TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone ever fabricate rear side windows that open?

Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:28 pm

vwlovr wrote: weird, looks like all those side windows are taller too. kinda looks freaky.

That would be a characteristic of all the late South African T3's.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:04 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/332884.jpg
here is a pic. of rear slider...

Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:13 pm

i figured the other one was a typical SA thing, but were's that smaller slider from? my dogs would love that.

i was daydreaming of trying to make a rear safari window so my dogs could stick their heads out.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:16 pm

It is from the U.K. apparently quite available there.. I would take a set???

Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:18 pm

UK :?:

I was lookin' at an UK site of Vanagons for sale to score a pic of that slider. Not a single van had that feature. I'd take a pair too. Good work on finding that pic Vntgbus.

Now I know I wasn't trippin'. \:D/

But why does this cat only have the one side? Must be an expensive item. :-k

Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:29 pm

i found this pic of a van with small rear vent window...

i must have them!

Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:10 pm

okay here's an oddball variation i found via google, it was an expired uk ebay auction. the listing said it was a "rare vented rear window pass"

looks like some basic vent, not ideal for dog usage, but still interesting...

Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:50 pm

Anybody seen this, or done it?

I'm wondering if something can be adapted to the passenger's rear window--I'd rather have a louvered window there than any other location. Very rough measurements seem to show it would work, but this has been the question all the previous posts haven't answered.

Just still a-puzzling...

:shock:

Best!

Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:35 am

vwlovr wrote: okay here's an oddball variation i found via google, it was an expired uk ebay auction. the listing said it was a "rare vented rear window pass"

looks like some basic vent, not ideal for dog usage, but still interesting...

noting rare about that one, its a late model wondow setup. my understanding is the vent is supposed to help "equalize" the cabin, making the vehicle quieter. The vents in the front doors are a little different in the late models as well.
Its like any typical later vehicle, like in my 97 ford exploder (pushin' 300k) the hatch has a sort of grate looking part kinda like a spreaker grate in the hatch. thats part of the "vent" system.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:44 am

msinabottle wrote: Anybody seen this, or done it?

I'm wondering if something can be adapted to the passenger's rear window--I'd rather have a louvered window there than any other location. Very rough measurements seem to show it would work, but this has been the question all the previous posts haven't answered.

Just still a-puzzling...

:shock:

Best!

from my previous posting:
Quote: I pulled an awning off what I belived to be a country homes baywindow in the junkyard once for one of my other westies. It had jealosies in all back side windows. they were 2 panel not like the 3 -panel westfalias. They made up the angled space in the reamost corner with just aluminum plate. It was a pretty neat.

so find a window thats smaller than the opening in the rear, you could do a couple of things, if its small enough make a template plate the size of the rear window and cut out the hole for the window in it. if you use aluminum plate you could use get away with using a window seal and pop it in like a normal window. or you make it fit up much like the earlier jealousies in the bays, they screw into the lip that the rubber seal seats to on the body. Either way you can take the window out a later time and simply pop the stocker back in.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:46 am

vwlovr wrote: okay here's an oddball variation i found via google, it was an expired uk ebay auction. the listing said it was a "rare vented rear window pass"

looks like some basic vent, not ideal for dog usage, but still interesting...

I didn't think this was that rare, but I'm fairly new to Vanagons. EDIT: I did a quick search of TheSamba Vanagon classifieds: seems like every Westy conversion and some GLs in the U.S. got these rear vented windows. Maybe they're rare in the U.K., or maybe "rare" is just seller's hype in this case. My Wolfsburg has them... which brings up a question. I haven't figured out exactly what this thing is... is it just a vent that's open all the time? There's some filter type material in there, kinda like a big 3M scrub pad. It looks kind of dusty and I was trying to figure out how to get it out to clean it but I haven't really spent much time investigating these since the van needed many other little odds & ends to get it set up for our summer road trips.

My wife and I drove the van up to an annual camp out/jam (the Dam Jam for you Utah acoustic music pickers) last weekend and slept in the back after picking tunes 'til 2:00 AM. There was a good wind and I had the sliders open a bit. I certainly noticed air moving in and out of the sliding windows but didn't feel anything through these vents. Same thing on our summer road trip to NV./CA... unless I left the back hatch opened we really didn't get enough air movement to the back of the bed area to keep it from being hot and stuffy at night.

The Dam Jam is a big affair... dozens upon dozens of big camper trailers, motor homes, pop-up trailers, tents, and sleeping bags rolled out in the dirt. Utah pickers must not gravitate toward Vanagons, though, because other than our Wolfsburg there was one gold Syncro there when we arrived Saturday evening. He left about the time we crashed and showed up again Sunday morning. In fact, I didn't notice any other VW vans at all... usually I see a few Bay Westies there.

If anybody gets a line on those rear sliders for a reasonable price I would love a pair. On a related note; I sold a '73 Bay Weekender last spring and offered a spare Jalousie window to the guy to replace one that didn't latch down tight. I haven't heard from him since and the thing is taking up space in my garage. IIRC it locks down tight but I think it's missing the knob. If anybody wants to buy it to adapt to their Vanagon or for their Bay make me an offer. I would consider adapting it because I love the Jalousies, but I really don't like the looks with the way it fits in the Vanagon.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:42 am

I had often thought that an electric rear window that drops down in the hatch would be a very cool mod. Wonder what it would take to do it?

I hate the "Parachute" effect created when all the windows are open, ya know?

Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:40 pm

okay, this thread may have been long buried, but i have been searching week in and week out for rear sliders on ebay. i finally found one! unfortunately it's a bit pricey and it's only the drivers side window. i'd rather get both at once, and i'd rather pay less than $350 a pop! but i thought i'd share the link with you guys in case anyone is willing to sport the dough for a a single window....

http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-Bus-T2-T3-Schiebefenster-Li...dZViewItem

"vw Schiebefenster" is the search you need to do to find these. so far this is the only one i've seen. i'm going to hold out for a pair.

as a disclaimer, i have nothing to do with the sell, i can't even read german.

Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:23 pm

vwlovr wrote: $350 a pop!
Ouch. Hell, I might even go that crazy for a pair...

Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:56 pm

I would think that if those rear sliders were common and inexpensive, everyone on this list would have them, I know I would want a pair. However, I've personally never seen a vanagon westy with those windows, EVER and I pay attention to vanagon westys! (as I'm sure all of you do to or why else are you reading this?)

Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:10 pm

kevinbassplayer wrote: I would think that if those rear sliders were common and inexpensive, everyone on this list would have them, I know I would want a pair. However, I've personally never seen a vanagon westy with those windows, EVER and I pay attention to vanagon westys! (as I'm sure all of you do to or why else are you reading this?)

all i know, is that they were made, they are out there, and i must have a set!

i just don't think they ever made it to the US market. probably some crazy DOT rule or something kept them out of the market, who knows. i know i won't find them for some crazy bargain, but let's just say i'd be more motivated if it was a pair...and maybe i just got my bonus check! :lol:

Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:12 pm

Wait a minute, that's Theodore Roosevelt. All right, we're all a resourceful bunch. Pull the PASSENGER'S side rear window out of every wrecked Vanagon we encounter and do... What?

I did check the RV sites for louvered/jalousie windows. We shouldn't have to go and use old worn-out Bay and Splitty louvers. Some ARE being made, but they seem to be in large, set sizes. I'm told that in Europe they're routinely used in houses, perhaps somebody sells a unit that would fit into the window frame.

Find the best size--figure the necessary spacers or plates--and build our own kits.

I'm looking! Still.

Best!

Best!

Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:36 pm

For what its worth,

If you have a early van with the early slider door, Long throw outside door handle....You "CAN" use a donor window from the Drivers side (LHD) of any vanagon, and fit it into the slider door in the "reverse" position. What this does exactly, is produce a usable window for a passenger riding on the bench seat in the rear. My dog always smiled, I could spy on him with the rear view.

I did it on on 84 a few years back, was a great mod, no leakage in strong rain+headwinds.

In fact, I liked it so much I've been waiting for a good early slider door, I would live with the "long swing" for a "proper" window.

Feel lucky if you have an early Vanagon.

Cheers
Scott

Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:03 am

Van-go108 wrote: I had often thought that an electric rear window that drops down in the hatch would be a very cool mod. Wonder what it would take to do it?

This is great idea. Drop it down into the body panel, out of site? Like a front door window?

GoWesty might be up to the challenge (for a mere $50 in parts and $5000 in labor).

Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:33 am

Steelhead wrote:
This is great idea. Drop it down into the body panel, out of site? Like a front door window?

that would be sweet, but that window won't fit in the bottom part of the door. at the most you'd get it like halfway down.

i would be happy with a rear safari window, i've seen them on splits and bays. i'm thinking that might be the easiest one to fab...that would still look good :) i've been daydreaming of picking up a hatch and window next time pick and pull has a 50% sale.