Why We Use CR Laurence Windows in Every Build
Bonded frames, OEM-matched stampings, DOT-compliant safety glass and a U.S. supply chain — why Titan Vans specifies CRL windows for Sprinter and Transit conversions.
Windows are the component customers think least about and regret most often. A window that leaks, rattles, or fogs will ruin a van that is otherwise excellent — and it is one of the hardest things to fix after the fact, because it involves cutting the vehicle's structure. So we do not shop this category on price.
We specify C.R. Laurence.
Fitment that follows the factory
CRL windows are designed to sit within the van's OEM window stampings on both Sprinter and Transit. That sounds like a cosmetic detail. It is actually a durability detail. A window that follows the factory opening sits in metal the manufacturer designed to hold glass, with the correct reinforcement and the correct drainage path behind it. Freehand-cut openings in the middle of a panel do neither.
It also means the finished van does not look converted. The tint and profile match the factory glass, so the vehicle reads as a coherent object rather than a cargo van with holes in it.
The sealing system
CRL uses a urethane-bonded aluminum frame with a pre-applied EPDM seal that compresses against the van's outer wall, and a separate seal on the vent glass itself. The vent mechanism runs on a gearbox and torsion bar rather than friction hinges, which is why CRL vents still operate smoothly after years of dust and freeze-thaw cycles.
The screens clip in and out of a powder-coated aluminum frame for cleaning. Small thing. You will appreciate it in mosquito season.
Safety glass, properly certified
CRL van glass meets DOT FMVSS 205 and ANSI Z26.1 — the same automotive safety standards the factory glass meets. For an RVIA-certified build, egress window placement and glazing compliance are not optional, and working with a supplier who documents their compliance makes our certification process straightforward rather than fraught.
A domestic supply chain
CRL manufactures these windows in the United States, with warehouse distribution across the country. That has two practical consequences. First, our lead times do not depend on an ocean crossing. Second — and this is the one that matters to you — if you crack a window in Moab in year six, the replacement exists, it is stocked domestically, and it fits your van exactly like the original did.
That is the whole philosophy in one component: choose the partner whose parts you can still get a decade from now.
Frequently asked
__Are CRL windows made in the USA?__ Yes, C.R. Laurence manufactures them domestically.
__Do CRL windows meet RV safety standards?__ CRL van glass meets DOT FMVSS 205 and ANSI Z26.1 automotive safety glass standards.
__Can I add CRL windows to a van I already own?__ Yes — our service department installs windows on vans we did not build.
