I have noticed with the freedom hard top on and the windows down on my 2 door X, that the air flows better with the rear window open. Does anyone know if prolonged driving like this can damage the the shocks on the rear window. How many of you hard toppers do this?

Thanks

 

not very often only when Iam hauling something that is to long

 

Thanks Toad, I will have look into the laws on that.

I know i've seen others riding like this. Maybe its a Alton, IL thing!

 

i drive with the window up all the time. they air flow is much better with the freedom top off and my son in the carseat in the back.
if i leave it up all day the the struts complain a bit when i close the window. dont know if it is dust getting wiped off by the seal or what - but they just feel dry. open/close again and they feel fine.

 

Don't drive down a dusty road with the back glass open.

 

While I've done it a number of times when I owned my TJ, I don't suggest this on a consistent basis.
Atl JK's comment of doing it on a dusty road is part of the reason why, but it's not just the dust/dirt. The exhaust is my issue. The exhaust exits the very back of the vehicle and will get sucked in to the rear window as part of the airflow behind the JK. Leave the window open, and drive down a dirt/dusty road and see what the airflow looks like. It swirls around behind the vehicle and finds it's way into the open window.

 

I tried this a few weeks ago, after a few miles on bumpy roads, the struts started rattling - and not in a good way. I'm thinking of fabricating a bracket that attaches to the spare tire to hold the window and keep it from bouncing around.
It's definitely much nicer with the back open, no getting hit on the side of the head with windflow.

 

4 door JK's solve this problem.. open back side windows and good to go.

my issue wouldnt be the struts.. but the fact that the struts are mounted directly to the glass... wouldnt want the rear window to shatter on the highway when theres a convertible with some hot chicks driving it getting a face full of glass....


then again, itll make for a good conversation starter

 

Thanks guys. I was curious if anyone had ever bent a strut from this and you have answered that. I too get the rattling but it seems pretty infrequent on the road. As far as th exhaust and dust, yes it will come back in but I have never smelled any fumes. Keep in mind I only open the back window with the windows down at least if not door off so there is adequate airflow. Dust however settles and I do not reccomend thi mode of travel for a dusty road.