My son busted out the glass on my 91 montero and I have been using the red neck technique and just covering it with plastic and duck tape for a few months. I had to pick up some lumber at lowes so I just tore the plastic off put it through where my once good rear windshield used to be. Then the idea hit in stead of replacing it why not modify it with a lifting windshield. I know I wish upon several occasions that it would have had one. Tell me if you think this is a good idea and if you have know of anybody to do it. Any tips would be helpfull. I am figuring I could use an older blazer glass and hardware to get started.

1) Find glass same shape and size (good luck on this)
2) Install decent hinges
3) Install lock.

Simple and straight forward but I think #1 will be the toughest part (if not impossible) and #2/3 will be the 2nd toughest.

O, and you need to find a gasket to go with all this so that it seals once closed so you don't get 'the weather' blowing in.

What would you do about the spare tire?

That would be easy. Swing out tire rack. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't use glass at all. Thick plastic would work fine, is easy to come by, and is easy to shape. And probably legal (I think only the windshield has to be actual glass).

The weather seal could be the kind they use to seal truck canopies to truck beds, or just jury rig some from a full size van door or two.

There was a big thread on this at least a year ago now. Can't remember what ideas came from it now. If it were me, I'd first look hard for another rig that has the lift and see about grafting it into the rear door of the Monty.

That, and then the swing out carrier as mentioned.

Too much hassle in the end for me. Plenty other fabbing fish fo fry. I just load up the Yakima up top. I've had many hundred pounds up there in the past. (Short hauls only... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />)