little Guy forum some years back.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223495841677

csonni

Looks like those Lexan panels are only made for the older Little Guy windows. The T@G stargazer window is curved and quite a bit larger.

csonni

This almost looks like the best solution without any standoffs, etc. Isn't the Stargazer window made out of Lexan? Will something like Clear View adhere to it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Qr0Ta7EUA

csonni

3x5 ft piece is over $99 US. what is the exact size of the T@G stargazer window?

Sharon_is_SAM

I don’t think the Clear View will prevent the window from breaking due to road debris. We used a similar product under the corrugated board on our front window to prevent scratches.

csonni

Our NuCamp dealer sells these. Has anyone used them and would you say they eliminate most of the problem? https://rock-tamers.com

HikinMike

I like those. Very nice.

csonni

Our dealer stated that he has not yet heard of any T@G owners complaining of a damaged stargazer window by rocks.

Michigan_Mike

The earlier stargazer windows were made with safety glass and when they shatter its messy.

csonni

We may seriously consider using a heavy duty mesh net we have for throwing up the bed of a pickup and adapt it for use under our hitch and draw bar of the T@G. With only 2-3 hrs on gravel road, I have a hard time spending $700 CA for the Stone Stomper.

Sharon_is_SAM

It’s not just stone thrown from your own vehicle. All kinds of road gators out there. Best to directly cover the window.

csonni

Yes, we're going to cover it. Unlike most windows, it's got quite the curve in it. Does anyone have the exact measurements of the stargazer window?

csonni

I’m having second thoughts with the type of protection we’ll attach to our Dodge Grand Caravan. The Rock Tamers almost seem like too much. The Caravan sits so low in the back already, we’d end up cutting half of the flaps off. It doesn’t really seem like much stone would exit the rear as it is. Maybe stringing our net across under the drawbar would suffice.

JamesDow

My tow vehicle is a 4WD Rav4.
I travel dirt roads and have not had any issues with my T@G.
I would not be overly concerned.
Drive slow and use common sense

csonni

We’re down to 200 miles of gravel left to get out to our route of exit. Kind of hard to go too slow at that length, especially when home bound and anxious to get back. But yes, slow is the key.

LuckyJ

The only problem we had so far with our T@G was the blasting of the front of the fenders that got bent by being hit so much with gravel/rocks. My wrangler has mud flaps that almost drag to the road surface, but still. But I do have longer lenght of tongue than original T@G would have.

As for the stargazer, I think the real concerne would be from incoming trucks and vehicules.. so I would suggest to slow down and move to the side as much a possible.

But I remember seeing a guy on the 389 towing a nice fiberglass fishing boat, he had mannage to pull a rubber tarp (same type you would used for a yard puddle) attached to the front of his trailer and wrapping part of the bow of his boat. He was pulling it off when he reach Manic 5 heading south.

( lol, funny to be able to discribed spot like that in my neck of the wood who actually know where I am talking about) 😎

csonni

@LuckyJ said:
( lol, funny to be able to discribed spot like that in my neck of the wood who actually know where I am talking about) 😎

And I love hearing you talk of those places!

csonni

Took our T@G for it's first real drive today. Noticed exactly what area of the front gets splashed with road muck and debris. We have no mud flaps on at present. For the gravel portions of our trip, we will definitely make some sort of quick remove protection, but am wondering what mud flaps we should purchase. I really don't want to be hauling round the Rock Tamers. Most of the custom mud flaps for the Dodge Grand Caravans may not come down far enough to keep down the debris from reaching the trailer. I want something more than OEM mud flaps but don't want them hanging too close to the road either. Any suggestions that might suit the van other than cutting large square rubber flaps that will not look very good? Attached are 2 possibilities. One is black diamond plate aluminum.

csonni

@LuckyJ said:
The 9nly problem we had so far with our T@G was tge blasting of the front of the fenders that got bent by being it so much with gravel rocks. My wrangler has mud flaps that almost drag to the road surface, but still. But I do have longer lenght of tongue than original T@G would have.

I wonder if anyone has come up with something that is quick to attach and remove to the front part of the fenders.

ras

Since most roads in North Dakota are gravel, several friends in North Dakota have these installed on their trucks Plugs into the trailer hitch. Fits Dodge Grand Caravan
https://www.etrailer.com/Mud-Flaps/Access/AC100001.html