Australian Emuwing Gullwing Windows Eliminate Swingout Hassles For 100 Series Land Cruiser Owners

It didn’t occur to us that having swingouts on our rear bumper would turn out to be such a hassle.

Don’t get us wrong, there are many reasons why swingouts make perfect sense and the additional capability it affords our OVR Toyota Land Cruiser project vehicle (OVR LC100) has been priceless.

But when you’re unlocking and swinging them out as much as five times every 15 minutes, the action of swinging them open and closed gets old really quickly.

We didn’t realize just how much we access the cargo area of a vehicle until we dealt with swingouts. Grabbing our tire air down tools, a drink from the fridge or a blanket necessitated us to open and close both swingout arms as well as both upper and lower hatches of the Land Cruiser. That’s a heck of a lot of latching and swinging.

It didn’t take long for us to seek out a solution; we quickly discovered gullwing-style windows. Gullwings replace a vehicle’s static rear quarter windows with ones that swing up for instant access to the rear cargo area.

As you can imagine, gullwings have the ability to completely change the way one interacts with their vehicle’s storage space.

While there are quite a few companies that offer gullwing “windows”, there was only one company that we found that offered actual glass windows. Most gullwings are metal panels that replace your glass windows.

While metal panels may be more secure and allow for more accessorizing, we wanted to maintain a factory look and maintain visibility out of the rear of the truck.

Emuwing Gullwing Windows are available as metal panels and tempered safety glass windows. The Australian company has been around for close to twenty-years and are well-versed in the intricacies of producing gullwings.

Emuwing’s windows are suitable for a wide range of vehicles, a full list can be found on their website. The ones we got for our 100 Series Land Cruiser also fit Lexus LX470. They are known for their OEM-like fit and finish and we were eager to try them out on the OVR LC100.

Easy Access

One of the most significant advantages of the Emuwing Gullwing Windows is the ease of access they provide. Traditional rear entry can be cumbersome, especially when you need to swing away spare tires, fuel and water can holders, and other gear just to reach your cargo.

With the Emuwing windows, accessing your gear is as simple as opening the side of your vehicle. The large opening created by the gullwing design allows for easy storage and retrieval of equipment.

Durability & Security

Built to withstand the rigors of off-road adventures, the Emuwing windows are dust and waterproof, ensuring your vehicle remains clean and dry regardless of the conditions.

Dual gas strut assistance makes opening and closing the windows smooth and effortless, while the keyed alike and lockable design ensures your belongings remain secure.

This combination of features provides peace of mind, knowing that your gear is both accessible and protected.

Options

The Emuwing Gullwing Windows come in two options, the Auto Safety Glass that we chose and also a Solid Panel option. The Auto Safety Glass is made from tempered glass, curved to match the vehicle’s shape perfectly.

This glass meets Australian and international safety standards and is supplied clear, allowing you to apply window tint to match your existing tint. 

Alternatively, the Solid Panel Option offers increased security and privacy, keeping prying eyes out and reducing the heat in the back of your vehicle by up to 30%. This option is particularly beneficial for those who travel in hot climates and need to keep their cargo area cooler.

Other options include instant-on LED lighting as well as 12V and USB electrical outlets that mount to the gullwing via a specially designed bracket.

Emuwing offers even more accessories to truly customize their panels with such as an external shower box and we hear even more options are on their way.

DIY Installation

The Emuwing windows are designed as a DIY kit, making installation straightforward for those with basic hand tools and mechanical skills.

This user-friendly approach allows you to enhance your vehicle’s functionality without the need for professional installation, saving time and money. It’s worth noting that we consider the gullwings as a semi-permanent installation.

They can be taken out without a trace but it’s not meant to be quickly swapped in and out. 

We were apprehensive at first about taking on a project like this, but ended up tackling it head-on ourselves. The installation takes time and patience, but we didn’t find it difficult at all. In fact, we were able to get it done over a few days, most of the time was spent waiting for silicone to dry.

Emuwing ships the kit direct to you from Australia with everything you need to install the gullwings minus the tools. We can’t say enough positive things about how Emuwing has thought about just about everything; the kit is truly all-inclusive.

That said, we did have to refer to some videos online to iron out a couple of steps that we weren’t too clear about in the included instruction manual.

Hands-On

We were thoroughly impressed by the final results. Emuwing’s Gullwing Windows are as OEM a gullwing solution as we could have imagined.

The dual gas strut-assisted windows open and close smoothly and deliberately and the lockable latches feel secure and have a satisfying feeling when they are opened and closed.

At the time of this article’s writing, we’ve had them on the OVR LC100 a little over a month and on several off-road trips and we can report that there have been no leaks, no dust intrusions and no additional sound or noises while driving – we wouldn’t notice them if we didn’t know they were there.

They indeed have changed the way we interact with the storage area of the Land Cruiser. These gullwings have greatly reduced our need for opening and closing the rearend of the truck, which is precisely why we installed them.

Final Thoughts

These Emuwing Gullwing Windows have been a remarkable upgrade for the OVR LC100. We think their innovative design, ease of access and security make them an essential addition for anyone who requires easy access to their vehicle’s cargo area.

Whether you choose the Auto Safety Glass or the Solid Panel Option, these windows will significantly improve your vehicle’s utility and convenience, allowing you to make the most of your adventures.

Emuwing Gullwing Windows

Applications: Available for various makes and models

URL: emuwing.com.au

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This article originally appeared in OVR Issue 10. For more informative articles like this, consider subscribing to OVR Magazine in print or digital versions here. You can also find the print edition of OVR at your local newsstand by using our Magazine Finder