Tailgate Vent Delete?

Found this info on jeepforum.

“The vents are there for if you have a hardtop and the airbags deploy. They vent the air pressure out of the Jeep, otherwise windows could blow from airbag deployment. On the older years the vents were built into the hardtop on the sides.”
Not sure I buy that at all. Having been in a Dodge truck with a smaller cab than the area of the TJ interior when the air bag deployed with the windows up, they did not blow out and the rear window is not secured any differently than the side windows in a TJ hardtop. Someone is going to have to prove that one.
 
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Not sure I buy that at all. Having been in a Dodge truck with a smaller cab than the area of the TJ interior when the air bag deployed with the windows up, they did not blow out and the rear window is not secured any differently than the side windows in a TJ hardtop. Someone is going to have to prove that one.
Did it have any vents in the back of the cab, hidden by the bed?

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I've mentioned it already in this thread, but this isn't a TJ thing. It's super common, if not universal. I don't have hard data on when they started showing up, but it could have coincided with widespread use of airbags.

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Not sure I buy that at all. Having been in a Dodge truck with a smaller cab than the area of the TJ interior when the air bag deployed with the windows up, they did not blow out and the rear window is not secured any differently than the side windows in a TJ hardtop. Someone is going to have to prove that one.
From what I understand, they are there to equalize cabin pressure. I could never imagine the glass blowing out due to a bag deployment.
 
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Did it have any vents in the back of the cab, hidden by the bed?

View attachment 333806

I've mentioned it already in this thread, but this isn't a TJ thing. It's super common, if not universal. I don't have hard data on when they started showing up, but it could have coincided with widespread use of airbags.

View attachment 333807
I'm sure it probably did. Still not sure you can blow out hardtop windows given they are glued in and fairly structural.
 
IDK if you popped a set of airbags in a tight vessel pressure's gonna increase, no? whatever generated the expansion of the bags is in addition to what was already present, no?
so it's really all dependant on how good of a seal you have, no?
 
If you’re really worried about it, sell your current hard top, seal the tailgate vent, and buy an early model TJ top with built in vents.
 
If you’re really worried about it, sell your current hard top,
about to be summer in most of the country if you're still runnin a HT then maybe sell the jeep. 1/2 the fun is...... it's an anytime convertible, preferably all the time.
 
If you’re really worried about it, sell your current hard top, seal the tailgate vent, and buy an early model TJ top with built in vents.
I guess you're talking to me (the OP). The reason we are thinking this is because this is my 16 year old sons build. He's funding it, so it's a budget build. The rear tailgage has significant rust that would require either re-painting, something I've been working on improving the last several months OR we could buy tailgate armor and paint it (which is easier to get level and right). If we do the Savvy is only $115, but it doesn't have a hole for the vent. I could try to cut it out accurately. I have woodworked for years, so that is possible. Obviously, it's easier to just put it on and delete the vent. Another option we are considering is doing the Savvy tailgate armor, drilling some holes, and moving the license plate to the center and mounting it on a steel plate that I cut and mount to the stock holes leaving a gap for the holes to breathe.

TJ hardtops are hard to come by. I have an 97-02 version on my 05, but mine's black and I already have tailgate armor. His is factory gray. Nice hardtop too. His is very nice condition.
 
about to be summer in most of the country if you're still runnin a HT then maybe sell the jeep. 1/2 the fun is...... it's an anytime convertible, preferably all the time.
It just won't warm up this Spring! It's driving me crazy. I think we're going to hit mid-70's this week, finallly! So I'm taking the top off ASAP.
 
It just won't warm up this Spring! It's driving me crazy. I think we're going to hit mid-70's this week, finallly! So I'm taking the top off ASAP.
almost seems like everything season wise has shifted about a month from what it was when i was a younger fool.
 
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Is it not 90 degrees in cincy? It is here...HOT!!!

It's still raining up here. I wanted to go hiking this weekend and could not. 58F and the sun just poked out for 20min before the light drizzle started again.

Last year we got 90F for Memorial day, and 115F right around July 4. I'll take the rain and cold any day over that!
 
I'm sure it probably did. Still not sure you can blow out hardtop windows given they are glued in and fairly structural.
can you blow out eardrums? IDK how much additional pressure is added to the cabin when the airbag deploys
It's still raining up here. I wanted to go hiking this weekend and could not. 58F and the sun just poked out for 20min before the light drizzle started again.

Last year we got 90F for Memorial day, and 115F right around July 4. I'll take the rain and cold any day over that!
I hear you! I will happily take these lower temps and rain in E WA if they will alleviate some fires and 113* weather we experienced last summer!
 
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All I can find on the vent issues is:

1) all modern cars have them (older cars don't)
2) some claim it will make the doors harder to close, but hardly anyone can really tell
3) may increase strain on the HVAC system when it is in any mode except re-circulation because the air brought in has to have somewhere to go, but all cars have air leaks. Just drive your car into a pond and see how much water comes in. Air can come in those same spaces.
4) you'll blow your eardrums out of the airbag inflates, but never heard of this happening to anyone. More commonly the 160+dB noise damages people's eardrums, but it is still better to have an airbag than not.
5) they probably don't really matter but have been built into the engineering of modern cars

EDIT: I forgot to add this one I found

6) to allow Carbon Monoxide to escape if there's an exhaust leak. Even with the blower off you will notice there is airflow into the cab (and through the vent out the cab). If this is the case it would be a different type of safety feature.
 
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