Is it the glass... or the windshield angle?

[ErylFlynn]

The angle could change a bit but I agree enough to make a difference and the style and look changes negatively.

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[FC1]

After 3 pretty good trips across the South. With bug season in full swing.
Have yall noticed how good of a bug catcher the whole front end is. Much less the windshield.
First chance to wash it.

 

[ThatredneckguyJamie]

Haven't owned a Jeep long enough to have an opinion on that aspect, but I can tell you from experience that the newer glass in vehicles now is garbage compared to a few years ago. In the last 10 years between my daughter, wife and myself, we've owned Fords, Chevy's, and Nissan's all of which have had 2-3 chips or cracks that have needed to be replaced. My youngest daughter now drives the 2002 Silverado that has been passed down 3 generations has never once had a chip or crack, and that coincides with my experience in the past...I don't think I ever had a chip in any of my previous...say 2010 or before vehicles.

 

[AustyPosty]

After 3 pretty good trips across the South. With bug season in full swing.
Have yall noticed how good of a bug catcher the whole front end is. Much less the windshield.
First chance to wash it.

This is gonna be the case with just about any vehicle with a relatively flat front end. Same goes for the F-150, GM 1500-3500, Rivian, Tahoe etc. you get the point. Not unique to the Gladiator.

 

[Mr Miami]

Haven't owned a Jeep long enough to have an opinion on that aspect, but I can tell you from experience that the newer glass in vehicles now is garbage compared to a few years ago. In the last 10 years between my daughter, wife and myself, we've owned Fords, Chevy's, and Nissan's all of which have had 2-3 chips or cracks that have needed to be replaced. My youngest daughter now drives the 2002 Silverado that has been passed down 3 generations has never once had a chip or crack, and that coincides with my experience in the past...I don't think I ever had a chip in any of my previous...say 2010 or before vehicles.

Not a glass expert here, but if you feel glass used to be stronger (or at least break less) I would think that weight has something to do with it. Since every attempt is made to make things lighter, glass would be a good place to consider. Making it a millimeter or two thinner would save weight.

Again, just the thought of a bystander.

 

[kevman65]

Almost vertical, flat glass. Yup it's a rock magnet and this problem has been around for DECADES.

Had an `86 CJ-7, the only way to guarantee the windshield didn't chip/crack was to drive with windshield down. But then the damned cops start writing tickets......

 

[JTGuy]

The CJ5 glass ws flat and vertical and you could change it yourself.

 

[Janster]

3.5 years in, still on the factory windshield. I make it a point to not follow semi's, dump trucks, etc. and so far that seems to work.

You got that right....
In my previously owned Tacoma, years ago.... on the highway.... I remember there being two trucks in both lanes ahead of me. I was far enough behind, or so I thought... I didn't see it until it appeared out of nowhere (the sky is falling)... a piece of Sheetmetal, had to be about 4-5" square. It came down from the sky , bounced off the concrete road and headed straight for my grill. Started losing air in the drivers side tire. The thing punched a hole in the plastic grill and veered down taking a chunk of rubber off the tire (not a blowout - but enough to lose air and not repairable).

You just never know...........

 

[Alx63]

The strange thing is in the 80's I never suffered a windshield chip crack break... Now a day I see chips every day.

 

[White Eagle]

So, say it came with gorilla glass with the antenna, can it be replaced with regular with the same options ?

 

[liquidobsession]

Its the curve and angle. Mine broke at 700 miles on the interstate. That road is pretty bad here. Rock took it out. Had an 89 grand marquis and that window took a bird strike dead center at 50 mph with no damage. Pretty convinced it would be inside the gladiator if I hit the same way.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

The angle defiantly plays a part. Its just the nature of the beast. But the road condition also doesn't help. 95% of the broken windshields I've had happened on the freeway. And no, not from following to close.

Nope, I had a rock hit me that came from a truck on the opposite side of the highway. It's only one lane each way, so no way to avoid the debris they kick up.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

Its the curve and angle. Mine broke at 700 miles on the interstate. That road is pretty bad here. Rock took it out. Had an 89 grand marquis and that window took a bird strike dead center at 50 mph with no damage. Pretty convinced it would be inside the gladiator if I hit the same way.

Yeah, I hit a crow once upon a time in my 1969 Plymouth. I was topping 90mph on the freeway and BAM, an explosion of feathers, and grossness all over the windshield. It didn't Crack. It hit up near the chrome surround, and that did get dented.

 

[Janster]

So, say it came with gorilla glass with the antenna, can it be replaced with regular with the same options ?

Knock on wood, I’d never had to find out….
The other concern I’d have, is the camera (for the adaptive cruise, emergency braking, etc) From what I’ve read over the years, the camera has to be calibrated after installing a new windshield. If the windshield isn’t compatible (per say), the camera won’t calibrate and systems won’t work properly.

But who knows? Old information? Or is it one of those proprietary situations where you suck it up and bend over?

 

[JonMN]

I'm voting angle. I've been driving various cars, trucks and SUVs for 50+ years. Never had a cracked windshield before, but within a year replaced the windshields on the Jeep and our 2022 Class B that's based on a Ford Transit. Aerodynamically, two bricks!!

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