Quick-release doors and a removable roof make the Jeep Wrangler hysterically fun to drive, whether you’re hardcore off-roading or just bouncing to the mall. We took the idea a step further. Did you know the windshield is removable too?
From myself and Freddy “Tavarish” Hernandez, here’s the comprehensive guide on how to completely dismantle a brand-new Jeep Wrangler, including dropping the roof, doors, and windshield. It’s also a breakdown of what it’s like to drive in what I would call “True Jeep Mode.”
A fold-down windshield has been a Jeep feature since the beginning. Or at least “Since 1941,” as is emblazoned proudly on the Wrangler’s dashboard.
The idea is to markedly improve obstacle visibility off-road and generally make it easier to shoot nazis from the front passenger seat.
While other “elemental” off-road vehicles like the early Land Rovers, Ford Broncos, International Scouts and Toyota Land Cruisers had all pretty much 86'd their own fold-down windshield feature by the end of the 1960's Jeep kept it around.
The CJ-7 had a fold-down windshield. The first “Wrangler,” the square-headlight YJ, had a fold-down windshield. Even the modernized-for-1997 TJ and yes, the current bodystyle 2007-to-present JK can theoretically have its front glass dropped by the owner.
Now as you might have guessed, the actually utilizing this great feature got more convoluted with each generation. That’s why you’ve probably never seen an owner drop the glass on a JK, or any remotely modern Jeep for that matter.
But we would not be deterred. We set to figure out (and show you) exactly how to drop the windshield on the current Wrangler, and what it’s like to drive without it.
Ever since we were introduced to the current Wrangler almost a decade ago I’ve been dying to see just how hard it is to get this done, what it’s like to experience, and whether or not the thing leaks when it’s all back together. Admit it, you’re curious too right?
At this year’s Easter Jeep Safari, the 50th anniversary of America’s biggest off-road meet-up and the 75th anniversary of the Jeep brand as we know it today, we finally got our chance to give this a try.