I love how 4runners can open the rear window. Always thought it’d be nice if the discovery did that. Making it actually slide down sounds painstakingly hard, but I had another idea. Tilt brackets at the top of the window with a lock at the bottom, and struts connecting to the window and door frame to allow the window to stay up. Similar to rear windows on bed caps. The window would rear on the outer seal and get pulled right with the lower lock/latch. Am I crazy? Has anyone thought of this?

 

You could buy a smaller opening window that fits inside the shape of stock rear window.
Then trace the stock window glass shape on to an aluminum sheet the same thicknes as the glass.
Cut and mount the opening window into the aluminum sheet, then install the aluminum sheet just like you would install the stock glass.
Put rtv silicone around the inside and outside of the rubber seal, and that should do it.

 

It sounds like you're talking about the back glass tilting upwards to open, like this:


You'd need to solve for the wiper, which rests on the glass but is mounted on the rear door itself, as well as the spare tire, which will block the window from opening upwards. I imagine it would be difficult to get hinges that will fit on the smaller frame at the top of the rear door and still secure the (large/heavy) piece of glass.

Edit: Even if you did fab a version of the window that would open the way you suggest, it doesn't seem realistic that you'd be able to drive around with the glass open, which is the nice part of the 4Runner's implementation of this feature.

 

Good idea re: aluminum sheet. That would make it easier to solve the problems of rear tire being in the way and small frame at the top. Don’t necessarily need the entire window to open.

Rear wiper would most likely be deleted.

I’ll come up with some concept sketches and report back... If I ever finish this project maybe some sort of kit can be made up if others are interested.

 

There are old school hinges that lock in place too, vs relying on gas struts to hold a window open at highway speeds.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LandRover-D...IAAOSwwp9dkLKS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LandRover-D...IAAOSwwp9dkLKS

Same concept here with the rear side windows

 

Too much work... easier to focus on sliders or tilt out side windows!

 

you do bring up a very good point...

I also remembered I just installed a rear ladder, which takes up a considerable amount of the window space. Seems like a project fit for someone w/put a ladder.