What Jeep should have done with the rear window

[Darel]

If the window were motorized, would you open it?

Can't really see why. Honestly other than top removal, which would be a HUGE bonus, I wouldn't put it down even if it was designed as I suggest. But to be able to do that with the tops as in suggest, that alone would make it worth it.

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[dcmdon]

unibody

The avalanche wasn't a unibody. It rode on the Suburban chassis but tied the bed to the rest of the body. Just like a Suburban or Tahoe or Wrangler.

When it started out it was HIDEOUS with ridiculous body cladding. But by the end of its life it looked like a Surburban with a bed. Which was pretty handsome.

 

[Darel]

I always kinda liked the Avalanche.

 

[WXman]

Looks like you guys already got it all covered. Jeep wouldn't do an electric roll down rear glass because:

- It would sacrifice large amounts of space behind the second row, in an already very cramped area of the truck.

- It would possibly cause issues since tolerances would need to be perfect between the steel cab and fiberglass hard top for the glass to roll up into. Any alteration of tolerances, which would be likely, would cause air leaks and possibly water leaks. This isn't as much of an issue on a truck like Tundra where the entire cab is one piece.

- It would be expensive.

- It would render the rear glass vulnerable to breakage if the top came loose or if the top were removed with the glass in the up position.

- It would require even more wiring and switches routed to the dash, and they don't have much space left.

- It would make the hard top more flimsy since you're losing all of the horizontal structure in the rear.

 

[redrider]

If some one made a replacement solid window without the slider, would you buy it? I would.

 

[Gvsukids]

If some one made a replacement solid window without the slider, would you buy it? I would.

But that rear window makes it easier to remove the top by one person...

 

[Beemer533]

They probably could have have made it a power sliding window. I don't mind the size of it, it is just useless as a manual open. You have to either open it before you start your trip, or stop somewhere to open. it is just pointless.

This isn't exclusive to the JT though, any crew cab pick up without a power slider has the same issue. I never really bothered opening any of the sliders on any of my trucks other than to maybe stick a long board into.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

The avalanche wasn't a unibody. It rode on the Suburban chassis but tied the bed to the rest of the body. Just like a Suburban or Tahoe or Wrangler.

When it started out it was HIDEOUS with ridiculous body cladding. But by the end of its life it looked like a Surburban with a bed. Which was pretty handsome.

the body is one piece like a unibody. it may have the frame under it but it won't flex separately like a truck bed. that's why they could do it.

 

[dcmdon]

the body is one piece like a unibody. it may have the frame under it but it won't flex separately like a truck bed. that's why they could do it.

You seem to misunderstand what a unibody is. If it has a body sitting on a frame, its not a unibody. A unibody has an integrated design that combines both the body and the frame into a single structure. By your logic a Suburban or Wrangler is a unibody.

No it won't flex separately. Just like on a Wrangler.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

You seem to misunderstand what a unibody is. If it has a body sitting on a frame, its not a unibody. A unibody has an integrated design that combines both the body and the frame into a single structure. By your logic a Suburban or Wrangler is a unibody.

No it won't flex separately. Just like on a Wrangler.

I understand what unibody actually means and entails. I am simply saying that the Avalance body is all one piece. The cab and bed are not separate like a traditional BOF truck. Yes it sits on a subframe and yes it is itself not a true unibody. But as far as that folding rear section goes, that is only achievable because the body itself is a single piece like the Ridgeline not like any other BOF truck. You couldn't do that with an F150, Gladiator, etc.

 

[dcmdon]

I understand what unibody actually means and entails. I am simply saying that the Avalance body is all one piece. The cab and bed are not separate like a traditional BOF truck. Yes it sits on a subframe and yes it is itself not a true unibody. But as far as that folding rear section goes, that is only achievable because the body itself is a single piece like the Ridgeline not like any other BOF truck. You couldn't do that with an F150, Gladiator, etc.

You again make an incorrect comparison.

The Ridgeline IS AN ACTUAL unibody. There is no frame.

The closest thing to an Avalanche is something like a Wrangler unlimited with 4 doors and a possibly open rear with a one piece body sitting on a separate frame. Or a Suburban.

Nobody would ever say a Suburban was a unibody, would they?

 

[stampedingTurtles]

Looks like you guys already got it all covered. Jeep wouldn't do an electric roll down rear glass because:

...

- It would make the hard top more flimsy since you're losing all of the horizontal structure in the rear.

I'm not sure I agree with the last point; take a look at the rear of the hard top for a Wrangler; it has a huge opening with a rear window that is simply hinged up at the top, so it has no "horizontal structure" at the bottom.

I do think that it would have been possible to make the rear window removable, perhaps similar to the avalanche (being held in by some sort of latches, and stashing behind the rear seat) but the question is whether or not would have been worth it. Frankly, this could be done with the same basic design as the current hard top (so in other words, leaving the horizontal structure at the bottom of the hard top to make a good seal against the rear of the cab).

I fully expect that someone will end up modifying a JT hard top to do some sort of removable rear window, or that it will be a feature on an aftermarket hard top.

 

[Oilburner]

Just make the structure across the bottom/rear 'split' so the glass can go in between ?

 

[Higher_Ground]

Just make the cab a teensy bit bigger and I'd be able to stretch back there without banging my knees on the steering wheel.

I got pretty good at opening it with one motion. I step on the outside step, grab the lapbelt on the kid's carseat and pull myself up to the window where I can pull it back with the free hand while also stepping down. I still forget to close it every now and then though.

While it would be cool, I'm not sure it's feasible to have it slide into the back. That being said, given all the problems with hardtops (perhaps a small %, but still plenty of issues) they should just redesign it entirely. It's not like this is a JL product pulling double duty. Any replacements for the "old style" could be backwards compatible.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

You again make an incorrect comparison.

The Ridgeline IS AN ACTUAL unibody. There is no frame.

The closest thing to an Avalanche is something like a Wrangler unlimited with 4 doors and a possibly open rear with a one piece body sitting on a separate frame. Or a Suburban.

Nobody would ever say a Suburban was a unibody, would they?

Yes the Ridgeline is a true unibody. I am not talking about the Wrangler or Suburban or true unibody or whatever point you are trying to make.

My point is, and was, that the setup in the Avalanche will not work with the Gladiator because of the construction of the Avalance body. The end.

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