Soft top plastic window split in cold weather

[BroncoA512021]

I have a 2021 and live in subzero NY. I never open up the back when it’s cold and have not heard of Any issues due to cold weather.

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[zombie]

I'm on my 5th winter with my Bronco and chances are it gets colder here in New Brunswick, Canada (next door to Maine) than it ever gets in TN. My Bronco doesn't even sleep in a garage and outside of the scratches I detest, my soft top windows haven't split like that.

 

[Mjasi3]

Ok. Mic owner here… if I’m reading this right… so you can’t open the back top to even put in stuff if it’s near or below freezing with a soft top? Wow. Completely useless here in Chicago.

 

[NC_Oak]

I open mine when it's cold, which is a relative concept of course. I've opened it plenty of times when it's below freezing out. You can feel higher resistance when you lift it. Ive always figured if breaks I'll replace it. It's too convenient to not use it

Right where OP's damage is right at a heavy fold when you lift the top. May not happen to all but Im not suprprised at all.

 

[BreezyNVegas]

Mine cracked 2 weeks ago in Denver. I'm from Vegas and didn't even think about it freezing. I found one on ebay for $200.

 

[ricstang]

My 2021 lasted 4 winters. 3 weeks ago I made the mistake of opening my soft top when it was below zero. Cracked the passenger side windor. New one cost me $400 .

 

[zombie]

If someone sold replacement side panels with glass windows, I would be all over that.

 

[Dan00Hawk]

Ok. Mic owner here… if I’m reading this right… so you can’t open the back top to even put in stuff if it’s near or below freezing with a soft top? Wow. Completely useless here in Chicago.

Far from useless... I'm in Chicago, and my Bronco is a softop. 45000 miles and it stays outside 365 days a year. In the winter, I make Costco trips, load my 4 Aussies in the back, load in suitcases, and work stuff. The back gate opens just fine. If I need to go higher than the bottom of the softop opening (almost never), I can load it from the backseat area. A hardtop is probably better for you though if you don't think you can deal with a softop.

 

[Kevinboy]

I want to thank everyone for their responses and thanks Ducati for diagram Of soft top parts in case I have to eat this one . I did a pop in at my dealership East Tennessee ford and they were super nice and took pictures and said they will submit warranty and was told he doesn’t see a problem (famous last words lol). I can say I learned a lesson and it’s pathetic that I can’t lift it when cold. Oh and btw my garage even when single digits only went as low as 32

 

[Kevinboy]

I should also make it clear that I love the soft top and open the first section whenever possible and it was near 70 today and opened up on trip home from dealer. I have nothing against hard top had 2017 wrangler hard rock and was ok with that but always wanted a “convertible“ and I’m loving it

 

[michelle227]

Its just a super cheap clear plastic need a better grade.....did they ever cheap put haha.

It is no different than the windows on MG's or even my Miata...yes, the early NA's had plastic and I still have the same top as when I bought it 20ish years ago.

Care is needed although I don't see the pool noodle trick working on the Bronco windows.

Im sure some Jeep owners had issues through the years as well.

When you have non-glass windows, different care is necessary. It doesn't mean a manufacturer 'went cheap.'

 

[23OBX2.7]

Upholstery, outdoor fabrics, marine fabrics, glass shops will all have clear material that upholstery can sew in...there are many different grades and temp performance specs.

 

[BroncoA512021]

If someone sold replacement side panels with glass windows, I would be all over that.

There is a great solution coming very soon from www.xrack.us

 

[Bronco Naughty Pines]

Those canvas side windows look to be the answer in your cool climate regions, just swap them out in spring and winter. I'm not a boat person, but I bet a boat top maker could replace the plastic windows cheaper than buying new ones from ford.

 

[Black Bronco Convertible]

could always switch to an eTop for their much thicker windows designed to withstand all the folding

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