My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: Doug on October 13, 2011, 10:24:55 PM

Title: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Doug on October 13, 2011, 10:24:55 PM: Hi guys. I have not been on the site in months. Glad to be back. Hope you are all doing great. I need some fast help. I am towing my jeep on a trailer 500 miles. For the first time, I plan to do it correctly with the windshield folded down. Problem is I have a new windshield strap from walcks and for the life of me, I cannot figure out the proper way to run the strap ends through the buckle. Does any one have a close up picture of the proper way to run the straps through the buckle? I am leaving tomorrow morning at 10 am. Thanks and glad to be back on here.
Your friend. Doug.
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: calvinhunt on October 14, 2011, 02:21:14 AM: Hi Doug,
ï¿½So good to see you back. ï¿½Yes, it's been some time. ï¿½Hope all is going well. ï¿½

ï¿½Sounds like you must be heading to Georgia for some Jeeping. ï¿½Enjoy your trip. ï¿½
ï¿½
ï¿½In an attempt to assist you with your question I dug out my old original windshield strap buckle. When I got my Jeep the frayed and weathered strap was still dangling from the grille footman loop. ï¿½The strap was shot but I saved the buckle. ï¿½Because I haven't yet made a new strap the buckle is still unfinished. ï¿½

ï¿½I am assuming that Walck's new strap is a reproduction of the original. ï¿½Rocketeer surely has original pics and a Willys bulletin or two (hope he does, would be great to see), but in case he doesn't get to it in the short time available before you depart I offer the following:

1. Route the free end of the strap underneath then up and behind the teeth slider bar.
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo336/calvinhunt/LewisLodge-HotelRock/strap/Buckle001.jpg)

2. Route the strap back down through both pieces of the buckle in front of the teeth of the teeth slider bar.
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo336/calvinhunt/LewisLodge-HotelRock/strap/Buckle002.jpg)

3. ï¿½Pull snug. ï¿½This pulls the teeth into the strap sufficiently enough to hold it in place. ï¿½
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo336/calvinhunt/LewisLodge-HotelRock/strap/Buckle003.jpg)

Now, please allow me to add my 2 cents-worth here. ï¿½I would only trust the strap, the buckle, and the footman loops to secure the windshield while traveling on country roads or four-wheeling in the rough, not at highway speeds on a trailer. ï¿½When Carl (Carlsjeep) trailered his Jeep to Utah from Kentucky he added an additional strap across the windshield from side to side. ï¿½I can only imagine the damage that would occur if the windshield flew up at 60 MPH or more. ï¿½I've seen the beautiful paint on your Jeep but believe you could protect the paint and add another strap. ï¿½You could haul the Jeep backwards. ï¿½

I carry a strap that has a buckle with a spring-loaded cam with teeth for when I want to lay my windshield down while Jeeping. ï¿½It's not original, but it works well and I don't leave it mounted when I'm not using it. ï¿½
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo336/calvinhunt/LewisLodge-HotelRock/strap/Buckle007.jpg)
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Bob W on October 14, 2011, 06:25:34 AM: X2 with Calvin, don't trust just one strap to hold the windshield down!
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Gunslinger on October 14, 2011, 10:36:46 AM: X3 on that, I use a windshield strap from an M38 on mine, it has a nice heavy duty buckle. But that is just for the off roading and bombing around town. I did have the windshield pop loose on a trailer one time and fortunatly all i did was bend the bows. Straightening them is a whole nother topic. I use the Carl method when trailering, add an extra strap. Safety is cheap.
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Carls_jeep on October 14, 2011, 05:42:39 PM: I don't use a buckle strap on my windshield, I use a doubled rope and a special knot to hold it down. I can get it tighter and release it easier. Besides, the rope looks more country on my Jeep. When trailering it I use a ratchet strap from fender to fender across the window just in case. I also put a piece of luan plywood on the inside surface of the window to keep rocks from the road from breaking the windshield.
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Gunslinger on October 14, 2011, 07:45:24 PM: Good Ideas all, I was looking at New life canvas, they have a bag that goes over the windshield, canvas by the look of it, tis about 100 bucks.
Title: Re: Windshield Tie Down Strap
Post by: Carls_jeep on October 14, 2011, 10:50:18 PM: A local upholstery shop can make one for much less.