Rear window replacement/upgrade

[Chief_jeep]

I shattered my rear window today in Moab. I’m looking for a more durable rear window. Anybody know of a company that makes a better quality rear window or plexiglass?

Came off a ledge onto the rear bumper and hitch skid. Everything is fine except the window.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I shattered my rear window today in Moab. I’m looking for a more durable rear window. Anybody know of a company that makes a better quality rear window or plexiglass?

Came off a ledge onto the rear bumper and hitch skid. Everything is fine except the window.

Assuming hard top.....
Plexiglas will be crap in an place like that. It will expand and contract badly, it will be damaged easily by UV, it will scratch easily, and can be punched out by a fist.

Lexan........... or similar. A polycarbonate. That's almost unbreakable.
But any "plastics" or acrylics, you will lose the rear defrost if you even care about that.

Just don't use plexiglas - that's so 1970s, and for cheap screen door windows.

 

[PlayfulBird]

I shattered my rear window today in Moab. I’m looking for a more durable rear window. Anybody know of a company that makes a better quality rear window or plexiglass?

Came off a ledge onto the rear bumper and hitch skid. Everything is fine except the window.

Because of body flex?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Because of body flex?

Great question. That window should be hard to bust unless hit directly. And if body flex - how's the roof and other parts......didn't think of that. I guess I assumed a direct hit by something coming at it from the rear (around here it would be a bullet)

 

[Chief_jeep]

Assuming hard top.....
Plexiglas will be crap in an place like that. It will expand and contract badly, it will be damaged easily by UV, it will scratch easily, and can be punched out by a fist.

Lexan........... or similar. A polycarbonate. That's almost unbreakable.
But any "plastics" or acrylics, you will lose the rear defrost if you even care about that.

Just don't use plexiglas - that's so 1970s, and for cheap screen door windows.

Thank you! No I don’t really care about the rear defrost. I’ll try to find a place to get lexan cut

Because of body flex?

I’m not sure if the bed rack or body hit it or if it was from the impact. It hit hard

 

[PlayfulBird]

I’m not sure if the bed rack or body hit it or if it was from the impact. It hit hard

Crazy scary, reckon the bed flexed and the rack hit it? I mean that is a lot of energy. If it is pure flex, omw... that would be crazy

 

[Chief_jeep]

After closer examination, the bed flexed and the rooftop tent hit the glass. Bed the bracket on the tent as well.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Very sorry to hear. What trail? How close was the tent to the window before the event? I’m trying to judge how much flex occurred. Was it enough movement that you should have the frame checked?

 

[Killroy Was Here]

Very sorry to hear. What trail? How close was the tent to the window before the event? I’m trying to judge how much flex occurred. Was it enough movement that you should have the frame checked?

That was my first thought as well.

If it was that violent of a jolt that the bed/rack would make contact with the back of the cab or roof, I'd sure get the frame checked to be sure it's not bent, or permanently damaged.

Since you mentioned that the hitch skid took a beating, would also carefully take a look at the hitch itself to make sure it isn't bent or damaged as well.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That was my first thought as well.

If it was that violent of a jolt that the bed/rack would make contact with the back of the cab or roof, I'd sure get the frame checked to be sure it's not bent, or permanently damaged.

Since you mentioned that the hitch skid took a beating, would also carefully take a look at the hitch itself to make sure it isn't bent or damaged as well.

One thing the receiver has going for it - it's bolted to the frame on the ends and to the bumper in the middle. So it shouldn't twist - but "shouldn't" is a subjective word, too.
Receivers are tubes - and can twist. Hopefully being bolted to the bumper in the middle stopped that, OTOH, it's a cheap part to replace if in question.


The bed is on cushions, as is the cab. There's a lot of give on both cab and bed so it's possible for them to make contact, but I agree, best to get it checked.
(look at how tall the cushions are and how long those body bolts are. They are made to cover a lot of flexing, inches worth)
We've also seen how much give there is in how people show how far off the bed alignment is on their truck, so it's possible for the cab and/or bed to literally move on the frames - horizontally and vertically with a big bang.
Still....... get things checked.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I think the frame is fine. I mounted the tent in the dark and it ended up mounted a bit forward of the bed rack. Didn’t think it’d be a problem but obviously it was. It was a small ledge on Metal Masher. I came off it quick and when the shocks compressed it hit. Dumb mistake but nothing that can’t be fixed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think the frame is fine. I mounted the tent in the dark and it ended up mounted a bit forward of the bed rack. Didn’t think it’d be a problem but obviously it was. It was a small ledge on Metal Masher. I came off it quick and when the shocks compressed it hit. Dumb mistake but nothing that can’t be fixed.

A learning experience. Too bad it was expensive, but could have been much more expensive.

 

[Chief_jeep]

A learning experience. Too bad it was expensive, but could have been much more expensive.

definitely! It can always be more expensive. At least there’s no snow in the forecast

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