Windshield Lower Metrics

[RussJeep1]

Fellow enthusiasts, if a picture is worth a 1000 words, the following one best describes, I think, why your Wrangler's windshield folds:

It does so as a "hat tip" to prior generations of Jeep, particularly those of the armed forces, who in turn did so simply to fit in a crate.

Now, there's nothing wrong with tradition in general, or in this case Jeep tradition in specific. First, it lays homage to those who brought the rig (or speaking in general terms: way of life) to today's incarnation. Second, historical ideas often came to be with some significant purpose that we best understand, particular in today's context, before we abandon them.

I must admit, something: I'm not quite sure I can put my finger on it, would make me feel bad if FCA did away with this feature in future models, and yet, if the rig's cost went down accordingly, or the money was thrown into "power windows that go up with one button press," (sarcasm that every other vehicle with power windows does this) something tells me I could get use to it. For me it's a little like new iphones dropping their 1/8" ear phone plug, much that I use wireless headphones now.

So much money goes into designing features, from rear view mirrors and adaptive cruise control placement, to roof engineering to accommodate this.

I wonder how many owners don't even know or remember this feature.​

Heck, I'll bet the few of you who'd even contemplate trying this would be thwarted by your inability to remove "frozen" on windshield wipers, sans a wiper blade removal tool.

Then, if you got the wipers off, and lowered the windshield, I suspect you'd don the "been there done that tee shirt," and likely not repeat it.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this feature should be optional. Maybe off roaders swear by it, although in this day and age with the additional of various ground clearance cameras, I'd question that.

"Well, it's just cool that the Wrangler can do that." True, but at what cost?

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[Chocolate Thunder]

Interesting. I don’t yet have my Jeep. Presuming it does ever arrive, it’ll be my first. I plan to drop the windshield while off reading at least once. Because I can. However I don’t see it as something that I will do often. For reasons of sheer practicality. Having never done it, my reasoning might be flawed. But I don’t see the benefits of it in most situations off-road and none on road. Other than “Hey! Look at me, I’m in a Jeep! I can lower my windshield and you can’t! I’m so cool!” Maybe I’d see it as more beneficial if it actually laid flat and out if the way like the one you pictured. But the position of it when laid down and the way the upper A pillars stick up in your line of sight seem obtrusive to me.

If I lost this feature to save some money or gain other features I think I’d go for it.

 

[CypressWrangler]

I am still trying to get my wiper blades off! I swear they were put on with JB weld.

 

[plex]

If you ask me, I am willing to exchange the foldability of windshield with less rubber seals, less wind noise, and less water leak.

 

[RussJeep1]

I am still trying to get my wiper blades off! I swear they were put on with JB weld.

Jon: You've got to pull with the equal force on opposite sides that only a windshield arm pulling tool can provide.

..or do you have one and still unable to effect this?

 

[RussJeep1]

I wonder what FCA was thinking when they included the fold down windshield in the JL.

I want to guess that if they had known how many first time buyers were going to buy it, they might have rethought that decision.

Then again, perhaps a fair portion of those first time buyers pulled the trigger because the long time Wrangler owners did so first: which they may have not done as much had the windshield fold down not been kept.

I guess that in over the decade the JL was designed, that since effort was already put in to keep and streamline the design with only 4 bolts, plus keep the Wrangler unique, that it was kept. FCA understands that it walks a fine line between paying homage to brand loyalists: likely early adopters of the new model, while incorporating all the features in the JL that allows it to complete with other SUVs and offer mass market appeal.

If sales are any indication, even though I personally would have rather paid less, or seen my purchase price go into some other features, FCA got it right, very right.

 

[CypressWrangler]

Jon: You've got to pull with the equal force on opposite sides that only a windshield arm pulling tool can provide.

..or do you have one and still unable to effect this?

Nope, dont have one.....not important enough for me to get one either......guess I need to mark the box of never but I like the option.

 

[seguerski]

Jon: You've got to pull with the equal force on opposite sides that only a windshield arm pulling tool can provide.

..or do you have one and still unable to effect this?

rocking them back and forth in little bits helps the first time... after that, it's fairly easy to remove them.

 

[DesmoDog]

Too funny. On the way back from lunch five minutes ago we were talking about this very feature. I told the story how a friend of mine bought a Jeep a bunch of years ago, lowered the windshield, took it out for a drive and quickly became a member of the "I've done it once, no need to do it again" club.

As for myself.. the plan is to order a Wrangler in March. (only a Cherokee and a few Grand Cherokees to this point). I highly doubt I will ever drop the windshield on it, and not having that feature wouldn't bother me in the least.

 

[MacombRoger]

I am still trying to get my wiper blades off! I swear they were put on with JB weld.

Me too. I thought it would be cool to put the windshield down one day over the summer. Got the passenger side off with no problem, but the driver side would not budge. I gave up for 2018. Maybe I will try in 2019.

I put it down a few times in my old TJ, but I hated that the visors and rearview mirror were out on the hood then. I think the new design with the frame staying behind should be cool, if I could only get that wiper blade off!!!

 

[OldBird]

If it were an extra cost option I probably would not have ordered it. As for whether I will really take it down or not, I will at least try it a couple of times. This will be my first rig with a foldable windshield, so I don't know where I'll end up.

There were times when it would have really helped when I was in my old Grand Wagoneer or my Cherokee before that, and I got a bit jealous of the Wranglers and CJs on the run that put theirs down. But whether I use it regularly or not is still to be determined.

 

[mike_b_81]

Fellow enthusiasts, if a picture is worth a 1000 words, the following one best describes, I think, why your Wrangler's windshield folds:

It does so as a "hat tip" to prior generations of Jeep, particularly those of the armed forces, who in turn did so simply to fit in a crate.

Now, there's nothing wrong with tradition in general, or in this case Jeep tradition in specific. First, it lays homage to those who brought the rig (or speaking in general terms: way of life) to today's incarnation. Second, historical ideas often came to be with some significant purpose that we best understand, particular in today's context, before we abandon them.

I must admit, something: I'm not quite sure I can put my finger on it, would make me feel bad if FCA did away with this feature in future models, and yet, if the rig's cost went down accordingly, or the money was thrown into "power windows that go up with one button press," (sarcasm that every other vehicle with power windows does this) something tells me I could get use to it. For me it's a little like new iphones dropping their 1/8" ear phone plug, much that I use wireless headphones now.

So much money goes into designing features, from rear view mirrors and adaptive cruise control placement, to roof engineering to accommodate this.

I wonder how many owners don't even know or remember this feature.​

Heck, I'll bet the few of you who'd even contemplate trying this would be thwarted by your inability to remove "frozen" on windshield wipers, sans a wiper blade removal tool.

Then, if you got the wipers off, and lowered the windshield, I suspect you'd don the "been there done that tee shirt," and likely not repeat it.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this feature should be optional. Maybe off roaders swear by it, although in this day and age with the additional of various ground clearance cameras, I'd question that.

"Well, it's just cool that the Wrangler can do that." True, but at what cost?

Where does one get one of these Jeeps in a box, that would actually be pretty cool to have.

 

[ThirtyOne]

I have never done it on my prior Wrangler or this one and it wouldn't bother me at all if this particular feature was taken away. I have no interest in ever putting it down.

I put the top down and take the doors off all the time. Take those features away and I would have waited on the Bronco. But folding the windshield isn't interesting to me.

I think some of this Jeep tradition stuff is overblown. Go inch by inch and compare the current JL to a WWII Willlys. Nothing is the same except the general shape. But I loved my YJ with square headlights so I'm not really a purist.

 

[RussJeep1]

I'm sorry, I redact all I said

 

[RussJeep1]

Serious: FCA doesn't even "go to the bathroom" on stuff like this without market research; even on things far less critical.

Apparently when test subjects were confronted with the possibility of such a feature's removal; where I'll guess that population was skewed towards Wrangler loyalists, they said:

"oh no....! don't get rid of that...I love that about the Wrangler---(even though I never/rarely use it.)"

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