probaly a dumb question about the liftgate glass, BUT i cant find the answer

[powerboatr]

On Halloween i am pulling my car hauler trailer loaded down with HAY and trick or treaters around our neighborhood. Last time i used my f150 and kept the back window open so i could hear the adults (monitors) if i needed to stop or slow down
so this time, using the expy, can i roll at 5 to 7 mph with the rear glass up? it looks flimsy to me, but i cant find any thing to say its ok or not...


will post up pics Tuesday of the trailer and its scarecrows ready to roll.

kids loved it last time, sang songs, got scared by creepy witches at the safe houses.
pics are from last time, this year i am making two more stuffed guys to ride along and be creepy

 

[Plati]

i drive 45-50 with liftgate glass up on the way home from the dump and never considered it an issue. rear side windows open too ... to flush all the bad air & any bugs out

(I use the Beater for dump trips)

 

[Trainmaster]

You guys know how to have fun in Texas! Get me out of New York!

Except for the standard cautions about asphyxiating yourself, you'll have no problems. I've done it faster than that. Just look it over first to make sure nothing's loose or will fall off.

By the way, the owners manual for most years tells you not to do it. But gosh, what do they know?

 

[Plati]

.... Just look it over first to make sure nothing's loose or will fall off.....

Good point, the hinges tend to degrade and fail with time
Going over a BIG BUMP might be an issue too

and don't use a toaster in the bathtub!

 

[powerboatr]

going to start in the morning getting trailer converted to the scare wagon, picked up the straw this afternoon, going with taller sides this time and more stuffed coveralls.

 

[Habbibie]

You'll be fine with the glass open, the trunk light on the headliner in the back will not shut off so expect that.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

I'd suggest getting a bungee on the glass hook to put some tension on the glass so the bungee uses the shock springs rather than the hinge stop.
Doesn't the back have a manual override switch for the lights? If not you can fashion a hook from a wire coat hanger and use that to lock the latch. Make it long enough to retrieve & flag it so you don't close the glass on it.

 

[1955moose]

As long as the hydraulic lift struts are sound it shouldn't be a problem. The only issue is will you have kids or adults in the third seat. Cops won't like kids back there with the window up, even with seat belts. Adults back there is kinda cramped if their over 5'9 inches tall.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[powerboatr]

here are the two scare crows, one is digitally enhanced with larger than normal boosums for a scarecrow, i Just have to add the straw on weds afternoon
i added lights and a 4" plastic pipe all the way around to hold in the straw...some reason the pic didnt send from my phone ?

no kids in the expy, just me, everyone else is on the trailer, i dont want a bunch of unknown kids crawling around inside with candy

 

[chuck s]

The owner's manual is contradictory. It first states to not drive with either the liftgate or liftgate window open; then describes how to to it. Ford has conveniently ebgineered the Expedition liftgate to dump everything immediately on opening even when parked. After grocery shopping I typically open the window first and verify the beer and wine is safe. (This same engineering puts anything left on the seats in the area next to the doors with the same results.)

-- Chuck

 

[Munkiebunz3]

The owner's manual is contradictory. It first states to not drive with either the liftgate or liftgate window open; then describes how to to it. Ford has conveniently ebgineered the Expedition liftgate to dump everything immediately on opening even when parked. After grocery shopping I typically open the window first and verify the beer and wine is safe. (This same engineering puts anything left on the seats in the area next to the doors with the same results.)

-- Chuck

I made a car rule to never open the lift gate without first opening the glass & checking. Wife made quite a stink about it until she broke a bottle of jam she made a special 2 hr trip to get.

 

[Black]

Why not just pull the glass for the evening??
2 bolts hold the brackets to the glass, 2 clips for the defroster wires, 2 clips to pull the struts.

Should take no more than 10 minutes to pull off and put back on.

 

[Expatriot]

The comment on the weak hinges is valid, one of ours broke on a bumpy back road while the glass was locked in place. The steel bolts in the aluminum hinge caused the bolt to be eaten away. Best option is to back the bolt out gently (the aluminum threads are fragile too..) and check them. You might want to go to a wrecker and get a couple of spares before you do this so you don't have to tape the glass in place. One hinge was fine so it's note necessarily an age related failure. Our dealership quoted $500 for a new set, but I think the Explorer uses the same hinge so check the wrecker.

 

[Trainmaster]

The hinges are $43 each from Tasca Ford.

 

[MyExpedition2016]

I've done it many times at 60mph with things sticking out of the rear glass. The biggest caution is to open other windows in the car to ensure you don't breathe all the Carbon Monoxide coming back in from the rear glass. That's the reason they say don't do it because you are drafting all the fumes into the rear window. Be safe.

 

[Adieu]

NO

2007 - 2014 expies can, 2015+ expies and all 3rd gen Gators CANNOT

You start catching your own exhaust. Its annoying as hell

 

[Adieu]

You'll be fine with the glass open, the trunk light on the headliner in the back will not shut off so expect that.

Just slide the lights into full-OFF position and it wont