Why didn't Ford offer rolling rear window?

[maxmxa]

Didn't the original late 70s Bronco have rolling rear window?
It seems Ford could have done better than just copy the same tailgate and window from Jeep. Why not put a rolling window in the rear so it can be opened up for occasional long items or to cool the inside with the top on?
This is one favorite feature that Toyota 4Runner has offered for years.

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[Corsair]

Didn't the original late 70s Bronco have rolling rear window?
It seems Ford could have done better than just copy the same tailgate and window from Jeep. Why not put a rolling window in the rear so it can be opened up for occasional long items or to cool the inside with the top on?
This is one favorite feature that Toyota 4Runner has offered for years.

The original Bronco did not have a roll down window. I was hoping for one though.

 

[JaxGtc]

Too much slamming of the tailgate would make a rolling rear window susceptible to damage probably. With the tire, that thing has a lot of weight on it.

 

[Todkavonic]

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

 

[jtzako]

There might be extra reinforcement in the door to handle the weight of the spare on there. Might not be any room for a window + mechanism. That and a swing door would be moving faster at the outside when closing and could be more prone to breaking the glass.

 

[ATLUTDFAN]

I also heard that the 70’s owners had to replace the window motor repeatedly and that it was extremely painful for the owners.

 

[maxmxa]

The late 70 model Broncos had a rolling rear window

 

[King Luis]

Could be engineering to make it work would just cause too many problems in the long run to have it work. A lot of parts and possibly an issue with the additional weight with the tire on the door and not to mention that the window would still be sticking out a little bit because it's the same size or bigger than the door its going into.

 

[ATLBronco75]

I had the full-size Bronco back in the day and the rear window was a mess. 4Runner gets away with it because it's a full tailgate like a hatchback.

 

[Straight 6]

You could just unlatch the rear roof clamshell and drive around, it'd probably roll for a minute after it bounced free from the truck

 

[SwankyTiger]

the rear tailgates of the 78-96 broncos weighed a ton and they all seem to rust badly.

 

[EvlNvrDys]

This has already been discussed in detail around here. Some love the tailgate and roll down window (myself definitely included). Many ways they could've done it with the tire swing gate and then the tailgate just like the FSB's. I've owned 3 in the past and never once had an issue with that rear window.

But unfortunately they didn't go that route. Sure they had their reason.

 

[Squatch]

I loved it as part of my 79, but it's a maintenance issue--just one more thing to go wrong. It also is susceptible to the elements and without a swinging tire carrier, it would limit the spare carrying capacity. That may be the biggest reason. I hope the stock carrier can hold 37s due to that tradeoff.

 

[EcobeastRyan]

I would hate to drive around with the top off then by accident the rear window rolls up and the draft on the highway shatters the window

 

[Mattwings]

I had a 90 Bronco with the roll down rear window. Even in the salt free Pacific Northwest it needed to be disassembled, cleaned and lubed at 8 years old and it was still touchy. In MI the Broncos I dealt with as a kid really had issues with salt, moisture, rust etc. I love the simplicity of the new Bronco window!

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