Hello, back again with another MOD question. One of the other things I am considering doing is replacing the stock windshield which is basically just that flat glass that’s not tinted or anything at all. The upgrade would be getting a rear window that is tinted because I do live in a very warm climate and the tinted window would help keep the cab cooler, at least in theory it would... The other component to this would be to possibly include that sliding window feature that is available in other models. Has anyone done this? How difficult and/or costly would something like this be? Thanks in advance for any information, suggestions, advice.

 

A tint shop could obviously get the tint part done for you.

As for the replacing the window.. about a year ago I found a Lariat parts truck. Got a nice score from it, and I too liked the idea of upgrading from my XLT's flat glass window to the sliding window from the Lariat. The owner and I tried to get it free with some utility knives and had no luck, so our try ended there. I'm sure a company like SafeLite could get the windows switched over for you. Then there is the matter of the headliner from another model/truck that has the sliding window switch. You'll also need the window motor that opens the sliding glass. Your truck 'should' have the wiring present for the motor, tucked behind the back wall insulation underneath the window. I'd imagine you'll also have to activate the switch via FORScan.

Could be cheap if you find the right parts truck. Could be expensive if you buy all pieces separately. Hardest part will be replacing the window itself.

 

It had not occurred to me to get it from a parts truck. I was just thinking of going to Ford or Safelite or whomever and saying I have a 2017 XL with the standard rear window that I’d like to upgrade to a sliding window.

Also did not realize that was electrical, I thought that sliding window was a manual thing. 😂 But, makes sense now that you said it - everything is powered these days, right? 🙂

So, Looks like the tinting laws for TN are 70% VLT in the windshield and 35% everywhere else. Could that really help keep things cooler on the interior?

 

I too wish I had a slider in my 2020 F150 reg cab, but unfortunately not an option from the factory. All my other trucks had a manual slider, and I'd use it all the time!

I see that CR Laurence does make an aftermarket manual slider for our trucks, but can't really find many reviews of this particular slider. I'm tempted to visit one of the local autoglass shops and see what they know about it!

 

Stopping the heat is not about how dark the tint is it's about what it's made of.

 

Back in the day when regular cabs were the norm, I always HAD to have a rear slider window. And when I got my first crew ab in 2011, it didn’t have one. Just the regular, one-piece, stationary rear window. So when I bought all subsequent trucks since then, I insisted on having the rear sliders again. That’s been several trucks ago, and in all honesty… I never open the slider on any of them. Doesn’t seem to be that much ventilation from waaaay back there anyways. I’ve since noticed that I never see them open on other people’s trucks either.

I realize they pretty much come standard on the higher trim platforms, but moving forward, I don’t think I’ll be near as concerned with it anymore. They used to be more practical, but I don’t think they are so much, anymore.

 

I use mine all of the time when not running the a/c. I also crack it and all 4 windows to vent and keep the interior cooler when parked.

 

I've yet to use the slider, except to check once in a while to see if it still works. When time comes to upgrade to a 250, I will not be getting the slider....waste for me.

 

In a crew cab it just doesn’t seem to be very effective for the volume of road noise it permits. As for venting when parked, the dust that gets in with open windows, or the sudden rain showers is unacceptable.

The opening of old school sliders was quite a bit larger and the cabs now, are well over twice the volume of space, so it’s easy to see where they used to have more effect. Just not quite the asset they used to be.

To each their own.

 

Could you elaborate a little bit on this? What materials are better or worse? Looking for recommendations here 🙂