Across the USA 2013 # 9 (Safelite/SmartPlug)
One of the last minute projects we took care of in Wrightsville PA was to have the experts at Safelite (in York) replace the windshield. It was not broken, but it had acquired the normal little bug and sand pits over the last 50,000 miles. We wanted to start fresh. Admittedly, I am a little fanatic about having a clean windshield. After all, one purpose of travel is to see out. There is an old Tibetan or Buddhist proverb: “If a man wears leather on his feet, the whole earth is covered with leather.” My version: “If a man drives down the road with a dirty windshield, the whole world is dirty.”
We also took time to upgrade our external 110-volt shore power inlet to the new improved SmartPlug. Instead of twisting and screwing to attach, it pushes straight in and stainless steel clips lock it in place with a weatherproof seal. An internal thermostat cuts power at the first sign of overheating and its straight-in connection blades have 20x more contact, greatly reducing electrical resistance and the chance of arcing. We did need to cut off the 30-amp male plug and adapt a heavy-duty 20-amp plug, the size we normally use. A blue LED shows power is connected.
The technicians at Safelite used a unique Ezi-Wire device that cuts the windshield’s rubber seal without damaging the paint or factory trim.
A previous installer had scratched the metal above the windshield. Safelite sanded off the rust and primed it before installing the new glass.
The sealing compound used by Safelite dries in an hour and has a lifetime guarantee. It remains pliable which is an advantage for the rough roads we drive.
The installers at Safelite were extremely professional and they had all the right tools.
We had never used Safelite before, but their quality and service will bring us back.
The old fashioned Marinco plug was replaced with a new improved SmartPlug.
We did need to cut off the 30-amp male plug and adapt a heavy-duty 20-amp plug, the size we normally use.
The SmartPlug pushes straight in and stainless steel clips lock it in place.
The straight-in connection blades have 20x more contact, greatly reducing electrical resistance and the chance of arcing.
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