Sliding Rear Windows on pickups

[MapleLeafFarmer]

anyone have any experience with trucks that have sliding rear windows with a cap on the bed?

I am adding a fibreglass truck cap over the bed of a Ford F150 with a sliding rear window. Any experience if this screws up how the sliding window vents or works?

Without cap window venting works great... wondering is new cap will makes changes.

thanks in advance

 

[seville009]

I had a 2006 F350 CC with a sliding rear window and a Leer bed cap.

The rear window still vented fine.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Had one on a regular cab truck in the 80's. With the cap on, the rear window would still "vent", but the airflow would swirl more in the cab, and not just free flow out the open back window. Still plenty of air movement. Also, there was much more noise coming up from the drivetrain and echoing against the cap's front wall and into the back of the truck cab. Was very noticeable increase in noise. Where doing the same with the rear cap off made no increase in noise echoing into the back of the cab.

 

[bigtiller]

Had one on a regular cab truck in the 80's. With the cap on, the rear window would still "vent", but the airflow would swirl more in the cab, and not just free flow out the open back window. Still plenty of air movement. Also, there was much more noise coming up from the drivetrain and echoing against the cap's front wall and into the back of the truck cab. Was very noticeable increase in noise. Where doing the same with the rear cap off made no increase in noise echoing into the back of the cab.

That is exactly my experience with a '97 chevy.

 

[Thomas]

Living on dusty dirt road you might more dust in the cab.

 

[ponytug]

My cap had a 360 degree seal, so no additional dust in the cab. Lots of noise for sure. As a result, we never had the window open in motion. Parked, the sliding window was a great way to get into the cab from the bed (e.g. camping), or grab stuff from the back of the bed from the cab.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Living on dusty dirt road you might more dust in the cab.

thanks.
the gravel road from town to my place is about 11 miles one way and not another building to be seen in between
until I am a couple hundred yards from my place. So dust is something I have no choice but to live with.

 

[Oaktree]

Parked, the sliding window was a great way to get into the cab from the bed (e.g. camping), or grab stuff from the back of the bed from the cab.

You must be a much smaller (and likely more nimble) guy than me. No way could I fit thru a slider cab window.

Only time I had a truck with a cap was back in the 80s. No real issues with opening the window, except that the aerodynamics made rain come in the back window, which it didn't do without the cap on. Didn't notice any issues with exhaust, dirt or any increase in road noise vs no cap.

 

[ponytug]

You must be a much smaller (and likely more nimble) guy than me. No way could I fit thru a slider cab window.

Only time I had a truck with a cap was back in the 80s. No real issues with opening the window, except that the aerodynamics made rain come in the back window, which it didn't do without the cap on. Didn't notice any issues with exhaust, dirt or any increase in road noise vs no cap.

"Where there is a will, there is a way..."


Actually, I used to go spelunking, so it never crossed my mind that the sliding glass opening was anything other than large.

All the best,

Peter

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evening Maple Leaf,
I have had four pickups, the first three had the sliding rear window, 1982 3/4 ton Chevy, 1989 S-10 Chevy, 2000 Dodge Ram 1500. When ever I had the rear window open I would get anything that was blowing around in the bed, into the cab via the sliding window !

I now have a Ford F-150 and elected to not get a sliding rear window, for that reason. To be fair, I never had a cab on any of those trucks !

 

[BravoXray]

I now have a Ford F-150 and elected to not get a sliding rear window, for that reason. To be fair, I never had a cab on any of those trucks !

Well, there's your problem!
Did you mean cap?

 

[Topzide]

They also make an inflatable boot for between the truck and cap. Had one many moons ago on a Toyota. Worked great with air flow and kept the noise at bay. Hope this helps.

 

[Oaktree]

They also make an inflatable boot for between the truck and cap.

It would seem to me they'd wear the paint off where they contacted due to the cab and bed not necessarily moving together.

 

[oosik]

Both my previous truck and current truck had/have sliding rear windows. Not even in my wildest dreams could I slip/slide/wiggle thru when fully open.

However - the wife and I were out camping in NW Montana once. Got locked out of the truck. After quite a time - got the rear window open on the Ford. The wife - with my help - was able to slide thru and save the day. The wife had a few scrapes/bruises - the rear window survived with no damage.

 

[scott_vt]

Well, there's your problem!
Did you mean cap?

Good Morning BravoXray,
Yes I meant cap, sorry, I also noted the OP mentioned with a cap ! I was just voicing my views about sliding rear windows in pickups in general !

Thanks for the correction on my poor spelling !

 

[RandyT]

Good Evening Maple Leaf,
I have had four pickups, the first three had the sliding rear window, 1982 3/4 ton Chevy, 1989 S-10 Chevy, 2000 Dodge Ram 1500. When ever I had the rear window open I would get anything that was blowing around in the bed, into the cab via the sliding window !

I now have a Ford F-150 and elected to not get a sliding rear window, for that reason. To be fair, I never had a cab on any of those trucks !

You learn very quickly to not leave anything light and loose in the bed or otherwise it will bounce off the inside of the windshield.

 

[ponytug]

It would seem to me they'd wear the paint off where they contacted due to the cab and bed not necessarily moving together.

Yes, the bed and cap do flex away and along the back of the cab as the frame flexes, and it is worse on crew cab duallies. I can't speak to all designs and all pickups, but in 400,000 miles, many of them on gravel and dirt roads, there wasn't visible wear on our old crew cab dually.

YMMV!

All the best,

Peter

 

[not2old]

Had a 1988 F350 with sliding rear window and put a slider in the factory canopy window so that I could carry long boards easier. Used it once or twice in five years and watched it grow mold in the grooves. Ordered my 1990 model without a slider and still don't regret that.

 

[Topzide]

It would seem to me they'd wear the paint off where they contacted due to the cab and bed not necessarily moving together.

That the nice part about it being inflatable! Provides a cushion but doesn't slide around like you would think. They even come with velcro steps to hold in place if you want.