Lexan fixed glass replacement

[greybrick]

Have any here looked into Lexan or similar replacement for some of the vehicle glass. I'm thinking that by changing some fixed glass portions one could get a fairly good weight saving from the top end of the trucks. Do any have source info for good quality hard coated Lexan sheeting as used in racing vehicles? Thanks.

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[greybrick]

Not to talk to myself over here, but to bump the thread and add a bit more, GE Lexan produces some fairly good hard coated scratch resistant glazing options which are really light weight compared to glass.

Lexan Margard

This being a fairly common weight saving and fuel economy mod in Great Britain and Europe I'm surprised none here on the forum have used glazing plastics in their Expedition rig up mods.

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[adrenaline503]

I am not sure that plexi-glass type windows are street legal in the US.

 

[greybrick]

I am not sure that plexi-glass type windows are street legal in the US.

Maybe the technology has outpaced the laws?

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[mountainpete]

I am not sure that plexi-glass type windows are street legal in the US.

Don't believe they are street legal in Canada either.

 

[greybrick]

Don't believe they are street legal in Canada either.

Not sure as I haven't looked into the legalities. Would those laws also cover truck box topper shells and slip in camper units as well as those aren't usually considered to be passenger units?

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[adrenaline503]

Just passenger areas, not shells or campers. I believe that if you look at your windows they will all have some sort of approval icon. If it wasn't sleeting outside I'd look. If I remember correctly it has to do something being able to break the windows in a emergency and so law enforcement can access your vehicle. Also, most new vehicles crumple zones take the windows breaking into account. In a wreck you would much rather have safety glass give way than have a solid piece of lexan catch you in the face. I know that trail rigs, especially Jeep Cherokees replace the flat glass in the back with lexan, but then those aren't considered street legal.

 

[DontPanic42]

You were close with your comment on breakage. One of the many DOT requirements is to have the glass break into small pieces and not long knife like shards like the old glass did or as window glass does. I spent many years working at PPG Industries Glass R&D. We would test automotive glass to destruction and then look for the largest and smallest pieces. There was a maximum size the pieces could be. The shape of the piece was also evaluated. Having had a side light on my old Blazer broken with a rock at 65+ mph, I was happy to have small nearly BB size pieces hitting me instead of glass knives.
Break a piece of Lexan and see how the fractures run. Maybe someday they will develop a plastic that will break into small pieces upon impact. For now it's tempered glass and glass - plastic composites.

 

[greybrick]

Thanks fellows, I'll conduct my mods accordingly.

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[ExpoScout]

I am likely replacing my side and rear glass with lexan in my project scout...its not too expensive, and easy to replace once it does get a little scratched...I work with it a lot in my line of work

I know plenty of street cars that run lexan, and have never heard anything about someone being hassled about it, who would do that the police? chances are the police wouldnt even notice it, and even if you told them what it was theyd still be lost

The people who inspect your vehicles are the ones who "should" be in charge of regulating this in their safety inspections....but same goes for the inspectors as the police, they likely arent going to know what they are looking at, or even think to look for it

As far as lexan shattering, I have seen MANY cars wreck with lexan, and never seen it break except for once...these are race cars wrecking at 100+ mph mind you, the majority of the time its just going to bend

 

[Jeep]

Windshields carry a AS-1 DOT spec and side and rear windows carry a AS-2 DOT spec and it has to do with the structural integrity and breakage characteristic of the glass.

 

[michaelgroves]

My brothers' car got broken into repeatedly in South Africa, by the simple expedient of smashing the side window with a brick. He fitted it with poly-carb instead. One night thereafter he woke to the sound of a thump, and then some howling. There was a brick on the ground and a mark on the window. We all got a lot of satisfaction from the possibility that the howling was caused by the brick bouncing back at the thief's face. That alone made the Lexan worth it!

I also fitted both side windows of our Defender with Lexan, after one of them was smashed by thieves, and our computer stolen from the truck. Highly recommended.

I'd go for the tinted stuff with the scratch-resistant coating. My only complaint (other than the cost!), is that it's not as rigid as glass, so when the window is wound partly down, and is no longer supported by the window-frame channel at the front (parallel to the A-pillar), it tends to be sucked outwards a fraction by the wind at high speeds. Then, if you wind it up it while still travelling fast, it doesn't seat itself nicely in the top of the window frame. A little bit of a niggle.

 

[madizell]

The police don't hassle folks over window glass unless, in your state, the Gestapo is particularly against cracked windshields. (Tints are a different question). The legality of non-approved window glass and its ramifications lie elsewhere.

For example, if you install Lexan windows and you are in an accident, any liability arising from the use of non-DOT approved equipment lies with you, not with the manufacturer or any other party involved, including your insurance company. If you are trapped and can't get out of the car, that's your problem, including any bodily injuries that subsequently arise because you could not escape the vehicle. If your window pops out and cuts a bystander in half, that is going to be your problem, and your insurance company won't pay up because the product was installed in violation of DOT regs. If you are independently wealthy and don't much care, you may do as you please. If you are building an off-road toy, you can build as you wish. But if you rely on insurance to cover you in the event of liability, you risk voiding your coverage by using Lexan in any of the passenger cabin windows.

 

[Metal Twister]

Ive been putting Lexan (polycarbonite) windows in hot rods for years. It is one of the few plastic windows that is legal in California. It has a very high inpact rating... Its the same plastic that safey glasses are made from. You will love working with this stuff, it drills, sands, and you can even use a brake on it to bend it. It seems the only draw back is cleaning it. It scratchs very easy. Be sure to use soap, water and a soft rag to clean with. Good luck and have fun. And as stated, there some liability issues.

 

[ExpoScout]

Ive been putting Lexan (polycarbonite) windows in hot rods for years. It is one of the few plastic windows that is legal in California. It has a very high inpact rating... Its the same plastic that safey glasses are made from. You will love working with this stuff, it drills, sands, and you can even use a brake on it to bend it. It seems the only draw back is cleaning it. It scratchs very easy. Be sure to use soap, water and a soft rag to clean with. Good luck and have fun. And as stated, there some liability issues.

Yeah sounds about right, and you can buy the adhesive coverings (by 3M i believe) to stick on the inside and outside then just peel off and change when they get hazy or scratched