Possible New Jeep JL Wrangler Rear Window?

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Just read an article on AllPar where they discuss a patent application that Chrysler submitted regarding a hard top rear glass window design that can fully fold back up on top of the roof. There are a lot of speculations as to IF this is really going to be something the new Jeep JL Wrangler will have or for what purpose but, the illustrations clearly point to it being a Wrangler and with all the talk about a fixed hard top, I could totally see this being something they would do to help create an open air feel. Anyway, check it out and let us know what you think.

New Wrangler rear window?
by Patrick Rall

A new Chrysler patent application shows a unique full folding back glass design, and while this patent isn’t officially related to the Jeep Wrangler, it is used for the illustrations, and there is no vehicle in the current lineup that would accept a design like this as well as the Wrangler.

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The lengthy patent application shows a new backglass design for a vehicle that has a very flat rear face, a flat roof, an angle of roughly 90 degrees where the body lines meet, and backglass that opens independently of the surrounding body work – all of which suggests that this Is the next generation Jeep Wrangler.

The current generation of the Wrangler has backglass that opens away from the bodywork with struts that hold it up high enough to access the entire opening for easier loading and unloading. On the 2014 Jeep shown here, the spare tire swings out of the way and the backglass opens upwards.

This new patent application shows a similar design, with backglass that is hinged the same way, with similar struts and a similar shape. However, this backglass folds all of the way up to the roof, with clips built into the roof that allow the driver to open the backglass of the vehicle, pin it down, and drive away with a great deal more airflow (or just have it further out of the way for cargo loading). This design also has clips inside of the vehicle where the driver may clip up the struts after disconnecting them to swivel the glass up onto the roof.

The patent application states that the reason for including this system is to allow Jeep Wrangler owners to enjoy the open air feeling while the roof is attached, while allowing owners to be able to haul large cargo, such as lumber. Imagine pulling off the front roof portion of the current Wrangler, cranking down the windows, and folding the backglass up onto the roof – you would have almost as much of the open air feel as you would with the entire roof removed.

You can read all about it on AllPar here:
http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2015/01/new-wrangler-back-glass-patent
 

Rccrwlr

New member
I wonder about the wind load passing a semi and the exhaust circulation behind the Jeep coming in. It is pretty cool to see ideas like this. Means they are thinking about how to make thing better!!
 

AllAmericanInfidel

Caught the Bug
Interesting! I cannot wait to see what the final production of the JL will bring. Aluminum would be sweet. IFS would be great in the desert and a better DD system. A fixed hardtop similar to the Fattop concept would be great if the windows and doors could all be removed, leaving just the top. Very curious what they are going to do. I think about the only absolute deal breaker for me would be unibody. Oh, and give me a Hemi option! Jeep needs to hurry up and tell us! I need to know if this is going to be my last Wrangler!
 

davantalus

Member
Parking garages are already pretty tight, fastening the glass on the roof would be a worrysome configuration.
 

Wardell

New member
IF you have a roof rack this looks like it may be an issue :thinking::hmm:

I was thinking the same thing. I guess someone would have to design one that hinged up to let the glass fold down underneath it. It would probably have to sit a little higher too to give enough clearance for the folded up glass to fit. But at least then, the rack would protect the glass from any low branches that scrape over the roof while you're on the trail - that would be my main concern with this design, particularly because it looks like it's intended for off road use only.

Also, I don't think I'd want to flip it up like this for highway driving. Looks like it would flutter a bit going at those speeds, just like the hood can already. With glass, could those fluttering vibrations cause it to fatigue and eventually shatter? (I'm not an engineer so I'm not sure.)
 

frenchjk

Caught the Bug
why not design a sliding down glass window.........in the case of a fixed roof it would be better, be more water and dust tight, and get rid of the two stupid hinges and their break prone covers.....;)
 

Bacon

Member
I can dig it. With my Trektop last summer, I never went fully topless anyway. I just opened up the back and flipped the sunrider open. That was just fine for me. I didn't even miss that "fully open" feeling.
 

SmokinV10

Caught the Bug
I can dig it. With my Trektop last summer, I never went fully topless anyway. I just opened up the back and flipped the sunrider open. That was just fine for me. I didn't even miss that "fully open" feeling.

If it has a steel roof, it likely won't have that sunrider feature.
 

SmokinV10

Caught the Bug
Parking garages are already pretty tight, fastening the glass on the roof would be a worrysome configuration.

Not if we start combining JL speculation scenarios of a "soft suv market", IFS, and now a hard top. If it's for the soft suv market, how many lifted rigs will be out there? Maybe they are willing to sacrifice the sales to enthusiasts who modify their jeeps to capture another x% of people who will find a more car-like and practical daily driver attractive enough to buy a wrangler? An 2-3 extra inches of height are not typically issues for stock height rigs in parking garages. Who knows though. It's possible, maybe even likely for the same guys who are making the hellcat to be bold enough to not "over-soften" the JL. The again, look at the renegade and this is also the same company that makes the Fiat 500....
 
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Wardell

New member
why not design a sliding down glass window.........in the case of a fixed roof it would be better, be more water and dust tight, and get rid of the two stupid hinges and their break prone covers.....;)

Now, there's an idea I like! :)
 
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