Sliding Rear Window options and recommendations

Gentlemen,

If all goes well my truck will be going for paint sometime in the next several weeks...maybe months, and one thing I really need to do is install a sliding rear window...preferably a tinted one I guess, to keep  the sun from burning the back of my neck...lol.

Anyway, I've read on here where a couple of you have had fitment issues with the aftermarket windows, and I wanted to ask if anybody had any recommendations on windows that are known to fit correctly right out of the box?

I stopped at a glass shop yesterday, and after a quick search the guy said that there were no "OEM fit" windows in-stock in the entire country (That country being Canada, and stuff not being in-stock is not unusual). He said an aftermarket SRW was available overnight (in-stock a 150 miles away) but he could not tell me what brand it was.

I see CR Lawrence lists an OEM fit window that comes with the rubber seal already installed. Does anybody know if that window fits properly? It seems like some of the fitment issues have come with buying the window and gasket/seals separately?

http://www.crlaurence.ca/crlapps/showline/offerpage.aspx?ProductID=23607&GroupID=12146&History=30587:21770:1336&ModelID=12146&pom=0

Rembrant wrote

I really need to do is install a sliding rear window...preferably a tinted one I guess, to keep  the sun from burning the back of my neck...lol.

Is that why we are sometimes called rednecks?  

Seriously though, most of what I've read about fitment problems has been the factory window and aftermarket seals.  At least I think that's the case.

But let's see what the others have to say.

OEM fit means that the gasket has a double (or triple!) wide glass channel.
The factory sliders went all the way to the edges.

For an aftermarket window you need a gasket for single glazing.

I installed a new CR Laurence dark grey slider a couple of years ago, but have never tried one with the gasket attached.

The window I bought had plastic 'flange extensions' on the lower two corners. (I don't know what else to call them)
These overcame the failing of the previous slider, where the gasket wasn't forced to seal in the corners.

Edit:  I like the idea of the gasket attached to the window at the factory.
No more droopy gasket falling off the flange, no more pulling it off in the corners with the cord as you roll the gasket into the cab.

About a month after installing my rear seal from NPD, I'm still not happy with the fitment. Does the truck leak inside? Nope. Is my window channel rusting out from the seal not fully covering the bottom two corners of the channel? Maybe.

Thanks gentlemen,

I'm going to make a few more calls tomorrow and see what I can find out from the local glass shops.

With no AC, I at least have to have a working rear window.

If you do go with the attached gasket window would you report back?
Thanks!  

It can be frustrating trying to get a loose gasket window into place by yourself.
(though I'm no 'expert')

ArdWrknTrk wrote

If you do go with the attached gasket window would you report back?
Thanks!  

Yes sir, I certainly will. Part of me likes the look of the plain rear glass, but it is like a magnifying glass on the back of your head/neck/shoulders in the sun. A sliding rear window will be a welcome addition.

Speaking of the fitment...I noticed that even my plain back glass doesn't fit those lower left and right corners 100%. You can't see it at a glance, but if you look close you can see that they don't fill the corners perfectly. I assumed it was the original glass, but maybe it isn't.

I got lucky, I scored a power sliding rear window (nice on a crew cab or super cab) from the same 1996 F350 I got the interior and wheels from. It is tinted and the center slides to the driver's side. The camper shell has a front window with two sliding sections in the center, end result, with both open I can reach into the camper shell from the rear seat.

Here is the one I recently ordered:
http://crlaurence.com/crlapps/showline/offerpage.aspx?Productid=87860&GroupID=1482&History=30587:21770:1336:1383&ModelID=1482

With this gasket (I wanted the chrome rope):
https://www.rubbertherightway.com/1986-ford-truck-restoration-parts-87257-prd1.htm?pSearchQueryId=2605960

Haven't installed them yet as my truck is still waiting for paint but I did a fair amount of research before ordering so hope the combo will work when the time comes.

Thanks for the feedback kramttocs,

Please let us know how it fits when you get around to installing it. I'm hoping to order one soon myself, although I haven't decided which one yet. I'd like to order the OEM fit offering that CRL sells, but it is also quite a bit more money.

Sun???? in Canada????
must be magnifying off the Ice.

I have the stock slider, and the best advice to give is get a steel locking flip tab.
The plastic one last a week...

reamer wrote

Sun???? in Canada????
must be magnifying off the Ice.

I have the stock slider, and the best advice to give is get a steel locking flip tab.
The plastic one last a week...

Hahaha...you're talking like northern Connecticut is the Bahamas...lol.

Understood on the latch, I'll be sure to get the metal one.

Found mine at
Showerdoordirect.com
item;  MR-NQDY-A6PC
"Replacement Metal Backslider Latch"

I just commented and put an Amazon link to the CR Laurence DVL-2 latch in the new users sub-forum.


ETA:
Ron, The great nation of Canada 🇨🇦 is NOT the U.K. or the PNW.

I know the CRL glass I linked to above has the metal latch (was one of the criteria) but not sure if they kept the plastic one as part of the OEM version or not.

Crl windows use their DVL-2 metal latch.
At least my cheap model did.

Cory, have you seen this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1973-1997-Ford-F100-F150-Prestige-Aluminum-Sliding-Rear-Window-504/312697303812?fits=Year%3A1980%7CModel%3AF-100&hash=item48ce363304:g:PmIAAOSwTuhdKJJ4

1986F150Six wrote

Cory, have you seen this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1973-1997-Ford-F100-F150-Prestige-Aluminum-Sliding-Rear-Window-504/312697303812?fits=Year%3A1980%7CModel%3AF-100&hash=item48ce363304:g:PmIAAOSwTuhdKJJ4

No sir, but I've saved it for future viewing.

I'm still waiting to see how much it's going to cost to paint the rest of the truck before I commit to luxurious options like sliding rear windows...lol.

That's a good find! Personally I think the aluminum frame sliders like that look the best.


Update: Looks like it didn't last long :)

Man, I really do love the early aluminum frame sliders.