Anyone ever hear of a glass rear window for a soft top?
11-07-2011, 08:30 PM
#1
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Little Rock AR
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone ever hear of a glass rear window for a soft top?
I Love my soft top but would also like the convenience of a real glass rear window to facilitate easier entry. I was curious to see if anyone has heard of a zip in frame to support the hardware for a glass rear window. I wonder how hard it would be to DIY fab this sort of thing. Any ideas?
11-07-2011, 08:38 PM
#2
JK Super Freak
I had glass in my 68 convertable mustang and loved it. However I have never seen a jeep with glass and a softtop. I would think there would be issues with dropping the top down. It would not be as easy to store the glass like putting the soft windows in a cloverpatch.
Also any glass would need to be zippered in somehow, so speed and ease of use really would not change from the current soft window.
Also any glass would need to be zippered in somehow, so speed and ease of use really would not change from the current soft window.
11-08-2011, 05:14 AM
#3
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Little Rock AR
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What I was thinking is you would zip in the frame like the soft window but the glass would open like on a hard top from the frame. Storage would be no different than stowing a freedom panel, if not you just leave it at home and take the soft as a back up.
11-08-2011, 05:35 AM
#4
JK Junkie
Because of the design of the soft top there is a major issue here. A zip-in frame would have to be soft, yet have the structure to hold a solid window. Which basically means hardtop.
The only thing i would see being effective for you is something we use in our canvas shop every so often, and it's called polycarbonate. It is a bendable clear plastic, and it comes in a few thicknesses. You can sew through it very slowly and it is very sturdy.
The only issue with using this stuff is that there is a flap on the outside of the rear window so it doesn't leak in the rain. This flap would be your enemy in opening the back window.
I get what you're saying, but there is really no point in doing something like this because of the total inconvenience it would be. Hard windows in the soft top would give it a little more structure from flapping on the sides, but given the durability of the soft windows, you can roll them and store them away. The hard glass panels need much more caution during use. Also, they are more prone to actually cracking and breaking getting hit with branches and other things on the trail, winter use, hail, and criminals.
The only thing i would see being effective for you is something we use in our canvas shop every so often, and it's called polycarbonate. It is a bendable clear plastic, and it comes in a few thicknesses. You can sew through it very slowly and it is very sturdy.
The only issue with using this stuff is that there is a flap on the outside of the rear window so it doesn't leak in the rain. This flap would be your enemy in opening the back window.
I get what you're saying, but there is really no point in doing something like this because of the total inconvenience it would be. Hard windows in the soft top would give it a little more structure from flapping on the sides, but given the durability of the soft windows, you can roll them and store them away. The hard glass panels need much more caution during use. Also, they are more prone to actually cracking and breaking getting hit with branches and other things on the trail, winter use, hail, and criminals.
11-08-2011, 05:44 AM
#5
What if you used a hard plexy glass to counteract the weight issue and you might be able to fuse a zipper to it some how. Just throwing it out there don't know if it is actually possible
11-08-2011, 05:46 AM
#6
Originally Posted by Yamaha90
Because of the design of the soft top there is a major issue here. A zip-in frame would have to be soft, yet have the structure to hold a solid window. Which basically means hardtop.
The only thing i would see being effective for you is something we use in our canvas shop every so often, and it's called polycarbonate. It is a bendable clear plastic, and it comes in a few thicknesses. You can sew through it very slowly and it is very sturdy.
The only issue with using this stuff is that there is a flap on the outside of the rear window so it doesn't leak in the rain. This flap would be your enemy in opening the back window.
I get what you're saying, but there is really no point in doing something like this because of the total inconvenience it would be. Hard windows in the soft top would give it a little more structure from flapping on the sides, but given the durability of the soft windows, you can roll them and store them away. The hard glass panels need much more caution during use. Also, they are more prone to actually cracking and breaking getting hit with branches and other things on the trail, winter use, hail, and criminals.
The only thing i would see being effective for you is something we use in our canvas shop every so often, and it's called polycarbonate. It is a bendable clear plastic, and it comes in a few thicknesses. You can sew through it very slowly and it is very sturdy.
The only issue with using this stuff is that there is a flap on the outside of the rear window so it doesn't leak in the rain. This flap would be your enemy in opening the back window.
I get what you're saying, but there is really no point in doing something like this because of the total inconvenience it would be. Hard windows in the soft top would give it a little more structure from flapping on the sides, but given the durability of the soft windows, you can roll them and store them away. The hard glass panels need much more caution during use. Also, they are more prone to actually cracking and breaking getting hit with branches and other things on the trail, winter use, hail, and criminals.
