What Ever Happened To Rear Windows In Motor Homes?

Looking at class “A” coaches over the past 20 years has to beg the question “What ever happened to the back window?”  Twenty years ago the majority of coaches had back windows.  Over the years they have disappeared on almost all diesel pushers and on many higher line gas designs.  Today nearly all diesel pushers and most gas A class coaches are without rear window.

Perhaps it was faded out as it offered very little to the coach.  So let’s look at what advantages the rear window actually offered.

• Provides extra light into the rear or bedroom area.  The difference a rear window makes to extra light can not be over stated.  It can turn that hazy dark room into a bright cheerful space.  All of this with a blind to select dark when needed.  
• Provides an inside visual when backing for a spotter.  Ever had to back into a site in heavy rain?  It’s either wet spotter or no spotter.  With a rear window, your spotter can stay in the comfort of the rig and observe the area you are backing into and use verbal warnings, if required.
• It can provide scenic views in back-in sites that are not normally visible.  Most parks are built with the electrical box and services on a given side.  This side dictates which way you can park on the site. Many times the view, a lake for instance, is behind on a back-in space.  These differences are a result of lots that have been designed for either a motor home or a travel trailer.
• It can increase the viewing angles from within your coach for security concerns.  If you have any issues regarding something behind your coach, such as your towed vehicle, you can observe it.  This eliminates the need, or added risk, of having to physically go out to check it. 

So, why with all these seemly great features, would the manufacturer designers eliminate it?  Could it be only to reduce costs?  No, I’m sure not.  Even though, obviously its elimination does reduce costs in both material and labor.  But, I believe that it was floor plan design changes that probably played the major part in this event.  Locating wall space for cupboards, closets and like storage is a challenge when designing an RV.  Many rear bedroom coaches now are designed with the bed cross ways.  This leaves the rear wall completely vacant.  Some, or most, of this area will be required for storage as the position of the bed now allows no wardrobe and very little cupboard space on the walls at the head and foot of the bed.  Full width storage is the only right solution here.

Through the years too, there may have been negative feelings towards the rear window by some potential buyers.  These people saw no windows in the larger, up and coming diesel pusher lines and wanted that look.  To them, it represented a newer look, a more expensive appearance.

There were, and are, benefits derived from the window’s removal.  The ability to better control and maintain the temperature in the rear of the coach on hot sunny days was one.  Additionally, the huge storage that can be gained by using the entire rear width of the coach can not be understated.

Still, after all is said, there are buyers out there that still want the added light and brightness that the rear window provides.  This is even more important if the floor plan incorporates an office area within the bedroom.  Fortunately, there are makes and models that are still available.  One of the choices which actually has two models is Monaco’s Holiday Rambler.  Their model 40 PAQ, a 40 footer and their 42 PLQ, a 42 foot coach, are both rear office/bedroom floor plans with the rear window.  If you have never been in one, it may be hard to imagine, but the rear window really opens up the room.  It not only brightens the room up, but it feels so much more spacious. 

Well, who knows, perhaps we will see the rear window returning to coaches in the future.  The demand for variations in floor plans may very well be the driving force.      

 

With A Non-Transparent View   –   Lug_Nut    –    Peter Mercer