Why didn't Ford offer rolling rear window?

[HoosierDaddy]

This discussion already happened here, with umpteen owners shouting down those who would believe that todays engineering can make one that is reliable.
Apparently they cannot, according to owners of said roller windows.

I can only attest to seeing more not functioning ones than working ones. Have had only one, 88 K5 Blazer, it worked.

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[rjkmoto]

So the windows in the removable doors will be flip-down, too, because “complexity” “weight” “fragility” “interface with top” .... right?

???

JK

 

[Doc Rocket]

I had a 79, the rear window drive broke with some regularity, and climbing over the back seat to get into the unopenable tailgate was a pain. I did not have rust issues in the tailgate, but I could totally see that.

 

[DonsBronc]

would reduce interior room, and add weight to a already heavy bitch

 

[toystwo]

I’ll bet the true answer to this is $.

 

[Xodric]

My 78 Bronco has a rolling rear window. It is the first thing to rust. I like it, but it is so heavy. I'd rather have it attached to the topper.

 

[Txchewy]

My 89 had a rolling rear window.. i loved it while driving especially on the highway as it removed all turbulence. If I remember correctly though you had to roll down the window (with the key) to open the tailgate. I could live with that again but probably not good for a grocery getter. If the weather is nice I plan to have the doors and top off anyway. If the weather is not nice I plan to get wet or cold.

 

[Sammy7]

I’m only eyeballing it, but I doubt the window would recess all the way into the tailgate.

 

[maxmxa]

They could have at least offered it on the Bronco Sport which has the flip up tailgate. I would hope that we have more advanced technology than 30 years ago to alleviate the mechanical issues the old Broncos had. I think it just comes down to saving cost of design and manufacturing.

 

[Studawg]

Yeah that's my only gripe about the Bronco design. But is there a single vehicle on the market that has a tailgate with a window that rolls down into it?

I think the spare tire is the issue.

Mounted on the tailgate, it would conflict with the mechanicals in the tailgate required to move the window.

If you mount it separately on a swinging tire carrier, that conflicts with the removable fenders, and adds one more thing you have to get out fo the way before you can access the cargo area. Not ideal.

Or you can store the spare in the Cargo area, like previous gen Bronco, but that's not good because you lose space.

No room under the truck, like Land Cruisers, because that's where the gas tank is.

There just isn't really a good way to have a tailgate with a roll down window in it, and a spare tire that you have to deal with on a vehicle the size of the new Bronco.

 

[WuNgUn]

If the rear window was part of the tailgate, and rolled up and down, the interface between window and removable top (one fixed, the other less fixed) would be prone to instability leading to window breakage and/or leakiness.

A possible solution would to have the window hinge inward and still to be part of the top.

I agree that the rear window on the 4Runner was a terrific feature.

Nate

How do you explain the frameless passenger doors then?

 

[Todkavonic]

How do you explain the frameless passenger doors then?

I don't know man. Magic?

 

[Doc Rocket]

I think that adding the glass, mechanisms, motors, etc, would add considerable weight to a hinge that already has to deal with a 100lb spare tire and a 4' wide tailgate. The window would be about 15-20 lbs (or more?), the motor/mechanisms probably another 20. Adding 35 lbs to that tailgate would be a serious strain on the hinges and latches--probably a similar change to going from a 33" spare to a 37" spare. Jeep sells special reinforcements for the hinges to go up to a 35" spare, so there is that.

I think it could be done, I think that it is a feature that probably did not get a lot of push from the focus group, and they were aiming at early Bronco (with a rear window very similar to what we are getting), not Gen 2-5 Bronco (with the roll-up window in the tailgate). It would certainly be easiest in a flip down (rather than swing to the right) tailgate, but that either moves the spare inside (like the Gen 2-5 Bronco) or on a separate swing mounted to the tailgate or bumper.

At the end of the day, most owners would either a) never roll down the window except to open the tailgate anyway, making it less convenient than a flip-up, b) drive around with the top off (making it irrelevant), or c) Use it sometimes, but not often. Some would use it daily, but that is probably a small group. Those on this forum may be a bad sample to judge from.

Overall, I would like the roll down window, but it is nowhere near a deal-breaker if I don't get it. I have a slider in my current truck and use it only a few times a year, mainly because it is manual and a bit hard to reach from the driver's seat.

 

[FastM400]

I have looked at FJ55's for years and one of the selling points is always "electric back window in working condition"

I guess Ford doesnt want a recall on their hands the first year, but it would have been very cool no doubt. Lets see if any third party wants to give a go, I mean some nut actually created a automatic top for the Jeep, thats cool too.

 

[Zinn]

Also probably it doesn’t help that the damn thing is already 5,000 pounds.

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