Anyone fold down their windshield?

[zouch]

did your friend actually get cited? did (s)he have a windshield, or did they just have it folded down?
if yes, please see if you can find out what section of the Vehicle Code that citation claims violation of.

as for getting pulled over, i've been pulled over a number of times and not been cited; just depends on what the alleged violation was, and how you handle it.

The "California cant do anything code"

Lol I dont know. All I know is my friend got pulled over and theres a law that states you need an "adequate windshield equipped" or something like that. I get it doesnt specify folded down or not. But if you het pulled over, youre not gonna win an argument.

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[entropy]

did your friend actually get cited? did (s)he have a windshield, or did they just have it folded down?
if yes, please see if you can find out what section of the Vehicle Code that citation claims violation of.

as for getting pulled over, i've been pulled over a number of times and not been cited; just depends on what the alleged violation was, and how you handle it.

Windshield folded down. No citation. Verbal warning. Maybe it was just a grumpy officer.

 

[zouch]

thanks for the update.
sounds like it was a fishing expedition; he made up an excuse to try to see if he could find anything else.

Windshield folded down. No citation. Verbal warning. Maybe it was just a grumpy officer.

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

So, effectively what you're asking for is: take the feature away.

The removable top? Also adds to NVH. Shall we eliminate that too? Maybe not the top, but definitely the doors, because who removes those?

If it were my vote (which is probably the same as 90% of JL owners, not this forum), yeah, remove those features gain better NVH.

You don't buy a Wrangler for a comfortable ride. Jeep has done a remarkable job of improving the comfort without compromising (much?) on its heritage. Let's celebrate what they've accomplished without taking away that heritage.

Move the goal post much? Your original post said if you don’t like the horrible NVH, the you should buy a Bronco. As if there’s zero space between the two.

Do you complain that the JL has a roll cage where the original willies didn’t?

I’d bet $50 less than 2% of all JL owners have actually dropped the windshield. It’s an antiquated feature whose original use case isn’t relevant any longer. If there were no trade offs, keep it, but the NVH trade off decreases mine and I’m sure others enjoyment of the vehicle.

 

[macintux]

If it were my vote (which is probably the same as 90% of JL owners, not this forum), yeah, remove those features gain better NVH.




Move the goal post much? Your original post said if you don’t like the horrible NVH, the you should buy a Bronco. As if there’s zero space between the two.

Do you complain that the JL has a roll cage where the original willies didn’t?

I’d bet $50 less than 2% of all JL owners have actually dropped the windshield. It’s an antiquated feature whose original use case isn’t relevant any longer. If there were no trade offs, keep it, but the NVH trade off decreases mine and I’m sure others enjoyment of the vehicle.

The bronco doesn’t have a foldable windshield, which is why I mentioned it specifically.

 

[mdkautzman]

Those who don't get the windshield down thing hasn't taken it off road and enjoyed the experience.
Try it just once and you'll get. Use your Jeep as a Jeep and you will get it!

 

[roaniecowpony]

i discussed this with 2 cop friends i had coffee with this morning; we couldn't find anything in the California code about windshields other than the fact than a vehicle has to be equipped with one, nothing that stipulates what position it has to be in.

i'll take my chances with any judge on this; not just because i usually win, but because no judge is going to be able to enforce anything that isn't specially prohibited by the Code.
for perspective, consider the laws on seat belts; there is code that says they are required, and there is code that says they must be used. difference here is that while there is code that says vehicles must be equpped with windshields, there is no code we've found that says they must be up and in use.

if anyone finds code that specifies otherwise, please share it!

You'll likely never get cited. Hell, with all the other traffic violations going on in CA all the time, they wouldn't have time for a Jeep windshield. But if you do, and the judge decides you are in violation of the code, you don't get a say in the interpretation. Neither would a lawyer on your behalf. Like I said, you don't get to interpret. Only the court can interpret the law. But, yeah, I'd take my chances too, if I wanted to fold down my windshield. I don't.
Vehicle noise limits are 80dba at 50ft, but about every cat back exceeds that too. Run with the windshield down if it makes you feel good.

 

[Dakota Jeeper]

On my CJ7, windshield down is awesome because you can see everything. Zero plans to drop the windshield on my JL because the frame all remains so other than wind, I wouldn’t gain much.

Top and doors are off as much as possible though.

 

[zouch]

sorry, but even judges don’t get enforce Codes that don’t exisit.

if there’s no code specific to the position of a windshield, there’s no code for an LEO to cite against, and nothing for a judge to rule we’re not going to meet a judge than can make up a law in Traffic Court.

You'll likely never get cited. Hell, with all the other traffic violations going on in CA all the time, they wouldn't have time for a Jeep windshield. But if you do, and the judge decides you are in violation of the code, you don't get a say in the interpretation. Neither would a lawyer on your behalf. Like I said, you don't get to interpret. Only the court can interpret the law. But, yeah, I'd take my chances too, if I wanted to fold down my windshield. I don't.
Vehicle noise limits are 80dba at 50ft, but about every cat back exceeds that too. Run with the windshield down if it makes you feel good.

 

[Jeep Dude]

I fold my windshield down, so that I can squirt Fluid Film inside of the frame cavities, and lubricate the seals with bees wax.

Thank you Jeep and please don't ever listen to the mainstream whiners.

LOL@ the NVH arguement by the whiners on foldable windshields

 

[AnnDee4444]

Can you do a write up on this? I'm very, very interested.

I haven't really perfected it yet as there is some light rubbing with the freedom tops in place. Won't cause damage, but the squeaking is annoying. A different bend angle might work better.

You will need a sheetmetal brake to make the bends and source some hardware (2.25" 1/4-20 carriage bolts and something like this is what I used). The DXF file attached (in the ZIP) can be used to cut the shape at some place like sendcutsend.com. It doesn't need to be that thick, 24 gauge will work fine. I've also attached a PDF for easy viewing.

Below is what the shape looks like, red lines indicate the bends. The curve on the bottom goes next to the door. The bolt hole section and part closest to the door should be level, with the other sections at around a 120-135 degree angle.

There are little indents to help with locating the bends

When done the section next to the door is bent low enough to just barely clear the lip of the freedom tops.

Inside gets bent upwards at same angle.

 

[JLBoucher]

Off-road? All the time. It gives you great visibility and you can see where you're going be leaning forward over the wheel. I often find myself standing up, looking down in front of me, while managing the clutch and the gas pedal. Pretty fun.

On the road? I'm tempted to say "never in a million years". I mean, getting hit by a bug at 90 km/h has to hurt bad, really bad. I don't even wanna try. Plus, even if it's engineered not to do so, i'm afraid to catch the right gust of wind and get the windshield to fly back in my face. I know it probably won't...but I can't help being scared of it.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Those who don't get the windshield down thing hasn't taken it off road and enjoyed the experience.
Try it just once and your convenience. Use your Jeep as a Jeep and you will get it!

Not true, I don't get it... and I've owned a CJ-5 & VW Thing.

If you want that open feeling, a buggy is where it's at.

 

[zouch]

there are retention straps to prevent the windshield from moving when it’s folded down.

Off-road? All the time. It gives you great visibility and you can see where you're going be leaning forward over the wheel. I often find myself standing up, looking down in front of me, while managing the clutch and the gas pedal. Pretty fun.

On the road? I'm tempted to say "never in a million years". I mean, getting hit by a bug at 90 km/h has to hurt bad, really bad. I don't even wanna try. Plus, even if it's engineered not to do so, i'm afraid to catch the right gust of wind and get the windshield to fly back in my face. I know it probably won't...but I can't help being scared of it.

 

[JLBoucher]

there are retention straps to prevent the windshield from moving when it’s folded down.

Oh, I know that. I know, man. But I can't help it. I just have Nam flashbacks (or flashforwards, in that case?) of my windshield flying back in my face. I just don't like the idea.

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