Extended Cab windows - power open?

Tucson_02Silverado · August 3, 2002

Has anyone modified the openers for the extended cab windows to be power opened such as on some of the mini vans? I was thinking that if it were easy to take the actuators from a Venture Van or other, and change the driver door switch bezel for a Tahoe/Suburban one and control the windows individually with the rear window switches.

Kania2k1 · August 3, 2002

Jason Pendlum had that idea also, we both checked into it, and there isn't enough space to put the actuators in the door. That and neither of us wanted to cut up our trucks for R&D The plan was to just salvage or buy a tahoe/burb drivers door panel and plug n play! but to no avail.

Tucson_02Silverado · August 4, 2002

The other idea I had for the extended doors (posted in Audio) is that there looks like plenty of room for at least a 10" sub and if it's really effiecient a 12" in each door maximizing the room with the fold up seat and not sacrificing.

GnatGoSplat · August 5, 2002

How large are the minivan actuators? Where are they mounted, and what do they look like?

jpendlum · August 6, 2002

I'm actually selling one on the Used Parts page.

Like Kania2k1 mentioned. I looked into this a long time ago and the whole problem was finding a motor/actuator small enough to fit in the location. The window frame and latch are one piece, so there would be trimming on the frame (which isn't hard), but once you pull off the door trim, you'll see that there is no room behind the trim for anything. You'd have to cut into the door and then you're not really improving things by cutting.

The whole problem is the lack of space and size of available motors/actuators.

I bought the actuator that came from a Venture van and thought it would be pretty simple, but they didn't design these windows to have power or be retro fit with power.

Sad because it would definitely cool.

I'm always keeping my eyes open for actuators and such, so if you find something, let me know.

MarkD · August 6, 2002

This does sound like a great mod. With the tahoe/yukon door switches, you could even make it look factory!

99silveradoz71 · August 7, 2002

Like we see time and again, the General holding us back.

scooter70 · August 7, 2002

What do you guys think about real roll-down windows in the extended cab rear doors? I think that would be the next big thing.

I don't mean as a mod, but if they came like that from the General himself.

GnatGoSplat · August 7, 2002

I agree, that would be very nice to have the rear windows roll down normally. I don't exactly know why they're still using popouts.

It would be extremely difficult to make it a mod (almost impossible, IMO), but it certainly should have been designed as a roll-down from the beginning. Especially because it's not a very small window. My old Cadillac Coupe Deville had smaller rear windows than that, and they rolled down power and all.

PFarkas · August 8, 2002

I know it's a little off-topic, but since Tucson_02Silverado opened the door (pardon the pun), I'd really appreciate a how-to for installing a 10" or 12" sub in the area below the rear windows of the extended cab.

It looks like if the "convenience pocket" below the window were sacrificed, that there would be plenty of room for a sub (and the necessary volume behind it for it to work properly).

I guess one would have to fabircate a panel to which the sub would be attached.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.