2013 Newmar Dutch Star Windshield Replacement and Leak Repair — Tampa, Florida
A 2013 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 arrived with a cracked driver-side panel and a long-running water leak at the lower windshield corner. The panel was replaced and the leak traced to a failed original urethane bead; the front-cap framing was checked for rot before resealing. Completed in Tampa over two days for $2,460 including the glass, reseal and moisture inspection.
Job details
| RV | 2013 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 |
| Class | Class A diesel pusher |
| Chassis | Freightliner XCR |
| Damage | Cracked driver-side panel plus water intrusion at the lower corner |
| Glass supplied | Curved coach windshield, driver side, with new gasket |
| Part source | OEM |
| Crew | 3 technicians |
| Cure / drive-away | 24 hr before travel |
| Quoted | $2,200 – $2,700 |
| Final invoice | $2,460 |
| Insurance | Glass covered; leak-related repair excluded as maintenance |
| Shop | RV Glass Guru |
How the job ran
- 1
Leak traced
Interior staining and a soft dash edge pointed to the lower windshield corner rather than the roof.
- 2
Panel removed
Original 2013 urethane found separated along the bottom run — the leak path.
- 3
Moisture check
Framing metered dry after 18 hours; no rot found, no structural repair needed.
- 4
Reseal and set
Fresh bead, new gasket, panel set and held 24 hours before the coach left.
Photos from the job
Technical specifications
| Glass type | Curved laminated coach glass, shade band |
| Panels replaced | 1 of 2 (passenger side sound) |
| Leak source | Failed original urethane, lower driver corner |
| Rot found | None — caught before framing damage |
| Warranty | Lifetime against leaks at the sealed perimeter |
"The leak had been driving me crazy for two seasons and three shops blamed the roof. Pulling the glass found it in an hour."Verified customer — Tampa, FL
Why glass jobs and leaks belong together
Florida coaches sit in daily summer rain and constant UV, and a 13-year-old urethane bead is at the end of its service life whether the glass is cracked or not. When a panel comes out for a crack, the perimeter is exposed — that is the one moment where a leak can be diagnosed properly instead of guessed at from the inside.
Owners chasing a mystery leak often replace roof sealant repeatedly because water tracks downhill from where it enters. A windshield perimeter failure shows up as staining on the dash, a soft edge on the interior trim, or a musty smell in the cab.
Catching it before rot
The expensive version of this job is the one where framing behind the front cap has been wet for a couple of seasons. Once the wood or composite structure is saturated, the glass work is the cheap part and cap repair runs into five figures.
Here the framing metered dry, which is the difference between a $2,460 job and a $12,000 one. Any RV showing interior staining near the windshield should be looked at within the season, not next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a leaking RV windshield be resealed instead of replaced?
Sometimes — if the glass is sound and the leak is at an accessible edge, a partial cut-in and reseal can work. When the original bead has failed along a full run, as it had here, pulling the panel and laying a fresh bead is the only durable repair.
Does insurance cover a leaking windshield?
Generally no. The cracked glass was covered under comprehensive, but the seal failure and reseal labor were treated as maintenance and excluded.
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